Arguments about Globalization - Assignment Example

? Topic: Lecturer: Presentation: Q1: How Robert Wright and Kaplan use history to make their arguments about globalization. In the article “Two Years Later, a Thousand Years Ago” by Robert Wright, globalization is explained in terms of historical events such as the 9/11 attacks. Wright asserts that contrary to early days when globalization was viewed as manifest destiny, today it encompasses American values of economic and political liberty. Globalization according to Wright has been enhanced by technological advancements in transport, communication, and weapons. For Wright, globalization brings some order in the world while for Kaplan it is a source of chaos but both agree that it is not a new phenomenon as traces of it can be found in history. Kaplan and Wright view globalization as a growth in interdependence among nations enhanced by commerce and improved technology. The expansion of commerce began in the prehistoric period driven by improvements in transport, roads, wheels and boats. These improvements were meant for facilitating wars but when there was no fighting, they were used to do deals (Wright). Even today, trade is enhanced by improved transport and communication making it accessible to cross boarders and trade with other nations. The building of ships, planes, trucks, and railway has connected many countries to the rest of world thereby enhancing globalization. According to Kaplan, the geographical location of a country is vital in determining its success in commerce. America has been able to rise in the global scene due to advancement in transport and its strategic position where it can connect to the rest of the world. It can connect to Europe through the Atlantic Ocean, Asia through Pacific Ocean and other countries through the Indian Ocean. It is thus able to exchange with those countries through its shipping lines. Information technology has also been attributed to the spread of Globalization. According to Wright it started in early days when writing was discovered in Mesopotamia as a way of keeping records. It was later used in the form of contracts that enhanced international trade. The discovery of print also accelerated globalization. In Wright’s words, it makes it cheap to transmit information thus giving power to the powerless groups. He gives an example of the rise of Protestantism from the Roman Catholic Church that was facilitated by the emergence of print media in the 15th century. People like Martin Luther used the print to their advantage to spread ideas and attract masses. Today, information technology also helps to advance the terrorism ideals as people from all over the world watch news of terrorism activities through televisions, internet and other social media. The events of 9/11 attacks were broadcast all over the world and Osama bin Laden became a local name thus globalizing the world through media. Technology advancement has also resulted in development of nuclear weapons necessiting the governments to unite against such activities by forming a global security watch bodies. Globalization over time has led to both positive and negative consequences. According to Wright, globalization has led to expansion of governments thereby forming global governance. This is due to increasing interdependence among nations; what happens in one country affects other countries thus creating the need for a world body such as World Trade Organization to regulate commerce and trade. The United Nations is also a world body that ensures security among nations. America being a pertinent player in the global scene therefore has a duty to protect its interests and this makes it necessary for it to intervene in the affairs of other nations to ensure they are stable. This is due to the fact that if trading nations are unstable, then America will be affected due to interdependence. This explains America’s interest in ending Iraq war. Globalization also leads to growth of morality. According to Wright, human nature makes people to engage in nonzero-sum games such as exchange in commerce thus expanding economic interdependence among nations. Each country has its own interests when engaging in the game thus aims to achieve these interests. As such, those engaging in the game put their values behind and practice tolerance so as to achieve their aims. That is why there is ethnic and religious tolerance in globalized countries and hatred for Christians in Muslim countries which are not integrated into the global economy (Wright). In this exchange therefore, no country is a loser or winner rather, all gain something or lose something such as sovereignty. Despite these successes, globalization also leads to instability among other negative effects. As noted by Wright, the tools of globalization are used to turn against the system by terrorists. Technological advancements have been used for generations to turn against the system. For example, the growth of print in 15th century brought about instability in Europe due to religious wars. Today, terrorist organizations use cell phones, e-mail, and weapons to carry out their destructive activities such as the 9/11 terror attacks in America. According to Wright, grievances that led to the attack grew out of globalization. These terrorist activities not only affect the nation in which they are carried out but also the economy of other nations due to interdependence. In a nutshell, globalization correlates the fortunes and fate of nations. It also leads to loss of national sovereignty as governments have to allow global governance bodies such as WHO or UN to police nations. Q2: Do Wright and Kaplan agree on morality or they have different emphasis? Wright believes that global governance leads to moral enlightenment or moral growth. “Violence among nations is justified by moral devaluation and dehumanization of victims” (Wright). However, globalization can bring about moral equality and make people to be considerate of others. However, this moral enlightenment is driven by self-interest due to interdependence. Each nation has to be considerate of others so as to have good business and satisfy self-interest; it has to take care of the welfare of others because if not, it is also going to suffer due to interdependence. This is the reason America is so much concerned with the welfare of other nations as peace in the world is paramount to its economic stability and prosperity. He believes that moral universalism can be achieved through rational choices. Kaplan on the other hand, does not agree with Wright. For him, moral universalism cannot be achieved as people do not always behave according to their self-interest. Though globalization brings about global governance, unlike Wright who believes it is inevitable for moral order, Kaplan thinks that it is not a good thing. He believes it would lead to bureaucratic despotism thus ignoring interests of the lower classes. He also believes that even though moral inequality is decreasing, the world powers define the world in terms of their own moral outlook and this may not be the case for other nations. Each nation is sovereign and has its own culture and values and as such, different countries have different views of how the world should be governed. In this view, there can be no universal morality. People according to Kaplan do not play nonzero-sum games since there are winners who are the rich countries and losers who are the poor countries. Instead of imposing their values on those countries, they should first seek to reduce inequalities that exist in poor countries. Q3: What Wright means by the idea that America has a “grander mission” deep and subtle moral challenge. Wright indicates that globalization today is not like it was years ago. Historically, it was viewed as a manifest destiny and an inevitable climax of human history. The libertans advocated for free market which they believed would set commerce rolling without further implications. As such, their role was to sit back and enjoy the fruits of globalization. However, this is not the case today as left alone without any form of control; globalization would lead to moral decay and serious consequences for nations. This is due to the fact that the tools of globalization are used by the immoral people against the system which produces them. It leads to discontent among citizens which if not addressed can lead to economic collapse of the nation and consequently the collapse of other nations enmeshed in the web of globalization. By “grander mission” therefore, Wright asserts that America being a major player in the global scene cannot play a passive role, rather it must be actively involved in the process so as to bring moral order. It is a moral challenge in that it involves engaging in peaceful as well as military activities to ensure peace and stability. In the process, America is hated by many nations and thus a target for terrorist activities. Since America is more involved in commerce, it is vulnerable to instability in other nations. As such, “discontent in one nation puts America in more nonzero-sum relationships with the discontented peoples” (Wright). For example, the Muslim people are discontented with radical Islamists who impose a lot of restrictions on them as well as carrying out their terrorist activities. In this case, America tries to eliminate these radicals and make the people feel secure so that it can trade with that nation. As a result, it is hated by Muslim countries and this was the reason for the 9/11 attacks. However, it has to continue fighting for the security of these people no matter the consequences as it is of interest if these countries such as Iraq are stable but at what expense? America is criticized for waging war on Iraq leading to death of many soldiers as well as civilians. However, it must take the moral challenge to dampen the appeal of radical Islam hence economic liberty as well as political liberty. According to Wright, America is in a good position to take up this moral challenge or revolution. It is ethnically and religiously diverse; it is the most powerful nation and well positioned to lead in shaping judicious form of global governance. The hardest moral exercise for Wright is to put yourself in the shoes of people who do things that you find disgusting but someone has to take the first step lest all of us are in trouble. It also involves a trade-off between security and liberty; America has to ensure security of its people through national and global policing regimes yet it has to deny people freedom so as to keep them secure from terrorists. Q4: Reading of Kim. Do you think Kipling’s view of human nature would come down more on the side of Wright or Kaplan? Kipling’s novel is based on a character named Kim a child of thirteen years. Kim is an orphan of Irish origin who grew up in the streets of India. He was well conversant with the people of different cultures religions and customs. This was made possible by the knowledge of different languages and came to be known as “friend of the world’. His life also reflects the diversity of the people of India. He viewed humans as having different interests each trying to satisfy his/her interest. As such, he only did what was best for him. For example, he would slip into Hindu gard when engaged on certain business. He also played the Great Game for its own sake which was very treacherous, full of deceit, and fatal risks. He was torn between following his dream or the enlightening of his new found friend Lama. Kipling’s view of human nature thus corresponds with Kaplan’s view that people play zero-sum games; some win and others lose. The world comprises of nations with different interest and the West just controls the world based on their own interest. They do not mind about the values of other nations; cultural imperialism is apparent. Sometimes people from developing countries are confused as to what ideals to follow; their own culture or western culture. As such, moral universalism cannot be achieved. Kaplan advocates for elimination of inequalities that exist in each country rather than imposing their morals on other nations. As evidenced in the novel people have varied cultures and religions and are of different classes. Kim was a poor white and as such relied on the rich for food by spying for them using the principles of the Great Game. Reference Wright Robert. “Two Years Later, a Thousand Years Ago.” The New York Times, 11 September, 2003. Read More