Effects of Globalization on Regional Security - Essay Example

?Effects of Globalization on Regional Security Task: Outline I. Introduction II. Southern Sudan conflict III. Niger delta conflict IV. Arab spring V. Piracy VI. Drug conflict VII. Liberian conflict VIII. Conclusion IX. Bibliography Effects of Globalization on Regional Security Introduction Globalization refers to the international integration of nations on various fronts such as political, economic and social. This phenomenon has resulted in increased connectivity of people across the entire globe. This has resulted in the formation of a global community connected on various fronts. There are certain developments, which have contributed to the progress of globalization. Communication and transportation have acted as a catalyst for globalization. Communication has enabled increased connectivity among the global communities. Transportation has facilitated physical movement of people and merchandise. This has resulted in a globe connected in a dynamic manner (McGrew ND). Therefore, an event that occurs in one part of the globe will have repercussion on other countries. A terrorist attack will lead to global panic since it may lead to closure of many airports internationally. Similarly, the plummeting of the value of stocks in one of the key security market may culminate in similar occurrences in other markets. This write up will evaluate the impact of globalization on the regional security across the globe (Bardhan 2005, p. 50). Southern Sudan conflict Globalization has numerous consequences, which include an increase in international trade, weapons proliferation and cultural exchange. Some of these impacts of this phenomenon have affected regional security in some regions globally (McGrew ND). This write up will highlight some of those examples across the globe. The discovery of crude oil in Southern Sudan brought excitement to that nation. Consequently, leading nations across the globe wanted to partake in the exploitation of this resource. However, the Southern Sudanese community felt short-changed in the sharing of the resultant funds. This resulted in a 21-year conflict in the southern part of Sudan. The conflict required constant supply of weapons to sustain the conflict. Globalization has culminated in the proliferation of weaponry globally. Consequently, there are unscrupulous individuals who trade in this kind of arsenal. Rebels do not buy weaponry legally consequently; they seek black-market traders. These traders denote proliferation of weapons since they work under no regulations hence; they sell to any client that pays the right price for such artillery. Therefore, the proliferation of weapons was a factor, which fuelled the Southern Sudan conflict, which lasted over two decades with massive human casualty. The proliferation of weapon resulted directly from globalization. Consequently, this conflict was a directly related to globalization. This conflict had a massive impact on regional peace in East Africa and resulted in instability in other parts of the region such as northern Uganda. Weapon acquired from the black market were vital since they ensured that the rebels could sustain the conflict (Stiglitz 2002, p. 90). Niger delta conflict Nigeria has massive oil reserve in the Niger delta, which is a mangrove. The oil generates massive foreign currency, which has contributed massively to that nation’s wealth. Foreign companies are involved in the exploitation of oil in that nation which resulted in rebels attacks in the areas. The rebels claim that the central government is not apportioning the resultant resources appropriately. Globalization has allowed international companies to invest in various nations across the globe. This kind of investment denotes the impacts of globalization on the economic front. However, this has culminated in the rise of a conflict. The rebels claim that the companies, which exploit oil, fail to invest the massive returns in the delta region. Globalization has resulted in the elite global companies being the chief beneficiary of the phenomena while poor, nations in Africa and Asia suffer the repercussions of global integration. Globalization has fuelled this conflict in two ways first, by the unfair sharing of returns; secondly, it has provided weapons for the rebels. The rebels have acquired artillery from the illegal traders on the global market. This has culminated in the loss of lives. The conflict has culminated in loss of lives as the rebels have attacked numerous oil deport in the petroleum region. This conflict has degenerated primarily from globalization although there are other governance issues that have contributed. The conflicted has affected the stability of the delta region in Nigeria. Evidently, globalization has resulted in massive trade. The trade has generated financial returns for countries. However, in such deal some parties feel aggrieved. The aggrieved parties have resulted into conflict. Such conflicts are funded by the illegal weaponry, which has resulted from proliferation of arsenals. This is an evident path of all conflicts fuelled by globalization pressures (Stiglitz 2006, p.102). Arab spring Communication is an integral constituent of globalization. It has enabled rapid spread of information or connectivity. This was a key aspect of the Arab spring. The Arab spring resulted in mass demonstrations across Middle East. The mass gathering subsequently degenerated into conflicts as the authorities attempted to quell the riots forcefully. The riots were a result of the dictatorial regimes, which exist in this part of the world. The demonstration commenced in Egypt. However, there was a sporadic rise in the demonstrations across the most Arabic nations. Communication channels undertook a vital role in the sporadic spread of the protests, which culminated in a long running conflict in Yemen and political instability in Egypt. Globalization has resulted in democracy being touted as the appropriate political system. However, people should have the power to choose the political system they want to pursue. The communication channels have facilitated publicizing of democracy on the global front. This also contributed to the rise of the conflict among those nations since they wanted democratic systems of governance. The leading global super powers have massive interests in the Arabic nation. Consequently, they assisted the warring faction in the Arabic spring. The European nations made direct contributions to the overthrowing of the Libyan regime. The involvement of foreign forces aimed at protecting foreign interests that the dictatorial system was about to jeopardise. The Arab spring resulted primarily from the natives’ quest for changes in the political arena. However, globalization made a massive contribution to the above conflicts. Additionally, the communication fraternity contributed to the sporadic spread of protests in most nations (Steger 2008, p.78). Piracy Globalization has resulted in a massive increase in trade. The trade entail translocation of massive quantity of merchandise (McGrew ND). Merchandise from Asia headed to Europe via sea passes through the Gulf of Aden. Similarly, merchandise from Europe headed to Asia also passes through the gulf. This has made the region a hub for Somali pirates. The pirates have capitalized on the heavy traffic at the gulf to extort funds from the shipping companies. Globalization has resulted in proliferation of weapons in disorderly nations like Somalia. Thus, has resulted in armed pirates who have become a challenge to international shipping companies that utilize the Suez Canal. Globalization has culminated in the rise of piracy in the horn of Africa. Somalia is a country that has had no stable regime for two decades. Consequently, various tribal kingpins have are constantly at war in their quest to control this country. The kingpins require massive quantity or arsenal that they purchase from the black-market. The artillery has resulted in the instability of neighbouring countries such as Ethiopia, Djibouti and Eritrea. This exemplifies than in numerous ways globalization has contributed to the deterioration of security in countless nations globally (Steger 2008, p.38). Drug conflict The demand for drugs in America has been a fuelling factor for numerous conflicts in Mexico and South America. Mexico and South American nation are the rich sources of bhang and cocaine. The high demand and returns have resulted in the emergence of drug cartels, which run the trade of these commodities into rich markets. The market provides the cartel with massive financial returns, which has enabled them, acquire heavy artillery to fight the government. In some countries, such as Bolivia, cartels control massive portions of the nation’s fertile land. Mexico has also been a key victim of this trade with massive portion of its returns originating from the drug trade. The cartels have challenged the government for the control of some portion of the country. America has acted a source of guns that have fuelled gang wars in Mexico. The drug conflict in these nations has resulted in massive casualties of innocent civilians while the cartels have become more powerful and equipped. The demand for illegal substance has acted as a trigger of gang related conflicts, which have caused massive instability in Mexico, Bolivia and Peru. The connectivity of these nations has enabled drug gangs to reach their target market, which is America. This has increased instability in their native nations as they seek to avail the illegal substances (Bhagwati 2004, p. 175). Liberian conflict The presence of diamonds in Liberia has resulted in a never-ending conflict in that nation. The demand of diamond has risen globally subsequently; the fuelling conflict in Liberia. The rebels in this nation have maimed countless civilian as they seek to assume control the main mine fields. The sale of diamonds has generated funds that have enabled the rebels to purchase artillery. Consequently, they have caused terror to innocent civilian in the regions with mines. The rebels have enslaved women and children in the mines. Additionally, young boys have become child soldiers. This denotes inhumane act in the quest for control over the diamond mines in Liberia, which supply a significant quantity of diamonds in the global market. The demand for this form of jewellery has resulted in massive conflict in that nation. Globalization has culminated in the proliferation of weapons. Consequently, rebels in the Congo basin have easy access to weapons. The weapons have fuelled conflict in many regions in Congo. The weapons are acquired via funds from the sale of ivory to the global community. There is a massive demand for ivory especially in Asia. This has enabled the rebels acquire weaponry to fight governments in this region. Conclusion The above details highlight the impact of globalization on regional security globally. Globalization has had numerous implications on security in places such as Southern Sudan, Somalia, Ethiopia, Djibouti, Congo, and Liberia. In the above details, proliferation that results from globalization has facilitated easy acquisition of arsenal. The ammunition acquired has triggered lengthy conflicts in these regions. These conflicts have culminated in regional instability in the respective nations. Global authorities should enact stringent regulations on sale of weapons. In the Arab spring, globalization had contributed massively to the resultant instability. Globalization through communication facilitated the sporadic spread of riot in those nations. Globalization denotes the integration of people on the global front. This phenomenon has many positive and negative implications. It has resulted in the increased trade globally. However, some societies have suffered since it has resulted in negative economic repercussions (Bhagwati 2004, p. 20). Bibliography McGrew, A ND, Globalization and global politics Viewed on Tuesday 4th, 2012 from Stiglitz, J 2002, Globalisation and Its Discontents, Norton & Company Inc., New York. Stiglitz, J 2006, Making Globalization Work, Norton and Company, Inc., New York. Steger, M 2008, Globalisation: A Very Short Introduction, Oxford University Press, Oxford. Bardhan, P 2005, Globalization, Inequality and Poverty: An Overview, University of California, Berkeley. Bhagwati, J 2004, In Defense of Globalization, Oxford University Press, New York. Read More