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When ‘East’ meets ‘West’: reflections on cultural exchange

In this article, I reflect on certain elements of the globalization debate. The discussion compares arguments suggesting the emergence of a homogeneous global culture and those that advance the idea of national, regional, and local resistance. The examples used in the essay are taken from a variety of leisure experiences, including cuisine, interior design, and sport, all with specific reference to east Asia. It is argued that, as with eating and drinking and interior design, sports and games are globalized in such ways as to make us more aware of national and regional differences, rather than less aware. It is for that reason that we can say, in all honesty, that we live in interesting times.