To What Extent might Globalization be seen as Disadvantageous to Our Society - Essay Example

To what extent might globalization be seen as disadvantageous to our society? Globalization has its due share of advantages and disadvantages. The need is to understand what is more important for the society as a whole. Also there is a requirement for enacting certain policies which look after the poverty regimes in a way that there is no poverty on the face of the earth but what is happening in reality is the exact opposite nonetheless. It is a fact that the world is filled with selfish people who want to become richer day by day and thus deprive the poor ones of even their most basic of rights. Globalization should aim to solve this quagmire but then again consistent efforts are indeed needed to put the written word into practice. Before moving on, there is a dire need to define what globalization in essence is - globalization is a term which encompasses a number of difficult series of economic, social, technological, cultural and political changes that have been happening from time to time on the global front. These changes have seen some serious strides that have been made with regards to increasing interdependence as well as mergers and interacting units between people from different locations and companies with diversified interests. The term started to take form in the year 1944 but it was not before the year 1981 that the economists actually started using it. The main person responsible for coining the term globalization is considered to be Theodore Levitt. Furthermore, in an economic zone, globalization plays a significant role at increasing trade on an international front which as compared to the global economy, is much faster and ahead of its time. In addition, one can predict an increase in the flow of capital that has been coming from the global regimes which might include for the foreign direct investment as being one part of it. Moving on, there are the agreements which are signed on a global scale that eventually lead to world bodies like the World Trade Organization (WTO) and others. Global financial systems also come to light as their developmental work gets thumbs up. International transactions speed up as the world bodies like WTO, WIPO, IMF and the like play their role in a more coherent and active manner. Economic practices like global sourcing or outsourcing as we know of it, off-shoring and others increase courtesy the multinational concerns. Hence poverty-driven mechanisms are enacted but not followed to the extreme core, thus resulting in the poor masses which are spread in every nook and corner of the world today. As for the drawbacks that globalization brings with it, one must understand here that globalization brings out new and fresh challenges to the local markets as they have to meet the expectations as laid down by the reforms and works of the global companies and industrial units. For others, this may mean that they have to let go of their traditional norms and cultural values so that they can adjust in accordance with the globalization’s developments. The effect of this regime thus brings in an atmosphere of finding out the foreign entities more than their own personal selves which is indeed a drawback to say the very least. There is decimation in the ranks of the local cultures as is apparent in the case of third world countries where influence of West is pretty clear for one and all to see. Similarly within Africa this has been the norm for decades now. In all essence, the commercialization of culture is one significant thing that comes to mind under this aspect. This has an impact on people’s thinking, their values, their habits and behaviors. In fact the commercialization of culture makes one thing for sure; it keeps the local culture in cold storage and tries to show off the innate qualities, whether there or not in reality, to its adopters. No matter how much globalization boosts the world economy, it provides as a hindrance point for the local area economies since there is a lot of liberalization that happens in the global domain. International trade barriers start becoming easy targets for the global regimes and thus the individual governments face one problem or the other due to the very same. This is also a fact that profits are poured in left, right and center but then this holds true for only the multinationals and large conglomerates in the real sense of the word. Some anti-globalization bodies also suggest that globalization gives rise to capitalism and thus should be banned from the face of the earth. They are of the belief that this form of movement is against the poor and it exploits upon their necessities and gets the best work done out of them for the cheapest possible money. The third world is thus at the receiving end of this game nonetheless, as they fathom. One of the major drawbacks that can be taken out from the globalization drive is that it makes use of the poor people and promotes child labor. This means that the third world nations are being made use of and it is because of the already developed nations that this heinous crime is being committed in the first place. That is the reason as to why cheap labor accounts for the biggest reason that globalization is successful in these countries. As far as the society is concerned, globalization entails within it the changing technological innovations, the improvement in structures and different infrastructures, the advancements in basic thinking mindset of man, his ability to break loose from the ordinary and reach out towards the unknown and in all essence do something which can bring about an ultimate change, for the better. Having said that, one need to understand that globalization is not just a phenomenon, it is the science of human evolution and since man has for long held fast to this belief, there can be no reason as to why he should not comprehend the basis of the phenomenon of globalization. It is a paradigm shift or a movement as we might call it, one that brings more stability within the ranks (where it is applied) and unison in the efforts and activities of all concerned. More often than not, we have seen improvements within the present day systems owing to globalization and it is because of this very perspective of change that we see world bodies doing their utmost to reach out to far flung areas and explore hidden markets for the betterment of one and all. One should realize that globalization is indeed more than a phenomenon. It is a culture that has changed the face of the earth and it will linger on for years to come. Before any other movement comes and strikes on the global face, we have to find out for ourselves what are the plus points and the disadvantages of this phenomenon related with globalization since the tilt should more or less be on the benefits that it provides to the whole population of individuals without differentiating whether they hail from the developed nations segment or one that has been bracketed alongside the very poor. This also goes on to suggest that globalization will remain as a strong force that can shape the world to change in entirety and resist on the other movements that happen from time to time. The emphasis and focus of world’s top governing bodies only makes sure that globalization remains as one of the strongest advocates for the free work regime all over the world and there need not be any boundaries for any party, individual or group for that matter. The benefits and downsides of globalization need to be weighed in properly before we comment upon whether it is on the right track or otherwise. It has connected the world economies and has thus raised the living standards many times which is a sure positive sign for one and all to see but the looming saga of cheap labor is something that we have to comprehend on the other hand as well. The change factor is pretty evident and more so in a quick fashion which is something that can be attributed as a major plus all this while but then again the pain it exerts on the young hands to make the lives of the rich and developed comfortable is debatable if not wholly deplorable. Furthermore, the point related with phasing out jobs in the name of technological changes and infrastructural requirements is a big bane in the present times, one that needs to be looked in the context of the losing party in a clear and vivid manner rather than hushing up the whole issue once and for all. The advantages of the phenomenon of globalization must outweigh the disadvantages to make the anti-globalization campaigners change their minds in the favor of the same. In the end, prosperity should be the buzzword as far as the whole subject is concerned. References Aase, Sara. (2004). Is Globalization a Powerful Force for Good or a Means of Exploitation? New World Order UMN News Akande, Wole. (2002). The Drawbacks of Cultural Globalization. Global Policy Forum Berberoglu, Berch. (2005). Globalization and Change; The Transformation of Global Capitalism. Lexington Books Globalization vs. Internationalization. K’nechtology Inc. Kantor, Shira. (2001). Renowned Author Receives Degree, Criticism at U. Minnesota Daily Kohler, Horst. (2003). The Challenges of Globalization and the Role of the IMF. International Monetary Fund Lerch, Marika. (2005). Challenges of Globalization: New Trends in International Politics and Society. Transaction Publishers Theodore Levitt. (2006). Business Library Found Online at: http://www.lib.uwo.ca/business/Levitt.html Vanin, Cristina. (2005). Real Costs of Globalization. Catholic New Times Word Count: 1,502 Read More