Life in a Global World

People exist in a runaway world that is beyond controllability. It is, as if sometimes, the whole world
seems to be always on the move and constantly transforming, affecting almost every aspect of life doings.
The mass population is being propelled to a global order which projects complexity. This global order is
globalization. Anthony Giddens stated that globalization is the intensification of worldwide social relations
linking distant localities in such a way that local happenings are shaped by events occurring many
thousands of miles away and vice versa.

This global order or “the new world order” has let the industry revolve. Human knowledge advances
and capitalism has triumphed. Globalization results to a risk of consciousness and detraditionalization. This
order leads to global development but has catastrophic consequences as well, it is for the better and for
worse. Globalization has affected some of its dimensions – politics, culture and society.

Every society has its own traditions and cultures. Traditions stands as an action framework or
guideline, gives stabilization, and constructs self-identity. Contrarily, globalization eradicates and puts an
end to local traditions and cultures that are exposed to new ones. Local traditions that are unquestioned
are pushed to be questioned as globalization enters, there is detraditionalization.

An example of an institution undergoing this process is a family. A traditional family is intrinsic

wherein there is an inequality between men and women, both are socialized into gender specific roles that
exist to confirm and uphold male power and superiority. This type of family is considered as a support
system that incorporates two married individuals who provides care and stability for their biological
offspring. There has been intolerance towards homosexuality but, if there is, it is ultimately proscribed.
However, a traditional family has become less prevalent nowadays. There have been alternative family
forms that have become more common and a change in traditional family. Modern family springs, this type
of family is the opposite of traditional family. it is not necessary to have children or raise children with both
parents who are married and unmarried. There is also an equality between men and women in terms of
labor force. Lastly, homosexuality is freely expressed and tolerated.

Detraditionalization is located to many aspects of life. A society has an identity politics, an

exclusively formed political alliances that distances traditional broad-based party politics. Traditional ways
of governing are changing. Democracy is democratizing. There is a Paradox of Democracy wherein there
is an internal conflict within the modern democracy that is created by the combination of two separate
strands of political proposition, idea, and thought. This paradoxical situation shown the situation of politics
nowadays especially to context of liberalism. In line with this, globalization highlighted the evolution of
communication which became more active wherein people can express their needs and advocacies.
Although, these demands by the people are not always or should always complied. This teaches the people
to also master the art of listening and comprehension. Active communication has widened the ability of
people to be informed by the status quo and latest conflicts. That is why such demands, thoughts, and
propositions are given to the government. But, not everything is handed down to the government because
if people are aware, they can solve it. Correspondingly, democratizing democracy means having an
effective devolution of power, implying constitutional reform and promoting greater transparency in political
affairs. With these, this inevitably changing system can be sustained and deepened.

Detraditionalization affects self-identity. Traditions alters and external factors prevail. There are
changes due to adaptation on new knowledge arising through time. Self-identity forms and reforms. It is not
always molded by social actors and external factors. Individuals are always on an ongoing reflection
towards their lives because not all institutions or social actors always have norms and values to give.
Throughout the general external and internal changes done by globalization, the positive part of
detraditionalization is the prevalence of cosmopolitanism. It is wherein an individual is less constrained by
arbitrary tradition than in traditional ways of non-globalized societies. An individual has the freedom to
ponder on different existing cultural practices associated with religion, politics, and society, and to choose
which of these practices suit them. Cosmopolitanism is a hybrid culture diversified by people. It is a
normative perception from what people understand, see, judge, experience life and the world.

There are radical changes that globalization has brought , there are global risks and conflicts. While
cosmopolitanism is occurring, fundamentalism is also happening where traditional practices are still applied
by blinkered societies who are committed to ideologies and beliefs. It can also be the resistance to the
engagement of new beliefs and ideologies and the return to basic scriptures and texts.

Globalization has made intentional or unintentional consequences to different aspects, specifically,

the religion aspect. This aspect is connected to altered traditional and cultural practices to the disruption of
this aspect – to turn invisible and questionable. Globalization has brought unreachable possibilities
reachable but also increasing challenges.

The world is full of uncertainties in societies which let people constantly engage in constructing
their identities. Globalization has yet to wholly complete its process, it is not definite. There is still no
situated destination due to lack of definiteness and uncontrolled changes. A person should not be trapped
in a wheel of alterations, unsure to where he or she will be destined. A person should seek a place wherein
he or she could have a path to where he or she should go and not just where he or she wants to. This thing
that is being sought is the sacred or religion that will fill a person’s wholeness with values.