Globalization is NOT Westernization

In the article, " Mcdonald's in Hong Kong", James Watson argues that a new lifestyle is emerging in Hong Kong that is postmodern and transnational. McDonalds has spread to this culturally rich city, and has become just another example of the transfer of foreign goods, products, and superficial aspects of culture. These Chinese are eating the big macs, yes, but they are still Chinese. One's culture is not only defined by what one eats, wears, listens to, watches on tv, but also is defined by the manner in which one thinks, and relates to those around them. While this aspect of culture is always much more dificult to see, it is there, and can be radically different country to country. This aspect of culture, I feel, is far from changing. In the article "How to Judge Globalism", Amartya Sen explains that "globalization has contributed to the progress of the world through travel, trade, migration, spread of cultural influences, and dissemination of knowledge and understanding". Throughout world history, (not just in the last 30 years,) globalization has helped advance many countries in the world, those in Europe, those in East Asia, those in South America... The spread of understanding is one of the great benefits of globalization. Where would the world be if paper never left China, if decimals never left India? it is in every nations best interest to absorb what other nations have to offer them. By modernizing, they are not losing their culture. Yes, they can be exposed to other cultures, through foods, music, movies, and other endless physical entities that are transferred country to country, and these aspects, while rather superficial, can allow all members of all cultures to be more aware that there are other ways of living and thinking, outside of their own. But they can still retain their own culture.

There is one critique I have on globalization. The immense amount of wealth being produced still is not being represented in the destitute areas of the world, which remain the majority. I feel like globalization is not inherantly flawed, but rather needs to develop, as, this wave of globalization is still recent. I will give a historical example....this might not relate so much but oh well: During the gilded age, Great Britain entered in the 2nd industrial revolution that created all of these wonderful goods and forced the majority of its people into living horrible, humiliating, and short lives. Then came progressivism, and Industrialization evolved and restrictions were created. Employers were now not allowed to employ young children, minimum wages were created, as were maximum work days. People suffered a little less. I feel that this could happen with globalization. Maybe. Maybe I am to ideological. But it would be a solution. If the better off nations of the world come together and realize that globalization has given them a whole lot more than countries like Uganda, then maybe somehow they could create restrictions and rules on what they can and cannot do on the world stage. Westernization is not happening, but exploitation still is. If there just was some sort of international system (UN...) to regulate globalization somehow, then I bet that more people could enjoy the benefits of globalization, and less people in the United States would be complaining about all those "goddamn" foreigners!!! in Honduras and in China takin' all their jobs...
I should learn more about economics...