Are we getting more uni-cultural or more multi-cultural?

Balaji Viswanathan
Aug 23, 2017 · 2 min read

The homogenizing forces are as strong as the heterogenizing forces. In short, in the globally connected world, we might not be as homogenized as we assume to be.

For instance, the Internet enables the homogenizing force of English as the world’s common language. At the same time, it enables the speakers of various small languages to get connected & build common content [like various regional Wikipedia] like never before. 50 years ago, were there encyclopedias in all the regional languages? No. Most were in English. Now, you have a diverse set of language in Wikipedia that allows knowledge creation in small languages.

In a globalized world, we tend to see McDonalds and Starbucks everywhere in the world. But, the same globalization allows for cuisines of various nations to be explored by people across the world. Think of all the quality Thai, Chinese, Indian or Mexican restaurants sprouting across the world over the past 20 years.

Again, a connected world also allows one to explore different religions and spiritual paths that previously was out of reach due to geography. You could be sitting in Jakarta and explore Taoism, Shintoism, Hinduism or various African/native American religions. In the past, your choices would have been very limited to what the local spiritual teachers can teach and what the local publishers can print.

Globalization/interconnections are also giving a voice to people from various cultures. In the past, you would have to rely on the equivalent of New York Times/BBC to get your opinions and those would be the majority opinions — highly slanted towards one culture. Now, you have the option of getting a lot more diverse voices heard — as the major filters [publishing houses & newspaper editors] are getting replaced by more democratic forms.

We are not getting uni-cultural. We are getting multi-cultural and slowly grasping the diversity of human culture.

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Balaji Viswanathan

Written by

CEO of Invento Robotics. I help build the Mitra robot. Top Writer on Quora. Former Microsoftie and an active traveler.

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