Globalisation's Spiritualisation

Gyuto Monks at Glastonbury Festival 2013
(The Huddersfield Daily Examiner 2013)

According to Nederveen Pieterse, a key criticism of contemporary globalisation is that it is ‘uneven’ (Nederveen Pieterse 2004, p. 13), and is largely responsible for widening the gap between industrialised and non-industrialised countries. However, globalisation does have enormous potential to bring about positive political, cultural and social change in parts of the world traditionally excluded from the advantages of industrialization. This is especially so when the forces of globalisation are ‘harnessed’ by a social group or movement (Nederveen Pieterse 2004, p. 9), as was the case when the Gyuto Monks of Tibet performed at the iconic Glastonbury Music Festival earlier this year (Hart 2013).

The reception of the Gyuto Monks at Glastonbury represents how the mechanisms of globalisation can be used in the promotion of cultural, political and social movements, thereby increasing cultural awareness and understanding around the world. Although many people would have already been aware of the issues surrounding the practice of Buddhism in Tibet,  the Monks’ performance at Glastonbury cast the issue in an entirely different light (Vincent 2013).  This example supports Nederveen Pieterse’s suggestion that globalisation ‘crosses the ideological spectrum and engages social movements and politics at all levels’ (Nederveen Pieterse 2004, p. 6), because it has expanded the scope in which individuals and groups in society can tackle traditional social issues. No longer are social movements constricted in terms of their social reach, as globalisation has created a ‘shift’ away from traditional notions of the ‘nation state’ and ‘international politics’ in favour of ‘politics of planetary scope’ (Nederveen Pieterse 2004, p. 6).  

Essentially this means that the parameters which have traditionally restricted human interaction, such as national borders, cultural barriers and the hierarchical international political system, have been reduced in significance as new modes of mass communication have emerged (Rucht 2004, p. 27). This is why a group of exiled Tibetan Monks have been able to spread their message through music to a global audience, exemplified by their performance at Glastonbury, despite the opposition to their cause by the Chinese Government, a significant international political power.

Therefore, although globalisation has created greater international disparity, there is also the potential for it to be used to empower individuals, including those in disadvantaged parts of the world, because the forces of globalisation can be commandeered by the people rather than by the state.

                                                                             

Reference List:

Nederveen Pieterse, J 2004, ‘Globalization: consensus and controversies’, Globalization and culture: global mélange, Rowan & Littlefield, lnham, Md., pp. 7-21.
Hart, T 2013, ‘Dalai Lama’s Tibetan Monks to play Glastonbury, sign to Decca/Universal’, Music Week, June 12, retrieved 2 August 2013, <http://www.musicweek.com/news/read/dalai-lama-s-tibetan-monks-to-play-glastonbury-sign-to-decca-universal/054997>.

Rucht, D, ‘The Quadruple ‘A’’, in W Van De Donk, BD Loader, PG Nixon & D Rucht (eds), Cyberprotest: New Media, Citizens and Social Movements, Routledge, London.

Vincent, A 2013, ‘Glastonbury 2013: Tibetan monks will play on centenary of Independence’, The Telegraph, 12 June, retrieved 2 August 2013, <http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/glastonbury/10113552/Glastonbury-2013-Tibetan-monks-will-play-on-centenary-of-Independence.html>.
The Huddersfield Daily Examiner 2013, ‘News in Pictures 28/6/13’, retrieved 2 August 2013, <http://images.icnetwork.co.uk/upl/huddexaminer/jun2013/7/7/image-1-news-in-pictures-28-6-13-750514345.jpg>.