Blog Post One- Cass Wheatley- Global Issues
As someone who has had the privilege of traveling the world and studying foreign policy subjects, the effects of globalization are not lost on me. The advent of technologies like the iPhone combined with free trade economic policies has resulted in the connection between continents and various cultures in a new, interdependent way. While globalization has created immense economic growth and allowed global supply chains that provide cheaper prices, it has also created local job displacement and a vulnerable system of global shocks.
Another result of globalization and technology is the fast-paced nature of our society in the United States. As someone who is heavily involved in multiple organizations, working a job, and maintaining relationships with friends and family, I have found it exhausting to try to keep up with text messages, emails, social media, and my academic/career life all at once. I see a direct correlation between the hustle culture of the United States and the “efficiency” that globalization and technological advancements created. While this phenomenon is prominent in the United States, I have noticed a stark difference in the work culture in Europe, and specifically in Freiburg.
Here in Freiburg, the day-to-day culture is slower, more relaxed, and not nearly as stressful as the United States. The restaurant waiters must be waived down for the check, whereas waiters in the United States are eager to get you out the door to make room for the next customer. While the average worker in the US is chained to a desk 9-5, the citizens of Freiburg seem to enjoyflexible schedules and leisurely weekend hikes. Overall, the pace here is slower, and the people are less anxious.
This goes hand in hand with how different cultures result in different attitudes towards environmental sustainability. The Capitalist, corporate, ‘rat-race' is a key characteristic of the US, andresults in an individualistic, competitive culture where everyone fends for themselves. Contrarily, here in Freiburg, they have a more straightforward vision, which prioritizes group needs over individual wants. This translates to a city-wide goal of sustainability, and unwavering support from the local government on that goal. In the US, we are starkly independent and it's less frequent that our goals align.
Overall, I think that developing a global outlook requires learning to see the world through a lens of shared responsibility, which requires learning from our German friends, and considering their empathetic, slow-paced lifestyle over ours.
Excellent point about "shared responsibility."
ReplyDeleteCass, I often find myself also wishing I had more hours in the day to achieve everything on my to-do list. While I recognize that I am on somewhat of a vacation during this trip, the feeling of a slower paced, more relaxed society is very freeing. During our lunch at the schnitzel restaurant we all were talking about how long it was taking for us to receive our bill, however something that I also noticed was that we were the only ones doing this. Every other patron was leaned back in their chair basking in the warm Freiburg sun without much time worry. This more relaxed approach to life in Germany surely feeds into the country's sustainability mindset as you noted. I think your insight on this matter was very sagacious and representative of a KAPi member :).
ReplyDeleteCass, I definitely agree with your assessment of the differences in work culture between the United States and Germany, and I thought your point about competition was particularly relevant. I often find myself asking, "How can I be more efficient?" which is a small representation of the American work culture machine. Competition drives the American economy, which hinders our ability to prioritize sustainability. It seems the German people and government are willing to make sacrifices for the overall greater good. Sacrifices such as lower profits, higher taxes, or inconvenience are difficult to imagine within the individualistic mindset of the United States. I have appreciated being in a culture that seems to prioritize well-being, both personal and environmental, and I hope you have enjoyed the break as well!
ReplyDeleteCass, I think you brought up some really great points, especially when it comes to the "fast paced" culture that the United States has. Some things I personally noticed was how slow people walk. As Americans, we rush to get place to place, (even with driving). In Freiburg, people are much leisurely with their walking. Additionally, I noticed that restaurants and stores open later and close earlier. There is really no such thing as a "24/7" store or restaurant. Like you, I agree that the difference in culture, specifically in the United States directly effects other things. We can observe the stark differences in response to political issues and what is even prioritized in the first place. Environmental issues is one of the several examples.
ReplyDeleteCass, I think the ways that you connect globalism and the technologies around it to the pace of life in the US is fantastic. You describe really well that difference in pace we all experienced and how it looks different in Freiburg. I'm curious if you think there are ways of promoting a more relaxed pace in the US, and how it would affect the American sense of individualism. I think this is especially interesting because the US and Europe are often grouped together as "the West," and this gap is ignored. I think it is interesting that ideas around collectivism that would be rejected as "communist" in the US are accepted widely here despite the impact of the Soviet system on the continent.
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