Role of Globalization in Determining how People Live with Others - Essay Example

Role of Globalization in Determining how People Live with Others Name: Course: Tutor: Date: Role of Globalization in Determining how People Live with Others Globalization is the increase in connectivity and interdependence of markets, businesses and people all over the world. It is the process describing the spread and linking of trade, communication, production and technological innovations all over the globe. Globalization is an advancement which steadily restructures interactive phases among countries by removing barriers in the fields of culture, communication, economic trade, mobilization of resources among other areas. It is a process involving the intensification of politics, economies and social relations across national boundaries. It is the process that transforms isolated economies scattered all over the world to a unified global economy. Many scholars have defined globalization differently, but many agree that it is a process aimed at bringing goods, services, communication and trade ties closer to the people all over the world. Through this, the world has been turned into a global village where goods and services are transferred easily to areas where their demand exists (Nazombe, 2006). The process of globalization has transformed the lives of people all over the world in many ways and definitely changing their styles of living. The process has brought both positive and negative effects to majority of people all over the world causing fortune to some and disadvantage to others. The constant search for money and wealth by people as they desire to improve their standards of living and meet their basic needs has thrived nations’ economies. As a result, this has lead to increase in income inequalities, violation of basic human rights and increase in environmental pollution. The process of globalization whether positive or negative, is inevitable and continues to transform the lives of people in many different aspects. In this regard it is good for the world to accept such changes and create new mechanisms that can help the world in adapting to these changes. The process has greatly been influenced by technological advancements especially in the last two decades making it easier for people to move, communicate and participate in international trade. The process of globalization has created an opportunity for the world to disseminate ideas, practices and share in technological advancements. It has brought modernization of the world as many nations seek to be universally linked to the rest of the world. The process has caused internationalization and the liberalization of markets all over the world. Globalization has many benefits as well as costs (Goldberg and Pavcnik, 2003). Many countries have succeeded through well managed globalization measures while others have remained vulnerable due to poor planning or lack of planning for the process. Globalization has influenced the behaviors of people by a great extent over time. The connectivity of the world through road, railway, sea and air has enabled many people from different nations to meet and interact freely. Many people have changed or transformed their way of living through the adoption of foreign cultures and living styles. Globalization has greatly helped the tourism industry to thrive though not evenly across the globe. Through tourism, people have learnt about other peoples’ cultures and possibly copying them. The tourism industry in Europe has been growing in the last decade and many people from all over the world have visited tourist attraction sites in this continent while others have changed their nationality to countries of choice and consequently relocating to foreign countries. Tourism has also thrived in other continents such as Africa where many have adopted foreign cultures in terms of modes of dressing, type of foods taken, forms of housing among other things. Many people have copied these cultures as they wish to be more civilized and be able to relate well with the entire world. Education systems have also changed with many nations choosing to copy education systems similar to those of their former colonies. The move seen by many as westernization tries to bring people together through common languages which are universally accepted for international relations. Globalization has created an avenue for countries to export their culture and social values through various forms of arts such as sports, movies and music. Development in technology has helped in the exchange of these cultures. Many people are able to watch movies and sports on television channels or read books or documentaries and get informed about other people’s styles of living (Schaeffer, 2003). The biggest contributor and beneficially of globalization has been the communication industry. The transfer of information from one place to another has been greatly transformed through the development of information communication technology. The development and improvement of telephony communication channels has enabled people to transfer information with a lot of ease. The development of mobile phones and other wireless forms of communication has helped people to relate well by helping them to communicate any where and at any time of convenience. People are able to keep in touch with family members, friends, business counterparts and other people of interest whom they could be separated by wide distances (Kabeer and Mahmud, 1999). The development and continued modification of the internet has greatly influenced how people relate. Many people are able to reach and communicate with others through online internet websites. People are able to meet new friends and communicate with others through these sites. For example, Yahoo, Facebook and Twitter are some of the most popular websites that help people to keep in touch as well as helping them to learn of knew happenings. Internet has also greatly assisted business people to get through to their customers as well as helping customers with their shopping. A trader can today advertise his products over the internet and customers are able to do their shopping online without traveling. Travelers are able to book their tickets online and avoid missing their flights or even wasting time in moving to the booking offices. In most countries all over the world, people are able to buy and sell their shares online where the stock exchanges are online. Through teleconferencing, people living in different areas are able to discuss issues that concern them where all parties share their opinions with others without hindrance by distance. Many students are also able to learn in institutions of choice through online degree programs without necessarily having to relocate to the areas where the universities are (Macleod, 2004). The linking of countries with fibre optic cables has greatly improved the transfer of information through the internet helping to make life easy for many. Globalization has greatly transformed how global trade is carried out and has helped to bring harmony within the industry. The process has led to an increase in economic ties as nations form regional partnerships so as to increase their bargaining power in international markets. For example, most countries in Europe are members to the European Union where they share a common market. Each nation in the world is working hard to diversify their trade so as to ensure maximum benefit for its citizens. Diversification of trade has helped to create employment opportunities for many and improving their standards of living. The participation of nations in international trade has enabled countries to embark on comparative advantage cooperation where each country employs the available resources to the production of the type of products whose production is cheap considering the available constraints. The countries then export what they can abundantly produce and import goods that cannot be produced due to cost and other resources limitations. For example, most of the developing nations produce agricultural products and import machinery form the developed economies. Globalization has given rise to multinational corporations that are spread all over the world offering goods and services to different markets. The development of these corporations has increased the volume of trade greatly and created many employment opportunities. The international markets have been greatly competitive and some nations have gained much in comparison with others that have performed poorly. This has resulted to capitalism and most of the developing nations have remained vulnerable as their developed counterparts take the lion’s share of the trade gains (Bardhan, 2004). This development has created the need for international regulators that watch over the trade practices to ensure fair competition among participating countries. International organizations such as World Trade Organization (WTO), World Customs Organization (WCO), the World Bank and International Monetary Fund (IMF) have been formed to regulate trade and ensure that international standards and practices are maintained. These organizations also help to curb commercial frauds such as money laundry. Through international trade, globalization has enabled people to participate in international investments where movement of capital has helped to create wealth (Kay, 1997). Globalization has also brought environmental issues to the attention of many. All nations have been brought together by the need to reduce the pollution rates to the environment. Industries have been called upon to use environmentally friendly technologies in their production so as to make the world a better place. Many countries have come together through the Kyoto Convention to discuss ways in which the world can reduce carbon emissions which deplete the ozone layer resulting to global warming and other adverse effects to the environment. Most nations are also investing in the search for forms of energy that are less pollutant to the environment. All countries in the world have employed measures to maintain their sovereignty even after the opening of international boundaries to people, goods and services. Countries have developed politically and democracy has been practiced though, most nations have not achieved it fully. Through globalization, several countries have formed regional integrations to enhance the integration of their economies. Nations have also encouraged the respect for human rights and international laws have also been enacted to promote peace. Countries have also put measures to improve on their national security and protect their boundaries against international attacks such as terrorism. The increase in connectivity of people all over the world has brought cooperation among nations in trying to solve some of the world problems. Many nations are working together to look for cures of some of the killer diseases such as malaria and HIV and AIDS. The movement of people has caused the transfer of diseases from one area to another. For example, the H1N1 disease commonly known as swine flu originated from Mexico and spread all over the world resulting to deaths of many. Research has also been done on agricultural products in an effort to curb the problem of food insecurity. Globalization has transformed the lives of many people in the world in great extents. But the process has faced questions as to whether it is a good thing for the world or a disadvantage. Many people argue that globalization has made the poor people poorer while the rich have grown wealthier at the expense of the poor. The perceptions of the advantages and disadvantages of globalization agitate strong feelings, tempting many to view it in terms of black and white, when in essence globalization is an exceedingly complex netting of many activities. For the well managed countries, globalization has led to growth of industries and general economic development while for unstable countries; liberalization has lead to a decline in the growth rates of their economies. Countries experiencing growth have improved the standards of living for their citizens and reduced poverty levels. This has also resulted to better health care facilities such as a reduction in mortality rates (Horton and Patapan, 2004). Increase in global wealth and minimized investment barriers have led to increase in foreign direct investments especially in Africa speeding the growth of their economies. Through globalization, environmental awareness and accountability has been widely encouraged and thus making the world a better place to live. Insecurity has remained a bigger challenge to globalization since terrorism has actually advanced with advancements in technology. Nevertheless, most nations have joined hands in the fight against the vice in an attempt to ensure that people interact and live peacefully. The manufacture and use of weapons of mass destruction especially by the developed countries underplays the many advantages of globalization. However, globalization is inevitable and the process may not have clear measures for its control. The process has actually made people all over the world to relate well with others and any challenges faced with globalization should stand out as a drive to more innovations. Bibliography: Bardhan, P. (2004). ‘The Impact of Globalization on the poor’. Washington D. C: Brookings Institution Press Goldberg, K. and Pavcnik, N. (2003) ‘Trade, Inequality, and Poverty: What Do We Know?’ Collins M. S (eds) Horton, K. and Patapan, H. (2004). ‘Globalization and Equality’ New York: Routledge Kabeer, N. and Mahmud, S. (1999) ‘Globalisation, Gender and Poverty’. Bangladeshi Kay, C. (1997). ‘Globalization, Competitiveness, and Human Security’. New York: Routledge Macleod, D. (2004). ‘Tourism, Globalization, and Cultural Change: an Island Community Perspective’ London: Channel View Publications Nazombe, E. (2006). ‘Globalization and its Impact on People’s Lives’. New York: Global Ministries Press Schaeffer, R. (2003). ‘Understanding Globalization: the Social Consequences of Political, Economic, and Environmental Change’. London: Rowman &Littlefield Read More