ThirstyFish

Most modern cosmopolitan cities I visit these days are remarkably similar in their culture. If you exclude obvious differences such as language, there is little difference between, for example, Philadelphia and Izmir where this photo was taken. Even food has become pretty similar; Starbcuks and Burger King are everywhere. Pizza, Chinese food, Indian and gyro restaurants are common wherever you go.

Especially since the mid 1990's, with the advent of globalization, cultural differences in cities all over the world are increasingly subtle. Cultures are merging rapidly. Is this a good thing, or a bad thing? The answer changes depending on who you ask.

Groupthink is a psychological concept which describes the tendency of groups of people reaching a consensus decision and/or behavior without critical evaluation of alternative ideas or viewpoints of outside influences. It is not just conformity, but rationalized conformity. So, what happens if the "group" becomes the whole civilized world, and when, there are no longer outside groups to provide critical evaluation or alternative ideas? If you think that is a far-fetched idea, then you have not been traveling. "Global groupthink" is not far-fetched, in fact, I would argue that it is already happening; Social assumptions about the economy, environment, politics, are becoming global and globalized. There are less and less alternatives considered, and greater rationalization of status-quo viewpoints.

You might say, "so what?". Here are some "symptoms" of groupthink: Illusions of invulnerability, unquestioned belief, rationalization, stereotyping, self-censorship, illusions of unanimity, direct pressure to conform, and mindguards shielding the group from "dissenting" information. "Global groupthink" is a frightening phenomenon.

Song of the Day: So What - Miles Davis (1959)