11: Building Community: The Global View

A World View of Cultural Diversity Entire history of the human race has been marked by transfers of cultural advances from one group to another and from one civilization to another. Paper: Originated in China centuries before it made its way to Europe. Magnetic Compass: Made possible the great ages of exploration. Mathematical Concepts: Trigonometry from Egypt, Arabic Numerals. Philosophy: Ancient Greece.

A World View of Cultural Diversity Much of Western Civilization originated outside of the West. Middle East or Asia. Conquest of Spain my Moslems in 8th Century A.D. made Spain a center for diffusion to Europe of: astronomy, medicine, optics and geometry. Later rise of Western Europe to world preeminence in science and technology built upon these foundations. Spread to United States, Australia, Japan, etc.

A World View of Cultural Diversity Concepts, information, products, and technologies transfer from one culture to another. Natural produce of the earth does the same. Malaysia: Rubber trees (native to Brazil). Africa: Rice (native to Asia) and tobacco (native to US) Dynamic picture of competition in that which serves human purposes most effectively. Ex: Paper – Printing – Books – ebooks.

A World View of Cultural Diversity Music, Art, and Literature: Developed and shared world-wide. Human Purposes: sustain life, relationships, self-actualize. Cultural leadership in various fields has changed hands many times. China: Far in advance of Europe in a large number of fields for 1,000+ years. Rises and fall of nations and empires have been on-going:

A World View of Cultural Diversity Social groups differ in their effectiveness as well. Prominence changes hands: China, medieval Spain, Ottoman Empire, Greek and Roman Empires, Russian Empire. Virtually every group excels at something: Germany : Pianos Chinese Immigrants: Grocery and Restaurant Trade Italy: Wine-making Jewish physicians

A World View of Cultural Diversity Why do some groups, subgroups, nations or whole civilizations excel in some particular field? No easy answers. All explanations of differences between groups can be broken down into heredity and environment. Cultural Diversity: connected to both. Cycle: Jewish immigrants from Eastern Europe and Italian immigrants from southern Italy in late 19th Century. Destitute. Rose in different ways: Academics and Wine-making.

A World View of Cultural Diversity Case Study: Japan: Read page 66 and share your thoughts in small groups. How have persistent cultural differences permeated the changes in the Japanese and Japanese-American culture?

A World View of Cultural Diversity http://www.goldmansachs.com/our-thinking/view-from/a-view-from-japan/index.html?cid=PS_01_29_06_00_00_00 View the video on this website. Are there parallels between the current state of the US economy and the economy in Japan? Why should we be aware of global economies? Click the browse area in the upper right hand corner of the page to view global economy updates in other parts of the world. Chose 1-2 other areas: China, Australia, India, etc., view the videos and comment in the thread.

A World View of Cultural Diversity Geographic Locations and Features: Waterways: Africa: more than twice the size of Europe, but with a shorter coastline. Climate: Farming: Vs. Cycle of Urbanization: How has geography influenced development in the US?

A World View of Cultural Diversity Cultural Diversity: How much still exists? Where? How does it affect economies, world-views, etc.? Western Influence. Third-World Economy. Why do we continue to have a Third-World? How is this changing? Why is this changing? Futuring?

In-Depth Discussion: Reading: Asians in America Sharing: Discuss current issues from the viewpoint of Asians in America. Model Minority? Graph on p. 87. Asian-American Identity. Other?

In-Depth Discussion: Inventing Hispanics: US race relations were once characterized by ‘black’ and ‘white’. Hispanic population is now finding political consciousness. Why? How does the US Census affect Hispanics? California Minority? 2001: 59.5 % white Hispanic Self-View? Cultural Values?

In-Depth Discussion: Immigration: Cultural Transmission: Demographic Trends? Travel and Tourism? Study Abroad? Migration and Immigration? Documented vs. Undocumented? Transition Process? Workplace? Impact? (to page 101).

Impact of Immigration: Economy: Cost or add to US Economy? An estimated $330 billion back into the economy. Entrepreneurship: More likely to start businesses. Employment/Productivity: Effect of low salaries? Social Services? Neighborhoods? Assimilation?

Global Educational Rankings http://www.shanghairanking.com/ Search words: Global Education Rankings 2013 Search this website. Is this information useful to you as an educational leader? Comment in the thread.

Social Services:

Social Services:

Social Services

Other Examples? http://ic.galegroup.com/ic/ovic/ReferenceDetailsPage/ReferenceDetailsWindow?displayGroupName=Reference&action=e&windowstate=normal&catId=GALE|00000000LVYJ&documentId=GALE|PC3021900137&mode=view&userGroupName=gotitans&jsid=560f87aac4cc1dab0cf3b328071052d9#Fighting_Poverty