An Exploration Of The Negative Effects Of Globalization In Mohsin Hamid’s Exit West

In contemporary world,globalization has become an irreversible trend.Because of the heavy mobility of population,the communications among global politics,economy and culture have become closely connected.The development of globalization causes the compression of time and space,blurring their boundaries as well.However,in the process of globalization,capital flows,cultural flows and human motion have led to the unevenness in the distribution of global resources.The gaps among regions become more and more prominent.The capital and culture of rich places flow to poor regions,impact on their production and gradually change their social norms.Some people enjoy the benefits of globalization while others do not.For example,migrants usually confront disparity in their living conditions.Some people such as overseas students and tourists enjoy the convenience of globalization.Others like refugees are facing huge challenges and difficulties.Their living space in the new land is compressed.Sometimes,they have to deal with the xenophobia and hatred from nativists.Furthermore,in the exile,the exposure to new culture causes their confusion and suspicion of self-identity.Mohsin Hamid is a diasporic writer.Migrants’ living condition in the context of globalization is one of the major concerns in his novels.Exit West is his fourth novel published in 2017.The novel tells a story of young lovers Saeed and Nadia exiting west together.Their home country is about to be torn apart by civil war.If they continue to stay,their lives are under threat.Therefore,the two decide to escape together.Finally they leave the country through mysterious doors successfully and begin their diasporic life.However,their exile is not hopeful but full of bitterness and grief.Saeed and Nadia represent many migrants in contemporary world.Their experience only acts like a miniature of what most migrants are confronting in this globalizing era.Nowadays,globalization has become an irreversible trend and people always feel comfortable with its positive effects.However,it is also necessary to pay attention to the negative effects of globalization.The purpose of this thesis is to reveal the negative effects of globalization by analyzing Mohsin Hamid’s novel Exit West.The main body is divided into three chapters.In the first chapter,migrants’ existential crisis will be discussed from two aspects: living space and racial segregation.In chapter two,the author will focus on revealing the social crisis caused by the influences of capital flows and cultural invasions.Chapter three will shift to discuss the psychological crisis of migrants during the exile by analyzing Saeed and Nadia’s ethical dilemma and confused identity.In the conclusion part,firstly,the negative effects of globalization would be restated and summarized.Then,the author would put forward some suggestions on how to improve the living conditions of migrants in contemporary globalizing world.At last,the author would anticipate the future of globalization.Normally,migrants have two choices when they face new culture: to assimilate or to resist.Both migrants and nativists need to shape a correct understanding of cultural diversity and xenophobia.They should also hold a rational attitude to deal with these phenomena.Migrants had better make a balance in assimilating new culture and sticking to their home culture.Nativists need to understand the essential meaning of difference,remove prejudice and embrace inclusiveness.Only in this way,it is possible for us to reduce the negative effects of globalization and make full use of its positive effects.