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Critique of Technology as the Primary Force behind Globalization
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Critique of Technology as the Primary Force behind Globalization

Introduction The paper contains a critique of technology as the primary driver of globalization. Globalization is referred to the process of global integration that arises from interchange of global views, ideas, products, and culture’s different aspects. Technology is considered to be one of the major factors that contribute to the rapid increase in globalization. However, it is not the only driver for globalization. There are many other factors that have significant impact on the increase of globalization.

Critique According to the research of Bishop et al (2011), the concept of globalization came into being soon after the world started to get connected at initial human history. The authors argued that increase in transportation and technology, the liberalization of trade policies between governments, increase in the inequalities between nations, and increase in inequalities of earnings between people of a nation are some of the major drivers of globalization. Fritsch (2011) in his study also argued that technology is not the only force behind globalization. In his study, he identified that technology has a great role in contributing to the increased globalization. However, there are many other factors that played equal part in driving globalization. Side by side, globalization is increasing due to improved transportation and available technology. Technology has played important part in making it simple for people living across borders to communicate with each other, and it has also been a source of declining the transportation cost. The role of technology can be seen as key for enabling organizations around the globe to operate globally. This is beneficial for individuals, organizations, and governments to have ease of purchase along with making profits. Advanced technology is further decreasing the cost associated with doing international business (Bishop et al., 2011). However, it is important to understand that it would be possible to increase globalization with just technology as a single factor. According to various researchers, it has been identified that technology alone could not be sufficient enough to achieve increase globalization. However, no researcher can isolate the fact that without advanced technology it would be nearly impossible for governments and organizations to trade internationally. It is because technology allows them to comfortably trade from one country to another. It is also technology that enables organizations to hire employees from around the globe and communicate with them effectively through the use of technology devices such as telephone, and calling or messaging applications. Additionally, technology of transportation allows them to trade tangible goods from one place to another with high speed and low costs. According to Bishop et al. (2011), globalization is both illogical and inescapable. People cannot afford to isolate them; neither can they completely have unregulated commerce. The role of governments of countries around the world can be seen as one of the most important driver of globalization. They have made policies that were important for enabling international relationships. If any government is actively involved in facilitating investment, that particular country has higher probability of being globalized. Therefore, government can play important role in creating a useful marketplace by offering superior structure of business law and corporate governance, hence, offering a stable framework of economy, and providing flexibility at micro level (Warwick and Alexandar, 2007). Therefore, it can be concluded that governmental policies play equally important role as technology as a driver of globalization and increase international businesses. Financial capital also plays important part in the growing trends of globalization. For instance; organizations around the globe invest in international market for the sake of making profits along with expanding their business operations. However, the role of technology is again important in enabling these organizations to work comfortably around the globe. It is technology that allows these organizations to hire people from around the globe for saving costs associated with business operations. An investor located in a country for instance China is also able to borrow money from a bank located in Japan (Bishop et al., 2011). This is how financial markets are assisting people to complete business related tasks from one country to another. The hyperglobalist perspective of globalization argues that current economics and past history have joined together for creating new relationships. In this scenario, the nations are getting united both politically and economically. It becomes important for different countries to join together in order to achieve success in today’s globalized world (Frankel, 2007). There is another perspective of globalization name, Transformationalist Perspective, which argues that there is no individual drive of building globalization. This perspective believes that globalization is just increasing with the passage of time. This phenomenon believes that there are no prominent factors that are evident for leading to globalization (Held et al., 1999). Market drivers of globalization include the growing demands of customers that force organizations to expand their operations, thus, leading to globalization. With the passage of time, the taste and preferences of the customers are changing rapidly. Therefore, it becomes important for organization around the world to take advantage from resources available in outside country. Similarly, there are wide number of customers available in global market that an organization can target by operating globally. This is one of the important drivers of motivation. Cost of economies is another drive for globalization. Organizations that produce in bulk quantity are able to save cost as the fixed cost associated with the production is spread in more number of units being produced. Therefore, organizations are keener to produce bulk quantity in order to save costs. These organizations export their products and services to customers located in various parts of the world. On one hand, Erikson (2002) argues that technology is the major factor leading to increased globalization. Authors with similar views believe that globalization was impossible without technology (which is true); however, they believe that it is the only driver of globalization. On the other hand, Tiffin (2013) believes that there are many different drivers of globalization that play equal part in contributing to the increased globalization we witness around the globe. Governments of different countries have joined together to improve international trade such as European Union, United Nations, and others. These governmental policies have enabled high level of international trade within different countries for gaining mutual benefits. The measures of governments to reduce the restrictions in international trade have increased globalization to a very large extent. This means that organizations and countries are more comfortable in dealing international due to reduced policies’ restrictions.

Conclusion
Hence, it can be concluded that technology is not the only factor that leads to globalization. There are many different factors that contribute equally to the increased globalization. For example; if governments restrict export and import activities, it would be nearly impossible for organizations to trade internationally, irrespective of the availability of advanced technology. Similarly, if organizations do not see the making of profits in operating globally, then they would not be motivated to go global for their operations. Therefore, the market of customers with similar needs and wants motivate organizations and governments to trade globally. Therefore, saying that technology is the only or greatest driver of globalization would not be appropriate. There are many different drivers that should be considered when discussing the globalization drivers.

References

Alexander, C., & K .Warwick, (2007). Governments, Exports and Growth: Responding to the Challenges and Opportunities of Globalization. World Economy, 30(1), 177-194.
Ashcroft, B., Griffiths, G., & Tiffin, H. (2013). Postcolonial studies: the key concepts. Routledge.
Ayres, J. M., Caniglia, B. S., Chabot, S., Giugni, M. G., Hanagan, M., Lewis, T. L., ... & Tarrow, S. (2002). Globalization and resistance: Transnational dimensions of social movements. J. Smith, & H. Johnston (Eds.). Rowman & Littlefield Publishers.
Bishop, T., Reinke, J., & Adams, T. (2011). GLOBALIZATION: TRENDS AND PERSPECTIVES. Journal of International Business Research, 10(1).
Frankel, J. (2007, April). New perspectives on financial globalization. In Panel presentation at IMF conference, April (Vol. 27).
Fritsch, S. (2011). Technology and global affairs. International Studies Perspectives, 12(1), 27-45.
Held, D. & A. McGrew, & D. Goldblatt, & J. Perraton. (1999). Global Transformations: Politics, Economics and Culture. Stanford University Press, pp. 32-86.

References: Alexander, C., & K .Warwick, (2007). Governments, Exports and Growth: Responding to the Challenges and Opportunities of Globalization. World Economy, 30(1), 177-194. Ashcroft, B., Griffiths, G., & Tiffin, H. (2013). Postcolonial studies: the key concepts. Routledge. Ayres, J. M., Caniglia, B. S., Chabot, S., Giugni, M. G., Hanagan, M., Lewis, T. L., ... & Tarrow, S. (2002). Globalization and resistance: Transnational dimensions of social movements. J. Smith, & H. Johnston (Eds.). Rowman & Littlefield Publishers. Bishop, T., Reinke, J., & Adams, T. (2011). GLOBALIZATION: TRENDS AND PERSPECTIVES. Journal of International Business Research, 10(1). Frankel, J. (2007, April). New perspectives on financial globalization. In Panel presentation at IMF conference, April (Vol. 27). Fritsch, S. (2011). Technology and global affairs. International Studies Perspectives, 12(1), 27-45. Held, D. & A. McGrew, & D. Goldblatt, & J. Perraton. (1999). Global Transformations: Politics, Economics and Culture. Stanford University Press, pp. 32-86.