Liberal Studies Extended response Question 1

A) Referring to the information, discuss how globalization challenges people’s values?(8 marks) Ways in which globalization challenges people’s values: Firstly, Western mainstream values affect people from other regions. It makes them follow Western ideas and distorts the traditional beliefs. For example, in Fiji, robust bodies were traditionally considered aesthetically pleasing as it represents the achievement of the rearer. The fat body image is appreciated in society, and the locals do not judge a person’s value on his/her body weight. However, when TV gained popularity in Western Fiji, under the influence of messages such as ‘a person with a slim body is beautiful, healthy and confident’ as imparted by the Western media. Then, the traditional concepts were gradually distorted.

Next, The locals began to agree that a slim image is better than a robust one. Young girls even began to lose weight. It was not purely out of health considerations that they lose weight, but out of aesthetic considerations as well. This shows that cultural globalization will spread Western ideologies and values to other regions and affect people around the world. (8 marks)

‘Cultural conflict is an inevitable by-product of globalization.’ Do you agree with this statement? Explain with reference to the information and based on your knowledge.(12 marks) Stance: ‧ Agree Reasons: ‧ Globalization mainly includes three aspects: economic, cultural and political ones. Regarding cultural globalization, transnational mobility of concepts, ideologies and values is an important characteristic. When there is a clash between foreign and local culture, there would be cultural shock. ‧ For example, in the incident shown in the information, Western values are different from Fiji’s traditional values and they have an impact on the locals. Some of the locals accepted foreign culture blindly and began to lose weight. However, this trend aroused concerns and doubts in society. This shows that foreign cultures can give rise to cultural conflict. ‧ Besides, the most famous cultural conflict in recent year is the ‘911 terrorist attack’. Experts said it was because the US never stops its involvement in the Middle East’s domestic affairs and imposed Western values on the Middle East that enabled the terrorist groups to motivate their members to launch suicidal terrorist attack. The incident happened because the Western world has stirred up nationalist emotion of some Middle East people. To protect the nation’s interests and people’s dignity, the ‘911 terrorist attack’ was launched to demonstrate their discontent.

Stance: ‧ Disagree. Reasons: ‧ Under cultural globalization, people may respond in three ways to foreign cultures which are different from the local culture: accept the foreign culture; integrate foreign cultures into the local culture; and protect the local culture and resist foreign cultures. The former two would not cause any cultural conflict. ‧ For example, in the incident shown in the information, although Western concepts are different from the Fijian ones, the differences per se did not cause any conflict. Some young girls were affected by Western aesthetics that they lose weight so that they can have a slim body figure. This manifests the acceptance of foreign cultures. ‧ Besides, it was said that the ‘911 terrorist attack’ is a famous instance of cultural conflict. However, it would be simplifying the incident by simply linking the terrorist attack to cultural conflict. Terrorist attacks always involve factors such as financial benefits and political dissidence. Therefore, we cannot jump to the conclusion and say that globalization gives rise to cultural conflict. The flow of Western cultures into the Middle East and other places did not arouse objection from most locals; they were even blessed with a more pluralistic life. (12 marks)