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Christopher Lingle has an interesting article on Globalization and ‘Contract Culture’

Globalization should not be confused with Westernization or Americanization of economies and cultures. Perhaps this muddled thinking arises from an observed sense of convergence towards certain norms or rules that are associated with Western cultures, especially concerning commercial considerations. Promoting this misconception adds to an unwelcome divisiveness. It also implicitly assigns a sense of domination or superiority of American or Western culture over others, itself a patently foolish assertion.

The view offered here is that this convergence is a natural and evolutionary procedure. In this sense, global convergence arises from voluntary choices by citizens and their governments to engage in worldwide markets to achieve some individual and collective goals, including shared prosperity. Indeed, the overpowering nature that some observers find so troubling is actually the outcome of choices made by most other members of their own communities. In the end, the movement is towards the establishment of and guidance by the legal bounds that govern contracts. (Emphasis mine)

This is a recurring theme whenever I speak to those who have reservations about globalisation. (See, for example, Coke or coconut water?). But most of all what the anti-globalisers are against is the fact that some people choose what the anti-globalisers do not want them to choose.

Last year during the World Social Forum mela, Madhu Kishwar had made telling points, which bear revisiting.

To end, here’s a little nugget from Chris Lingle’s piece.

Some opponents to globalization express legitimate concerns. Perhaps the most compelling objection is the fear of the dilution of local culture. Nonetheless, opening a community to global influences is most likely to reveal the strengths of those elements that are worth keeping and undercover weak points that might be given up. (It is worth noting that the Dutch have been deeply engaged in the globalization process for many centuries without losing their unique cultural identity.)