McDonalds in Moscow and Coke in China will do more to create a global culture than military colonisation could ever do. The quote by Benjamin Berber implies the powerful effect of globalisation on the geopolitical and cultural aspects of the global environment. In considering the above statement, this work will analyse the extent to which colonisation and imperialism contributed towards a global culture. The analysis is based on East Asian history and geopolitical context. It will also consider the contribution of economics in the same respect, as well as the counter-currents to the idea of globalisation.
Prior to (and arguably some time into) the 20th century, direct military and political intervention was a popular vehicle that carried ideas, beliefs, and religions across national borders. The effect of this can be witnessed by considering any great empire of the past ? the Egyptians, the Macedonians and the Persians, and the Romans just to name a few. It is common knowledge that these empires had great impact on local people under their occupation (Latin that came from the Romans became the basis of languages spoken by half of Europe today).
More recently, during the first half of the 20th century the world was divided between European colonial powers who exercised imperialistic controls over their territories. Colonialism and imperialism go hand in hand together. Imperialism is the projection of power and authority of one state beyond its own borders to appropriate political or economic benefit, while colonialism is the establishment of control by one country over another. Amongst countries in East Asia only a few were not colonised by other countries. For example, Britain, France, Hollan ...