Account for Globalization - Essay Example

ACCOUNT FOR GLOBALIZATION By and Introduction Globalization refers to the intensification of social relations globally which link in a way that events occurring locally are shaped by events occurring far away. The constraints of geography on social, political, economic and cultural arrangements recede, and people increasingly become aware that they are receding and act accordingly. Globalization is a process of social change. In this case, globalization is the process of becoming global, and this process is incomplete. However, there are processes that point to the direction of getting complete and these processes cover areas of social life and human relations including ideology, religion, culture and economic. Since globalization is an incomplete process, it is a work-in-progress, and the result is unknown. Therefore, no one knows how a global society would look. There are several factors accelerating the process of social change. These factors include institutions, technology, ideas, and value. The traditional communities that practice hunting and gathering are difficult to change. Unlike the traditional society, the modern societies are differentiated and open to change. The can change to non-food producing activities that may lead to innovations. In addition, globalization has economic, cultural, social and ideological aspects. Therefore, globalization in economic terms is very simple. Globalization as a process beyond territories The process of globalization has shortened the distance between people and the rest of the world. Though geographically far apart, people can easily exchange goods and ideas using the new technologies. They will exchange goods and services the same way they would when they were close to each other. Globalization has also revealed that the global challenges and problems can be very different. The difference is the same to the problems replicated across states and those understood at the global level. One of the problems replicated across the global societies is the financial crisis that started in the United States. The crisis spread to all nations, and most countries experienced challenging economic cycles. Some of the global societies have not completely healed from the crisis while others have recovered. The global warming is another problem felt at the global level. The global warming challenge is a result of changing climates, and this problem is still a global concern. The problem cannot be solved by individual persons or states but requires global states to participate in suggesting measures to eradicate the phenomenon. The global warming and financial cases are examples to illustrate the breakage of territory borders as a characteristic of globalization. The financial crisis originated in the United Crisis after several banks collapsed. The U.S. could not contain the situation, and the crisis spread to Europe, Africa, and Asia. The problem could not be contained within the boundaries of a country, and it became a global problem. Global warming also does not know the territorial boundaries and its effects felt around the globe. Furthermore, the elements of globalization are also being experienced in major sectors. In religion, the world has a various religion spread in all countries of the world. An example is the Catholic faith. The Head of Catholic faith lives in Vatican, but this does no limit the Catholics from spreading across the world. The church is found almost in every country of the world, and they are governed straight from Vatican, but they are given church proceedings every Sunday from the Vatican. The Islamic religion also does not recognize territorial boundaries. Muslims live in most countries across the world, and this does not limit them from worshipping their God, Muhammad. Another element of globalization of globalization is terrorism. One of the terror groups is Al-Qaeda. The terror organization has no headquarters or a physical office, but they have managed to carry out their activities globally. The terror group has also managed to network with other terror organizations who objectives are uniform. Boko-Haram of West Africa and Alshabab of East Africa are some of the terror organizations affiliated with al-Qaeda. All these organizations have a global presence and acts of terrorism are a global concern from the West to the East. The 9/11 attack on U.S. was a terrorist attack that was carried out by terrorists from outside U.S. Health threats such as malaria, cancer, HIV/AIDs and other diseases affect the whole world. These diseases do not affect a segregated section of the globe but rather affect every corner of the globe. Though some of these diseases are said to have originated from specific parts of the world, this has not hindered them from spreading across the globe. It is for this reason that the world has set specific days to commemorate these epidemics. December 1st is set aside as The World Aids day and his day is remembered globally, to remember those infected by the HIV. Cancer is also a global concern, and the disease affects all categories of people from women and men, rich and the poor and black and whites. How simple is the understanding of economists on globalization? Economists view globalization in terms of trade. Economists and policy makers maintain that trade is good for the economy, and the benefits diffused throughout the economy, and the population cannot easily notice this. This is contrary to the voter’s expectations who view globalization as good due to their ability to make a good living. The economist’s view of globalization is interns of the massive amounts of financial capital traded in the different stock markets around the globe. The trade is global since it does not identify with territorial trade. Traders in the financial markets can choose where and when to invest. They have invested in any of the stock markets and can withdraw their earnings from anywhere around the globe. In terms of financial investments and trading, economists view the world as a single place. The world countries have also resolved to dismantle economic regulations that impede free trade. Trading blocs such as the EU have eliminated barriers to trade. The deregulation of trade undermined the sovereignty of states since they can no longer control the flow of goods and finances in and out of their territorial boundaries. The globalization of trade has made it efficient for investors to trade in any stock market from around the world. The transnational corporations treat the whole world as a single space, and they trade where they feel the trading environment is favorable. Once they locate a favorable location, they distribute their networks of distribution, production, and consumption to these locations. Due to globalization, the local economies have been integrated into the world economic networks. The local economies have to adapt continuously to the competition presented by the global economies. Though globalization has contributed positively to the economies of the world, there is an untrue nature of globalization. Economists hold that globalization has led to the fragmentation of the world between the poor and the rich. As the rich gain, the poor are becoming poorer every day. Globalization has led to job losses among U.S. workers and also caused the stagnation of the middle-class. However, this is opposite in the case of the rich who are reaping big and taking advantage of globalization. The rich citizens have invested in the stock markets from around the globe, and this have enabled reap big in terms of interests on the investments. The World Trade Organization has a role in promoting free trade and stimulating economic growth. The organization is a powerful organization, and its membership comprises 135 nations. The organization has vast authority and power over its member countries and ensures that commercial interests supersede all other interests. The organization ensures that any subordinating obstacles hindering the global business enterprise do not exist. The obstacles that may inhibit the global business operations include policies enacted on behalf of employee rights, consumer rights, social justice as well as environmental protection. However, the organization has been widely criticized for widening the social gap between the rich and the poor. Globalization of media content and influence The globalization process has generated much controversy on the topic of a global culture, driven by the western media. Western cultures and practices are gradually being spread across the globe as acceptable ways of behavior. The western culture has even spread to the rich African culture. Africa has a rich and dynamic culture that has attracted people from around the globe to come and witness. However, the spread of the western culture has diluted this culture, and some Africans are now adopting the western way of life (Kwame, 2004). Africas characteristics include their observance of tradition, culture, and maintenance of artifacts. The African culture is defined inform of beliefs, legends, statements and the customs passed on from generation to generation. However, the African culture erosion has attracted arguments from scholars and opinion analysts. The erosion of African culture is evident where small children emerging from elite backgrounds are unable to communicate in their native languages. The parents also do not find it necessary to speak in their native linguistic language since they consider it unnecessary. They are more concerned about their children speaking fluently in the English language than in their mother tongue (Kwame, 2004). Development of technology has also influenced globalization. The emergence of new technology and better ways of doing doings has contributed to media development to a global level. Media companies have established websites where users can access information. This transition from the traditional media to new media has contributed greatly to breaking territorial boundaries. A person can access U.S. online newspapers from Africa, and the vice versa is true. The social media is also part of the media development that has contributed to globalization by allowing people who are physically distant to connect. The western media publishes same content that is read by children in Africa and beyond. The children appreciate the western culture that is more advanced than the African culture by reading the content. Since the western and African cultures are different, the children become westernized and begin to practice the western lifestyle. The lifestyle change is in terms of speaking English language, mode of dressing, accent and the food they eat. The media globalization has contributed to creating a homogenous culture that is same as that in their backyard. Conclusion The process of globalization is a social change that has no ending but a continuous process. Globalization aims at creating a world village where the whole world where people connect through technological advancement. Globalization has been characterized by the erosion of the African culture where the western media is aimed at creating a homogenous culture same as the western culture. All the different sectors of the world including health, terrorism and religion have witnessed the social changed as argue by socialists. The economists only view globalization in terms of trade but from the analysis, it shows that globalization goes beyond economics. Therefore, globalization, as seen by economists, is too simple. Reference List Kwame, Y., 2004. The Impact of Globalization on African Culture. The university of Southern Denmark, Odense, pp. 1-7. Read More