The Main Theoretical Challenges Posed by Globalization - Coursework Example

The Main Theoretical Challenges Posed by Globalization Globalization is a term which encompasses a number of difficult series of economic, social, technological, cultural and political changes that have been happening from time to time on the global front. These changes have seen some serious strides that have been made with regards to increasing interdependence as well as mergers and interacting units between people from different locations and companies with diversified interests. The term started to take form in the year 1944 but it was not before the year 1981 that the economists actually started using it. The main person responsible for coining the term globalization is considered to be Theodore Levitt. With the passage of time, the phenomenon has grown at a steady rate whereby the setting under which it is held is one that focuses on the global patterns related with the sociological findings. The aspect of whether or not globalization is a newer form of western imperialism is manifested in the definition of the same word. Globalization, for that matter, is remarked as Internationalization since the nature of the two terms is on a worldwide scale more than anything else. (Dunning, 2003) West tries to exploit the basis of globalization which the third world countries could bring to the benefit of the developed nations. However, on the part of the two terms, the one thing common however is the fact that these have identified themselves well with the changing (and growing) trends, where most of these are credited on the shoulders of the World War II, after which there has been a resurgent rat race nonetheless. Globalization is a phenomenon and it is one that is here to stay for long. The world has become a global village due to globalization and it is a good omen if seen in the proper perspectives. In an economic zone, globalization plays a significant role at increasing trade on an international front which as compared to the global economy, is much faster and ahead of its time. Globalization improves the technological infrastructures and supports in the development of the telecommunications not only on a regional scale but throughout the world, thus providing help and facilitation to the west more than anything else. (Wiseman, 2000) With the help of globalization, the legal stance is one that focuses more on the increase in the number of different standards worldwide, which in all essence must be made use of. These include copyright laws, privacy obligations, patenting and others which somehow or the other mesh along well with the legal framework of different multinationals and institutions hailing from the west as a result of the same. Globalization helps improve cultural exchange across a wide cross section of regions scattered all over the world and more so within the western nations namely the United States and the United Kingdom. It helps in playing its due part in the multiculturalism concept where the individuals within it have easy access to the cultural diversities of one another. There is a lot to learn and adapt in the wake of the same. (Grewal, 2006) The impact of demographic diversities within the international relations means that more efforts are needed to be put in place so that each of the nations knows what their duty is and whether this country is communicated about the roles that are asked of its government, both in the short term as well as the long run. Moreover, demographic changes mean that the leader has to focus more on a particular set of people or at times, the ones who are not very easy going along with the whole political movement. Hard work and commitment thus form the key in this whole equation of getting the best out of even the ordinary of people in the political setting. (Wooldridge, 2001) Similarly, we find out that cultural diversity can pose a number of problems for the countries who are part of a fraternity of nations that are constantly moving upwards on the globalization front but it is the duty of the leader of such a group to make the group members hailing from different cultures to feel comfortable within the group and contribute to the best capacity they can, both as an individual and in the form of a group as a whole. (Held, McGrew, Goldblatt & Perraton, 1999) Within the discussion which comprises of relating globalization with diversity basis, one finds that the two are pretty much in close association with each other. The reason for the same is that globalization looks to mix all forms of people from different spheres of life, no matter whatsoever region they might be living in. There is a direct connection between globalization and diversity if seen in the real contexts and this cannot be denied in any manner. Globalization is indeed more than a phenomenon. It is a culture that has changed the face of the earth and it will linger on for years to come. Similarly international relations have provided so much more to the world in recent years than was ever the case. Before any other movement comes and strikes on the global face, we have to find out for ourselves what are the plus points and the disadvantages of this phenomenon related with globalization and politics since the tilt should more or less be on the benefits that these provide to the whole population of individuals without differentiating whether they hail from the developed nations segment or one that has been bracketed alongside the very poor. (Baylis, Smith & Owens, 2008) This also goes on to suggest that globalization and politics will remain as strong forces that can shape the world to change in entirety and resist on the other movements that happen from time to time. The emphasis and focus of world’s top governing bodies only makes sure that globalization and diversity remain as two of the strongest advocates for the free work regime all over the world and there need not be any boundaries for any party, individual or group for that matter. (Smith, 2002) The main emphasis is thus on the aspect of globalization being a healer for the poverty ridden population rather than coming as a burden for them. Diversity gives these people the chance to explore opportunities. Politics changes their lives once and for all by enacting steps which would take care of their conditions and devise laws that will ease their lives. All of these aim to solve their problems rather than becoming a nuisance in the real sense of the word. The benefits and downsides of globalization need to be weighed in properly before we comment upon whether it is on the right track or otherwise. It has connected the world economies and has thus raised the living standards many times which is a sure positive sign for one and all to see but the looming saga of cheap labor is something that we have to comprehend on the other hand as well. The change factor is pretty evident and more so in a quick fashion which is something that can be attributed as a major plus all this while but then again the pain it exerts on the young hands to make the lives of the rich and developed comfortable is debatable if not wholly deplorable. (Burchill, Linklater, Devetak, Donnelly, Paterson, Reus-Smit & True) The advantages of the phenomenon of globalization as well as that of its linkage with world politics must outweigh the disadvantages to make the campaigners against the same notions change their minds in its favor. (Bromley & Brown) Wherever there is work, there surely is protest and criticism involved and these people are no exception to the same. The whole world and its related political angles need to be aligned and changed in such a way so as to benefit the different populations which are residents of mother earth. Without a doubt, the world economy has grown in recent decades. So much so, that the pundits have said something good about it. International trade is something that is attributed to this upheaval. It has formed the motivating factor behind the very same. Developing countries have also stepped on to the bandwagon and are thus bringing in more and more opportunities for the developed nations to invest their money in their territories. One such example is that of outsourcing where developed nations are taking the plunge and entering into the developing nations’ zones and thus reaping huge benefits. Now outsourcing is a quintessential aspect which takes care both of the globalization as well as the diversity regimes. (Cleaver, 2002) It should be kept in mind here that this is a symbiotic relationship, benefiting both the parties on a consistent basis. It has also been seen that the developed nations are more than happy to outsource their work and set up offshore avenues in order to earn revenues and make the most out of their business. However the litigations that are in place with regards to setting up these industries is something that needs to be delved into by them in detail and we, as students of the same, will try our best at understanding the whole ball game. Global sourcing is a phenomenon which is on the rise with the passage of time. It is also known as ‘outsourcing’ as it looks to cover the weak areas of a business, enterprise or a country for that matter in another’s area of strength, manpower abundance and availability of proper resources. However all this requires sound planning and immediate provision of funds which will not only benefit the two parties, but also the major (and minor) stakeholders, the employees working at the sites and above all the whole society who is about to go on a radical shift in their fortunes. (Sullivan, 1997) International relations is dependent on the different actors which make use of these global sourcing phenomenon day in day out since countries are entirely reliant on each other for their various undertakings as well. This reliance and dependence on each other brings to light the aspect of communicating and interacting with each other on a consistent basis which could only be made possible if there is a link amongst them in the first place. This link or relationship is smoothened by the presence of globalization forces between the political tenets of different nations – a fact that is deemed of utmost significance in the related context of things. In all essence within the international relations’ domains, the commercialization of culture is one significant thing that comes to mind under this discussion. This has an impact on people’s thinking, their values, their habits and behaviors. In fact the commercialization of culture makes one thing for sure; it keeps the local culture in cold storage and tries to show off the innate qualities, whether there or not in reality, to its adopters. No matter how much globalization boosts the world economy and eases the pressures on the political settings of the time, it provides as a hindrance point for the local area economies since there is a lot of liberalization that happens in the global domain. International trade barriers start becoming easy targets for the global regimes and thus the individual governments face one problem or the other due to the very same. This is also a fact that profits are poured in left, right and center but then this holds true for only the multinationals and large conglomerates in the real sense of the word. Some anti-globalization bodies also suggest that globalization gives rise to capitalism and thus should be banned from the face of the earth. (Hirst, Thompson & Schott, 2007)They believe that this form of movement is against the poor and it exploits upon their necessities and gets the best work done out of them for the cheapest possible money. This is the most direct form of imperialism that is on display courtesy the developed countries and regions of the world and steps need to be taken in order to curtail the said problems which have literally stung like a bee on the body of the third world countries. Some drastic measures need to be taken, having said that, but more than anything else, there is a dire need to comprehend that the people living within these poor nations are also humans – much like the ones residing in United States or United Kingdom for that matter. International relations’ upheavals thus need to be properly checked upon on a proactive basis so as to have an adequate check and balance mechanism in place. Only globalization can bring about these relational shifts in power which reside within the holds of the different countries on a constant basis. (Casey, 2002) The third world is thus at the receiving end of this game nonetheless, as they fathom. One of the major drawbacks that can be taken out from the globalization drive is that it makes use of the poor people and promotes child labor. International relations seem to drive on this phenomenon big time and more so when the talk goes out loud regarding the elections within a state or a country, etc. This means that the third world nations are being made use of and it is because of the already developed nations that this heinous crime is being committed in the first place. What this also means is that the developed countries know about this fact and they somehow or the other try to cover on this aspect so that the exploitation could be maximum and there are no balanced compensations for the people who are giving in their best day in day out. (Hersh, 2000) Cheap labor thus accounts for the biggest reason that globalization is successful in these countries and it is without a shadow of a doubt that this can be regarded as the disadvantage of globalization towards the societal fabric within the modern times. All these aspects come directly under the worldwide political tenets and need to be looked upon in the wider context of the globe rather than for a singular society or political movement so to speak. Within the political domains of the international relations discussion, the need is to discern the fact as to how ethnic unrest and political pressure shapes up the different societies that exist within this world. The concept of ethnic nationalism is thus of significance in the whole discussion here. Ethnic nationalism looks at the whole nation as a single ethnic state and this is a generalized basis of the people who are living within this very country. It gives rise to stereotyping and similar-ness within this country thus posing problems as concerns its image and actual position, a term known by the identity basis. The aspect of ethnic nationalism is derived from the certain elements which come from the descent of the generations that have passed by as well as the ones who will be much similar in the times to come. For North Korea, to say as an example, the fact that ethnic nationalism can leave a daunting task for its people in the years to come is a harsh reality and one which must be understood in the proper scheme of things. Since North Korea has involved itself openly with the induction of nuclear weapons within its arsenal, the people living within the country are thought to be of evil nature and thus a sense of ethnic nationalism has come about with the passage of time as far as North Korea and North Koreans is concerned. Now the same could be avoided if the country faces these kinds of challenges in a head on manner and look to satisfy the world demands in a much more proactive manner than it is carrying out at the present. (Debrah, 2002) What this will do is to give a positive image to the world that North Korea is ready and geared up for the challenges ahead and there are not any ethnic nationalistic issues attached with the country in the long run. Now taking a different turn on the globalization’s role in the international relations, we delve deep into the oceans of societal understandings. Within the West, women’s rights conventions were held on a regular basis from the year 1850 until the start of the civil war. It was after the civil war, that the movement suffered a delay. The main focus of political reform that dominated after the civil war was Black suffrage as it essentially did its best at influencing the struggle for women suffrage. The abolitionists, whom the women had fought for and felt they were partners with, turned their back on the women. The abolitionists in reality did not want anything to do with the women’s struggle for freedom until their rights were secure. It was at this time that to women realized that gaining the right to vote had to be their most important focus. It was then that women’s rights became almost equal with women’s suffrage. Even though the alliance with the abolitionists had been broken, this cold relationship started the women’s fire and made them think again on the substance as well as the form of the women suffrage movement. Their base of argument was no longer on universal suffrage rather it relied heavily on the issue relating to the suffrage of women, which was more or less based on the actual complaints of women’s lives. The citizens of the state must be apprised of their due role within the country and then they must also be told about the different aspects related with the spreading of message through the right channels. This must make citizens stand up and act. They should take notice of what is happening around them and what the different regimes and movements are doing for their own betterment. (Bisley) This means that awareness and a sense of knowing needs to be the buzzword when we explore the true meaning of politics and promoting the same gives the whole discussion a real boost in the related scheme of things. In the end, the drawbacks and disadvantages need to be reduced and the benefits should be improved and enhanced over a period of time so as to have a sense of mutual trust and camaraderie with the general public, as globalization teaches the same as well. Societies do not come about in an overnight fashion. They require proper time and planning regimes so that a well crafted society could be shaped up. More than anything else, there is a need to learn from different societies as to how they make use of values and beliefs and how their people relate themselves in close alliance with the cultural ways and means. All said and done, one needs to actually start doing something before all this gets implemented. A journey of thousand miles starts with an initial step and this has definitely been taken within the domains of international relations. Bibliography BAYLIS, John, Smith, Steve & Owens, Patricia. (2008). The Globalization of World Politics. Oxford University Press BISLEY, Nick. (n.a). Rethinking Globalization. Palgrave Macmillan BROMLEY, Simon & Brown, William. (n.a). Ordering the International: History, Change and Transformation. The Open University/Pluto Press BURCHILL, Scott, Linklater, Andrew, Devetak, Richard, Donnelly, Jack, Paterson, Matthew, Reus-Smit, Christian & True, Jacqui. (n.a). Theories of International Relations. Palgrave Macmillan CASEY, M. (2002). How to Think about Globalization. First Things: A Monthly Journal of Religion and Public Life, October CLEAVER, Tony. (2002). Understanding the World Economy. Routledge DANKS, Catherine J. & Kennedy, Paul. (2001). Globalization and National Identities: Crisis or Opportunity? Palgrave DEBRAH, Yaw. (2002). 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