As humanity becomes increasingly interconnected through technology, the dynamics between globalization and localization become more complex. What is globalization? What is localization? How do they differ? This blog post will explore these concepts and discuss their implications for society.
What is Globalization?
Globalization is the “process of interaction and integration among people, companies, and governments worldwide” [Source]. Globalization describes the “growing interdependence of the world’s economies, cultures, and populations, brought about by cross-border trade in goods and services, technology, and flows of investment, people, and information”.
What is Localization?
Localization is the “adaptation of a product or service to meet the needs of a particular language, culture or desired population’s ”look-and-feel” [Source]. It allows people to localize the entities they need in their locality. They can get these products or services from the international market or global scale.
What are the main elements of Globalization and Localization?
The main elements of globalization include the internationalization of products, services, ideas, or other staff. Localization refers to the adoption of international entities to be absorbed into a locality. Globalization survives on marketing on a global scale, and localization tends to sell products to local people. Localization shows a local favourite, and globalization is international.
What is the difference between Glocalization and Localization?
Globalization is the internationalization of products or services in a bid to sell them to people across the globe, while localization is the process of adapting international entities and including them into a local system.
Four differences between Globalization and Localization
Globalization requires intense marketing and exportation, and localization demands skilled minds that can customize products to localize them. Globalization tends to ignore cultural barriers and try to appeal to everyone, whilst localization seeks to find favour in the eyes of local people and promote their cultural values. Globalization is universal, but localization is forced to appeal to certain people. Globalization exhibits international standards, and localization can appease only the local people.
Globalization and Localization similarities
Globalization and localization are similar in that these terms refer to giving people certain products on the international and local platforms, respectively. Also, globalization and localization rely on marketing and advertising to the targeted audience to mobilize followers or customers. Both globalization and localization have to hammer their products or services so that they are acceptable to the consumers, whether on an international or local scale.
Examples of Glocalization
Examples of glocalization include the adaptation of fast food outlets such as McDonald’s, the rampant spread of religions such as Christianity and Islams and how these religions are combined with local traditions, adjustment of wedding proceedings, especially in Africa and how weddings are customized using cultural values.
What is the opposite of Localization?
The opposite of localization is globalization [Source].
What is Localization of culture?
Localization of culture refers to adapting cultural content and combining it with local culture to create a more or less localized culture. Cultural localization uses “local customs, colours, societal codes and values, and similar cues and sensibilities that are understood by the market” [Source].
What is Localization testing?
Localization testing is the process of testing products or services to ensure that they function as intended when used in a local market. It is done to assess the impact of cultural differences on how a product or service is used and understood. Localization testing is vital to ensure that products or services can function in their intended market and not cause any cultural misunderstanding.
What is Delocalisation?
Delocalisation is moving products or services away from a particular location. This can be done for a number of reasons, such as reducing costs, taking advantage of new market opportunities, or being closer to raw materials. Delocalisation can have a number of impacts on local communities, including job losses.
What is the difference between Globalization and Westernization?
“Westernization is the changing from the traditional culture to the western dominance and western imperialism, but globalization is the tendency in which technologies, philosophical and economic advances can be made throughout the world with a global time zone and boundaries” [Source]. Westernization, also referred to as Europeanisation, entails how non-Western people “come under or adopt a Western culture in areas such as industry, technology, science, education, politics, economics, lifestyle, law, norms, mores, customs, traditions, values, mentality, perceptions, diet, clothing, language, writing system, religion, and philosophy. On the other hand, globalisation refers to the internationalization of products in a bid to give universal standards to people in the world. Globalization aims to have international standards while Westernization celebrates everything western. Westernization is driven by cultural pride, whilst globalization focuses on delivering the best standards on a global scale.
Advantages of Globalization
Globalization promotes quality as corporates and companies work hard to produce products or deliver services with international standards. Through globalization, the world became a global village where barriers were dissolved. Also, globalization can unite the people, especially in times of world crises such as the coronavirus pandemic.
Disadvantages of Globalization
Disadvantages of Globalization include the shunning of local products as people chase after international products that are deemed perfect. Also, exported services tend to undermine local values and can help in diminishing local cultures and traditions.
Advantages of Localization
Localization enables society to appreciate international products and be able to localize them for the benefit of the masses. Through localization, the local people can enjoy international services and create their own by combining international and local.
Disadvantages of Localization
Localization can lead to unhealthy habits being integrated into society and breaking away from social values and norms. Also, people might adopt oppressive policies, especially with political ideologies from other parts of the world. Just because something is international, it does not mean that it should be part of society, so localization, to some extent, does not allow people to scrutinize products before adopting them.
