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Christopher Lirette

CUL 2200 – Introduction to Cultural Studies

Professor Craig Jones

2 July 2021

Assignment 7-2: Globalization, Christianity, and Power Essay

Globalization is a double-edged sword. It has brought prosperity and opportunity to

countries in need, as well as acted as a siphon of resources and talent from poorer to more

prosperous nations. For the purposes of this essay, I will be focusing on the consequences of

globalization for myself and my community. I believe studying its consequences will help to

develop principles for operating in a way that both honors God and the people he has created.

In my small-town community of Fredericksburg, Texas there are thriving small businesses

that exist on Main Street. This has been in part, because the local government doesn’t allow larger

chain restaurants or businesses to operate within the space. The bulk of tourists (the lifeblood of the

town) walk up and down main street. While it may not seem fair to some of those larger

corporations, it has been a practical way of making the playing field even. Walmart, Starbucks,

Burger King, Chicken Express, etc. are treated differently.

I juxtapose this against small town Lampasas, Texas which was another community I used

to live in. Lampasas has the major chain businesses on its main thoroughfares and intersections:

Walmart, H-E-B, Dairy Queen, Taco Bell, Ace Hardware, Ford Dealership, etc. As a result, less

independent businesses exist in Lampasas and more franchises. The town square is not thriving like

it once was with 15-20 empty buildings from where small businesses used to be.

While Walmart, Dairy Queen, Ace Hardware, etc. doesn’t seem like globalization these

large corporations have a global presence and their presence can drastically change the economy in

small towns in the U.S. Lower prices and cheaper products thanks to cheap international labor,
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access to large supply chains, etc. have put many small businesses out of business. Furthermore, the

same cheap goods that are sold at places like Walmart have outsourced manufacturing of those

goods from local U.S. towns/cities to cheaper international labor like India or China.

Many ethical issues surround this. Are cheaper products worth the economic harm done to

those doing the cheap labor or those who have lost their jobs to the cheap labor? Should larger

corporations be treated differently as in the case of Fredericksburg? Should small businesses be

treated any differently to help them compete? Why is local ownership important? “Globalization is

a diffuse and complex process in which Christians are, and must remain, intimately involved. There

are no simple answers as to how economic, political, and social life can better reflect God’s justice,

but certainly Christians must ask difficult questions and be willing to make changes where

appropriate” (Howell 220).

Herein lies the crux of the issue, am I utilizing my economic power to give myself the

ultimate advantage or to the advantage for myself and the seller? “Godly exercise of power always

elevates the body of Christ or the local community. Power is meant to be shared with the goal of

empowering others. Hoarded power weakens others and exalts oneself” (Elmer 170). Am I enabling

economic injustice by favoring cheaper products at the expense of a living wage for others? Or, am

I at my own expense tipping more and living a life more in line with Gods calls for generosity and

justice?

Personally, I love buying from Amazon, but they engage in unjust business practices on a

host of things. Yes, I get a cheaper product, but through my purchasing power validate and reinforce

such business practices. If I want to use my economic power in a way that is more in line with my

values and faith, I need to better understand the business practices of those whom I purchase from.

This includes understanding their stances on a host of issues like: labor, wages, benefits, work

hours, time off, etc. Because, even in the mundane act of purchasing from others I can honor Christ.
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Globalization is a torrential force that impacts all of us. For good or for ill, Christians share the opportunities
and unintended consequences of an increasingly connected and networked world.
Based upon your readings on globalization and Christian servanthood and power in Howell & Paris

(Chapter 10 PDF from the 1st edition of the book!   download) and Elmer, in a two (2)-page
double-spaced essay, provide a personal response to either the a) opportunities or b) ethical consequences
of globalization for you and your community. If choosing the former, you may want to describe, discuss,
and apply any of the following that might be relevant to your own context:
 How globalization offers new advantages for evangelism/missions
 How globalization can facilitate needed economic, educational, or social changes in societies
 How studying the history of missions and colonialism can help you become a more effective cross-
cultural worker
If choosing the latter, you may want to describe, discuss, and apply any of the following that might pertain
to your own context:
 What some of the ethical issues stemming from globalization are that you/r community participate
in?
 How the history of colonialism and missions impacts the way you might approach cross-cultural
ministry in post-colonial nations
 Ways in which you can become more aware of the economic inequalities tied to the actions, patterns,
or purchases in your everyday life
Be sure to interact at least once with Howell & Paris and Elmer (one time per book). You may write in first
person, detailing exactly how you can respond to globalization in your specific context/culture. Be honest in
your reflections and precise with your applications. Avoid terse points of application, such as “I need to
become more aware of how I am spending my money.” Instead, be detailed about what this would look like
in your specific context: “I hope to begin researching how the food I eat gets onto my table to ensure that I
am supporting those who worked for it either at home or overseas.”
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Works Cited

Elmer, Duane. Cross-Cultural Servanthood: Serving the World in Christlike Humility.

InterVarsity Press: Downers Grove, IL. 2006. Kindle Edition.

Howell, Brian M and Jenell Paris. Introducing Cultural Anthropology: A Christian Perspective,

Baker Academic: Grand Rapids, MI. 2011.

An ethical issue that I have personally struggled with for the last 2-3 years is whether to

continue playing games made by Blizzard Entertainment, a video game company I have grown up

with and loved. Blizzard cut 800 employees, despite record profits back in 2019. In addition, they

penalized Blitz Chung a Hong Kong E-Sports player for saying, “Liberate Hong Kong, the

revolution of our times,” while he was on an interview after a tournament. Not only did Blizzard

ban Blitz Chung from future tournaments they nullified his winnings to protect their business

interests in the growing Chinese market.

I grew up and was always excited to play Blizzard video games from the 90’s onward. So,

for me personally the ethical consideration is whether or not to continue supporting Blizzard.

China’s control over Blizzard’s profit margins in their country seems to be exerting a sort of

colonial hegemony in this circumstance. “…hegemony is the dominance of ideas or culture for the

purpose of reinforcing inequality or control…colonial hegemony refers more specifically to ways in

which culture and ideology become means of colonial control, asserting widespread influence over

dominated populations” (Howell 210). Blizzard is not the only company that China has exerted

influence over for access to its markets either. Hollywood has edited out scenes from movies and

the NBA has censored some of its players.