Post-modern times are characterised by a convergence towards a homogenisation of cultures.

"One of the consequences of globalisation has been the undermining of national, local and regional cultures, which many on the Right Christian Conservative side of the political spectrum view as a threat to their beliefs and traditions."

Different cultures in different countries are becoming more alike, sharing similar consumer products and ways of life. This feature seeks to examine different ways by which globalism, as influenced mainly by Western society, is also being seen as a threat to traditional conservative beliefs unravelling hidden agendas where access to information is controlled and freedoms eroded.

Mass media and national culture and identity

Social mass media and new media technologies mainly produced in the West are playing an important role in developing a global population culture. Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, YouTube are just a few social media platforms that have brought people together from every corner of the planet.

Media technologies are taking over traditional face to face communication plus a constant use of such technologies. Coupled with this is the danger of addiction to mobile telephony, which, as with other addictions, causes isolation, anxiety and depression.

One of the consequences of globalisation has been the undermining of national, local and regional cultures, which many on the Right Christian Conservative side of the political spectrum view as a threat to their beliefs and traditions.

Also, countries that do not subscribe to Western society are forming their own economic blocs to detach themselves from the USA and Europe. The recent yearly BRICS Summit in Kazan, Russia is seen by many as a move in this direction. The countries attending this summit are becoming more protective of their national identities.

It is a fact that people are not only using media technology to meet up, but they also travel en mass in search of greener pastures and virgin soil for employment (both legally and illegally). This has paved the way for multiculturalism, cosmopolitanism, and the blending of diverse cultures.

Malta is also experiencing most of these realities. There again, several countries are tightening their borders to block illegal migration. The case of Hungary and Poland in the implementation of strict border controls, as well as the Republican electoral promise to halt illegal immigration into the USA from Latin American countries, are evident examples of such policies.

Forming part of large economic blocs also means surrendering certain rights. For instance, Malta must abide with the obligations imposed by the European Union (EU) where the neutrality of the Maltese Constitution has been overruled by the EU Constitution.

Subtle and discrete threats

There are also subtle and discrete threats which also deserve closer examination. It is no secret that we live in a surveillance society. There are those who perceive this as a global co-ordinated effort that seeks to invade privacy on a much larger scale and depth. Such invasiveness stems from say preventing money laundering, embezzlement, fraud, corruption or the prevention of child pornography. These are noble causes, but these measures can be abused of to the extent of invading the privacy of WhatsApp messages and emails.

For example, one agency, CitizenGo, which is ultra-conservative, argues that the Global Elites at the WHO (World Health Organisation) are planning to strip away freedoms and install a faceless international bureaucracy to control the individual's health movements, worship, deciding whether children should be vaccinated or not and infringing on freedom of expression. They claim this will be achieved by enforcing a Pandemic Treaty during a special session of the World Health Assembly on 15 November.

Globalisation is not viewed as a rosy panacea by everyone. The threats being perceived by many is that a few world powerful elites such as Big Business, Big Pharma, the EU and the UN are working to create a world social, economic and political order where individuals are just tiny cogs in an enormous superstructure that can be easily manipulated and divested of their rights.