The Understanding, Perception And Receptiveness Of Globalisation Amongst Rural East Malaysians
Globalisation has become an emerging concern to many parties. It is a catchphrase in the international arena and a rather new phenomenon to local communities. To date, only the urban people have the tenacity and capability in confronting globalisation because they have been exposed to the process...
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| Format: | Thesis |
| Language: | English English |
| Published: |
2004
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| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://psasir.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/6009/1/FEM_2004_17.pdf |
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| Summary: | Globalisation has become an emerging concern to many parties. It is a catchphrase
in the international arena and a rather new phenomenon to local
communities. To date, only the urban people have the tenacity and capability in
confronting globalisation because they have been exposed to the process almost
everyday. For the rural people, globalisation seems to be a new phenomenon.
Globalisation is believed to benefit Malaysia in terms of economic development
and political stability. This is evident through the massive flow of Foreign Direct
Investments (FDls) and diplomatic ties Malaysia has established with other
countries. However, globalisation is also believed to have caused irreparable
consequences to certain countries embracing it; and this is equated with the
serious damage the process has caused to local cultures and traditional values.
The rural people are the ones who will greatly be at the disadvantage. As
globalisation becomes inevitable, it is important to determine how far have the
rural people been affected by the process and their responses towards the
coming of the global social phenomenon. This study was conducted purposely to
determine the rural East Malaysians' understanding, perception and
receptiveness towards globalisation. It was also carried out to determine the
impacts of the process on the social practices, political and civil rights of the rural
people in East Malaysia.
This study had employed multidisciplinary methods in order to collect quantitative
and qualitative data from the respondents. Nonprobability sampling method such
as purposive sampling was used to gather information from the respondents.
This was done through a general survey based on a structured and closed-ended
questionnaire. In-depth and casual interviews as well as tape-recorded
conversations were also conducted for data collection. All data gathered from the
study was analysed by two means: (a) content analysis based on the data
derived from taped in-depth interviews, and (b) analysis of data using the
standard SPSS (Social Package for Social Science).
This study had managed to conduct a survey on 605 rural East Malaysians from
various ethnic backgrounds in Sabah and Sarawak. This study had shown that
most of the respondents were familiar with the concept of globalisation and that
they understood what the process is meant. However, their understanding was
limited or rather influenced by their educational attainment and exposure to the
mass media. This probably indicate that they were not able to elaborate and
discuss more about globalisation - such as how the process began and what it
really entailed. In terms of perception towards globalisation, most of the
respondents seemed to give a very positive response. They agreed that
globalisation contributed massively towards Malaysia's economic and sociocultural
progress. Only a small number of the respondents were against the
process. Most of the respondents were also receptive towards globalisation. This
was shown through their readiness in using global tools, watching global movies
and listening to global songs. Apparently, they were also aware of their political
and civil rights which must be given due attention by the government. In terms of
social practices, globalisation had caused very minimal effects to the
respondents. This was due to the fact that the process happened much slower in
terms of its intensity, rapidity, multiplicity, and accessibility in the rural areas.
In conclusion, this study had shown that the respondents were willing to learn
and be involved in various developments implemented by the government.
Moreover, in the name of progress and modernity, the rural people in East
Malaysia seemed to give a very important message to convey: They wanted to
be involved in globalisation and play their role as well. It is obvious that even
though most of the rural people in East Malaysia are not technologically literate
but they have the aspiration to develop themselves and contribute something to
Malaysia's rapid modernity and progress. |
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