In this clip, Dr. Michio Kaku talks about possible types of futuristic civilizations and claims that in order for humanity to continue developing, globalization is inevitable.http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yHbnM_42mQE&feature=channel_page
What say you?
edit: To elucidate, I'm wondering if anyone agrees, and then why or why not, that cultural, political and even racial globalization is inevitable as humanity develops technologically and if it expands into space. It's funny he mentions Star Trek, because in the mythos of that show, paraphrasing:
"[making contact with aliens] unties humanity in a way no one ever thought possible when they realize they're not alone in the universe. Poverty, disease, war, they'll all be gone within in the next 50 years [from about 2060, when contact is made]"
I know it sounds like propaganda, but what does everyone think about the effects of possible future exploration and discoveries on individual cultures, racial identities, political viewpoints, social practices, so on.
It could have a fragmenting effect. For a population to preserve their beliefs, they could load up on a ship and just blast off into space, where no one could influence them.