Topic:
The economic penetration by multinational corporations shapes and distorts cultural patterns in developing countries. The Westernization, particularly the Americanization, of culture presents a formidable threat to the cultural integrity of the non-Western world. Nevertheless, the know-how of these corporations is necessary to fuel the economic development of developing countries.

Which of the attributes of the multinational corporation do you agree with: a contributor to growth or a threat to culture?

Globalization is one of the hallmarks of the modern age, amidst computers and the Internet. Because of huge advances in technology, the world becomes smaller and international barriers get weaker. As a result, companies with a sound foundation find unprecedented ease in the quest of foreign market penetration. I personally believe that while such a phenomenon has an inevitable impact on the social culture, it is insufficient to substantially shake the foundation of the society is built upon. As such, I believe that the presence of MNCs in a country, is more beneficial to the country's growth.

One of the most direct advantages of an MNC presence in a country is jobs. When a foreign company establishes its presence in the society, it creates jobs for the local market, a critical solution to the omnipresent problem of unemployment even in the most developed nation like the United States. Moreover, because the locals are inevitably involved in the operation of the MNC in that country, the locals are taught invaluable skills which can also be applied to other local industries, or even in a competing industry. This causes a further blend industry know-hows, which leads to greater technological advancements. One very good example is the competitive engineering field. Whenever there is a good way of doing things, it is readily implemented as a solution by another company. For example, when the Apple released its revolutionary iPhone, many other companies are forced to catch up with the competition in order to survive as an industry leader. As such, Google came up with an Android phone, Sony with Xperia and Nokia with its newest N85 model, all of which has 3G wireless technology, GPS and are multimedia powerhouses. Therefore, in this way, an MNC has the ability to stimulate competition within a society and thus encourage growth of that society.

Next, the foundation of a society is built over centuries. Thus it is virtually impossible for an MNC, which is typically a minority in the society, to have any substantial impact on the society. Granted, the presence of the fastfood outlet, MacDonalds as well as the coffee tycoon, Starbucks, are widespread. Admittedly, these MNCs do have some impact on the local society, especially on the younger generation. However, it is not without compromise. After all, social forces are still present to shield the society from the full effects of foreign intrusion. Even when cheap and tasty burgers or aromatic roasts are available, not everyone could consume such foods on a regular basis, because such foods are not what the locals are accustomed to. On the contrary, local food is more welcomed generally, because of familiar tastes. As such, in order to thrive in the local market, the MNCs more often than not, have to alter their business model to match the societal needs, as opposed to changing the society's culture. Another such example is Google's conquest in China in the musical realm. In order to compete with the infamous company, Baidu, which serves illegal music downloads to users, Google Inc is forced to partner with several major Chinese music companies to provide free music download service to the society, a move which would never happened in the United States where Google is established. Therefore, MNCs cannot be considered as a threat to the local society.

In conclusion, I feel that the presence of MNCs in a society are never a threat to the rich society's culture, but instead, they provide the much needed competition, which would spur technological innovations. Because one of the key to the survival of a business is to take into account of the local market, it is highly unlikely that an MNC will have a revolutionary impact on the society. If not, why would Sony try to portray the Television as a family item in Japan, where family bonding is of utmost priority, and as a fad in the United States, where branding has more emphasis.