Globalization
Outline:
• Introduction.
• Historical background of the concept.
• Tools of globalization.
• Different levels or aspects of globalization.
• Negatives of globalization
• Positives of globalization.
• Suggestions.
• Conclusion.

Essay on globalization

Globalization is an irreversible and irresistible phenomenon. It is very famous all over the world. While dilating on the subject, it is important to note that globalization not only affects us as a citizen but also as “producer-consumer in the global economy”.
In the modern contemporary world, intense debate revolves around the term “globalization”, which is even today a continuous issue.
Before exploring the concept, we should take a look over the different definitions of the phenomenon. Globalization can be defined as “closely interrelated integration of market in terms of goods, services and capital”. It can also be defined as “gradual erosion of boundaries between states through increased economic interdependence and interlinkages can be termed as globalization.
From the above mentioned definitions, we can assume that globalization is the mutual sharing of goods, services and capital between or among states. It is also gradually making states closer and integrated. There are different theories about the beginning of the concept of globalization.
Some are of the view that it started from the mid of 20th century with woods conference 1944. While the others are of the view that this concept was properly started with the establishment of W.T.O in 1995. Whatever the reality is, it is true that the pace of globalization was accelerated with World trading Organization. the main agenda of this organization was to end border and fasten the trade between the states.
World bank also came in this battle of evolution of globalization and identifies three waves of globalization focusing on economic integration.
1. First wave of globalization from 1854 to 1914.
2. Second wave of globalization from 1945 to 1973.
3. Third wave of globalization from 1973 till today.
In the post 1973 era, the cold war subsided and there was a quantum leap forward in the “economic integration”. The free market economy became the guiding principal and global economy spread to the larger part of the world.
There is a difference of opinion among people for beginning of the concept but nobody can deny its importance in the modern contemporary world. From now to onward, we will examine how trade, growth and poverty are interlinked and how best the benefits of globalization acquired to ameliorate threat to humanity. Presumably, solutions to such problems would then avert a backlash against globalization.
Tools of globalization:
There are two schools of thoughts about conjecture of globalization. First are of the view that globalization is a blessing. It is the tool of peace and prosperity. It is the harbinger of progress and prosperity. It is indispensible process in the modern contemporary world. We cannot deny its importance in our daily life from kitchen utensils to industrial machinery. One may approve or disapprove; the world is so prepared that it is unavoidable.
Others are of the view that globalization is a tool of frustration. It is solely in the benefit of rich and progress and progressive. They are also of the view that globalization is a recipe of neu-colonialism. With the emergence of world trade organization and end of cold war this concept evolved. Last but not the least they are of the view that it is a theory of indirect occupation.
The third tool of globalization is telecommunication. Telecom has made things possible. There was a time when kings took Six months to meet the counter part or a sovereign of another state, now communication means made it so easy that an ordinary human can talk to a person who is sitting hundreds and thousands miles away on a very cheap expense. They are always interconnected. Physical distances have been made irrelevant through these communication means. It is a first mean to exchange ideas. For example face book, one can share his ideas and in no time he will get the feedback from friends or people who are going to be affected by his idea. It is a quick way to engage into trade. Furthermore, it is also helping people to involve in political discourses. The people today are well aware of the governmental policies.
It is also important to note that there are more than one billion people who are the telephone subscribers. During the decades of 1990’s the number of people using telephone were doubled after every 20 months. So we can see that how quickly people of this contemporary world are being use to of it.
Moreover electronic media is another tool of globalization. We can say that media is the other way of squeezing the world into one whole. It has become the fastest way of interrelating the world. Incident happening in one part of the world can be seen in other parts of the globe through it very quickly. It is the strongest mean of knowing and believing what’s happening. It is also a tool of propaganda. In the modern world, people and states use it for their own self interest and secure support of others in their conduct. We have a recent example of Iraq war. Media played an important role in this particular war. The U.S Government propagated on media that Saddam has nuclear weapons which is the biggest threat to America himself and the whole world. Despite of the fact that 152 countries opposed him in United Nations, America attacked on Iraq under the article 52 (self defense) of the United Nations. Then again it is also important to note that it was the same media who reported that there were no nuclear weapons found in Iraq. So it has performed both the roles.
The story not ends here, another important tool of globalization is internet. It is the internet which quickly and really summarized the world into a small box. Whatever you need, whatever u wish for, you can have it through internet. There are 200 million people who are using computer in their daily life and 95% of them are using personal computer. One out of every 12 is using internet. It has something for everyone. The main purposes for using internet are;
• To get information.
• To have access to news.
• To deal in business.
• To follow the modern styles.
• To have recreation or entertainment.
It is due to this tool of globalization that one can have access to all the things he wanted through s single click. So internet is very important tool of globalization.
Moving forward, the means of transportation are also important tools of globalization. It is a blessing for everyone in this modern contemporary world as it helps in movement of goods, services and capital from one place to another. It made possible for one person to deal with another in cool and good manners. It really, enables the modern man to tackle the problems efficiently. The voyages which were of months, now summarized to hours. Aero plane has made it possible to travel from one nook of the world to the other corner in hours. Means of transportation are really helping people in development and progress. Trade between sates became the hall mark of the globalization. It has helped the world to squeeze. From the above discussion we came to know that how effectively and efficiently the tools of communication are playing their part. It is also important to note that what are the aspects of our daily human life which are to be directly or indirectly affected by globalization.
Different levels or aspects of globalization:
The political globalization is first that will be discussed over here. When we come across political globalization, three things quickly come in our mind.
• Political organization.
• International law.
• Human rights.
Political organization was started from the emergence of United Nation organization in 1945. It was a very noble step towards humanity. Earlier there was another organization by the name of “league of nations”. It emerged right after the end of 1st World War in 1919. The main difference between these two organizations was that the membership of “League of nations” was partial. The portfolio was almost the same. The emergence of United Nations Organization was a very noble step towards integrity of mankind. Under the article 2 of the UNO quotes “all states are equal”. It is also very important to note that the difference between the 1st World War and 2nd World War was of 20 years only and because of the UNO the 3rd World War prevented a couple of times in the history. The incidents of U2 and Cuban Missile Crises certainly stood the both super powers in front of each other. It was UNO who handled the affairs very efficiently. Any insurgency can be stopped through the platform of UNO. There is no blinking fact that the theory and practice of UNO are at daggers drawn with each other.
Second thing which comes in political organization is International Law. It was broadly implemented through international court of justice (ICJ). International law symbolizes the world as globe. It prevents strong from doing any unlawful act which can harm the inferior. The international court of justice also warns the country to not do that again. International law is a very significant achievement of the world. All the issues between the countries can be settled down here relating to war prisoners, territorial issues, resources issues of neighbor/peripheral countries. International law shows world as a single entity governed by a single law, although there is a clash among theory and practice.
Thirdly, human rights are no more a personal issue. It is a universal problem. Earlier human rights were not a global concern. No other state was allowed to interfere in these matters of any other state. This statement is also written in the article 2 of the UNO. Then in 1990’s, a rule was passed by UNO that if there is a violation of human rights in any part of the world the whole world or the UNO will stand against it. Furthermore it is also mentioned that culprit will be treated strictly.
The aspects of globalization regarding economy are also important. The economical globalization is as important as any other. Its roots can be traced from 1944 with the emergence of I.F.I. World trading Organization was formed in 1955 and later on it transformed into GATT (general agreement on trade and tariff). The main agenda of W.T.O. was to make border irrelevant. The second main concern of this organization was to promote free movement of goods, services and capital. Another point of its concern is the free movement of labour through elimination of trade barriers which include tariffs, quotas and sub subsidies. World Trade Organization is working on same agenda. It augmented the magnitude of the trade between two countries. By its performance and effectiveness we can assume that it is the order of the day. Every state is interdependent on the other. This interdependence becomes the general norm of international politics.
State welfare and development are interrelated very closely and W.T.O. paved the way for trade instead of aid. There are some other institutions like I.M.F who are playing a pivotal role for globalization. These international organizations give debts to the needy countries for their betterment and prosperity.
In addition to this, the financial globalization is also an important aspect. It is the first layer of mutual borrowing. It is the hallmark of the contemporary world. Every country of the world is in some ways borrower and lender in the other way. This phenomenon creates the relationship of mutual borrowing among the states. We can take the example of U.S.A and China relations; it is a fact that United States of America is the largest borrower of China.
There is a term used in this concept named “mutual friction”. Dollar ($) is the America’s national currency. It assumed the role of international currency. Wherever we are in the world and whatever we want to buy, we shall see two price tags on that particular thing. One will be in local currency and the other will be in Dollars. All the international treaties are signed under this currency. There are also some other financial institutions, like Asian Development Bank and European union, who are playing their part of act in their areas of jurisdiction and around the world.
Cultural globalization is also a highlighting level of globalization. Every area of the world has its own cultural values. Through the tools of globalization e.g. media, internet, the cultural globalization is also on the rise in the modern world. McDonalds, KFC and Pizza hut are not the parts of our culture. Foods, fads and clothing patterns are parts of all cultures. The amalgamation of cultures in the modern contemporary world is defined as “acculturation”. When two cultures meet with each other and a new culture comes into existence, which is called as acculturation.
This phenomenon of acculturation can only be developed when there is a mutual interaction between two cultures.
Previously it was done by migration. People migrate from one place to another in search of food, shelter or better life style. In ancient times, there was no exposure to superior or inferior culture due to the lack of interaction and transportation means. In today’s our life no culture can remain in isolation. We can say that due to acculturation, a new global culture is taking place.
Environmental problems are no more a personal issue. Different pollutions are no more an indigenous or local problem .it’s a worldwide phenomenon. The question is why is it a global problem? And the answer is that emission of carbon from one state would damage the atmosphere and the whole world might bear one’s wrong doing.
In this regard a protocol had been signed by the name of Kyoto protocol among all the big countries except United States of America whose carbon emission is the largest in the world.
• America 25% carbon emission. ( check statistics)
• China 12.5% carbon emission. (check statistics please)
The third number is of India. There is no use of such protocol if the American government is not willing to be part of it.
Another important aspect of globalization is global migration. The global organizations promote free movement of labour and free movement of people across the borders.
From 1998-2002, every year 20 million refugee people qualified for and receive UNO’s aid. For example, if war occurs in any area it will triggers the mass migration of people. As happened in Afghan war. About four million Afghani people migrated to Pakistan.
Different states relax their immigration rules for their own problems. Like lack of skilled professional, they promote the migration of people as they are facing the problem of aging. By fore seeing human resource deficit, they have relaxed immigration rules.
As we are discussing the aspects of globalization the next aspect is globalization of health. It has two layers. Firstly, there is a general dissemination of awareness campaigns. Under W.H.O the world was declared as “small pox free” in 1986. After that a vigorous campaign had been launched against Polio. Presently the campaign against HIV AIDs is on its peak which is funded by W.H.O.
The second layer is positive as well as negative aspect of it. Like AIDs, it was confined to to a specific area of the world. Now it spread all over the world. Same is the case with Swine Flu, bird Flu and narcotics. Presently 95% of the opium is cultivated in Afghanistan. Earlier the area of Golden Triangle was on top of its cultivation.
The last but not the least is educational globalization. The main factors which are involved in this globalization are:
• Internet.
• Visa relaxation for students.
• Scholarships.
Internet as discussed earlier is a very important factor in every student of the world. It is through internet that one can find the people of likewise. Through internet one can have essay on any topic or phrase. Secondly the visa relaxation for students also making it a strong factor of globalization.
Although the concept of globalization is famous all over the world, like all the other things this concept also has some merits and demerits. We will discuss negatives of globalization first.
Negatives of globalization: