Jihad Vs Mcworld Analysis

In his essay “Jihad vs McWorld,” Benjamin R. Barber, an American political theorist, highlights the ongoing battle between conformity and culture, tradition and uniqueness. Barber assimilates “Jihad,” a term that describes the effort of religious Muslims, as the constant opposition that religion and tradition impose against the ever changing world of technology, "music, fast computers, and fast food" of "McWorld." In his essay, Barber attributes the four major reasons that fuel McWorld as market imperative, a resource imperative, an information imperative, and an ecological imperative. All, as Barber states, existing at the some time and place.

Firstly, the market imperative functions as medium for commerce, and business to spread throughout

The internet for instance, has the ability to sprout revolutions by creating networks of people who are or can be distant apart. This type of medium facilitates the widespread of information and a the same time favors certain cultures or practices and undermines others.

And lastly, an ecological imperative embarks every single living being on the planet. That is, everyone is affected by the actions of others which lead to environmental change. Barber argues that by depleting the ozone layer or by cutting down forest, the world is approaching a homologous state in which all, regardless of religion, nationality or culture will habituate.

Personally, I can relate to this issue from both sides. From “Jihad,” in the terms of preserving culture, I have experienced a culture different than the one from the US. Where I’m from, El Salvador, a sense of close knit embracement if felt from everyone. From friends, neighbours, the shop owners, and even people who do not know you provide a sort of inclusion into their own routine. But once an individual steps out what is considered acceptable or assimilable, that person is excluded all at once. I know it first hand. Even more dramatic is the reaction when a person or group of people from a “different” place, or color come in close proximity. Like Barber mentioned, a sense of tribalism prevents the diffusion of outside custom. But in contrast, globalization gives passage to the advancements of humankind at the expense of individuality, culture and