Effects of globalization

Global media news companies export information through news, radio, and internet. This creates a mostly one-way flow of information, and exposure of mostly western products and values. Companies like CNN, Reuters, and the BBC dominate the global airwaves while having a particular western point of view. Other media news companies such as Al Jazeera may offer a different point of view, but have a far smaller audience and thus effect fewer people in influence.

Cultural globalization refers to the transmission of ideas, meanings and values across national borders. This process is marked by the common consumption of cultures that have been diffused by the Internet, popular culture, and international travel. The circulation of cultures enables individuals to partake in extended social relations outside the borders. The creation and expansion of such social relations is not merely observed on a material level. Cultural globalization involves the formation of shared norms and knowledge with which people associate their individual and collective cultural identities, and increasing interconnectedness among different populations and cultures.

An important and rather legitimate point that is often raised against globalization derives from its perceived impact on local culture. It is feared that as globalization spreads, it will obliterate local cultures everywhere by homogenizing societies across the globe. In fact, this is probably the only point on which most countries, except America , agree. The French, the Germans, even the British, have problems accepting American cultural penetration that globalization entails. The loyal international clientele, cutting across segments of class, society and population, of big American multinationals such as Coca-Cola is evidence of the immense power of corporations to spread a global consumer culture.

What is culture in the national context? It is a way of life - an indigenous way of life - that includes religion, spirituality, language, moral and social norms, family values, eating habits, and so on. There is genuine concern that huge American corporations such as MacDonald's, with their equally massive advertising and publicity budgets, are able to set up operations almost anywhere they wish, and exert strong influence on local character and lifestyles. No matter where we are, we read Time or Newsweek, view Hollywood movies, eat American food, and wear denim jeans. We see the world, whether external or our own, through the eyes of CNN. If this is not cultural imperialism, I don't know what is. My kids have dual nationality - Indian and Japanese, they are therefore bilingual - in English and Japanese, they are also bi-cultural - American and Japanese, and they eat American and Japanese food. They represent the emerging new generation of УglobalФ citizens. I used to think this was my own personal situation, or worse, I was inward looking, narrow-minded or conservative. But now I understand I am not alone, most of my friends here are in exactly the same situation. Comforting thought!

To be fair, let us visualize some of the benefits of globalization in the cultural arena. Firstly, an increased American cultural presence in our lives can have either of the 2 results: it might raise our level of understanding of American culture and way of life, unifying positions, and thereby reducing conflicts that arise from cultural misunderstanding. On the other hand, a better understanding of American culture may bolster our confidence and pride in our own culture and heritage, and enable people to stress cultural differences or rather similarities in more effective ways for greater mutual understanding. It is entirely possible that exposure to alternative ways of life and thought will help increase global awareness and appreciation of the unity of humankind in all its diversity. This, however, will not be achieved if only one side is being exposed. Cultural understanding, like everything else, is a two-way street.

Secondly, globalization will bring about a greater degree of individualism as people will be judged based on merit and achievement. This is already happening in Japan-- a country where group achievement took precedence over individual performance--due to intense competition from American or other multinational corporations. Now, individual performance and achievement have replaced seniority as the sole criteria for promotion and recognition.

Thirdly, globalization brings increased interaction and adaptation between cultures. As happens in interpersonal relationships, we usually learn and grow as we interact; societies and cultures also get enhanced through interaction, observation, and mutual give and take. The Japanese culture was enhanced in various ways as a result of interaction with the Chinese over the centuries.

Fourthly, globalization helps development of a plural society. One characteristic common to most developing countries is the monolithic state structure that exercises tremendous control and influence over most aspects of people's daily lives. Increased economic activity in developing countries will give birth to a multitude of institutions, interest groups, industry groups, non-government organizations and civil society to protect and promote the interests of their respective constituencies, and thereby help in the creation of a pluralistic society.

Political Globalization

Although Globalization is often simplified to one single definition and aspect, that being the “shrinkage of the Earth through technological advances,” there are many different forms of the Globalization process, one of which is Political Globalization, which involves a variety of different actors on the global stage.

These actors emerge because individual states become connected with one another, and by doing so, usher in international problems. Understanding the impact of these issues, the different global actors that exist, and how they pressure state Governments will ensure a thorough comprehension of this Globalization variant.

Global Political Issues Mean Global Political Institutions

There is no doubt that technology has drastically improved communication and interaction within the world. It is now easier than ever to visit other nations or contact people in other states.

Due to this radical shift, state economies and cultures have become connected. If something happens on one side of the world, it can severely impact the other. As such, global political issues are emerging such as:

· Terrorism

· Climate Change

· Disease

· International Business

· International Crime

Obviously, these issues are beyond state control. Each state can only do so much by itself, and cooperating with other states can be difficult at times. For this reason, global political institutions are developed in an effort to help create global goals for all states and to coordinate or manage international efforts. Some of these institutions include:

· The International Monetary Fund

· The World Health Organization

· The World Trade Organization

· The United Nations

The main criticism with these institutions is that while they do help deal with some issues on the global level, they have frequently been unable to curb violence or war. In addition to these main actors, other agreements such as the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) and the European Union (EU) attempt to ensure all state policies within a certain region are in sync and beneficial for all states involved.

Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs)

In addition to international institutions, many non-governmental organizations (NGOs) have emerged in the wake of Globalization. Some of the more well-known organizations include:

· Amnesty International

· Free The Children

· Greenpeace

· Oxfam

These organizations, and those similar, all fight for a specific cause by placing increased pressure on state Governments and Corporations. The individuals involved have the end goal of improving policies and Government actions that directly impact the cause. As an example, an organization may use the media and peaceful protests to draw attention to a specific issue. Donations are also a common method used by NGOs to help their cause.

Possible Consequences?

There is some debate over the consequences associated with Political Globalization. It is worth noting that some have argued that international institutions and NGOs threaten the authority of the state Government and impose on its sovereignty. Nonetheless, this aspect of Globalization continues to grow and prosper as the world becomes increasingly connected.

Positive effects

Globalization has become one of the most debated subjects of recent times. It has been hailed as one of the best things to happen to the world by its proponents, while opponents have labeled it as neo-imperialism. Despite its challenges, the positive role it has played in changing the lives of millions of people around the world is commendable.

Increased Competition

One of the most visible effects is the improved quality of products due to global competition. Customer service and the 'customer is the king' approaches to production have led to improved quality of products and services. As the domestic companies have to fight out foreign competition, they are compelled to raise their standards and customer satisfaction levels in order to survive in the market. Besides, when a global brand enters a new country, it comes in riding on some goodwill, which it has to live up to. This creates competition in the market and a 'survival of the fittest' situation.

Employment

With globalization, companies have forayed into the developing countries and hence generated employment for them. But it can turn out to be either good or bad, depending on the point of view you wish to see it from. It has given an opportunity to invest in the emerging markets and tap up the talent which is available there. In developing countries, there is often a lack of capital which hinders the growth of domestic companies and hence, employment. In such cases, due to global nature of the businesses, people of developing countries too can obtain gainful employment opportunities. But the developed countries have lost jobs on account of this movement of jobs to the developing world and hence it is a pinch felt by people in the First World.

Spread of Technical Know-How

While it is generally assumed that all the innovations happen in the Western world, the know-how also comes into developing countries due to globalization. Without it, the knowledge of new inventions, medicines would remain cooped up in the countries that came up with them and no one else would benefit. The spread of know-how can also be expanded to include economic and political knowledge, which too has spread far and wide. The most obvious example of the spread of knowledge is that the Western world today are waking up to the benefits of Ayurveda and Yoga - traditional Indian practices, while the Western antibiotics and flooding the Indian markets improving the quality of life (and the longevity too) of people in India.

Spread of Culture

Not all good practices were born in one civilization. The world that we live in today is a result of several cultures coming together. People of one culture, if receptive, tend to see the flaws in their culture and pick up the culture which is more correct or in tune with the times. Societies have become larger as they have welcomed people of other civilizations and backgrounds and created a whole new culture of their own. Cooking styles, languages and customs have spread all due to globalization. The same can be said about movies, musical styles and other art forms. They too have moved from one country to another, leaving an impression on a culture which has adopted them.

Spread of Education

One of the most powerful effects of globalization is the spread of education. Today, you can move in the search of the best educational facilities in the world, without any hindrance. A person living in US can go to another continent for a new experience which he may not find in the home country. If one is interested, one can even get a specialization in subjects indigenous to a country and spread that knowledge to the home country. A good example of that is how the

American managers went to Japan to learn the best practices in the field of mass production and incorporated that knowledge in their own production units.

Legal and Ethical Effects

Gone are the days where the limited jurisdiction became a hindrance in the prosecution of criminals. These days, due to international courts of justice, criminals can no longer seek asylum in a foreign country and are brought to justice. Due to globalization, there is also an understanding between the security agencies and the police of two or more different countries who will come together to curb global terrorism. Hence, it is now possible to catch the perpetrators of crime irrespective of which country they choose to hide in.

Positive Impact of Globalization on the Environment

The relationship between people and the environment is very delicate and extremely important. As the world becomes more globalized more and more people are beginning to abuse the environment and fall out of touch with their relationship with it. However, some companies who produce tons of greenhouse gasses each month are beginning to use alternative energy sources that are gentler and less harmful to the environment. These energy sources, such as wind and solar power, have fewer environmental impacts. They also promote sustainability because they do not waste non- renewable resources. These companies are also looking to replace the fossil fuels that power Canada and most of the world with cleaner, more sustainable energy sources. Although, these alternatives are slow to develop in our extremely globalized world. However, many wind farms in Alberta have shown potential as a clean alternative energy source. A newly developed hydroelectric plant in Alberta has also shown its potential as a clean energy source. In the past, alternative energy sources such as solar power was exceptionally expensive, however, these prices are readily dropping, making alternative energy more affordable .These alternative energy sources contribute to the positive impact of globalization on the relationship between occupants of the world and their environment.

Positive Impact of Globalization on Economies

Transnational Corporations play an important role in the globalization process. A transnational corporation is a company that is based in one country while developing and manufacturing its products, or delivering its goods and services, in more than one country. The number of transnational corporations in the world has jumped from 7,000 in 1970 to 40,000 in 1995. More than half come from just five nations: France, Germany, the Netherlands, Japan and the United States. Transnational corporations, in fact, have actualized numerous moral goals: the advancement of human rights, the improvement in the world environment, and, most importantly, the reduction of world poverty rates. To be open minded, we must also consider the views of the developing countries, which almost in unison believe that the movement against transnational corporations will not only hinder their economic progress but will also most likely reverse it. Transnational corporations are a positive impact on the globalizing economy.

Globalization is not just the coming together and integration of people. It is the integration of ideas, of cultures and of values. The pessimists continue the talk about the friction this is generating, but the endorsers of globalization choose to remain positive about things and go with the flow. The optimists want to jump on to the bandwagon of the globalized world and reap the benefits of a larger market and a larger talent pool. And hence, despite the doomsayers, globalization goes on unabated.

Negative effects of globalization

It is an open secret that everything has its advantages and disadvantages. There has already discussed the positive effects of globalization. Now, let's consider the negative aspects of such debatable topic as globalization.

· In order to cut down costs, many firms in developed nations have outsourced their manufacturing and white-collar jobs to Third-World countries like India and China, where the cost of labor is low. The most prominent among these have been jobs in the customer service field as many developing nations have a large English-speaking population - ready to work at one-fifth of what someone in developed world may call 'low-pay'. This has caused a lot of resentment among the people of developed countries, and companies have been accused of taking their jobs away. Another problem is that many Americans are not satisfied with the level of customer service that they are subjected to, and this has caused a lot of animosity among people and has added to the dissent that people already have against outsourcing.

· There are various schools of thought which argue that globalization has led to an increase in activities such as child labor and slavery. In countries with little or no accountability, corporations employing children can work smoothly by bribing the officials, which may result in an increase in illegal activities. Critics opine that globalization has resulted in a fiercely-competitive global market, and unethical practices in business is a by-product of this.

· Globalization may have inadvertently helped terrorists and criminals. At the heart of globalization is an idea that humans, materials, food etc. be allowed to travel freely across borders, but 9/11 was a ghastly reminder that people with evil intentions can use it as an opportunity and cause damage.

· It is not only the developed nations that are complaining about its negative effects, people in developing nations - where most of the industries have been set up, have their own set of reasons against globalization. They often complain that their cities have been reduced to garbage-dumps where all the industrial waste is accumulated and pollution levels are sky-high.

· Fast food chains like McDonalds and KFC are spreading fast in the developing world. People are consuming more junk food which has an adverse impact on their health. Apart from the health concerns, there is something else that globalization has been criticized for, and it is the accusation that it has opened floodgates for restaurants and eateries which are insensitive to the religious beliefs of the host nation. For example, a lawsuit had to be filed against McDonalds in India, after it was accused of serving beef in their burgers.

· While the rich are getting richer, the poor are struggling for a square meal. If the current Occupy Wall Street protests are a reminder of how angry people are with the current set-up, then those who govern us should take notice, and work towards alleviating poverty. Ideally, globalization should have resulted in creation of wealth and prosperity, but corporate greed and corrupt government has ensured that money is not distributed equally.

· When the first-known case of AIDS came up in America, only few would have traced its origin to Sub-Saharan Africa. Globalization bought people from various countries together, and this is perhaps the reason that a virus from a jungle was transported to almost every country in the world.

· Environmental degradation is an issue which has been debated ferociously in various international meetings, and it has to be accepted that globalization is one of the most important factors that has aggravated the situation. The amount of raw materials needed to run industries and factories is taking a toll on the natural reserves of planet earth, and pollution has severely impacted the quality of air that we need so very much for our survival.

· A negative impact of globalization that affects us and the economies of local, national, and international environment, are the maquiladoras. Maquiladoras are foreign-owned factories that employ Mexican citizens. Stretching the length of the border between the United States and Mexico, there is a 210-kilometer piece of land known as the maquila. In Mexico 40% of people live below the poverty line, the Maquiladoras are the factories that provide the jobs for the unemployed workers. But these factories are not safe at all. People get killed from simply putting the wrong piece into a machine. The jobs at the Maquiladoras also require very little skills. The jobs are low wages for people who work on assembly lines. Many citizens do not make enough money to provide for themselves and their children. They then are forced to send their children to work. Most of these workers are under the minimum working age, which is 14. When a business moves overseas it has a mostly negative impact on Canadians. Those who used to work in the factories for average wages are now unemployed and many do not have skills required to apply for another job. These people then cannot provide for their families. If the factories were in stationed in Canada, we could have the employees working in safer conditions, being paid more, and still providing for there family.

· Clear cutting is an example of negative globalization between people and the environment. Clear cutting is the removal of all the trees in that given area. Clear cutting takes away certain animal habitats, causing them to be threatened or extinct. It also exposes more ground which causes greater warming and cooling in the area. As well as hurting the animals and the environment, us as the people are being harmed as well. Sustainability is the earth's ability to provide the resources we need to live. One of those biggest resources is the trees and their habitat. The trees that are being cut down might not be ready for what they want, so it'll end up being thrown out. As a result the clear cutting does have a negative impact on globalization, between people and the environment.

Conclusion

Today it is difficult to find a more popular and debatable topic than globalization. It was devoted by dozens of conferences and symposia, and hundreds of books, thousands of articles. The scientists, politicians, businessmen, religious leaders, artists, and journalists talk and argue about it.

The term globalization is the process of transformation of local phenomena into global ones. It is when different countries start to connect together as a whole, when people around the world are more linked to each other than ever before, when information and money flow more speedily and when goods and services produced in one part of the world are increasingly obtainable in all parts of the world. And it has brought both positive and negative impacts to the world.

Globalization is the process of growing integration of economies and societies around the world. Globalization is not only a tendency any more but also a fact. We can understand it as a process by which people around the world are gathering into a single society and function together. In this process, there is combination of economic, technological, socio-cultural and political forces.

Globalization is "not an absolute evil and absolute good". Speaking about the basics of this phenomenon, it's clearly seen that certain features of contemporary globalization are viewed for a long time. The base of this process goes in an era when the establishment of colonial empires made the first foundations of international economic relations in our millennium. However, modern international economic relations that create globalization today, in principle, are different from those that were formed in the beginning of the Age of Discovery and the formation of colonial empires.

Globalization is very important for any country that does not want to be lost in such everyday changing world. Globalization look like a horse, we must learn how to ride it, or accept to run on bare feet in the race. It can be a good chance for development and prosperity of your country, but also can be harmful when you do not take advantages of positive effects, and have good policies to avoid and solve problems arising out from negative effects of globalization. We also need to improve our knowledge, experiment, languages, ethics… to join in general tendency of society, government and global economics efficiently.

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Endnotes

Капица С. П. Общая теория роста человечества / С.П. Капица - М.: Наука, 1999. - стр.190

Кузовков Ю. В. Глобализация и спираль истории / Ю. В. Кузовков - М.: Анима-Пресс, 2010. - стр. 255

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