Globalisation

Contents
What is Globalisation?.................................................................2
What are the different types of globalisation?.............................4
Types of Globalisation.................................................................4
1. Economic Globalisation.....................................................5
2. Political Globalisation........................................................8
3. Cultural Globalisation.........................................................9
4. Social Globalisation..........................................................11
Discuss the impact of globalisation on modern nation-state.....12
What are the positive and negative aspects of globalisation?. . .16
1. Positive aspects.................................................................16
2. Negative aspects...............................................................18

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Globalisation

What is Globalisation?
Globalization - the 'big idea' of the late 20th century - lacks precise definition.
There is no single universally agreed-upon definition of globalization. The
term globalization captures elements of a widespread perception that there is
a broadening, deepening and speeding up of world-wide interconnectedness
in all aspects of life, from the cultural to the criminal, the financial to the
environmental. At issue appears to be a global shift, i.e., a world being
moulded, by economic and technological forces, into a shared economic and
political arena.

The IMF describes globalization as the growing economic interdependence

of countries worldwide through its increasing volume and variety of cross
border transactions in goods and services and international flows and also
through the more rapid and wide spread diffusion of technology.

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According to Andrew Heywood, globalization refers to the emergence of a
complex web of interconnectedness, which implies that events and decisions
in one part of the world are increasingly affecting people and societies
located far away.

Immanuel Wallerstein says that the global system is a hierarchy of power in

the international system: core, periphery and semi-periphery. The system of
hierarchy is based on inequalities between the rich and poor nations.

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What are the different types of globalisation?

Types of Globalisation
The basis of globalization is the emergence of a single social system
characterized by worldwide network of economic, political, cultural, and
social relationships.

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Economic Globalisation
Economic globalization is the increasing economic integration and
interdependence of national, regional and local economies across the world
through an intensification of cross-border movement of goods, services,
technologies and capital. It refers to global economic processes, especially
the rise in international trade, the international flow of capital, economic
practices and the increasing number of role played by multinational
corporations (MNCs).

The current phase of the economic internationalization in historical context,

we do need to recognize the massive socio-economic transformations that
occurred in the second half of the 20th century. The golden age of capitalism
stretching from around 1950 to 1973 saw a remarkable flourishing of
productivity and gradual move toward a genuinely global free-trade order.

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The General Agreement on Tariff and Trade (GATT) was a central
element in creating a stable international trading regime following the Second
World War, in spite of its weakness. With trade tariff already reduced to a
minimum by the 1990s, interest shifted for the more powerful nations to the
question of democratic regulations governing competition. This led to the
creation of World Trade Organization (WTO) in 1995, changed with
harmonizing competition and business rules across nations to promote global
free trade in more sectors. Along with the extension of trade went an
enormous leap based on Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) in particular. The
major characteristic of the post war period was the rise of the Multinational
Corporations (MNCs) that now account for the majority of the worlds
exports.

As John Dunning explains the strategic response of MNCs to the emerging

global economy has been increasingly to integrate their sourcing, value-

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added and marketing activities and to harness their resources and capabilities
from throughout the world.

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Political Globalisation
Political globalization is when governmental action takes place on a global
level, where responsibilities, such as the welfare of citizens and economic
growth, are acted upon by an international political body. It signifies a
redefinition of politics in the sense that political activity is increasingly
transcending national borders and taking place at the global level.

The globalisation of politics is occurring in several ways:

1. Firstly, there has been a significant institutionalization of inter-governmental
and transnational networks of political interaction.
2. Secondly, there has been a great increase in the emphasis on collective
defense and cooperative security with regard to national security and defense
policy. There has also been a globalisation of military technology, based on
the transnationalization of defense production.

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Cultural Globalisation
Cultural globalisation refers to the emergence of a specific set of values and
beliefs that are largely shared around the planet. It refers to the greater
international cultural exchange and the intensification of global flaws of
cultural goods. It signifies the global recognition of prominent symbols and
icons of popular culture.

A series of new technological innovations in communications and

transportation have generated a global telecommunications infrastructure and
greater transfer in data flow.

The English language provides a linguistic infrastructure for the global

transmission of ideas and cultures. It has become the dominant language in
politics, law, computing, business and science.

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The driving forces behind contemporary forms of cultural globalisation are
the mass media both print and visual. Global media organizations have
been able to spread powerful images, sounds and advertising to the remotest
parts of the globe.

There has been a great increase in international travel and tourism.

There has been a massive growth in cross-border movements of people

migration.

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Social Globalisation
The economic and political transformations associated with the development
of globalization have a huge social impact especially on people. The degree
of equality or inequality within and among nation-states is today the main
issue at stake when the future prospects of globalization are discussed.

Goran Therborn puts: To the extent that it is actually operating,

globalization puts on the agenda equality and inequality for the whole of
human kind.

The second major social effect after inequality generated by globalization is

interconnectedness.

According to Ash Amin, perhaps the most distinctive aspect of

contemporary globalization is precisely the interconnectedness, multiplexity,
and hybridization of social life at every level.
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Discuss the impact of globalisation on modern nation-state.

The nation state is constituted by the government assuming a legal and moral
right to exercise sole jurisdiction, supported by force in the last resort, over a
particular territory and its citizens.

Manfred B. Steger advocates globalization is confined to a set of complex

and sometimes contradictory social processes that are changing our current
social condition based on modern system of independent nation-state.

An essential link between globalization and the nation state is the concept of
sovereignty. Sovereignty is the central organizing principle of the system of
states. Sovereignty is the quality of having supreme, independent authority
over a territory. It can be found in a power to rule and make law that rests on
a political consensus in a nation. The notion of state sovereignty is laid down
on the basic principles of territorial integrity, border inviolability, and
supremacy of the state.
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Globalisation led to a significant rise of multinational corporations which

many believe undermined the ability of states to manage their own
economies. Multinational corporations integrate national economies into
global networks; therefore nation states no longer have total control over
their economies.

Multinational corporations have expanded drastically; the top 500

corporations now control almost rd of global GNP and 76% of world trade.
These multinational corporations, such as Standard & Poors, are admired but
also feared by nation states for their immense power. Multinational
corporations, such as Coca-Cola, wield great global power and authority as
they effectively 'place a claim' on the host nation state.

Since 1960, new technologies have developed at a rapid rate, compared to the
previous fundamental shifts which lasted for two hundred years. These shifts
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mean that states can no longer successfully manage the changes caused by
globalisation. Trade blocs, such as North American Free Trade Agreement
(NAFTA), reduced nation state's management over their economy. WTO and
IMF have a huge impact on a nations' economy, therefore weakening its
security and independence.

Overall, globalisation has diminished the nation state's ability to manage its
economy. Globalisation within the neoliberal agenda has provided nation
states with a new and minimalist role. It appears that nation states have little
choice but to give away their independence to the demands of globalisation,
as a cutthroat, competitive environment has now been formed.

Whilst many argue that the nation state's role in managing its economy is
diminishing, some reject this and believe the state still remains the most
dominant force in shaping its economy. Nation states implement policies to

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expose their economies more or less so to the international financial markets,
meaning they can control their responses to globalisation.

Therefore, it can be said that strong, efficient nation states help shape
globalisation. Some believe nation states are pivotal institutions and argue
that globalisation has not led to a reduction in nation state power but has
altered the situation under which the nation state power is executed.

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What are the positive and negative aspects of globalisation?

Positive aspects
As Western society is becoming more knowledgeable of the issues taking
place in developing countries, there is greater opportunity for the people in
those countries to economically succeed and increase their standard of living.
Increase in competition, forces companies to lower their prices.
Increase in media coverage draws the attention of the world to human right
violations.
Global competition encourages creativity and innovation and keeps prices for
commodities/services in check.
Developing countries are able to reap the benefits of current technology
without undergoing many of the growing pains associated with development
of these technologies.

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Governments are able to better work together towards common goals now
that there is an advantage in cooperation, an improved ability to interact and
coordinate, and a global awareness of issues.
There is a greater access to foreign culture in the form of movies, music,
food, clothing, etc.

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Negative aspects
The benefits of globalization are not universal. The rich are getting richer and
the poor are becoming poorer.
Outsourcing, while it provides jobs to a population in one country, takes
away those jobs from another country, leaving many without opportunities.
Although different cultures from around the world are able to interact, they
begin to meld, and the contours and individuality of each begin to fade.
There may be a greater chance of disease spreading worldwide, as well as
invasive species that could prove devastating in non-native ecosystems.
Fast food chains, such as McDonalds and Burger King, are spreading in the
developing world. It means more consumption of junk foods from these
joints resulting in an adverse impact on peoples health.

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