Media Globalization

In the article "Theories of Media Globalizatoin" that we went over in class, there was a section that focused on Arab Comic Strips and the lenses of globalization that relate. One of these lenses that I will focus on is called "top-down" globalization.  Jim Kenney notes in his article "Globalization and the Dialogue of Civilizations" that top-down globalization is often marked by " the locally destructive global interpenetration of markets, by a disconcerting cultural homogenization with a distinctive western and American flavor, and by a corresponding felt threat to social, political, economic, cultural, and religious identity in many regions of the world." (Kenney, 2006)

Regarding the Arabic-language comic strips mentioned earlier, this type of globalization occured between 1950 and throughout the 60s as well. During that time, Disney introduced comics such as Miki, the Egyptian version of Mickey Mouse, which contained both Egyptian-originated and translated content. In one specific story, the egyptian mummy King Tut is stolen, but hope arises as the Ramsees statue comes alive and travels to Paris to try and retreive it. Ramses is later captured and returned to Egypt, exclaiming at the end of the comic that "there is nothing better than Egypt."

Machin and Leeuwen explain in "Theories of Media Globalization" that "this comic may use a global format of storytelling, but the story it tells is Egyptian- a story of Western archaeological theft, of Egypt's nostalgia for its glorious past and its problems in successfully competing with its former colonisers. . . at the base of this still lies a European model of nation and of invented national heritage and mythology."





Kenny J. (2006). Globalization and the Dialogue of Civilizations. Journal of Globalization for the Common Good. Retrieved from http://lass.calumet.purdue.edu/cca/jgcg/2006/fa06/jgcg-fa06-kenney.htm 

Machin D. and Leeuwen T.V. (2007). Global Media Discourse: A Critical Introduction. London: Routledge.

Jihadist Ideology of Globalization

This week in class we discussed the cultural dimension of Globalization as well as ideologies of Globalization. In Steger's short introduction of Globalization, he takes two chapters to focus on these topics. While reading his insight on ideologies, I found that he explored the Arab World in depth, mentioning the region's radical ideological movements. Steger notes that there are three ideologies: market, justice and jihadist. To focus on the Arab Region we will look closely at Jihadist globalism. It is not be mistaken with the religion of Islam, but it more is directed towards the dangerous, violent actions such as terrorist strategies. Jihad literally means "armed or unarmed struggle against unbelief purely for the sake of God." For example, Al-Quada's core ideological claim is to rebuild a unified global Islamic community of believers through jihad.

 Al-Quada leader Osama bin Laden has claimed that the 9/11 attack was a response to the influence America has had on his nation. This 'Americanization' has forced outside ideas on Muslim peoples and has upset those who seek an authentic and pure form of their religion. He believes that the 'Judeo-Crusader alliance' has had an eighty-year history of disgrace and humilition directed toward the Islam community. Therefore, Jihadist globalism "seeks to mobilize the global Muslim community of believers in defence of allegedly Islamic values and beliefs that are thought to be under severe attack by the forces of secularism and consumerism."

In the book "Al-Quada, Salafi Jihad, and the Diffusion of Suicide Attacks: The Globalization of Martyrdom," Assaf Moghadam adds on to that definition by stating that one adopts "Jihad as a method for change so that the 'Word of God' becomes supreme." Moghadam explains that there is a globalization of suicide missions rising that is interrelated with the Jihadist globalism. Looking at the bigger picture, Globalization is not only affecting the movement of goods and products, but also ideas and beliefs as well.



Steger, M.B. (2009). Globalization: A Very Short Introduction. New York: Oxford University Press Inc.

Moghadam, A. (2008). Al-Quada, Salafi Jihad, and the Diffusion of Suicide Attacks: The Globalization of Martyrdom. Maryland: The John Hopkins University Press

Clash of Civilizations

In class this week, we were introduced to the book "Clash of Civilizations and the Remaking of World Order" by political scientist Samuel P. Huntington. The section we read interested me so I decided that my blog post for today would focus on that. The basic message that Huntington attempts to get across is that peoples religious and cultural identities will cause conflict and tension. Huntington identifies a major shift of economic, military, and political power from the West to the other civilizations of the world. He goes on to explain that there are two civilizations that challege this and they are Islam and the East Asian Sinic civilization. He predicts that Korea and Vietnam will back East Asia, more specifically China, because of its history of hierarchical command structures. China will be the most powerful long-term threat to the West.

Now, to focus on how the Arab Region ties into the picture, I will go over what Huntington says about the Islamic civilization and the conflict its experiencing. Islam has gone through a massive population explosion which is causing conflict because fundamentalist movements are becoming increasingly popular and the Islamic Resurgence is springing forth once again. Huntington believes that the Islamic civilization is another potential ally to China and he predicts that the Western-Islamic clash could become the biggest conflict of the early 21st century.

Huntington concludes to say that in the future "there will be no universal civilization, but instead a world of different civilizations, each of which will have to learn to coexist with the others."



Huntington, S.P. (1996). The Clash of Civilizations and the Remaking of World Order. New York: Simon and Schuster.

Elliot, M. (1996, Dec 1). When Cultures Collide. Washington Post. Retrieved from http://www.washingtonpost.com

Globalization and Media

Communications 458 Global Media


Referring to the Arab Region, globalization is known to be the spread of ideas, customs, institutions, and attitudes originated in one part of the world and having expanded to another. Because much of this growth begins in the west, many perceive it as westernization, thus being a threat to the arabian society. Decades when globalization was at its highest was marked by renewed economic dependency, continuing insecurity, endless wars, and intrusive US hegemony. This made things tense, creating an anti-globalization attitude strengthening Islamic-Fundamentalism.


Individuals with conflicting or opposing views are now more easily able to participate in differing cultures and politics through global communication and media networks and are therefore more reaily able to circulate their struggles and opposing ideals through  media. So, although globalization and better communication through media at first glance is a progressive step toward world peace and prosperity, the truth may be an actual different story.