This essay is aimed towards determining whether a relationship between cultural diversity and globalization is present or not, and if globalization does indeed pose a threat to cultural diversity.
“The negative side to globalization is that it wipes out entire economic systems and in doing so wipes out the accompanying culture.” Peter L. Berger (American sociologist)
Globalization is broken down into different categories, these being cultural, economical, political and technological globalization. It is due this process that barriers are broken down and interaction occurs between individuals of different races, nationalities and cultural back grounds. It is a movement towards an integrated global economy characterized by the free exchange of goods and capital. In popular discourse, Globalization is often related to the Internet revolution, free-market economies and the predominantly western political, economic and cultural lifestyle. This movement is supported by a large range of modern technologies. It is because of globalization that society believes that wealth and higher standards of living will strike developing nations.
The above statement was supported by authors of the book, the effect of globalization on African countries: an over view of Nigeria. The two authors (C. R. Eze and J Nkwede) firmly believe that globalization is a strong enforcer of development and poverty reduction in Africa. Plenty agree with Eze and Nkwede as they have deemed the process as a positive one, but from a negative perspective, globalization also results in the development of negative situations that lead to changes in societal lifestyles. A major example of the situations mentioned above is that, globalization is growing at a rate that is beyond people’s control. This means that during the process of globalization confusion is most likely to develop in which in most cases leads to an individual’s loss of cultural identity. Globalization has contributed to cultural diversity through information dissemination and a better understanding between people of different races, tribes and nations; it has also contributed to the breakdown of some positive aspects of cultures thereby posing a threat to cultural diversity.

The term cultural diversity refers to the variety of cultures located either within a specific region or in the world as a whole. This concept all comes down to cultural differences within society, examples being language, dress codes, traditions, human interaction with the environment and the conceptions of morality. Cultural diversity is comparable in certain aspects to bio diversity (the variety of life in the world or in a particular habitat or ecosystem.)
“If civilization is to survive, we must cultivate the science of human relationships - the ability of all peoples, of all kinds, to live together, in the same world at peace. “ --Franklin D. Roosevelt (32nd president of the United States of America)
In Article 1 of the Universal Declaration on Cultural Diversity, the general conference of UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization) argued that cultural diversity is just as important to human kind as bio diversity is to nature. Plenty argue against that point for various reasons, the main one being, it would be unethical to deny societies of third world nations the benefits of medical and technological advancements that first world nations such as the United States of America and the United Kingdom are exposed to. The demand for technology, information and capital is outgrowing geographical boundaries and is changing relationships within nations, the market place and amongst citizens. As much as that is beneficial for all as argued earlier in the essay by those who reject UNESCO’s thoughts about cultural diversity, increased accessibility of these advancements has affected society’s individuality. The free flow of information has put cultural meanings and values in risk of being homogenized. This leads to the weakening of individual and societal identity. It is through this free flow of technology, information and capital that cultural imperialism has been introduced into society. Cultural imperialism is a model of globalization that highlights the dominance that economically influential first world nations impose upon third world / developing countries. In cases like these, first world nations determine cultural values and civilizations worldwide.
The perfect example that illustrates the relationship between globalization/ cultural imperialism and cultural diversity was demonstrated in an article written by Simon Heffer (Journalist for the British newspaper named The Telegraph) which was titled America is the face of cultural imperialism. The article gives the readers an in depth explanation of how the British culture was being absorbed by the American culture. Heffer believed that the British were the ultimate example of how the world has experienced American cultural imperialism. “Our young people readily imitate American urban fashion, our architects have borrowed (and, to be fair to them, developed) the skyscraper. Nor is it just the artistic elements of the culture that have come across to us. The obesity "epidemic" that we find ourselves overwhelmed by is blamed roundly on the bread-potatoes-and-lard-based fast food on which America nourishes itself.” (Heffer, 2010). In the above quote, Heffer gives examples that are common in Britain but are also experienced world wide of American cultural imperialism.

Globalization has been deemed as a very juicy topic due to the fact that a lot of people have different opinions based on the matter, some believe it is beneficial to society irrespective of the consequences of the process and some reject that opinion. A point that has become fact is that globalization has major effects on cultural diversity. If globalization does continue growing at the rate that it currently is society stands a chance of witnessing the obliteration of cultural diversity. This is due to the fact that the actions that globalization highlights such as homogenization are culturally destructive.

Bibliography
Bishop, T., Reinke, J., & Adams, T. (2011). Globalization: Trends and Perspectives. Journal of International Business Research vol10 .
Fassdear, P. S. (2007). Children Of a New World: Society, Culture and Globalization. New York: New York University Press.
Heffer, S. (n.d.). Retrieved September 22, 2013, from The Telegraph: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/comment/columnists/simonheffer/7908380/America-is-the-acceptable-face-of-cultural-imperialism.html
Machida, & Satoshi. (2012). Does Globalization Render People More Ethnocentric ? Globalization and People's Views on Cultures. The American Journal of Economics and Sociology vol 71 .
R.C, Eze; J, Nkwede. (2012). The effect of Globalization on African countries: An over view of Nigeria.
Tran, & T, D. (2010). Globalization Factors in Invome Distribution and Poverty in Developing Nations. Indian Journal of Economics and Business vol9 , 6-9.