Globalization : Friend or Foe?

There are so many views of Globalization. Is Globalization beneficial or destructive? Is it just another form of Westernization? Well, just like anything in life there are good and bad qualities that develope. Globalization increases the standard of living. It brings wealth, technology, international trade, and stronger economy structures, organizations like WTO and OPEC, and education. At the same time with the growing expansions of corporations, human rights dwindle, culture and tradition are changed or abandoned, there is more immigration and outsourcing, and conflict develops over mixed views and ideas.

Definition : Globalization is the tendency of businesses, technologies, or philosophies to spread throughout the world, or the process of making this happen. The global economy is sometimes referred to as globality, characterized as a totally interconnected marketplace, unhampered by time zones or national boundaries. The proliferation of McDonalds restaurants around the world is an example of globalization; the fact that they adapt their menus to suit local tastes is an example of globalization (also known as internationalization), a combination of globalization and localization.

Whether or not the establishment of the global marketplace will be beneficial is in dispute. Proponents believe that globalization has the potential to create greater opportunities for growth throughout the world, benefiting the developed nations while leveling the playing field everywhere else; opponents of globalization believe that it will merely increase the opportunities for the wealthier nations to take advantage of the poorer ones and, furthermore, could eradicate regional diversity and lead to a homogenized world culture.

The rise of multinational corporations and outsourcing have played a crucial part in globalization. Shown here is Microsoft’s technical support center in Bangalore, India.

Economic globalization has had an impact on the worldwide integration of different cultures. Shown here is a Tata Steel plant in the United Kingdom.

Globalization can be described as a process by which the people of the world are unified into a single society. This process is a combination of economic, technological, sociocultural and political forces.^[1]

Advantages and Disadvantages of Globalization

Some Advantages

Some Disadvantages

Increased free trade between nations Increased liquidity of capital allowing investors in developed nations to invest in developing nations Corporations have greater flexibility to operate across borders Global mass media ties the world together Increased flow of communications allows vital information to be shared between individuals and corporations around the world Greater ease and speed of transportation for goods and people Reduction of cultural barriers increases the global village effect Spread of democratic ideals to developed nations Greater interdependence of nation-states Reduction of likelihood of war between developed nations Increases in environmental protection in developed nations

Increased flow of skilled and non-skilled jobs from developed to developing nations as corporations seek out the cheapest labor Increased likelihood of economic disruptions in one nation effecting all nations Corporate influence of nation-states far exceeds that of civil society organizations and average individuals Threat that control of world media by a handful of corporations will limit cultural expression Greater chance of reactions for globalization being violent in an attempt to preserve cultural heritage Greater risk of diseases being transported unintentionally between nations Spread of a materialistic lifestyle and attitude that sees consumption as the path to prosperity International bodies like the World Trade Organization infringe on national and individual sovereignty Increase in the chances of civil war within developing countries and open war between developing countries as they vie for resources Decreases in environmental integrity as polluting corporations take advantage of weak regulatory rules in developing countries

Effects of globalization

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