Globalization and Multiculturalism: Implication for African Development

Abstract

In this paper effort is made to critically examine different discourses of globalization and explore how concepts of globalization have been represented in relation to African development. It is argued that, despite its celebratory rhetoric of “one world, many people”, notions of globalization are intricably linked with the continued development of western economies, creating new forms of colonial control in the generally referred to “post-colonial” era. Globalization is viewed as the new global colonialism, which is based on the historical structure of capitalism, and is a process that tactically executes the objectives of colonialism with greater efficiency and rationalism. There is a general discourse on the economic, political, social, educational, ethical, legal and cultural implications of globalization on African development, as argument is made about the emergence of the so-called “global culture”, which is just a process that marks the transformation to a culture of consumption.

Keywords: globalization, multiculturalism, development, neo-colonialism.