Globalization or globalisation as we say in the Queen’s English. Is it the WORST thing to happen to planet or a really GOOD thing ?
The term globalization is becoming increasingly common around the world. For some it represents the future and how the world may change to become more equal, with merging cultures, ethnicities, economic systems, social justices and political ideals. For others, it is a pernicious force that poses a danger to local markets, domestic culture and unique customs. Either way, no matter what you think, it is happening.
– Peter Walsh
Globalisation rewrote careers for many IT workers in US, UK and Europe almost overnight. One day they were regarded as skilled essential staff, with pay similar to other sought after professions such as accountants and lawyers, the next many laid off OR their wages dropped massively. The cause – cheap labour from other countries including India, China and Mexico. Basically the key factor is that GLOBAL cheap communications had come of age – eg. cheap telephone calls over the internet.
The effect is NOT JUST ON THE INDIVIDUAL WORKER, but ripples out to their family, their community and the society they live in. WHY ? Because they no longer have their previous income – they stop spending in shops, they dismiss their gardener/cleaner/housekeeper, they don’t pay someone to redecorate, they keep their old carpets and they certainly can’t afford vacations anymore. Basically because they don’t have spare money to spend, everyone that they would have given money to suffers right alongside. Where this is on a massive scale, THE WHOLE SOCIETY suffers massively, not just individuals. “The money” has essentially been moved to another country, by a faceless corporation who’s only concern is profits.
Governments seem to be little interested or little able to do much about it. Mainly I feel because the companies who moved the jobs are HUGE MULTI-NATIONALS. Governments can’t restrict these HUGE companies, they’d just simply say – “ah well, ok, we’re pulling out of America or UK or Germany altogether, bye !” … Basically – many of them can just move their operations to a more favourable jurisdiction.
So that’s the negative side, for western economies.
The positive side, is that smart and progressive capitalists can take advantage. I have a friend who owns a company that manufactures and sells computer software for a niche. He visited India and now has an entire team working for him at a fraction of the cost of what it would be in the UK, Europe or US. His profits have massively increased overnight, and his potential for making his software EVEN BETTER has improved.
For digital nomads, that is people who can work from anywhere, globalisation must be a dream come true.
And of course lest we forget that globalisation has been very kind to India and China, and others. Which is a plus if you happen to be a citizen of those countries.
The world is now seeing the Chinese replace the Japanese as “THE” Asian tourists. Why ? That’s were the money keeps on flowing !
So my point is there’s pluses and minuses. The immediate impact is HUGE and DEVASTATING for economies with a high standard of living such as the UK, Europe and US, because jobs just get cut. But for those who can get over themselves, it’s opened up huge potential as well.
A bright new future in a brave new world OR the fall of western capitalist countries … I don’t know, the future is yet to be written …
How has globalisation affected you ? Do you think it’s a good or bad thing for your country and community, and other’s ? Where does it end ?
Cheers
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There is always two sides to every argument but ask Australian farmers how they feel about cheap imported products as the set about ploughing their fruit trees and crops back into the land. Or ask the Australian car manufacturers who have had to close down due to the cheap imports. Or what about the many large companies who have put off their local staff and now employ call centre operators in south east Asia? Whilst it is great that many of these countries now have steady employment, it has come at a cost for many others and all in the name of making more money for the company owners.
I may be over simplifying things here…but from my perspective, globalisation has turned what used to be a very interesting world into something that is increasingly all the same. What I mean to say is I’m not happy every place is starting to feel like a little slice of America. It used to be that when you went to England, you found English shops and English foods…when you went to France, you were treated to French food and chic French clothes, etc. Now…everywhere you turn, America and it’s dominance in the global economy is rearing it’s ugly head. McDonalds, Starbucks, Gap, Ralph Lauren…you name it!I love America…don’t get me wrong…and I’m all for people running businesses doing well…but it’s all starting to look the same and that makes me sad.
Even in globalization, the good, the bad and the ugly goes hand in hand. That’s just the reality. i like the post deptness
Thanks … and yes there’s all three types in almost everything !
Magnifique !!!!
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I think as same to you. Globalization has advantages and disadvanteges but in my opinion you don’t mention the most important thing. There is nothing bad in expand borders or to open to a different cultures but as always humans can only think in money. For example, inditex is a multinational company that invoice millions per year but to the detriment of many cultures and of people who work for them.
May be I am introducing in to a deepwater but this is like any other controversial concept.
I live in the Basque Country. Of course, here are multinational business but most of the business are small companies which try to do the best they can and apparently people try to survive.
So…¿It’s bad globalization? Of course not. ¿Are humans being right? Not at all, as always…
Money aside, then yes there’s benefits from “globalisation” in terms of these ease of connections between people, the social side … Globalisation in the context I posed the post was in terms of money, which is an IMPORTANT factor IN ALL OUR LIVES … and no I don’t think people can only think in terms of money …
Human beings are often wrong … and opinions are subjective, down to personal experience, biases etc!
Globalization is a two-edged phenomenon with its pros and cons
From a personal viewpoint,I think the pros outweigh the cons..
Could be … we’ll have to see how it evolves 😀
I would say, globalisation has done much good to most economies but the ‘untouchable’ nature of most corporations in the third world nations, like mine Kenya, creates unfair competing platform for the native investors. The government dances to their tune for fear of losing them to other countries.
Totally 😀
There is good and bad in everything, I believe (the old bumper stick is correct) “Think globally and act locally”
LIke that one Carl … “Think globally and act locally”
Globalization can be both good and bad.
When it involves the loss of local democratic principles hiden within the trade agreements, which are clandestine and would normally never be allowed by the people of certain countries, then it is not good. If it opens up countries to new inovaltion, new products and technology etc. it can be good.
When countries surrender their soverignty over food, natural resources, security etc. is isn’t good. The globaization of the multinationals, who are continually on the search for the cheapest labour, have reduce us to the point of slave labour, again it isn’t good. These multinationals have ingratiated themselves with major governments all over the world at the expense of the people they are suppose to govern and have in so doing have removed most of the benefits of this situation.
Leslie
VERY VERY WELL PUT Leslie … one of the most sensible opinions I’ve seen 😀
Thank you Don.
Leslie
Färgaregårdsanna: Your proffessor is a wishful thinker, who likes to give people hope. I like to give people hoipe also, but as everybody can see this world is not going to get better: 1. because it is in the nature of humanity to hurt and hurt others. 2. God said it will get worse and worst and evidence shows that. The only thing we can live better is once we get in touch with our creator.
Interesting opposing opinion …
Okay, since I flubbed my initial email response: Here’s the whole thing by posting directly on the site.
Globalisation….Good or Bad.
Good question
For me it’s not quite so good since I work in an industry which has seen massive layoffs and company shut downs over the last ten or so years.
I’m lucky in that when the owners went into Receivership a UK company bought majority stock and have been slowly, but steadily, improving the company’s industry base and making us more competitive once again.
I’m also not so lucky. I’ve worked for the same company for 25 years, as of last August, and I can feel the guillotine poised precariously over my neck. For many years I was way up in seniority, 30+ people below me in seniority, now there are about 13 people before I feel the cut
Globalisation is good for those who can capitalize on it, not so much for those who don’t have the know how, the ideas or the simple gumption to get out of their comfort zone, face some risk and start something new so I would say it’s a case of six of one and a half dozen of another
Totally, a perspective of someone who’s living it … change happens mostly though !
Reblogged this on A Little of This and A Little of That and commented:
What say you all?
Thanks ?
As you point out there are pluses and minuses. Given multinational corporations, national governments seem obsolete, particularly if something like TPP passes. What we need is some regulatory body that can balance out the inequality worldwide. I have no problem with some people being rich but an individual with thirty four billion dollars is ridiculous. Some of that money could pay his or her workers. Our technology makes possible a world where everyone could have a job, some in taking care of children, the elderly, the disabled; some in the creative arts, some in more traditional production and service jobs. Ideally globalization should help us realize that despite some of our differences, we are all more alike than different.
Totally, but there continue to be insanely wealthy people in the world !
Good & bad… like much of life. You’re right, it depends on one’s reaction to it… we are all humans, all brothers & sisters… I wouldn’t go back. Future facing forward!
Like we have a choice, right ?
There is a good and bad side of globalization?
Yup, there is …
We live in interesting times. Also, being people, we haven’t really thought things through, so I expect things to get a bit bumpy. Historically, we’ve always been on the path to globalization and world trade, so I suppose this is just more of the same. I really enjoy being part of one big human family and benefiting from getting to know people from all over the world, so at least there are some benefits!
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In Sweden we have a professor of global health at Sweden’s Karolinska Institute.
He TEDtalks in his absolutely own way how the world is getting better and better, thanks to globalisation an other aspects. Really interesting and he is really fun listening to.
You can see and hear him at:
http://www.ted.com/speakers/hans_rosling
As long as the statistics says the world is feeling better I want to believe it is so. But it is sometimes hard to see that when people don’t get jobs, war and terrorism still controls to many areas, to many people on the run from their homes and so on.
In the long run globalisation make peace I think, but we have a long way to go before we get there. The reverse, non-globalisation, is definitly not making peace I think.
Perhaps … there’s many lost their jobs and livelihoods who might not be as pragmatic …
I think some people are already born in a global community and therefore we don’t know anything different. And when we do travel to countries that are not as global it a culture shock. Having said that, Integration is great (economic, social, cultural) but it dissolves our true identities. We dissolve our heritage. But I’d prefer to live in an integrated society, learn from each other rather than in silo in ignorance.
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There is only one world and not border in nature 😊
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