-MacDonald is not necessarily an example of negative impacts of globalization-
Does Macdonald represent one of the bad effects
made by globalization? Saying negative point of its effect, MacDonald tends to
be discussed as one of bad examples of it. Some people urge that it is a negative
influence and it has been eroding national culture identities. [1]Yet,
does it really do that?
One of principles on the matter of new globalization
is thought in a way in which world cultures are Americanized so that the other
countries would completely be gotten involved in it and can be no longer their
own traditionally unique cultures because of the globalization. U.S.
restaurants including Macdonald is also said to take away uniqueness of
cultures in products and try to make products Americanized. Even a sociologist George Ritzer expresses his concern
about a bad impact of globalization stating “the principles of the fast food
restaurant are coming to dominate more and more sectors of American society as
well as of the rest of the world.” Moreover, there is the fact that American
fast food chains has dramatically and obviously been spreading out all over the
world as looking at the actual increase in number which is the expansion of McDonalds
has risen up to over 31,000 restaurants worldwide within the last fifty years.[2]
If we look at only the numbers, and evaluate
the value of Macdonald, it can be said to be McDonalized meaning Americanized contributing
to a negative impact of globalization spreading all over the world. Such a “surface’
evaluation is also done when you just find that McDonalds are everywhere in
your country or even in other countries. However, is that all about McDonald?
Once you yourself go to foreign countries
and try food at MacDonald, you will be able to find a local culture including
food habits, each practice and religious that each country has.
Talking of the case of India, the first
vegetarian outlet located near the Golden temple located in the Siklh holy city
of Amritsar in northern India will be open. [3]The
country is known for one of the countries which have many religions. Above all,
Hindu having more than 85 % of population is the significant religion as well
as the rest such as Muslim. [4]It
means most of people in India are forbidden to eat pork or meat because of
religion. Under such a limitation of food, the purpose of this attempt is to
make vegetarian people enjoy their meals even at Macdonald.
Besides
the Indian local products of Macdonald, let me introduce some of local meals
being sold in other countries.
McRice Burger; in the Philippines, Taiwan,
and Indonesia etc.
McSwarama: turkey shawarma in pita bread in
Israel
Image taken from http://www.yousaytoo.com/10-unique-mcdonalds-menu-thats-on-the-country-specific-only/1545206
Some of products sold in India
Gallo Pinto in Costa Rica
Laksewrap (salmon wrap in Norwegian) in
Norway
MacBeer
in Germany and a few countries in Europe
I myself also found some differences
between Macdonald in Japan and in Hong Kong. For instance, though we can get
some a Chile source with meals in Hong Kong, we can’t get it in Japan. Of cause
languages they speak is different from Japanese and they use both Cantonese and
English. I also have never done self-service including throwing away trashes
because cleaners would do it, while we have to do self-service after eating in
Japan. What’s more, delivery services are widely used in Hong Kong although it
is unusual in Japan. I remember seeing many delivery motorcycles running on
street in Hong Kong. Most of McDonalds in Hong Kong are open for 24 hours as
well. Looking around and you can recognize that customers are from all over the
world. You can always hear people talking not only in Cantonese but in English,
Tagalog, Hindi, Chinese and the like. I definitely could feel the differences
and enjoyed comparing McDonalds in Hong Kong to ones in Japan.
Thus, the opinion that Macdonald’s
expansion, as one of the negative impact from globalization, has being losing a
culture identity is not necessarily so. Rather saying, McDonalds can teach us
cultures since you can learn something different from food of Macdonald in your
country including food habits, cultures, and practices of a country where you
visit. What about McDonalds in your own country? Each country should have
creativeness of its own. Are there any meals different from Japan? What about customer’s
behaviors and atmospheres? I’ve never been to visited foreign countries except Hong
Kong and China, so I would like to hear about McDonalds in other countries from
you guys!
[1] Levin Institute.(n.d.) Culture
and globalization .Retrieved from
http://www.globalization101.org/uploads/File/Culture/cultall2011.pdf
[2] Ibid.
[3] Daily mail reporter. (2012). Mcdonald's
to open first ever vegetarian-only restaurant next to golden temple in indian
holy city of amritsar.. Retrieved from http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2198197/McDonalds-open-vegetarian-restaurant-Golden-Temple-Indian-holy-city-Amritsar.html
[4] Indiaonlinepage.com .(2012).Hindu
population in india.. Retrieved from
http://www.indiaonlinepages.com/population/hindu-population-in-india.html
very true. I have the same observation as you about Mc Donalds in Japan and Hong Kong. I was suprised that everyone in Japan clean up their tray and rubbish after they finished eating Mc Donalds. There is no such a thing in Hong Kong. I don't know why Hong Kong doesn't do what Japan does, but I think we Hong Kong people should learn from Japan.
ReplyDeleteIsn't this called glocalization? Glocalization is the word that combined with the word 'globalization' and 'localization' and this word is used to describe a product or service that is developed and distributed globally, but is also fashioned to accommodate the user or consumer in a local market. Anyway, in my country, there are kimchi burger which tastes really really good. You should really try that burger.Thank you for writing a really interesting topic Yukako.
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