Influence of Globalization on Society - Outline Example

Global societies Contents Human rights 3 Moral values 5 Individual en ments 7 References 10 Human rights The process of globalization has made the world a smaller place in which the political, social, economic and cultural relationships are majorly integrated. Also the differences between the territorial boundaries related to the different social and cultural perspectives have been blurred with the advent of globalization. Globalization has a high impact on the human rights across different countries. These impacts are both negative and positive impacts which have helped in reshaping the concept and dynamics of human rights in the underdeveloped as well as the developed economies of the world (Gradner and Coicud, 2003, pp.101-110). The international human rights laws are supported by the factor of globalization. These laws aim at protecting the individual human beings and social and cultural groups across different nations of the world from being exploited or abused by the government authorities or the state itself. Then factors like economic deregulation, trade liberalization, privatization and failed states, all of which are components of globalization, have boosted the development of many non-state entities as powerful actors who have more resources and control over these perspectives than many states. The impact of globalization on human rights is a debated topic with some views supporting the fact that globalization has improved the human rights management whereas a contradictory view suggests that globalization has brought about potential threats to the well-being of the human beings which cannot be adequately controlled by the existing international laws (Thomas and Sikkink, 1999, p.443). The development of international trade and economic processes, increased activity of the multinational companies in expanding to foreign locations and giving back to the particular communities through the Corporate Social Responsibility activities (CSR), the development in the international laws enforcing human rights, labour laws and effective steps taken by the major employers across the world to protect the rights and interests of the labours and workers have led to an improvement in the living standards and conditions of every individual and communities. Much focus is given in this respect to the backward communities and regions like Somalia, Uganda, Ethiopia in Africa, Cambodia, Yemen, Bhutan in Asia, Tuvao, and Samola in the Australian and the Pacific region and Haiti in the Caribbean region. The positive views related to the impact of globalization on the world society has led to the proposal of globalization to be accepted and perceived as a critical form of human right implementation. The free trade systems, economic liberalization and market mechanisms have improved the living standards in the underdeveloped countries by giving them the opportunity and support to compete in the global economy which was earlier dominated by the highly developed nations like the United States, United Kingdom etc. (Brysk, 2002, p.612). The international exchanges and political freedom has led to major economic and political benefits for various communities across the world (Dunne and Wheeler, 1999, p.45). The negative impacts of globalization have been seen in the increase of modern day slavery and human trafficking system affect the advent of the concept of globalization (Stiglitz, 2003, p.119). The modern day slavery practices include forced labour, debt bondage and sexual slavery which are occurring in the developed nations like The United States and European Union. Globalizations along with neo-liberalism are considered to be the key contributors of these practices which have led to the development of a million dollar business across the globe (Jacobs, 2010, p.2). Globalization has eliminated the constraints of cross border transaction of commodities, values, services and technology. The processes of human trafficking, human smuggling and slavery have created the trading of human beings like commodities across nations (Parrot, 2008, pp.44-46). Human beings across the world are traded and exploited due to the ease of human trafficking and modern slavery facilitated by globalization. Modern slavery including human trafficking and forced labour is common across the globe. The concentration of modern slavery victims is found in countries like Russia, Burma, India, Pakistan, China, Nigeria, Ethiopia and Thailand. Recently a slavery case involving there women trapped in slavery for thirty years in London have been highlighted by the human rights practitioners. Another case of a Malaysian woman being trapped in forced slavery from 2008 to 2013. The slavery incidence was identified and dealt by the human rights activists after the women’s death in 2013 became public. Moral values Moral values can be explained as the key beliefs, attitudes and principles that an individual develops in his life. The moral values of a person are largely influenced by the society, the acceptable codes of conduct in the society and the different social arrangements which direct and influence the values and beliefs of an individual (UNICEF, 2000, p.8). Similarly the acceptance and sharing of values by a collective group of individuals influences the shape of the society in the nation. Globalization has acted as a catalyst in facilitating the shift of societies from the modern to the post-modern era in which the values and ethics of various nations are interlinked and influenced by one another. Globalization has also played a significant role in the transfer of values, thinking, believes and other social and cultural norms across different countries of the world. The process of globalization has acted as external shocks to the existing values and cultures in many societies across the world (Sen, 1981, p.70). In some cases the concept of globalization are known to add to the existing moral and social values whereas in some other areas the process is known to hit the exiting social norms and values (Felice, 1999, p.120). For example, the moral values of many conservative countries like India and the Arab countries have been hindered by the influence of the western culture on their society. The traditional society perceived the main role of women as bearing children and bringing them up. This was in view to the balance created in the society where the men looked out for work whereas the women of the family were responsible for managing the households. The sexual norms were also rigid and were restricted and aimed at reproduction. The advent of globalization has brought about major changes in the society where women also play an equal role as an earning member of a family. The modern society is seeing a paradigm shift in the values and beliefs of the society (Evans, 2008, pp.212-214). The establishment of multinational companies in developing nations like India have created a new culture of women working in the companies (Moghadam, 2005, p.35). This has also led to an increase in the working hours when the employees including women have to work till late or work in night shifts which was earlier an unimaginable situation in the traditional societies. The changing economic factors have brought about new views and perspectives to the social behaviour of modern day citizens (Vickers, 2001, p.87). The postmodern beliefs are fast moving towards new norms in the sexual aspect where the conservativeness in a culture is fast replaced by open mindedness. Also, the sexual norms are widening in terms of individual expression and increased sexual gratification (Falk, 2001, p.451). One common view related to the assault and exploitation of women in traditional countries like India is that the open minded and post-modern beliefs have been merged into the culture of this society which has made the women prone to dangers (Mae, Bayes, Hawkesworth and Young, 2000, p.441). Human trafficking and sexual slavery have also impacted the women of underdeveloped nations who are bought and sold like commodities in the international markets. The incidents of rape and murder of young women in India has been increasing at an alarming rate. This is considered to be one of the most common crimes committed in India with one such case being recorded every 22 minutes in the country. The assault and murder of an English teenager named Scarlett Keeling in 2008 drew attention from the international media and human rights activists. The gang rape of a young woman in the capital of India, Delhi caused large protests and the offenders were penalized with death sentences and also instigated some major changes in the anti-rape laws in the country. Individual entitlements Individual entitlement and International travel have been increased to a large extent due to the popularization of globalization. After the advent of globalization, the process of international travels has accounted for more than one twelfth of the total value of the world trade practices. Globalization has led to increased disposable income in nations and brought about much economy in transportation by deregulation the aviation industry etc. which has caused an increase in the travelling volumes of people across the world (Larson, 2002, p.414). The people across international borders are easily linked for travel, work opportunities, studying and economic opportunities. The number of travellers with different purposes including the tourist, business travellers, students, seasonal workers, refugees, migrants and asylum seekers has increased to a high extent (Korey, 2003, p.215). The travellers are provided with individual entitlements with an aim to monitor education, employment, health and accommodation levels in the global perspective. Specific programs aimed to improve the health ad accommodation facilities of the travellers including the Irish travellers have been designed in the light of globalization. After globalization, the national and international authorities have become more focussed in making positive contributions to remove the difficulties faced by the travellers. Globalization has brought about improvements in the accommodation provision, health status and educational attainment among the travellers through the use of entitlements given to the travellers. These improvements are monitored and evaluated against the backdrop of increasing unemployment, low baseline, discrimination and other disadvantages existing within the travellers community The widespread discrimination often leads to conflicts among the residing people and the travellers which pose much danger to the travellers and question their safety and security in the foreign lands. These conflicts are major constraints in the way of establishing a harmonious relationship between the settled members and the travellers. The conflict between the Irish travellers and the local citizens, especially in the European region are mainly caused due to the widespread differences between the ethnicity, language and culture of the two societies. The travellers form a distinct cultural group which enforce the creation of new policy agreements in the regions which are also factors contributing to the political conflicts between the travellers and the residents in these regions. Globalization is deemed to be a critical factor in decreasing the entitlements and welfare benefits in different societies. Contemporary globalization has created a situation in which the governments are not guaranteeing the prosperity and security of the citizens. Also, the loyalty of the citizens are not measured by the national sentiments and national loyalties anymore (Arat, 2002, pp.177-180). The globalization forces have reoriented the government authorities with a transnational outlook which has resulted in the weakening of the primary importance given to the national attachments (Keck and Sikkink, 2002, p.16). The emergence of a global interlinked network of authorities, regulatory bodies and organization has resulted in the popularity of global business capitalism fast replacing the national attachments and interests. The new policies of the governments taken in the background of globalization and neo-liberalism have created new powers in the society and have increased the gap between the haves and the have-nots thereby loosening the bonds of solidarity among the global citizens (Brysk and Gershon, 2004, p.78). This results in differentiated social impacts and produce despair, passivity and alienation among the citizens towards the states. The decrease in individual entitlements represents the fact that the exercising of power and decision making are shifting beyond the control of the states to the emerging non state players which may cause increased differential social impact on the individual nations. References Arat, Z. F. 2002. Globalization: Its Causes, Aggravating Policies, and Alternative Proposals. Human Rights Quarterly. Vol. 24(1), pp. 177-180. Brysk, A. & Gershon, S. 2004. Globalization and the Citizenship Gap: People Out of Place. New York: Routledge. Brysk, A. 2002. Globalization and Human Rights. Berkely: University of California Press. Dunne, T. & Wheeler, N. J. 1999. Human Rights in Global Politics. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. Evans, T. 2008. Human Rights Fifty Years On: A Reappraisal. Manchester: Manchester University Press. Falk, R. 2001. Predatory Globalization: A Critique. Malden, MA: Polity Press. Felice, W. F. 1999. The Viability of the United Nations Approach to Economic and Social Human Rights in a Globalized Economy. International Affairs. Vol. 75(3), p.120. Gradner, A. M. & Coicud, J. M. 2003. The Globalization of Human Rights. Tokyo: United Nations University Press. Jacobs, C. 2010. Slavery: Worldwide Evil. 2010. [Online]. Available at http://iabolish.org/slavery_in_depth/global-slavery.html. [Accessed on 13 March 2014]. Keck, M. E. & Sikkink, K. 2002. Activists beyond Boarders: Advocacy Networks in International Politics. Ithaca: Cornell University Press. Korey, W. 2003. NGOs and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights: A Curious Grapevine. New York: St. Martin’s Press. Larson, E. 2002. Overcoming the Digital Divide. Journal of Human Rights. Vol. 24(1), p.414. Mae, R., Bayes, H., Hawkesworth, M. & Young, B. 2000. Gender, Globalization, and Democratization. Lanham: Rowman & Littlefield Publishing. Moghadam, V. 2005. Globalizing Women: Transnational Feminist Networks. Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press. Parrot, A. 2008. Sexual Enslavement of Girls and Women Worldwide. Westport, CT: Praeger. Sen, A. 1981. Poverty and Famines: An Essay on Entitlement and Deprivation. New York: Oxford University Press. Stiglitz, J. 2003. Globalization and its Discontents. New York: W.W. Norton & Company. Thomas, R. & Sikkink, K. 1999. The Power of Human Rights: International Norms and Domestic Change. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. UNICEF. 2000. The State of World’s Children. New York: Oxford University Press. Vickers, J. 2001. Women and the World Economic Crisis. London: Zed Books. Read More