How will globalization influence individual cultures?  Will a uniform culture form as a result of farther globalization?

            Technology, such as fiber optic cables, has figuratively made the world a smaller place.  Once isolated groups of people and cultures now have the ability to communicate and exchange ideas at an unprecedented rate.  Greater communication between cultures increases potential assimilation; strong aspects of one culture now have the ability to influence and change weaker aspects of other cultures.  For example, the American system of fast food has spread throughout the world.  This is because fast food is a great way to serve large numbers of people extremely quickly and cheaply.  Over the last decade fast food chains have started to gain acceptance world wide.

            Now my major question is if cultures keep on accepting the most dominant ideas, will a uniform culture eventually be created?  A uniform culture would not form in the next five years, however, one hundred years from now a dominate culture could potentially exist.  Humans always resist change at first; however, once people find something to be in their advantage, they adapt.  Therefore current cultures, which may not appear to be willing to change, may adapt over time.  Could cultural traditions be lost due to assimilation caused by globalization?  Is it a big deal if traditions are lost?  Many American traditions have been lost over the years, but important, well established traditions usually stay.  Acculturation caused by globalization could help people realize what is of most importance in their culture.  Will future generations be affected by acculturation more than current generations?  Older generations may be more resistant to assimilation than younger generations.  If this is true, a uniform culture could be more likely to emerge in decades to come.  If a uniform culture develops, could it minimize nationalism and conflict?  If the majority of the world’s population is part of one constantly evolving, conglomerate culture, there could conceivably be less conflict.  A world culture could work similarly to American culture.  There are many different cultures within the
United States; however, Americans generally get along with one another.  A world culture could connect everyone, but still allow individual cultures to exist.