International Culture Values Reflective

Using MLA format, analyze the culture(s) and values represented in the assigned supplemental text and comment on any parallels with Hirschberg text readings.

The assigned reading details who food and culture are heavily related to one another and often reflect the prevailing values of the civilization. The reading provides the example of Thailand and how their collectivistic culture is embodied in the manner in which they create their food. Here, the people of Thailand share plates with each other which represents the emphasis placed on community and family. American culture however is much more focused on the individual and those people often serve themselves on a single plate. Both examples represent the values placed on society and how they are interwoven within the overall civilization. America values individualism which is reflected in its capitalistic nature. Society is predicates on individuals pursuing their own self-interests and using those interests to further their own individual goals and aspirations. Meanwhile many Asian countries are much more communal in their civilizations. Many often shun individual accomplishment especially if it is to the detriment of society overall. As a result, they emphasize shared sacrifice and community relationships.

The reading also reflects how these cultural values can have implications for other countries around the world. Due to globalization, many nations are now much more interconnected as it relates to their economic activities. This has allowed many developing nations to flourish. These nations have been able to grow and foster their middle class, improve household income, and allow consumers excess to a variety of goods and service. Unfortunately, these benefits are not without their subsequent costs. The reading uses the example of Brazil and how the fast-food industry is contributing to massive deforestation. In this example, the American values of convenience and seamless service have created a mass influx of fast-food operations. These operations have spread international due to globalization and the growing middle class of developed nations. As a result, more developing nations have demand fast food establishments as their citizenry now has much more discretionary income. In addition, due to the growing middle class, many developing nations have adopted the need for convenience and have also developed a need for increased fast-food establishments. These influences have ultimately created a demand for beef related products that are often sourced from Latin American countries. Due to globalization, Latin countries often provide the cheapest source of quality beef products. However, to accommodate the growing demand, deforestation has occurred within the region of Brazil. According to the reading nearly 30% of the forest has been subject to some form of deforestations resulting in a reduction in the natural wide life in the area.

As a result, the cultural values of nations can have both positive and negative elements within them. These elements must be weighed against one another to determine the best outcome for civilization as a whole. As the reading indicates, is deforestation of Brazil justified to meet the demands of a growing middle class? Likewise, should cultural values be supplanted by those of other nations? All of these decisions must be weighed by each nation as they grapple with the juxtaposition of both culture, globalization and their values. All of these decisions are important as they directly impact the economic well-being of the country’s constituents. In the case of both China and Brazil, both countries have a very high population of individuals entering the middle class. As a result, both counties would like to maintain their cultural identity while also enabling foreign direct investment within their country to further grow the middle class. Countries have combated this issue through legislation and other legal procedures to ensure their cultural elements are maintained while also benefiting form the investment that has enabled their economies to grow.