Globalization and Diversity

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Globalization and Diversity

Globalization and more specifically political globalization have taken center stage in Ankara, Turkey owing to the recent refugee crisis in Europe. The European Union has taken a key interest in ensuring that Turkey plays a part in helping to manage the crisis that has been reported to be the worst since World War II. European nations that have taken in refugees have received aid due to the strain of accommodating not only more dependents but also diverse persons and cultures. Diversity comes into play with the rising concern for the integration of Muslim refugees into European societies. Though there are numerous hindrances to the adoption of the diversity process, the Turkish government has proved to be cooperative. Diversity and globalization issues are both evident in the news about the refugee situation in Turkey, the detention of British academics in Istanbul, as well as the Cumhuriyet trial.

European culture is full of diversity and more so due to its proximity to Arab nations. Migration in recent times has contributed significantly to the diversification of cultures in Turkey. Diversity nonetheless has been regarded as a major source of hesitation when evaluating the impact of taking in foreign refugees. In particular, the relation to terrorist activities experienced and anticipated in nations that have taken in refugees. This has mostly been experienced due to xenophobic statements and stereotypes that have sadly been propagated and perpetuated by national and global leaders. The bulk of refugees has been reported to be from Syria, Afghanistan, and Iraq, which are largely Muslim-dominated nations. This form of diversity is bound to cause conflicting interactions in Europe. There is, therefore, a need for measures to be put in place to accommodate not only the persons in the asylum but also their cultural needs. The need for the European Union to increase the aid granted to Turkey is therefore not very farfetched. Although this has been considered as blackmailing the European Union, there are economic and social grounds for the request for additional aid.

Globalization is defined as a process of interaction, and integration. Political globalization involves the global governmental actions enforced by an international political body. Turkey has recently interacted with the European Union with regard to the number of refugees making their way into Europe from its borders. Turkey is not a member of the EU. Despite its previous attempts at making an entry into the union the most recent actions by the country may not earn them the same. It is no secret that press freedom in Turkey cannot be defined as liberal. This is highly unbecoming of a nation that wishes to join the EU and participate in political globalization. Another aspect of the same is their ill motivation to take in more refugees, which has earlier been termed as blackmail. More into the subject matter is the arrest of British academic, Chris Stephenson in Istanbul. Stephenson was arrested after he showed up at the Istanbul Police Department to show support for three Turkish scholars. The three were held in detention over investigations into the petitions signed to stop the “massacre and slaughter” in Southeastern Turkey. The actions of the three academics were defined as ‘exceeding the limits of academic freedom’. In conclusion, Turkey leaves a lot to be desired in the realization of political globalization. However, there are numerous ways for the redemption of the nation, and thus, means should be forged to seek them.