Globalization

The New World Order?

Defining Globalization

Globalization most commonly refers to the interconnectedness and interdependence of world marketsBut Globalization also implies the movement of culture, religion, media, political and military institutions across bordersThe environment has always been “globalized” – air and water know no national boundaries

Globalization

MarketsCulturePolitics

MediaEnvironmentTechnology

Examples of Globalization

Coca-Cola operates in over 200 nations — more countries than the United Nations has members.

The cloth that is used to make GAP clothing is woven in China, sent to Indonesia for dying and piecing, then sent to Nicaragua for assembly, and finally shipped to stores all over the world for consumption

Is Globalization New?

No – Crusades; Slave Trade; Colonialism – all examples of globalizationWhat is new is the rate of changeTechnology means money, capital, culture, people, goods and services can move around the globe – and impact the globe – in seconds

Does Globalization affect Everyone?YesWhile there is no one who is not affected by current processes of globalization, we do not all experience globalization in the same wayA textile factory moves from Detroit to the Philippines: An American worker loses a job; a Filipino gains a job; clothing prices fall . . .

Is Globalization Good?YesFor rich countries, consumers are offered greater choices at cheaper pricesFree markets are democratizing which is good for world politicsGlobalization means increased economic prosperity for poor countrieswhich leads to more freedoms and a cleaner environmentCreates cross-cultural interactions that lead to a more peaceful world

NoGlobalization is really Americanization – not reciprocity but impositionGlobalization is really neocolonialism: exploitation of resources, labor and environment of smaller, weaker countries by larger, powerful countriesReplacing rich diversity of cultures with monolithic, commodity-based cultureConsumer choice is not same as political power

Embracing or Rejecting Globalization

Whatever our opinion of Globalization, it is a reality in the 21st CenturyThe question, then, is not whether the world will be globalized, but how it will be globalized