IELTS Writing Task 2: Globalisation Essays

Globalisation has accelerated cultural exchange to an unprecedented degree, enabling people across vastly different geographies to consume similar media, fashion, and food. While this convergence brings tangible benefits, concerns about the erosion of distinct cultural identities deserve serious consideration. On balance, I believe that globalisation enriches rather than erases culture when communities retain agency over their traditions. Those who welcome a globalised lifestyle point to expanded consumer choice and cross-cultural understanding as primary gains. Access to international cuisine, music, and digital content broadens individual horizons and fosters empathy between peoples who might otherwise remain isolated by geography or politics. The rapid dissemination of global health standards, democratic norms, and scientific knowledge further demonstrates that cultural convergence can benefit human welfare broadly. Critics, however, raise legitimate concerns. When dominant cultures — particularly Western ones — are amplified by powerful media conglomerates and technology platforms, smaller linguistic and cultural groups risk marginalisation. The decline of indigenous languages is perhaps the starkest indicator: UNESCO estimates that roughly half of the world's 7,000 languages may disappear within a century, largely due to the economic incentives that favour dominant languages in education and commerce. Nevertheless, cultural absorption has historically been selective rather than total. Communities typically integrate external elements while retaining core traditions, producing hybrid identities that are neither purely local nor wholesale global. South Korean pop culture's global influence while maintaining distinctly Korean aesthetics illustrates this synthesis well. In my view, the outcome depends largely on policy. Governments that invest in language preservation, local arts, and cultural education can maintain diversity within an integrated world. (Word count: 263)