Technological Globalization - Essay Example

Technological Globalization Name: Course: Tutor: Date: Technological Globalization Introduction In order to argue out the point entirely on whether globalization is dependent on technology or whether technology is the key factor to globalization, one must first understand what exactly globalization in order to understand the bases of the argument presented. First, globalization is speeding up and widening global interconnectedness. It can also be defined as the intensifying impact at which countries around the world are being connected through some sense of commonality. One can only come to one conclusion, which is, globalization is indeed dependent on technology. Before presenting the argument, one must understand what the term technology is and be able to link it to globalization. Technology is defined as the process of production, which from it the product are goods and services. The term production can its self be related to five elements constant in it this is production which can also be known as manufacturing (Eugenio, 2007). It is apparently clear that technology has played a significant role in the development and expansion of globalization amongst countries in a partnership. Technology is vital in production of either goods or services. It improves the quality of things produced, knowledge which can be termed as the information used in the production or selling of goods and survives. Technology is reached at through thorough knowledge or information it is developed trough research and understanding of the integral dynamics that encompass it. Another element critical to technology is instruments which are the tools used by people all over the globe. Change represents how much the world has changed throughout the years because technology keeps growing (Behrens, 2010). Possession, which is the last element, represents the people or countries, which own technology. These individuals also control the technology they possess technology. These are the elements, which can clearly be linked to the understanding of what technology is. In order to link technology entirely to globalization, one must understand that technology is referred to in a social and political term (Gowan, 1999). Unlike what many skeptics believe, the world has tremendously changed. The first globalization though absolute in form was through the process of navigation, which was witnessed during the ancient times. The reason why skeptics are included in the argument this argument is because they believe that the world has not witnessed any form of globalization. Nevertheless, the argument present shows that the world through technology cannot be compared to the form of globalization that was experienced during the 17th and 18th century (Behrens, 2010). The first invention or technology that led to globalization of humanity was the script. The scrip was used to map out roots, which could be used for transportation or trade, which then led to ships being able to move freely in the waters without getting lost. The other most influential technology that led to a significant growth in technology was the invention of the printing machine (Capra, 2002). The invention then led to the invention of newspapers where people would read about the political and economic world. This led to the spread of information, which then led to the understanding between different nations hence then globalization. The invention of newspapers led to fundamental decisions regarding how the countries were to be run made by the politicians. This saw a significant change in the political and economical process that affected globalization. Another significant invention of technology, which led to globalization, is the invention of telegrams (Smith, 2007). Telegrams simply separated the art of communication to that of transportation that was intertwined before the telegram was invented. In 1861, telegraphs led to the invention of telephones, which went father to simplify the art of communication. A new era in globalization was witnessed when the radio a wireless devise was invented. This saw information spread all over the world (Eugenio, 2007). The invention of the radio saw cordials opened up all over the world countries were able to communicate easily with other long distance countries. The invention of planes in the 20th century made global transportation is easier and faster than before. This was the biggest steps towards globalization that was experienced through the 20th century (Behrens, 2010). The first ever most reliable global network was invented when the Russians invented the first satellite known as the sputnik. This saw a significant step in solving he television and radio problem for a better and faster communication. Through consistent growth of globalization, the satellite proved not to be first enough for the changing world network. A resolution was achieved when the first fiber optic cable was laid down in 1988. The fiber cable proved to be faster and more reliant in the growth of globalization. The invention of this form of technology has led to the form of globalization that exists in today’s world (Gowan, 1999). This invention led to the growth of inventions that are being experienced in today’s world. The concept of globalization has seen a rise of open markets being introduced through digital technology. Digital network has opened global networking to the world. I today’s word business, politics and other forms of globalization are being ran through networking sites such as Facebook, twitter and many other social sites (Smith, 2007). When connected to these social sites, one is one with the world. The networks have seen information change hands. It has also witnessed changes in ideologies, which have been necessary for the growth of global understanding. The invention of networks saw the rise of electronic banking take its toll on the world; through electronic banking, the economic world was able to see foreign currencies changing hands (Wolf, 2004). With this form of the system, it was easier to transfer funds anywhere in the world safely without caring the whole loot. Technology has seen the change in how the world is pursued. It has seen nations grow, and economies rise. Technological globalization has resulted in the emergence a new world order, which is viewed as one and not country rules on its owned provision. Though highly debatable, the political world in today’s globalization has seen countries not only relying on each other politically. Reason for this argument lies in the heart of the international courts which are established by the merging of many countries. Through this system, the political world is heavily influenced. Skeptics believe that globalization has brought about more harm than it has helped (Wolf, 2004). They claim that, through the continuous technology advancement, which is related to globalization, the world stands at risk of one day exploding from the inside. Most of their arguments are based on weapon enhancement where countries finance wars to be able to sell their weapons to fighting nations. Research show that technological globalization based on economic enhancement was one of the major points behind the cold war experienced in the 1950s and early 1960s (Gowan, 1999). This and other reasons such as nations like Somali and Sudan, which have seen skeptics, point an accusing finger on technological globalization. The point raised by skeptics in this argument is extremely substantial. Most wars are started because countries want to advance themselves either economically or politically. Nonetheless, how can this are related to globalization when only a few people or countries stand to gain through these wars. By considering the technological aspect behind this argument, it is agreeable that technology has kept humanity alive. Through advancing technology in security, the world has stayed in peace and humanity’s fate of having secure nations have been a lived at ((Steger, 2003). Of course, one cannot claim that technological globalization that has a negative impact on the society is devoted. However, technology has promoted the growth of globalization. Technology has seen the creation of outside markets, which have opened up the world to one market. Through networking technology, markets have been opened up where one trades online with someone from a distant nation. Globalization cannot be achieved without technology. It is through technology that the products that are sold are arrived at. Technology creates and sells he product to the open market (Gavin, 2001). For instance, Coca Cola produces and markets its products to almost all countries across the world through enhanced technology. This technology goes ahead to open up the borders where products can be sold resulting in globalization through technologically supported means. If technology were not possible, many countries would still be locked to the Stone Age era. When thought about carefully, it is because of technology that a country develops. For a country to develop, it has to see other countries accept to invest in it (Joseph, 2006). Through other countries investing their money and resources in the country, the country is considered to be globalized. Most Countries are considered to be globalized when they can transmit income or currencies from other nations into their country. For instance, a country like Somali cannot be termed as globalized. This is because the country cannot or does not have the set infrastructures, which will enable it to invest in other countries across the globe. Technology has seen the compression of globalization into space and time (Steger, 2003). Through network appliances, the world can transmit information as fast as possible. Satellites lunched to the sky and fiber cables laid have seen communication enhance which has led to globalization. Globalization has had a vast effect on the language spoken by many people. English is considered the most commonly language that is used (Capra, 2002). The world, through technology like network connection, has seen the language become the most used language. In the economic world, the currency changes hands between deferent people of deferent ethnic backgrounds because of understanding of one common language, English (Thomas, 2005). Technology has played a significant part in this understanding. For nations to come together as one in the world market there must be an understanding in the language, spoken English seems to be the most spoken language even in the social sites found in the Internet today. Technology can be termed as the main facilitator of globalization. Research has proven that if world harmony did not exist with globalization then cross-border trade would be ineffective. The global village has seen changes of culture, which have mostly been led, by changes in technology (Gavin, 2001). The interconnectedness that is experienced in the world today has been mostly facilitated by the growth technology amongst nations. Through television, either one gets informed about the crucial events politically or economically that is affecting the global world. For countries to survive in today’s world, they must be technologically capable to survive in the global village where information is spread and spread first (Wolf, 2004). Theories about technology globalization have been formed and found to be true. For instance, a theory formed by an economist named John Spencer stated that China and Japan are in front of globalization. The theory suggested that since the two counties can be termed as some of the most rapidly developing in terms of technology, China and Japan lead the world marketing terms of they are the countries producing the highest GDP in the world market at general (Joseph, 2006). Conclusion The technological advancement of modes of communication and transport has seen the globe turning to be a small and smaller village. It has seen people from all lifestyles with deferent cultures and beliefs come together in order to achieve a common goal. This bond of people through technology, man can be categorized as the main source behind the globalization in the world (Thomas, 2005). Despite of what skeptics might say about the world not changing, it is clear knowledge that the world has grown tremendously from where it was two centuries ago to where it is now. One can witness the harmony in business and culture that is in the world, which can be brought about by technology. The most notable and significant changes that have been brought about by technology is the invention of networking sites such as Twitter and Facebook. These have seen people from all over the globe able to communicate on a daily basis (Gavin, 2001). This has seen the world become a small place where one talks to anyone in any country. Since this is possible, technology is termed as one of the biggest influence towards globalization. Most businesses that are connected are able to reach their customers through Internet connection (Matthew, 2009). As a strategy, most organizations that have developed are able to connect to most of their clients and sell or market their products through Internet connection. This goes a long way to proving just how much technology has influence the growth of globalization. In truth, globalization through technology offers both opportunity for countries to grow and risks. There are those who argue that globalization will only see the rift between economically stable countries and still developing countries widen. Somehow, it is true but not all developing countries will be negatively affected by technological globalization (Smith, 2007). In fact, most of the countries might as well benefit from enhancing their technology to meet that of the world. By advancing their technology to meet the standards set by the economic, stable countries, most of the developing countries will have achieved economic stability hence globalization (Capra, 2002). Globalization only depends on whether or not technology and innovations advance. Without technological advancement, globalization cannot be achieved. References Behrens, H. (2010). Globalization Vibrates the 21st Century. Berlin: Lithaus Uni-Edition Capra, F. (2002). The Hidden Connections. New York, New York: Random House Eugenio, D. (2007). Globalization of Food and Agriculture and the Poor. Oxford: Oxford University Press Gavin, K. (2001). Seeking Social Justice through Globalization. Escaping a Nationalist Perspective. Penn State Press Gowan, P. (1999). The Global Gamble: Washington's Faustian Bid for World Dominance. London: Verso Jacob, S. (2010). Governing the Global Polity: Practice, Mentality, Rationality. Michigan: University of Michigan Press Joseph, E. (2006). Making Globalization Work. New York: W.W. Norton Matthew, J. (2009). International Trade in Services and Intangibles in the Era of Globalization. Chicago: The University of Chicago Press Smith, C. (2007). International Trade and Globalization, 3rd edition. California. Anforme Steger, M. (2003). Globalization: A Very Short Introduction. New York: Oxford University Press. Thomas L. (2005). The World Is Flat. New York: Farrar, Straus and Giroux Wolf, M. (2004). Why Globalization Works. New Haven: Yale University Press Read More