One of the most conspicuous trends in the 21st century is a closer connection between countries, in both economic and cultural aspects. There is a widespread worry that this will lead to the gradual demise of countries’ identities. This issue should be viewed and analyzed from multiple perspectives.
On the one hand, there are some reasons why a country tends to develop a closer relationship with the rest of the world is a positive development. In terms of business, multiple companies create a range of job opportunities for local people, which helps improve their living standards and boost the local economy. Take KFC as an example, it has provided thousands of jobs for people in my city, which has helped them increase their income and live more comfortably. In addition, increasing business between countries gives local enterprises the opportunity to prove themselves in the global market. Local firms would have to be more creative and innovative in order to compete with international companies. This not only helps them to develop more sustainably, but also has a positive impact on the local economy. With regard to culture, developing culture contacts among countries helps people have a deeper understanding of other cultures. As a result, they would avoid culture shock or other culture-related problems which can often lead to tension and conflict.
While tourism provides a driving force for cultural conversation, some components of a culture such as traditions, customs or taboos might die out over time. It seems that in some countries, the locals become more accustomed to exotic cultures. Take fast food chains as an example, the appearance of these restaurants has altered Vietnamese people’s eating habits and their attitudes towards the importance of family meals as the way their older generations did in the past. Furthermore, some traditional beliefs are also changed. These days, many people accept same sex marriage and premartial cohabitation which were socially acceptable a few decades ago.
As outlined above, increased interaction between countries in the domains of business and culture can either strengthen or undermine the identities of countries involved. To date there is no definite answer to this question.