Is Globalization Killing the World - Coursework Example

Running header: Globalization Student’s name: Instructor’s name: Subject code: Date of submission: Globalization not killing the state Introduction Globalization refers to a trend whereby countries join together economically through politics, society and education and view themselves as part of the world as a whole in addition to belonging to a certain country. As such, globalization has been successful in bringing the people of all nations together through common medium such as the world economy or the World Wide Web. In other words, though the physical boundaries between nations still exist, globalization has increasingly made them invisible by enabling free movement f goods, services and information among nations. As such, it can be said that while globalization is largely driven by economic interests among nations, nations or the state are political, geopolitical and cultural in nature and exists for a bigger purpose than globalization. However, it has been argued that globalization is killing the state. This stems from the ever increasing impact that globalization is having on the state at times overshadowing the state. For instance, although the traditional physical boundaries still exists, they have increasingly become blurred thanks to globalization (Janet, 2005). The distance between one nation and the other has been reduced to just internet connection or a call. It is possible to work and trade from anywhere in the world as a result of connectivity brought about by globalization. But is globalization killing the world by increasing connectivity and eliminating the traditional barriers that exist among nations? Although globalization has had a profound effect on the state and has definitely weakened the states influence, this essay argues that globalization is not killing the state; it is underlining its fundamental importance to political and economic life in the 21st century. Globalization has led to increased economic integration, increased interdependence and interactions among nations and individuals in disparate locations. However, it also poses a threat to the integrity and interdependence of states owing to its cross fertilization of cultures, the ever shrinking borders and imperialism. Globalization has led to greater mobility of labor and seamless flow of goods and services to all areas of the globe through the increased transport systems and declining transport prices. Business organisations such as Coca-Cola now produce their goods far from their parent countries. They have plants in many countries of the world driven by the search for cheap labor and educated workforce. This has been possible owing to globalization. However, such multinationals are also becoming increasingly powerful and are increasingly threatening the interdependence and power of states and their homegrown industries (Christopher, 2008). The organisations have are such immense entities that their input to states economies are vital and state governments frequently compete with one another in creating low tax regimes in a bid to entice them to open up plants to boost their economies. This shows how the state is increasingly being threatened by globalization. States now find it hard to survive without global giants operating in their economies. Globalization and hence expansion of the global market has resulted in westernization of states. The states’ traditional cultures are increasingly being driven out by introduction of such companies as coke, IBM etc. Such companies introduce western culture to states thus eroding the state’s identity. Globalization has made it easy for the multinationals to erode the remaining state identity by replacing it with brand royalty (Salvetti, 2010). Thus it can be said that globalization has in no doubt had a negative impact on the state’s identity. The state is no longer in control of the actions of its members whether economic or otherwise thanks to globalization. It is as a result of globalization that the state’s security has been comprised owing to increasing interconnectivity of terrorist groups. It should however be noted that despite the negative effect of interconnectivity resulting from globalization, it is intended to make trade among nations easier. Despite the above negative effects that globalization has had on the state, globalization is not killing the state. In fact, even the state itself has been advocating for globalization due to its multiple benefits that the state stands to gain. For instance, states have been encouraging globalization in the recent years through increased legislation that almost does away with state borders in a bid to enable free movement of labor and removing various barriers to trade. For instance, the European Union has a single currency and allows free movement of its citizens. This is a step towards globalization aimed at providing bigger market for their goods that is encouraged by the member states. The Euro for instance has increased integration among EU states by enabling freer trade and is a landmark step towards a globalised society (Hemerling, 2011). The EU has also introduced common anti terror laws across all Europe thus encouraging reduction in independence of state governments and hence increased interdependence and cooperation on the international front. The UN and NATO are other globalised bodies that have fostered international cooperation and integration while enabling the state better deal with various challenges such as terror and poverty without necessarily interfering with the state’s sovereignty. In other words, although globalization has increased integration and interdependence among states, this is not a step towards killing the state but is aimed at helping states deal with common challenges while providing better trading environment between states. It is true that globalization has led to reduction of the state’s power as an autonomous decision maker and an economic stand alone. However, the state still has a large amount of power. According to Thomas Friedman (1999), the hidden hand of the market will never work without a hidden fist. This hidden fist is the government. Its role to provide the needed security, legislate and regulate business can never be underestimated. The multinationals can not operate in the state if the state fails to provide security. It is the state boosts globalization to flourish by enabling business the freedom to flourish. In other words, both globalization and the state coexist in that while the state make concessions to the onslaught of globalization, it still plays a vital role in the global economy by participating in the creation of economic policies and still maintain a strong sense of state identity that is seen in times of conflicts (Andrew, 2013). In other words, globalization is not killing the state but the state is helping in the process of globalization while globalization is helping the state realise some of its goals such as increased trade and poverty reduction. The emergence of new states in the Balkans as well as the newly created South Sudan amidst increased globalization implies that globalization is not killing the state. It shows that state’s identity in these areas has not been fully eroded by westernization that results from globalization. Palestinians still seek to have their state. If in deed globalization was killing the state, then the Palestinians would have abandoned the quest to have their own nation. The September 11 attack also attests to this in that after the attack, the whole US became united by a common goal of avenging those who died which showed as if America had been reborn with a changed national identity. This shows that although ma\y states have adopted common cultures, the claim that nations have been westernized is illusionary since in times of crisis, state loyalties reemerge (Gavin, 2010). In addition, despite increasing American goods in the Middle Eastern countries, they have been able to maintain their cultural sovereignty. As such, rather than kill the state, globalization is helping the state in a number of areas. For instance, globalization has helped in increasing state stability since it has resulted in trade relations among nations. Hence boosting their economies which enables them to abandon any bitter past experiences they might have which fosters peace. Rather than host interstate wars, the state now try to raise capital on the global market while fortifying their stand in international trade. This eventually leads to international peace and security which boosts stability of the state rather than kill it. Globalization builds the state as opposed to killing it by enabling the state fight poverty and achieve its development goals. For instance, through globalization, many nations have been able to adopt free trade in their regions (Edward, 2006). This enables their citizens to trade with ease. Globalization also increases the market opportunities available to the state. Many multinationals also invest in various states in an attempt to lure customers adopt their brands. This leads to increased job opportunities for the citizens thus helping the state fight poverty. In addition, the state is able to raise capital in the form of foreign investments which helps improve the economy of the state. Globalization has had many benefits especially for the developing states. Globalization has increased economic stability of developing nations. This is because developed nations invest in them as they aim to capture new markets (Arno, 2007). This helps them develop and improve their infrastructures and technologies to international standards. A lot of capital thus moves from the developed states to developing states thus helping in growing the economies of the less developed states. Developing states are always unable to provide adequate financing for their organisations thus proving an obstacle in developing these states. Globalization thus helps in providing opportunities for corporate, state and sub state borrowers to have better access to external financing. In this way, globalization helps the state economically rather than kill it. Conclusion It has been observed that the sovereignty of the modern state has certainly been weakened by the ever increasing globalization. However, it is wrong to say that globalization is killing the state. The intention of globalization is not to kill the state but increase connectivity while making trade among states easier (Stieglitz, 2012). Despite the unintended consequences of globalization, globalization has been shown to help the state better achieve its goals and increase cooperation among states in tackling common issues. It is hoped that the economic interdependence and integration among states resulting from globalization will continue into the future due to the numerous benefits that stem from globalization. In fact, the state is much likely to continue enacting legislation aimed at moving towards globalization. This is because globalization is helping the state to become a better player in the international front in economic, social and political arena. As such, contrary to much popular thinking, globalization is not killing the state; it is underlining its fundamental importance to political and economic life in the 21st century. References: Janet, M2005, Economic policy in the modern age of globalization, Cambridge, Cambridge University Press. Christopher, B2008, Globalization and the nation state, Sydney, Prentice Hall. Salvetti, F2010, The state, Regionalism and Globalization, London, Rutledge. Hemerling, W, 2011, Globality: competition with everyone from everywhere for everything, New York, Business plus. Andrew, J2013, Globalization is killing us, Cambridge, John Willey and sons. Gavin, K2010, International trade and globalization, Oxford, Oxford University Press. Edward, G2006, The case against globalization: advocacy for the return to the local, New Haven, Yale University Press. Arno, T2007, Why globalization works, New York, Nova Science Publishers Stieglitz, J2012, Globalization and the state of third world countries, Cambridge, Cambridge University Press. Read More