Blog 4 - The World in WWW

In the digital age, globalization is a word that is often tossed around, in a wide variety of cases. In general, we understand globalization to be a force that slowly spreads ideas around the world to the benefit of everyone, but is there more to it than that? After our readings and the viewing of the "Office Tigers" documentary, I would say so.

Oh, globalization

"Office Tigers" takes a look at the globalization of a tech support company, but instead paints us a picture of a new wave of imperialism. In the documentary, it was plain to see that, much like the colonization of old, white man came to a foreign land and taught the locals to do their bidding. While not as extreme an example, the operation of the company Office Tiger is shockingly similar to this ancient practice. Engaging the ideas brought up by Shome in his article, Office Tiger is an example of Asian outsourcing, a practice becoming all too common in the technologically driven world.

The issues of Shome's proposed new kind of racial disconnect is apparent in the documentary as Indian workers are required to cater specifically to western needs and constructs, much as the call centers in Shome's research must deal with the issue of white pandering and aural discrimination. In a way, all outsourcing causes this problem of racial disconnect and dissatisfaction, as western companies turn to Asia for cheaper labor, but western consumers expect western support.

Another issue evident in this key example of outsourcing is the problems that arise from the digital divide. Though India is in no way poor, the imperialistic companies introduce new technologies that the Asian workers are ill equipped to deal with, further complicating the issues of racial and locational disconnection.