Increasing globalisation has made the world more diverse and more connected. People today learn about different languages, cultures and traditions transcending geographical boundaries. While diversity has led to positive effects on the world by fostering strong relationships among countries. There are those who believe that globalisation has led to the neglect of local populations. Despite this, it cannot be denied that the diversity globalisation brings along should be celebrated and not feared because it brings economic and social benefits.
Communication technologies around the world have connected people transcending geographical boundaries. The increased communications have helped people gaining a sense of various cultures and traditions. Moreover, increased connectivity among people has also led to greater cooperation among international communities. People today can connect to various political leaders and communicate with them in a smooth manner. This is evident from the fact that English is being spoken across the world today and is being learnt even in non-English speaking countries like China and India. Easier communication through the medium of English has helped in developing business as well as political relationships. The acceptance of linguistic diversity has allowed various languages to spread across the world, and even for movies and music to accepted by people in other countries. Therefore, diversity should not be feared as it allows people to share better relationships with people from across the world and enriches them as individuals.
Diversity has also had positive effects on the wellness and healthcare industry. Globalisation has led to diversity in the way diseases are treated and how people take care of themselves. From Ayurveda, Acupuncture and Chinese medicine alternative treatments are increasing across the world due to globalisation. Doctors today are discovering new forms of diseases which were previously limited to specific countries. Examples of this can be diseases like Ebola, Monkey Fever and the latest Coronavirus, where doctors learn about these viruses and try to come up with treatments that can benefit people globally. Furthermore, people today are more likely to follow diets and consume organic food products that are eaten globally. For example the current popularity of exotic superfoods, from chia seeds, acai berry to quinoa. Globalisation has also led to greater awareness of health issues like obesity which in turn has helped people to alter their diets and live a healthy lifestyle. Thus, globalisation and the resulting diversity should not be feared as it has led to unprecedented advancement in healthcare systems and healthy practices that have improved the lifestyle of people.
Despite its benefit to the global economy, greater diversity can undermine the wellbeing of individuals within countries. Due to excessive globalisation, the local population suffer as countries continue to hire foreign talent. This can be seen in countries like Singapore where foreign talent is preferred more than local talent this is especially true in the food, construction and retail industries. This trend might cause panic among the local populations as they need to be more competitive to get these jobs. Another peril of globalisation is that with diverse alternative medicines it has also brought a diverse range of ailments and infections. For example, globalisation increased the risk of a pandemic outbreak like SARS and ongoing Coronavirus which has infected several hundred-thousand people. The other dark side of globalisation is how western fast foods have caused severe health issues in the developing world. Thus, the benefits associated with a more diverse workforce or alternative medicines should not be taken at face value because with greater diversity comes greater problems like social instability and the threat of fatal diseases.
In conclusion, diversity brought about by globalisation has both positive and negative effects on the world as a whole. However, it is undeniable that with diversity, more people have jobs, friends, opinions, fashion and food. Greater connectivity through trade has increased living standards and given us more choices.