Identity in a 'Globalised' World

We live in a time of globalisation -- an era of oneness, unity which sounds quite safe, secure and even utopian. However, questions are often raised regarding the effects of globalisation on smaller cultures and marginal societies. Crisis arises when the issue of 'individuality' is concerned. Because if every individual society has its own perspective over a question then which is the correct answer? And who decided what is right? In this world, whatever answers the more powerful countries have on issues ranging from political to social, public to private sphere, religion to gender, health to environment, and even food to fashion, the smaller countries feel goaded to agree because that is what capitalism has taught us -- you have to survive the competition. You have to improve yourself to try and get closer to being the best. The benchmark of 'best' of course is set by the economically and, therefore, the politically powerful. Thus 'globalisation' becomes a one-way practice.

Smaller countries may say that “It's okay if rich countries come and take decisions for us, give us aid and tell us how to behave and lead our lives because that is 'progress'” but when nations take their decisions with interruption from other nations, they start to lose the origin of their existence because they become puppets. That is when the question of identity arises.

We might not get answers right away but discussion is important. That is exactly what the upcoming conference at Independent University, Bangladesh (IUB) will be doing. Center for Social Science Research (CSSR), an independent research center at IUB under the School of Liberal Arts and Social Science (SLASS), is holding the First International Conference on Social Sciences and Humanities from August 23 to 25, 2014. Renowned scholar of Modern Asian History at the University of Amsterdam, Professor Willem van Schendel has consented to be the keynote speaker. The conference will provide a space for academics and thinkers from Asia, Europe, North America and Australia to talk about the complex issues of fluidity of information and cultural exchange. It aims to start a conversation amongst scholars on the topic of 'identifying identity' and what connotations such complex propositions posit.

I personally find it exciting that people from vastly diverse range of fields will be presenting their views in Dhaka at a single event, and thus have picked several sessions to attend. Whatever shoe I put myself in -- that of a Bangladeshi, a female, a youth, a Dhakaiite and, last but not least, a student of Media and Communication, I hope this conference will help me gain a better understanding of my own identity in this world.

The writer is a student, Department of Media & Communication, IUB.