Prepare for total McDonaldization. It might hurt a little (PDF)

Essay from the year 2014 in the subject Sociology - Culture, Technology, Peoples / Nations, grade: 1,3, University of Siegen, course: World Society, World Culture and World Politics, language: English, abstract: We are one - at least that is how it feels when you hop of a plane in South Africa, Argentina, Australia, Japan or in the United States. Surely, as you take a cab to the next big city, listening to the radio playing Rihannas latest song, you will encounter familiar signs like the golden M of McDonald's restaurants, which signals you that you can get a familiar burger here.

Later, you may decide to go to the movies and chances are high that you will see the latest Hollywood-Blockbuster. Of course you can pay your ticket with the same credit card you always use to buy your groceries in your home country. Globalization seems to be a blessing, everything is so familiar, predictable and therefore easy to handle. It seems that over time and with accelerating velocity the world has come together. All over the world we share a similar taste in music, food and movies, and on a political level depend on single governments who reign nation states with clear cut borders.

Of course, there are still some blind spots, for example McDonald's only has conquered 118 nations until December 20141, but it is only a matter of time, until everyone experiences the taste of a BigMac. But be warned, this convenient assimilation doesn't happen without tremendous costs, because under the cover of comfortable services lies the rationalization of every aspect of life. This rationalization is problematic, because it leads to a lack of cultural diversity and in addition transforms the world into a profit generating machine. The worst part: There is nobody to blame, but ourselves, because we started it!