Cultural globalization 

refers to the transmission

of ideas, meanings, and values around the world
in such a way as to extend and intensify social
relations. This process is marked by the common
consumption of cultures that have been diffused
by the Internet, popular culture media,
and international travel. 
The circulation of cultures enables individuals to
partake in extended social relations that cross
national and regional borders. The creation and
expansion of such social relations is not merely
observed on a material level.
Cultural globalization involves the formation of
shared norms and knowledge with which people
associate their individual and collective cultural
identities.
BASICS
• Diffusion of ideas and cultures amongst all of the
civilizations of the world.
• Trend that will eventually make all of human
experience and customs the same since all cultures are
coming together into one
• Occurs in everyday life, through wireless
communication, electronic commerce, popular culture,
and international trade
• Attempt to promote a Western lifestyle and possibly
Americanize the world.
Contributing factors
New technology and forms of communication around the world help to
integrate different cultures into each other
Transportation technologies and services along with mass migration and
individual travel contribute to this form of globalization allowing for cross-
cultural exchanges
Infrastructures and institutionalization embedded change (e.g. teaching
languages such as English across the world through educational systems and
training of teachers)
Benefits
Allows for profits to companies and nations
Offers opportunities for development and advancement in economics,
technology, and information and usually impacts developed countries
Creates a more homogeneous world
Generates interdependent companies amongst companies
PHASES
Pre-modern phase: early civilizations to 1500
Early human migration (facilitation of trade and creation
of social networks amongst other nations)
Emergence of world religions
Development of trans-regional trade networks (long-
distance trade, many centered in China and India. Early
forms of globalization, especially with the Silk Road)
Modern phase
European imperialism (rise of the West. European expansionism,
especially with Columbus’ encounter with the New World which
allowed goods and people to cross the Atlantic)
Emerging international economy
International migration and developments outside of the West
Spread of modernity
Medical advancement that helped many
Rise of the nation-state (a development of freedom of movement
and cultural diffusion)
Industrialization (demand for raw materials to supply industries.
Science grew immensely with electronic shipping, railways, and
new forms of communication, such as cable technology)
Contemporary phase:
Struggle after the cold war led to a slow but steady increase in
cultural flows with the immigration of peoples, ideas, goods,
symbols, and images.
Represented global cultural interconnectedness, which
eventually led to developments in transport and transport
infrastructures such as jet airlines, construction of road and rail
networks. This allowed for more tourism and shifting patterns of
global migration.
Marshall McLuhan introduced the term “global village” in the
1960s stating that it was the ability to connect and trade ideas
instantly amongst the nations of the world
The term “globalization” became popular in the 1980s
Examples:
Cultural globalization integrates scholars from several disciplines, such as
anthropology, sociology, communication, cultural studies, geography, political
science and international relations. The field is notably broad as there are
several concepts which may be perceived as cultural or transnational.

A visible aspect of the cultural globalization is the diffusion of certain cuisines

such as American fast food chains. The two most successful global food and
beverage outlets, McDonald's and Starbucks, are American companies often
cited as examples of globalization, with over 36,000 and 24,000 locations
operating worldwide respectively as of 2015.The Big Mac Index is an informal
measure of purchasing power parity among world currencies.

Cultural globalization is one of the three main dimensions of globalization

commonly found in academic literature, with the two other being economic
globalization and political globalization. 
IMPACTS:
The patterns of cultural globalization is a way of spreading theories and ideas
from one place to another. Although globalization has affected us
economically and politically, it has also affected us socially on a wider scale.
With the inequalities issues, such as race, ethnic and class systems, social
inequalities play a part within those categories.
The past half-century has witnessed a trend towards globalization. Within the
media and pop culture, it has shaped individuals to have certain attitudes that
involve race issues thus leading to stereotypes.
Technology is an impact that created a bridge that diffused the globalization of
culture. It brings together globalization, urbanization and migration and how it
has affected today's trends. Before urban centers had developed, the idea of
globalization after the second world war was that globalization took place due
to the lifting of state restrictions by different nations.
Hybridization
Many writers suggest that cultural globalization is a long-term
historical process of bringing different cultures into interrelation.
Jan Pieterse suggested that cultural globalization involves human
integration and hybridization, arguing that it is possible to detect
cultural mixing across continents and regions going back many
centuries. They refer, for example, to the movement of religious
practices, language and culture brought by Spanish colonization
of the Americas. The Indian experience, to take another example,
reveals both the pluralization of the impact of cultural
globalization and its long-term history. The work of such cultural
historians qualifies the lineage of writers—predominantly
economists and sociologists—who trace the origins of
globalization to recent capitalism, facilitated through
technological advances.
Homogenization
An alternative perspective on cultural globalization emphasizes the
transfiguration of worldwide diversity into a pandemic of
Westernized consumer culture. Some critics argue that the dominance of
American culture influencing the entire world will ultimately result in the end
of cultural diversity. Such cultural globalization may lead to a human
monoculture. This process, understood as cultural imperialism, is associated
with the destruction of cultural identities, dominated by a homogenized and
westernized, consumer culture. The global influence of American products,
businesses and culture in other countries around the world has been referred
to as Americanization. This influence is represented through that of American-
based television programs which are rebroadcast throughout the world. Major
American companies such as McDonald's and Coca-Cola have played a major
role in the spread of American culture around the globe. Terms such as Coca-
colonization have been coined to refer to the dominance of American
products in foreign countries.
Conflict intensification[edit]
Another alternative perspective argues that in reaction to the
process of cultural globalization, a "Clash of Civilizations" might
appear. Indeed, Samuel Huntington emphasizes the fact that
while the world is becoming smaller and interconnected, the
interactions between peoples of different cultures enhance the
civilization consciousness that in turn invigorate differences.
Indeed, the differences in culture sharpened by this very process
of cultural globalization will be a source of conflict. While not
many commentators agree that this should be characterized as a
'Clash of Civilizations', there is general concurrence that cultural
globalization is an ambivalent process bringing an intense sense
of local difference and ideological contestation.
Alternatively, Benjamin Barber in his book Jihad vs. McWorld
 argues for a different "cultural division" of the world. In his book
the McWorld represents a world of globalization and global
connectivity and interdependence, looking to create a
"commercially homogeneous global network". This global
network is divided into four imperatives; Market, Resource, 
Information-Technology and the Ecological imperative. On the
other hand, "Jihad" represents traditionalism and maintaining
one's identity. Whereas "Clash of Civilizations" portrays a world
with five coalitions of nation-states, "Jihad vs. McWorld" shows a
world where struggles take place on a sub-national level.
Although most of the western nations are capitalist and can be
seen as "McWorld" countries, societies within these nations
might be considered "Jihad" and vice versa.