Globalization, multiculturalism and other fictions: Colonialism for the new millennium?

In this paper, we critically examine different discourses of globalization and explore how concepts of globalization have been represented in organiza tional theory. We argue that, despite its celebratory rhetoric of 'one worl d, many peoples', notions of globalization are inextricably linked with the continued development of First World economies, creating new forms of colo nial control in the so-called 'postcolonial' era. Thus, globalization becom es the new global colonialism, based on the historical structure of capital ism and is a process that executes the objectives of colonialism with great er efficiency and rationalism. We discuss the economic, political, social a nd cultural aspects underlying globalization, and argue that the emergence of a so-called 'global culture' is simply a process that marks the transfor mation to a culture of consumption. We interrogate the notions of diversity and multiculturalism, and argue that the successful management of diversit y presented as the new prerequisite for sustainable competitive advantage, effectively continues global colonialism. We argue that, despite the rhetor ic of celebrating difference, multiculturalism does little more than facili tate assimilation within the dominant ideology We examine the different str uctures and processes of globalization, and conclude by discussing the poss ibility of alternate theorizations and a discursive redefinition of globali zation involving the creation of new spaces that can articulate alternate f orms of economic and social realities.