Globalization: Perspectives from Cultural Relativism and Modernism

Abstract

Globalization has created major changes in how the world works and conducts its business, but it has also generated a debate upon the viability of cultural practices around the world as the world becomes more connected, and there’s debate on if these differences strengthen the bond among the people of world or are they another chink in the armor. This paper attempts to explain the two dominant perspectives on changing cultural diversity, universalism and relativism to explain the challenges and opportunities globalization faces because of cultural diversity and unity, and tries to ascertain which approach would work best for the everchanging world of the future. Theories of relativism and modernism are applied, and the perspective of globalization is judged through the approaches of universalism and relativism to ultimately arrive at the conclusion that universalism is the way forward for globalization to progress.