Globalization as a Great Force of Good - Essay Example

Introduction

The question whether globalization is a great force of good that unites the globe together or whether a destructive dynamism that tends to the interests of powerful nations and capitalist elites has currently become a huge topic of discussion. In order to extensively answer this question, it is important to define what the term globalization means . Globalization refers to the multidimensional procedure depicted by the intensification and stretching of global interrelations which influences all aspects of life ranging from political, economic, cultural, ecological and social. The World Bank defines globalization as the growing integration of economies and society around the globe (Levitt, 2013).

From an economic perspective, globalization is a desirable process. Globalization assists in the flourishing of international trade. With economic globalization, there has been a reduction in the obstacles that hinder or derail cross-border economic transactions. This process has often made doing business transactions with foreigners less expensive as it is doing business at home, thus in the process reducing the advantages held by local business . Globalization also allows specialization which diminishes tariff obstacles and other barriers to the free movement of capital and goods, which makes it simpler for states to conduct business with each other, and elevates the wealth of all countries as it allows them to focus on those aspects in which they have the greatest expertise. Generally, poor states that have lowered their tariff impediments have experienced overall improvements in state income as well as employment since capital and labour shifts to export industries that generate capital . Foreign companies moving to developing states not only provide job opportunities, but also bring with them elevated wages and improve working conditions in contrast to those provided by local organizations. The experiences in South Korea and India propose that as states elevate their levels of growth and advancement, their wage levels increase and there is a noticeable shift from labour concentrated industry to more capital and knowledge concentrated industry. In addition, globalization allows for foreign direct investment. This is one of the foundations of globalization and is closely associated with transmission of ideas and technical data, generation of new jobs, as it acts as an advancement for suffering economies. In addition to allowing foreign direct investment, globalization assists in the eradication of poverty. It is evident that over the past two decades, 200 million individuals have left absolute poverty as they are now living over the equivalent of over 1 dollar a day .

From a political perspective, globalization has benefited us in a number of ways. First, globalization has facilitated the solving of global problems. The lack of globalization would mean that we would be deprived of international institutions and organizations that allow for more efficient decision making on an international scale. In addition to facilitating us to meet global challenges, globalization also assists democracy to thrive. Governments of different states experience a harder time in controlling the flow of ideas and information in an increasingly globalised world . It has become difficult to conceal abuses of human rights when survivors have the platform to share their stories online, or in cases where cameras can help us witness the aftermath of riots or demonstrations, or also in cases where satellite cameras pick up the existence of mass graves. Third, globalization is a liberating force. The association of rich and poor states is not a zero-sum game where the benefits of one state come at the expense of the other. The process of globalization is turning out to be an extremely progressive, liberating force .

When the process of globalization is viewed from a culture and society perspective, it is perceived as a desirable process in a number of ways. The first way is that globalization can assist in the preservation of traditions and cultures. This is because paradoxically, the current global media has risen to be an efficient means of projecting traditional values and culture, in addition to the ideas of extremist opponents of globalization . The new global media which comes with globalization is also a medium through which cultural activities and ideas that remain mysteries outside a domestic area are transmitted internationally. Globalization is also efficient in the breaking up of progressive taboos which hold responsibility for the discrimination against individuals on the foundations of race, gender, or religious beliefs. It is a solution to the intolerant impracticality that causes oppression to millions of poor people around the globe. In addition, globalization assists in the eradication of child labour. As state’s income increases, child labour declines. This is because with trade promoting economic empowerment, globalization leads to diminished child labour over time. In the year 1960, the labour force in low income states comprised 32% of children. Over 40 years later, following the great expansion in international trade as a result of globalization, child labour in the same states has decreased to as low as 17% .

The process of globalization can be linked to the environment in a number of ways. First, globalization has helped to increase awareness of the importance of conserving the environment. With the swift acceleration in economic activities globally and the dramatically heightened demands for crucial limited natural resources undermines the pursuit of continued economic empowerment . The foundation of this suggestion is that a sound environment is important in the realization of globalization’s full potential. On the other hand, the lack of a healthy environment can meaningfully undermine the promise of economic advancement via globalization. It is important to comprehend that natural resources such as timber, oil, and metals are the raw materials behind much of global economic advancement. And since there is an increase in global competition for these resources, it is very important that the global population is made aware of how these resources are significant for human use and advancement, and this will push them in conserving these resources in the environment. With globalization comes advancement in technology (Jorgenson, 2003). This advancement in technology has helped in the conservation of the environment since it allows measuring sustainability. Majority if not all of these indicators of sustainability are in one way or another associated with the environment. Measuring an determining air quality, water quality, agricultural production, availability of mineral resources as well as agricultural productions all equip us differently with the knowledge how these indicators can be sustained or increased where need be, and this in turn helps in the conservation of a better environment (Jorgenson, 2013).

The process of globalization is also considered a force for good in the educational sector. Despite the majority of people viewing globalization as a basically economic phenomenon that involves the heightening interactions of natural economic systems through the advancement in international trade, capital flows and investment, globalization is also a pillar of good in the advancement of education . The swift advancement in cross border education can be attributed as one of the phenomenon of globalization. This is because globalization links different states making their cooperation easier thus making similar or even identical. Education invests in the human capacity leading to higher economic advancement. New trends observed in education such as new forms of education like distance learning, a large range in qualifications and majors, introduction of more international programs that allow more students to study abroad, emphasis on continuing education, an integration of educational systems can all be attributed to globalization. In addition, globalization had led to a great advancement in technology which has resulted in the development of equipment that are necessary to ensure individuals with disabilities enjoy an equal opportunity as those without disability at getting education . With globalization allowing the integration of different educational systems, many states have now incorporated inclusion programs in their educational systems, allowing individuals with disabilities to study in the same classes with individuals without disabilities while ensuring that there needs are met and that these individuals are not left behind by others. Globalization has also improved the interrelations between states which has provided an opportunity to countries with stable economies to provide educational aid to poor countries, with the notion that educational empowerment is the key to economic empowerment .

In addition, globalization has also benefited the health sector in a number of ways. The process of globalization allows for the interrelations between different states which has in turn permitted the spread on information and knowledge on new health risks. Providing information on how these diseases can be spread assists individuals in taking preventive measures thus reducing the prevalence of a particular disease . In addition to this, globalization also facilitates the production and supply of vaccines and medicine effective to counter the effects of different health risks. Moreover, with globalization, medical professionals from developed countries can easily travel to areas with high disease prevalence in developing countries and voluntarily provide medical assistance to the patients in need (Laberge, 2012).

Beside the fact that the process of globalization has so many benefits in different important aspects of life, globalization can also affect the world negatively in a number of ways. Globalization promotes inequality and widens the difference between the rich and the poor. As an example, counties such as Mexico, China, Nigeria and India that have liberalized their economies and have exploited economic globalization have experienced dramatic improvement in inequality within their nations . In terms of economy, globalization enhances market sensitivity as each actor in the international system is linked more closely together in a number of ways resulting to them becoming more responsive to the decisions and actions of others. This has made economies more interdependent and thus more responsive and vulnerable. In terms of politics, globalization has forced states to surrender national sovereignty. Moreover, globalization has made it more challenging to guarantee safety and stability . Globalization also harms the environment in a number of ways. With subsequent industrialization that comes with globalization leads to more emissions that contribute to global warming and a depreciation in the quality of of air and water. Furthermore, profitable recourse based industries such as forestry, oil drilling, fisheries, and mining exploit resources of nations with little regards to the environmental costs. With the dumping of toxic wastes in the soil and water sources from industries that are existing as a result of globalization, a lot of damage has been done to plants as well as animals as the available resources are put under pressure. Globalization is also a threat to traditions since it leads to cultural changes, marginalization of indigenous groups, and the loss of traditional existence. In addition to these, the challenges associated with swift urbanization, as well as industrialization, such as increased crime rates, dramatic inequalities, and a location for a source of political and social instability and disorder threatens tradition. Globalization has led to improved and enhanced medical services . However, these services are expensive and a large population throughout the world cannot access them simply because they lack the economic ability. This is also the case in education as there are levels and services of education that can only be attained by those individuals that are economically able.

Conclusion

As we have already established, the process of globalization influences all aspects of life ranging from political, economic, cultural, ecological and social, therefore, making it a significant component in the current international affairs. Nevertheless, when the positive impacts of globalization are compared to the negative effects to these aspects of life, the benefits of globalization outweigh the negative effects of globalization. It can therefore be said that globalization is a force for good rather than a destructive force.