Does Free Trade Affect Culture?

There are many positives and negatives of having a free trade market.  But first, let me define some terms. Free trade is a government policy of reducing or completely abolishing all tariffs (taxes) on foreign goods and services, allowing globalization to successfully take place. On the contrary, protectionism is a policy of increasing tariffs on imported goods and services. Proponents of free trade argue that it increases cultural exchange between nations. Opponents argue that it undermines cultural stability. 

The topic of a free trade market is often disputed regarding its affect on culture.  One theory is that cultures tend to become very uniform because of the exportation of cultural models.  Due to differences in economical and political power, certain countries have a bigger impact on the global market. The culture of these countries consequently spreads and become a common thing. Local cultures disappear in favor of this new global way of life. In some ways, globalization only leaves room for a culture based on consumerism.

Globalization can affect culture in a few basic ways. One interpretation suggests that globalization disperses any and every culture throughout the world, making the planet more heterogeneous, forging deeper connections between different groups. For example, teens in the United States gain an understanding of Japanese culture through animation, comic books and video games, while teens throughout European countries learn about the American way of life by watching U.S. TV shows and movies.

Others argue that globalization makes culture more homogenous, leading to a unified world culture that consists of watered-down versions of regional cultural trends. Japanese sushi can be consumed in virtually any country in the world, and favorites from French pastries to "American" fried chicken can be found from Florida to Hong Kong. Proponents argue that this only affects things like consumer goods and the media, while critics worry that it weakens traditional culture

Globalization is most likely to damage local culture in regions like Scandinavia that are lightly populated, not very hierarchical and looking for new global cultural symbols. But the rest of the world’s population is in countries — China and India, of course, but also Brazil, Mexico, Egypt and Indonesia — that do not fit that description. “ The Indian music market is 96% domestic in origin, in part because India is such a large and multifaceted society.” (Tyler Cowen, NY Times) In India, Hollywood movies and American music are not favored like they are in other, smaller, countries.  These smaller countries are more vulnerable to being affected by globalization. 

One of the most common arguments against globalization is that it forces American culture onto the world, Westernizing other nations. Will everyone one day wear blue jeans and eat at McDonald's? We don't know. Globalization can work both ways: Even American blue jeans were forged from different cultures. They were developed by a German immigrant; their denim comes from the name of the French town where it originated, De Nimes.  (History of Denim)  My theory is that free trade markets are positively affecting culture throughout the world.  The American market has become more multicultural, and more multilateral as well because free trade markets enhance the U.S economy, while also maintaining it’s important role in a global society. 

Works Cited

CHANG-TAI HSIEH. "The Impact of Outsourcing to China on Hong Kong’s Labor Market." Faculty.chicagobooth.edu/. N.p., n.d. Web. .

Wolf, Martin. "Why Globalization Works - Martin Wolf." Why Globalization Works - Martin Wolf. N.p., n.d. Web. 07 Mar. 2013. .

"History of Denim." Garmento.org. Garmento, 20 Aug. 2012. Web. 7 Mar. 2013. .