Analysis of Globalization and Post-colonialism by Sankaran Krishna - Book Report/Review Example

History and Political Science Topic: Globalization and Post colonialism by Sankaran Krishna Introduction In the context of globalization, modernization and underdevelopment are alternative beats of the same heart. One cannot ignore the other. Globalization is such a fast-moving phenomenon that free-market capitalism is aghast at the speed of its growth and the new challenges that it has brought forth. This is a historical development as the result of industrialization and internet revolution. Political changes and economic developments have taken place with rapidity in the post-colonial era in countries that gained independence and in countries that practiced hard-core communist ideology until recently and globalization have assumed importance in every conceivable segment of life that affects humankind. Globalization and economic/sociological changes Sankaran Krishna gives a broad hint about the objectives that he has attempted to explain in his book. He argues, “Even a casual observer of the academic and intellectual world of today will be stuck by the ubiquity of two words: globalization and post colonialism. This book will investigate the intimate relationship between the historical and contemporary socioeconomic processes that these two terms attempt to capture.”(2) Globalization has brought important sociological issues to the fore, which the politicians, administrators and economists of the respective countries cannot afford to ignore. Globalization has impacted the advanced as well as the countries that seek advancement, in one way or the other. It has thrown light on the production and distribution systems of goods. The free-market capitalism ideology is taking shape to attain new dimensions. Individual consumerism has gained prominence. At every level of the society resistance to exploitation is growing. New awareness has dawned with the leadership of the labor movement and new concepts of trade-unionism are being perfected. Ethical and political choices are being redrafted. In many important countries the logic of ideology-based economic policies are being challenged in the overall interest of the society. The author states, “In brief, this book will argue that if globalization is the reigning or hegemonic ideology in the world today, post colonialism, at its best, constitutes one of its main adversaries or forms of resistance to its way.”(2) Post colonialism and free-market ideology Sankaran agrees about the benefits of globalization and disagrees about the merits of the traditional postcolonial theories and contests the thinkers on the subject. He admits, “Postcolonial theory stands at this juncture in its engagement with globalization.”(106) He is the critic as well as the synthesizer. He is able to locate the difference between the political compulsions of the economy and working of the free market in terms of the requirements of trade and commerce. He argues, “Globalization can be seen as the accelerated spread of a free-market-based, capitalist style of production over an increasing swath of nations on this planet, especially over the past three decades. The entry of previously closed or inward-looking economies like China and India…”(2) He has good grasp of the issues related to postcolonial literary theory and cultural studies, and their impact on the working of the economy in context of globalization. The powers, institutional, cultural, political and material work in tandem and their mutual interaction produces results that are difficult to comprehend in advance. These powers may impact on varying scales in different countries due to fixed conditions and situational demands. The author has penetrated into a difficult area of globalization and evolved a unique postcolonial thought to throw light on his findings. No political authority, no intellectual, no economist is able to estimate where globalization will lead to. Globalization grows like the octopus in all direction and the leaders of different disciplines just follow. They have economic and political compulsions to follow, as ultimately all segments of human activities are linked to the state of the economy of the country. The Western countries, the self-styled world leaders, are taken aback by the situations created by globalization, as it pulls the rug of superiority from under their feet. Sankaran argues, “Globalization, especially in its neoliberal form, presents itself as the rational commonsense and as the triumph of the economy over politics, with the latter invariably seen as something that interferes with or corrupts the functioning of the “natural” and rational logic of the economy.”(3)They are attacked from all sectors on a global scale. They have to face stiff competition from the countries who have no place in the world map of economy a few years before globalization advances from all fronts, and they are least prepared for such assaults. Globalization and political impact Sankaran has special words of advice for America. Political dominance generally arises from economic power. That has been the position of America, which assumes the role of self-styled leadership in political affairs of many countries, unchallenged during the pre-globalization era. They continue to push to the front with the same policies, which according to Sankaran is fraught with danger. America will have to beat the retreat, he counsels. To use weapons to settle the political differences and its global economic interests, is adventurism and he tenders the firm advice to the political leadership of America to give up this attitude and restructure the foreign policy. America has to create a platform for working out its new strategies by entering into a dialogue with the big powers and reshape its foreign policy on the outcome of the discussions. This would mean that America will have to compromise its position of domination and modify its habit of adopting the unilateralist model. Before initiating such a dialogue the partners of American democracy, Democrats and Republicans have to agree on the common denominators. America needs to learn lessons from the Iraq War, where all its calculations have gone haywire, by pursuing the suicidal policy of going it alone. Every country cannot be browbeaten by threats and the foreign policy of America must be redrafted after consultations with countries like Russia, China at the global level and Syria and Iran at the regional level. It is the wrong approach to curb the nuclear ambitions of Iran by application of force. America’s middle-east adventurism must atop, according to Sankaran. Thus he achieves a fair degree of balance in between economic issues and the impact of globalization consequent to internet revolution. He is of the view that in today’s highly networked area of global trade, countries with different ideologies, and civilizations are compelled to establish closer contacts. The interaction is not only at the levels of the government, but individual contacts of big multinational giants and industrialists have assumed global significance. The author argues, “In fact, in the modernization school of thought, the individual is the center of social analysis and is in many ways the sole reality with society, state and other forms of collective being seen as abstractions that are less than real, that is, metaphysical.”(10) The importance of individual economic forces has never been more than in the post-globalization era spreading over the last three decades. Islamic fundamentalism and globalization Sanakran is aware of the threat of Islamic Fundamentalism all over the world and to America in particular. He also emphasizes that America is the special target of the fundamentalist forces due to historical reasons. But in the context of globalization, he tenders arguments, as to how to meet this challenge and he quotes Friedman, “Friedman argues neoliberal globalization is the best prophylactic against Islamic terrorism.”(139) He warns about Islamic fundamentalism and cautions how to deal with such forces firmly through alternative methods. With a balanced approach be reaches out to the intricacies and compulsions of the domestic politics of America, and throws light on as to what really needs to be done for the security and overall interests of the country. The rout of Communism in Russia and dilution of the principles of Marxism in many communist countries including China did some good for America, but it did not solve all the problems. The rapidly rising power of China in all fronts, and the spread of Islamic fundamentalism are the new dangers. Asian civilizations and their increasing economic, political, and military challenges need to be taken in to calculation while forming new international strategies by America. International politics has changed significantly since the termination of Cold War. Sankaran argues, “Further, critics have argued, the cultural turn within postcolonial theory has meant over attention to fragments of history.”(111) Yet, now culture occupies the prime position. Factors like ancestry, religion, language, customs, values and institutions of the people have occupied vantage points in the context of globalization. Conclusion: Sankaran Krishna is eminently suited to discuss and comment on the subject of globalization and post colonization. He teaches political science at the University of Hawaii at Manoa in Honolulu. He has good grasp of the ground realities that have irreversibly changed the economy of countries in the post colonization era and that change is continuing in geometrical progression to the detriment of the developed countries. He has provided unique insights on the subject. He has spotted the dark places of the advanced Western counties well and warns them of the impending severe competition from the Asian countries. Works Cited Krishna, Sankara. Globalization and Postcolonialism: Hegemony and Resistance in the Twenty- first Century. Rowman & Littlefield Publishers, December 16, 2008.Print Read More