Globalization and Its Enemies - Article Example

Globalization and Its Enemies Globalization is defined as a global or universal phenomenon of political, economic, cultural, social, and technological changes that come up because of contemporary communication, legal infrastructure, and political willingness to open links across borders to enable international trade. In general term, it is a term that stands for the close ties between people and states of the world culturally, economically and politically. The expansion and homogenization of consumer products, the growing ubiquity of liberal democratic ideals, and the sharp increase in wealth and poverty are all in one way or the other, attributed to globalization. There are various debates regarding the origin, driving forces, and transformative powers of transformation (Guttal 523). Supporters and critics of globalization have agreed that advancement in technology and communication have made globalization possible. For instance, banking institutions in Britain are able to reach and communicate with their counterparts in Asia, America and other parts of the world. Further, internet allows currencies to be traded worldwide. There is disagreement on the powers, natures, and origins of globalization (Guttal 523). Is it civilizing or destructive? Is it politically neutral or ideologically driven? Some people argue that globalization is driven by greed and interest to accumulate and control material wealth, for which capitalism provides a rational operational framework and ideology. They argue that globalization is a concept invented to favor the elite. In their views, factors such as global migration from one country to another have led to increased security lapses (Guttal 524). They have attributed globalization to environmental degradation, which has resulted to the sprouting of slums in developing countries. Critics of globalization insist that globalization has resulted to uneven distribution of the wealth, which has resulted to selective economic booms in the world. They view globalization as capitalist process that has its origins far back as the industrial revolution era in Europe and has grown since the disintegration of the soviet union as a suitable form of economic organization. Globalization is a force of capitalist expansion and modernization, incorporating the integration of all economic activities into the world market in order to create wealth for the nations. Guttal (524) has argued that to counter one another’s assertions about the merits and demerits of globalization, both the critics and the proponents have fronted several arguments in relation to the economic, political, and social aspects of globalization. Aspects of the economy that are majorly associated with globalization include investment, trade, and migration. This enables traders to easily access goods and even services in a more broad way than it used to be in the past years. Further, new and expanded global opportunities boosts the global economy as different kinds of exchanges taking place between states encourages positive global competition thus resulting in simultaneous global economic growth (Guttal 524). As Guttal states in the article, critics have held that free trade posses danger to domestic industries. In addition, the concept of globalization has led to the defragmentation of the environment and job loss. They assert that by countries accepting to get into foreign and regional financial schemes, they automatically lose their financial sovereignty and in turn, embrace foreign policies that may be contrary to the unique needs of its citizens. The other view is that multinational corporations may acquire excessive power in a particular country, which may in return compromise the needs of the citizens in general. Proponents perceive that, globalization has played a key role especially in the political sphere an argument that has received major backing from globalization nationalists. For example, they have a uniting factor in the view that International institutions such as World Trade Organization have positively influenced political ties among member states. Dividing the two sides in the middle is the issue and the role of technology in the globalization. Proponents have identified with the remarkable positive contributions predisposed by technology such as faster access to information and more jobs have been created online. Additionally, they state that globalization will create convergences of income, access to new ideas, and technology. By integrating local, regional, and international economies into the global economy that is not dominated, economic development in the world will lead to wealth creation and thus more people in the world will have an opportunity to enjoy the fruits of modernization, civilization, and improved technology (Guttal 525). On the other side, critics have expressed deep reservations on the security lapses by arguing that advances in technology has exposed most countries to risky behaviors such as fraud and terrorism .They have also expressed concerns on global moral decadence that has been wide spread as a result of globalization through technology. Further, they argue that globalization is dominated by western nations, and it oppresses the poor. Further, it leads to disintegration of nations and communities. It is significant to note that globalization is a political phenomenon that is shaped by intricate interactions and negotiations between nations, corporations, and international institutions mandated with bringing coherence in an increasing interdependent world. Globalization is achieved through facility of neo-liberal policies, which calls for the respect of human rights, liberties, and choice (Guttal 527). The emergence of globalization can be traced during the colonial period in Africa, Asia and in the Americas by dominant European countries. Colonialism was motivated by the desire to explore new markets in Africa, Asia and in the Americas and create new wealth (Guttal 527) These motives resulted in the establishment of international commodity markets and mercantilist trade. During the great depression and world war one, globalization was characterized by protectionist’s ideas, but the emergence of Soviet Union and socialism ideologies, as an alternative form of wealth creation, globalization took a new road. For instance, after the second war, most of the world has been connected through advances in technology and applied sciences, transportation, and communication (Guttal 525). Globalization as understood today is because of conceived and structural programs that sought to harness all aspects of political, social, cultural, and economic life under capitalism. Development of capitalism as a great globalizing force has failed to be uniform. The USA and Britain, helped developing countries in the early 1980s, when there was global economic crisis. These countries enacted structural adjustment programs that aimed to improve the economies of developing countries. Many nations in the world saw capitalism as a good way of economic empowerment that could create wealth and eliminate poverty (Guttal 526). During the late twentieth century, there was a tremendous increase in economic power, capacities, and reach of private corporations, which were operating globally (Guttal 527). Business corporations were economically prepared to take advantage of development of technology, which they were willing to utilize in order to expand their businesses. National and transnational corporations are the main drivers of neo-liberal economic ideals of globalization. These corporations benefit immensely from globalization in that they are the ones engaged in international trade, investment, and finance agreements. Corporations and governments are crucial actors in driving globalization by securing domestic and external markets. The field of globalization is flexible in that capitalism created conditions for new actors to enter the playfield and compete with other actors economically. For example, currently, China is a threat to U.S domination in the global economy. China is using globalization as modern economic superpower. Development industries have played an important part in the globalization process in that they have established social, economic, legal, political, and cultural administrative systems that encourage cooperation (Guttal 526). It should be understood that globalization is not a progressive or inclusive form of internationalism but successful expansion on the world scale of economic, social, cultural and political organization which are neo-liberal and capitalistic in nature. Cohen argues that those who are against globalization are not aware of its benefits. He argues that globalization does not encourage abuse of the poor by the haves and it does not advocate imposition of western culture on traditional cultures in developing countries. Instead, Cohen maintains that globalization has positively influenced the twenty first century. For instance, development in information and communication technology has opened many opportunities for people. Cohen argues that as much as globalization has its negative effects, it has to be praised for its promise for success (Cohen 163). Cohen (162) maintains that the existence of poverty cannot be blamed on globalization. He centers his argument on the premise that the poor in society are not in their state because of exploitation via globalization but they are poor because their respective governments neglect them. He claims that capitalism has failed to diverse technological progress since it has focused on imposing technology everywhere. According to Cohen, globalization has been around. He says that enemies of the process of globalization are concerned with retaining features of innovation. For instance, the United States of America desires to expand her businesses into new markets based on division of labor. It is clear that European countries and America are determined to have economic integration that respects cultural differences. Cohen argues that globalization has led to the growth of rich countries while the poor countries continued to be poor this is because as Cohen (161) states, enemies of the process of globalization are concerned with retaining features of innovation. For instance, the United States of America desires to expand her businesses into new markets based on division of labor. In addition, loans given to poor nations have tough conditions such repressive labor policies that are imposed to reduce the bargaining powers, and wages paid by multinational companies are low. On the other hand, globalization has been helpful to nations in that aspects of the economy that are majorly associated with globalization include investment, trade, and migration. This enables traders to easily access goods and even services in a more broad way than it used to be in the past years (Cohen 163). Summarily, globalization has been a blessing rather than a curse. For instance, it has telecommunication where banking institutions in Britain are able to reach and communicate with their counterparts in Asia, America and other parts of the world. In addition, globalization has led to a new universal phenomenon of political, economic, cultural, social, and technological changes that come up because of contemporary communication, legal infrastructure, and political willingness to open links across borders to enable international trade. On the flipside, it has been antagonistic to the poor because they have attributed it to environmental degradation, which has resulted to the sprouting of slums in developing countries and has led to uneven distribution of the wealth, which has resulted to selective economic booms in the world. Works Cited Cohen, Daniel. Globalization and Its Enemies. New York: The MIT Press, 2007. Print. Guttal, Shalmali. Globalization. Development in Practice, Vol 17, 4-5, 2007. Print. Read More