Interrogating the Politics of Identity in the Context of Globalization - Essay Example

Interrogating the Politics of Identity Name of Student: Name of Course: Name of Instructor: Date of Submission: Interrogating the Politics of Identity Globalization is the increased interconnection of political, economic and social systems of various countries in the world (Lee & Vivarelli, 3). On this point, it can be acknowledged that global systems are interconnected as illustrated by occurrences such as the recent global economic crises, terrorism, and Middle East politics among other aspects. Globalization has been fueled by developments in transport and communication systems in the world. The following essay will discuss globalization in general. It will then discuss the four dimensions of globalization namely economic, social, military and environmental globalization. The essay will also discuss global systems such as transport, communication, military and trade systems. Lastly, the essay will discuss identity issues associated with globalization. Globalization Globalization is defined as the interconnectedness of systems of life. Globalization has changed the way in which things are done in the modern age. Ideally, it is worth noting that individuals, organizations and nations have to take into consideration various aspects related to globalization in their daily running. The increased globalization has led to the development of global systems that dictate the engagements amongst various bodies. The increased rate of globalization can be attributed to the improved transport and communication systems. In the modern age, it is possible to have breakfast in America, Lunch in Europe and dinner in Africa and possibly wake up in Australia. This is an indication of the efficient transport systems. Additionally, it is possible to reach out to a large number of people simultaneously via the developed communication systems such as the internet which has interconnect the world through the world wide web (www), making it a global village. From the above, it can be acknowledged that globalization has increased with developments in transport and communication. As economic, political and social systems become more and more interconnected, there has been an increased need for organizations and nations to cease from ‘thinking local’ to ‘thinking global’. Thinking global has led to the development of global institutions which govern the interactions amongst various entities. The United Nations is a good example of such a body. The body is responsible for overseeing that human rights and freedoms are upheld, good global governance and resolution of disputes and other roles as outlined in the charter. There are other regional unions such as the European Union and the African union which are an illustration of increased globalization. Dimensions of Globalization There are four main dimensions of globalizations namely economic, military, social and environmental. Economic globalization involves the transfer of goods, capital, information and services around the world. Economic globalization is illustrated by the linked markets, internationalization of companies, interconnected financial systems and other elements used to measure economics and business (Sivakumar & Krishnaswami 40). On this point, it is worth noting that the global economy is more interconnected than ever. Taking an example of the recent global economic crisis, it can be acknowledged that its impacts were felt all over the world (Peter 17). Additionally, the recent concern about the shutdown of the United States economy sent tremors in the global economy and was reflected in foreign exchange and also in the global business since the dollar is the most widely used currency in international transactions. The economic crisis in the European Union which is attributable to wrong economic policies is also a reflection of the interconnectedness of the global economy. The crisis has led to the falling of previously good economic such as Cyprus, Greece and Spain. The global market has also become liberal; with the movement of goods and services across borders increasing tenfold. The second dimension of globalization is military. Military globalization takes place when forces work together towards achieving a specific objective. Military globalization has been in existence for a long time. From the strategic military alliances in the 1st and 2nd world wars to the united forces working under the United Nations to restore law and order in war turn countries such as Congo and Sudan, it can be appreciated that military globalizations has played a great role in world affairs. In the recent past, military globalization has been showcased in the fight against terror in the Middle East and Somalia and in the United Nations Peacekeeping missions. One of the most prominent and oldest military unions in the world is the NATO which is an intergovernmental military and political union (Pollack 1). On this point, it is also worth noting that military globalization work hand in hand with political systems. The third dimension of globalization is environmental. Environmental globalization refers to the interconnectedness of various elements in the global environment. It refers to the movement of materials in the world waters, terrestrial land and atmosphere. Environmental globalization is reflected in such issues such as pollution, global warming and climate change. To illustrate environmental globalization, a case analysis of a green house gas emitting factory in Germany will be used. Green house gasses are a major air pollutant. When the factory emits the carbon gases, they increase the amount of carbon gases in the atmosphere. These gases in turn form a thermal blanket around the air, preventing radiated heat from escaping into the space. This in turn leads to global warming which ultimately leads to climate change (Barnet & Adger 642). This is a classical illustration of environmental globalization. Activities which have significant impacts on the environment lead to environmental globalization owing to the interconnections associated with it. The last dimension of globalization is social globalization. Social globalization refers to the interdependence of social systems. On this point, it is worth noting that movement of people across the world has enhanced social globalizations. Additionally, improved communications has also empowered people to share ideas, information, beliefs, and practices. This has led to the mixing of cultures; a move which has collectively led to the development of hybrid cultures. Social globalization is reflected in such aspects such as intermarriages, dilution of cultures and development of new cultures amongst other social aspects. Social globalization has also led to the development of diverse workforces (Lupina-Wegener, Schneider & Dick 66). In a globalised society, people tend to do things in numbers such as participating in global gaming events such as world cup and rushing to the aid of distressed people such as Syria. Global Systems Globalization has also led to the development of global systems which support various processes across borders. One of the global systems is the international financial system. This system is responsible for the changes in finances across borders. Owing to the need of ensuring that some entities do not take advantage of others by engaging in unlawful and unethical acts such as devaluing their currencies, there has been the development of global financial governing bodies such as the International Monetary Union and the World Bank. Another global system is the global trade system. Just as the financial system, it us governed by regional and global institutions such as the world trade organizations, the European Union, and the East African Community. The system aims at encouraging fair trade activities across borders. Global communications systems are also a major example of global systems. The governance of the internet; which is currently one of the greatest communication mediums in the world is done by regional and global governing bodies. The current migration from analogue to digital frequency transmission is also been overseen by global communication systems. Identities Identity is a key issue related with globalization. In the wake of increased globalizations, entities are concerned about the continued loss of identity to the global forces. This is specifically portrayed in political globalization. With globalization, states have to take into consideration what is happening in other countries before engaging in any activities (Badakhshani 2). Additionally, the forces in the global system have forced states to act according to specific criteria as outlined in global legislation and treaties. In a move which is seen as a bid to maintain sovereignty, states have cowed out of international treaties and organizations. This is basically an identity issue. On the other hand, societies have seen their cultures diluted by foreign cultures. Moves to regulate the foreign content played on local media stations are aimed at preserving the cultural identity of a society. Business organizations have not been left behind either and the regulation of the number of shareholders and management of international organizations are also moves to maintain organizational identity. From the above, it can be acknowledged that identity is a major issue in Conclusion In conclusion, it has been identified din this paper that globalization is the increased interconnection between political, social and economic systems. This essay has pointed out that advancements in transport and communication technologies are the key engines of globalization. It has been seen that there are four main dimensions of globalizations namely military, economic, environmental and social. The essay has also noted that there has been the development of global systems to govern the practices in the four dimensions such as communication, transport and trade international systems. Lastly, the essay pointed out that identity is a major issue associated with globalization. The essay made reference to the state and its sovereignty, cultural identity and business organizations with this respect to this issue. Works Cited Barnet, J., & Adger, N., 2007. Climate Change, Human Security and Violent Conflict, Political Geography Vol. 26, No.1; pp.639- 655 Badakhshani, O., Globalization: The end of state Sovereignty?. Free University of Amsterdam Faculty of social sciences Department of political science. (2010); 1-5 Lupina-Wegener, A., Schneider, S., & Dick, R., Different experiences of socio-cultural integration: a European merger in Mexico. Journal of Organizational Change Management. 24.1. (2011);65 – 89 Lee , E., & Vivarelli, M., The Social Impact of Globalization in the Developing Countries. (2006); 1-23 Pollack, N., America War Proclivities, US Military-Corporate Globalization. (2014). http://www.counterpunch.org/2014/03/11/us-military-corporate-globalization/ Peter, M., Global crisis & Australian politics: time for the greens to make their move. Australian Quarterly. 84. 1.(2013): 17-20 Sivakumar,N.,& Krishnaswami, S., Global financial crisis: dharmic transgressions and solutions, International Journal of Social Economics. 39.1/2, (2012); 39 - 54 Read More