Globalization of Colombia
Globalization of Colombia
Dennis R. Pierce
Columbia Southern University
BBA 4426-08D-2
Prof. Li Ping Yang
Globalization is the process in which boundaries are extended through the interaction of
companies, individuals, economies and aided by technological advances. While globalization
has reached Colombia it has not, nor will it ever, reach all of Colombia. The process of
globalization has an effect on all facets of the economy. Globalization also affects a country’s
culture, economic development, political system and environment.
To understand how globalization has affected Colombia, you must first have some
knowledge of the country itself. Colombia is split into two very distinct regions by the Andes
mountains. The majority of the population in Colombia live either in the mountains or on the
coastal side of the mountains. There are still people that live on the eastern side of the
mountains, but not to the extent that they live in the other areas. Globalization has not had too
much of an effect on those living on the eastern side of the Andes. While they are sometimes
aware of things going on outside their realm it generally does not have any effect on their lives.
The people working in the drug trade are a prime example of this. Farmers are paid only
$100-200 to process cocaine that is shipped to, and sold in the United States, for millions of
dollars. $100 is a lot of money to these farmers and they are completely unaware how much
what they make is being sold for.
Colombia’s economic development has seen an increase in the last two decades. However, it has come at a great cost. In the late 1990’s major companies moving into Colombia looking for a cheap labor force ran into problems with the unions. However, the Colombian military had an answer for this. Government controlled death squads were dispatched by the government to get rid of anyone that was outspoken against the government’s
Dennis R. Pierce
Columbia Southern University
BBA 4426-08D-2
Prof. Li Ping Yang
Globalization is the process in which boundaries are extended through the interaction of
companies, individuals, economies and aided by technological advances. While globalization
has reached Colombia it has not, nor will it ever, reach all of Colombia. The process of
globalization has an effect on all facets of the economy. Globalization also affects a country’s
culture, economic development, political system and environment.
To understand how globalization has affected Colombia, you must first have some
knowledge of the country itself. Colombia is split into two very distinct regions by the Andes
mountains. The majority of the population in Colombia live either in the mountains or on the
coastal side of the mountains. There are still people that live on the eastern side of the
mountains, but not to the extent that they live in the other areas. Globalization has not had too
much of an effect on those living on the eastern side of the Andes. While they are sometimes
aware of things going on outside their realm it generally does not have any effect on their lives.
The people working in the drug trade are a prime example of this. Farmers are paid only
$100-200 to process cocaine that is shipped to, and sold in the United States, for millions of
dollars. $100 is a lot of money to these farmers and they are completely unaware how much
what they make is being sold for.
Colombia’s economic development has seen an increase in the last two decades. However, it has come at a great cost. In the late 1990’s major companies moving into Colombia looking for a cheap labor force ran into problems with the unions. However, the Colombian military had an answer for this. Government controlled death squads were dispatched by the government to get rid of anyone that was outspoken against the government’s
References: Luthans, Fred and Doh, Jonathan P. (2009) International Management: Culture, Strategy, and Behavior. New York, NY: McGraw-Hill/Irwin Herman, Edward S. and Zarate-Laun, Cecilia (1999). Globalization and Instability: The Case of Colombia. Retrieved from: http://www.thirdworldtraveler.com/Latin_America/Globalization_Colombia.html The Disappearing Rainforests. (2010) Retrieved from: http://www.rain-tree.com/facts.htm Colombia. Office of the United States Trade Representative. Executive Office of the President. (n.d.) Retrieved from: http://www.ustr.gov/countries-regions/americas/colombia DeAngelis, Stephen F. (2008) Enterprise Resilience Management Blog. Retrieved from: http://enterpriseresilienceblog.typepad.com/enterprise_resilience_man/2008/07/colombia-embrac.html