Dialectics: Regionalism and Globalism

My initial inspiration for this blog post was not from the examples given on the blogging prompts page, but from our French book. Two of our vocabulary words for the chapter are: la mondialisation, or globalization, and la regionalisme, or regionalism.

Globalization and regionalism are, for one, different in the areas they address. Globalization expands across the earth whereas regionalism applies to a specific region. Obvious, I know, but now we have the basics out of the way.

So what exactly is globalization? By my definition, it's the communication of people across long distances, connecting all four corners of the earth.

Regionalism is the sense of belonging to a specific region. It gives the region a feeling of being larger and more important and focuses in on its prosperity

So, in a sense, the connections through globalization make the world seem smaller as communication becomes faster, easier, and more prominent. It feels as though the world has shrunk in size and relations with faraway lands are increasingly more attainable. However, regionalism focuses in on one region, making it the center of all decisions and thought. This makes the region seem much larger, as it is the sole purpose and focus and outside elements become less important.

With each mode of thought, perspectives change. Globalization accepts and welcomes outside nations while regionalism is more self-centered.

Yet, either way, both of these methodologies bring masses together, whether on a global or regional scale. They formulate close connections and elements that bind us together.

Blogging Around: Connor and Merrick

Connor's dialectics blog post was about the role of business and government in society.

My comment:

"I completely agree with you in that business and government should remain two separate entities and should not intervene with one another. You addressed important yet unfortunate effects of each institution holding too much power and realizing these outcomes are vital in maintaining society. This was well written and thought out."

Merrick's blog post was about colonialism and its long-term effects on Africa's development.

My comment:

"This really grabbed my interest because I, too, have pondered Africa's slow progression (compared to the rest of the world). The idea of European imperialism stunting Africa's growth makes perfect sense and I completely agree. I also agree with you, Merrick, in that Africa didn't benefit under European rule. It only led to a wounded society that never seemed to fully recover."

Best of Week: HOD through the eyes of an African

During our Heart of Darkness discussion, Mr. Allen had brought up a point about introducing an African perspective to the story. This idea immediately sparked interest within me for I was curious to explore the difference one narrator could have on the story.

Not only would it change the literary aspect of the novel in ways I will describe later, but the historical background would be altered concerning the position of blacks in society at the time. Not only were the Africans in the story of a minority race, they were "savage" indigenous peoples who were subject to white colonial rule. Therefore, introducing an African perspective to the story would take away some of the pride in imperialism and methods of The Company from a European colonist's eyes and replace them with disdain towards whites, altering the feel of the book.

From a basic literary standpoint, the language and rhythm of the writing would differ if from an African's perspective. I also think it would change the mood of the book from a story about colonialism rich with modernist and post-modernist elements to a diary of an indigenous African and his/her relations with European colonists. However, I think the reader would be subject to even more of the modernist idea of multiplicity through African fascination and reverence for Kurtz.

Also, during class someone had brought up the idea of making a character in the book African, using the Russian as an example. We evaluated that if any of the characters were "Africanized," then they would be reduced to being of little importance. Relating back to the historical aspect, only a century ago, Africans were of the lowest social class, so any character of high stature in the story would be reduced to a minority with a change of race.