History and Forces behind Globalization - Essay Example

? Globalization History and forces behind globalization Globalization is the process of embracing international approach in business, culture, politics, education, fashion and technology among other aspects. Globalization comes with several advantages like improved education systems, commerce, technologies and infrastructure, social relations, communications and cultural interactions among others. Internet is believed to be one of the most fundamental factors in globalization through e-commerce, e-learning and e-banking among other fields of developments. However, it has several societal set backs like advancement of war technologies, increased crime and erosion of traditional culture among others. Globalization is a continuous process that is yet to be realized in some developing nations. However, historians believe that it began in Europe, during the BCE. This discourse is about the history and the demand among other relevant aspects of globalization. History records that the earliest globalizations were realized when there was need to expand the trade links and capacities between two major trading partners, namely Indus and the summer during the 3rd millennium B.C.E. This occurred during the Hellenistic era, associated with the introduction of Greece culture into commercialized zones like India and Spain among others. Some historical records that Alexandria is among the first cities to embrace globalization, even though others believe it adopted globalization few decades after the initial globalization was recorded. Greece main force to expand its operations and trade with other regions was the issue of importing wheat among other major raw materials. The commodity was entirely transported by the ships and canoe among other water transport vessels that existed during the Hellenistic era. Several trade links were later established and the three main links were the Han dynasty, the famous Roman Empire and the Parthian Empire among others. There was an expansion in transport routes from the borders of ancient China to Rome to enhance international trade. Furthermore, there was increase in Greece Ships sailed to the furthest corner of India among other Asian nations, in search of wheat among other raw materials. First globalization was meant to enhance international trade between the earliest Asian and European nations; however, it came with several negative implications to the societies involved. The Chinese from the Han Empire developed some conflicts that led to ancient war with other Asian Kingdoms like the Persians and the Indian Kingdoms among other Asian kingdoms. Han who was the ruler of Wu Empire declared war with the Yuezhi Kingdom, with the main aim of taking control of the Tarim Basin. Globalization was further enhanced by the Muslims during the golden age, when more trade routes or links were established between the Radhanites or Jewish and the Muslim community. The two communities developed their technology, trade and agricultural practices after some interactions. Muslims resolved in producing large volumes of Sugar, cotton and wheat among other crops. Small part was internally consumed while the rest was transported to European region, for international trade purposes. The second phase of globalization also called proto-globalization occurred in the 16th and 17th century when European Empires explored other developing regions and this resulted to influence of the European culture and trade among other aspects. Portuguese and Spanish empires were the first to make such movements or initiatives and they colonized the United States and Horn of Africa among other territories. The British and the Dutch also followed and the expanded or rather global trade links which further led to establishment of multilateral companies like the Dutch East India among others. There was an increased trade trend in food and slaves to the European regions. Slave trade promoted the spread of communicable diseases in both Africa and Europe, more so along the trade routes. The final stage of globalization also known as the modern globalization occurred in the 19th century when railway lines were constructed to join the European and the developing world to enhance international trade. Sea transport was also greatly subsidized to encourage international trade. Developed nations later called for Bretton Woods’s conference to establish international monetary and economic policies, and this led to the establishment of international financial and economic institutions like the World Trade Organization to enhance global economic growth. Furthermore, more national borders were opened for international trade by abolishing several trade barriers like trade tariffs and replacing it with international trade policies established during the Woods conference. Communication costs were greatly reduced from the beginning of the 19th century to enhance international relations and trade. Computers were produced and introduced in the global arena to enhance developmental fields like commerce, human health, technology and Industrialization. Factors that drove the first wave of globalization There are several forces behind the first phase or wave of globalization, and this includes the fact that Greece and its environs needed wheat and cotton among other raw materials from the ancient Asian cities. Globalization was required to expand national or regional trade to a higher or global level. After the 2nd world war, there was a need to establish international trade policies which would abolish various regional trade barriers and replace them with globally accepted trade rules. There was a drastic growth in the Growth domestic growth (GDP) through globalization. Goods could be transported from on a nation or region to the next not only fast or effective but also at a reduced cost. Globalization was also required to improve education systems in the developing regions. Currently, the majority of the curricula in the third world nations is similar to those in Europe among other nations that embraced initial globalization. There was a need to produce universal graduates who would work in any part of the world, hence it was important to establish a common education system. The British, Portuguese, French among other European nations taught their colonies commercial and social elements to move from their ancient ways of life to the modern or global lifestyle. It would be difficult to trade with nations speaking nothing but their ancient or traditional language. Globalization was required to improve the global health to enhance international business where both developed and developing nations’ participations were required. The initial economical studies indicated that poor health stood to be one of the greatest setbacks for international trade, other than poor national trade policies. The basis behind this phenomenon is that everyone counts or contributes to the global economy; hence it was important for the developed nations to join hands and establish health aid to the developing nations. This gave birth to international health organizations like the World Health Organization (WHO) among others. Currently, several nations in Africa and Asia have advanced health technologies ranging from prevention to diagnosis measures. Globalization created some sense of brotherhood where the developed nations provide remarkable aid to the less fortunate or poor nations. One cannot trade with a sick or paralyzed partner. The best performances of the European companies require an expanded market for such products. Developed nations created several trade blocks to enhance their international business relations. One of the agendas of such trade blocks was to seek market for their products. Globalization created a sound business arena by abolishing various trade barriers in nations like Japan, which prohibited entry of any foreigner and exit of any Japanese to foreign nations (Estevadeordal , Frantz &Taylor, 2003). Globalization hence enables the consumption of developing nations’ products in developed nations and vice-versa. This has created wider job opportunities since graduates in various education levels can easily work in any region of the world. Globalization has also enhanced international relations. Globalization was the solution to first and Second World War. Form the social and psychological perspective, the best resolution for conflicting parties is to create a mutual interest between them. For instance, globalization ensures that each nation whether developed or developing remains important in the global economy. That marked the end of the world war and since then; the world embraced a common peace except the ethnic wars between the Arabs and the Jews. Early this year, French-Mali revolution occurred in the name of strengthening trade links. Mali was about to be taken over by the rebel militia, and this created tension which limited international trade. French military provided military aid and Mali came to its original status. Political or international analysts lament that the main motive of the French move was to secure their commercial relations with the Mali government. Majority of France’s raw materials are extracted from Mali among other West Africa nations. However, despite the good aspects of globalization, there are several negative implications associated with the phenomenon. It has led to the erosion of traditional culture of several ethnic groups. Globalization is associated with western culture, considered promiscuous. It has provided developed nations to exploit their developing counterparts in terms of their minerals and human resources. Major valuable natural resources are extracted from Africa, then transported to Europe, among other developing nations for processing. Developed nations are known to retain good brains from poor countries through attractive salary packages, while developing nations remain poor due to insufficient expertise. Globalization has also made the poor nations remain dependent on their developed counterparts with regard to national politics and commercial decision making. The European Union and United States are known to meddle in the politics of African nations, more so those with valuable resources like gold and oil. Globalization is considered to be the second form of slavery when analyzed in details. To conclude, globalization occurred in three phases and the last phase is believed to be underway. It first began in the B.C.E era when Greece was compelled to expand its trade links with neighboring cities. The latest phase of globalization occurred after the Second World War, where international trade policies were established to replace national or regional trade barriers. There are various needs of globalization and these are to enhance international trade, improve international relations and enhance education among other factors. However, it has several negative implications like promoting immorality or rather social erosions and national dependency among other negative factors. Works Cited Estevadeordal A., Frantz B., Taylor A .(2003, May). The Quarterly Journal of Economics. Retrieved July 7, 2010, from JSTOR: http://www.jstor.org/stable/25053910 Read More