Technology is defined as a device to compensate for human physical,psychological, and mental limitations. It is usually neutral, but can havefunctional and dysfunctional aspects based on its users’ intentions.Historically, the technological haves have justified the existence and possessionof new technologies, have publicized their own innocence andsense of responsibility in using them, and have asserted the innocuousnessof their devices without necessarily sharing all of their secrets. Concernedand helpless, the technological have-nots have resisted them and, havingsuffered their deadly devastation, have tried to obtain them at great risk tothemselves. However, the situation of information technology/-ies (IT) isdifferent and more interesting. The haves have attempted to popularizetheir use globally for commercial and other reasons. Many have-nots areembracing them wholeheartedly, while some are more cautious.One motivation behind the use of these technologies is globalization.The increasingly popularized term globalization is rather vague and complex,allowing a variety of interpretations and hidden intentions. Thehave-nots seem to see it as the West’s redoubled efforts at Westernizingthe world with all its pains, pleasures, and perversions; as achieving politicalhegemony as the sole superpower after the end of the Cold War; andas the “opening up of the globe” for commercial control on its own terms.Initially the world, especially the nations of South Asia, saw for themselvesa rare opportunity in the globalization of trade and IT. But since thecontagion has now spread, rather too fast, across the globe, the world cansee more clearly both the prospects and the problems of these two majorglobal trends. The purpose of this paper is to identify various issuesinvolved in these trends, and to discuss, in greater depth, some of them,namely, global business, the promise of technology, and the globalizationof media and culture ...
