Write an Essay on Globalisation in Which You: Define and Explain the Concept of Globalisation(2 Pages), Discuss the Arguments in Favour of and Against Globalisation (3 Pages)

Assignment : no 5
Course : DVA 1601
Due date : 22 March 2013
Unique Number : 731641

Title : Define and explain the concept of globalisation (2 pages). Discuss the arguments in favour of and against globalisation (3 pages).

Table of contents
1. Introduction
2. Definition and explanation of globalisation
3. Arguments in favour and against globalisation
4. Conclusion

Introduction
The assignment focuses on the pros and cons of Globalisation and whether globalisation can continue to grow at the rate it is going. I have discussed how globalisation affects the poor, the economy, environment, technology and culture. Globalisation is a complicated and evolving process and has become one of the most debated issues around the globe. The topic is so debatable that there is no one conventional definition of globalisation. (Griffin 2007) “Globalisation is a complicated and evolving process and has become one of the most debated issues around the globe. The topic is so debatable that there is no one conventional definition of globalisation. However it can be narrowly defined as the inexorable integration of markets, nation status and technologies in a way that is enabling individuals, corporations and nations states to reach around the world, further, faster, deeper and cheaper than ever before”. Different globalisation dimensions will be discussed in this assignment.

Define and explain the concept of globalisation
Labonte et al (2004:1) in (study Guide, development problems and institutions, DVA 1601:139) elaborate on this neutral view of globalisation by explaining as follows: To some, it is an inescapable and primarily being process of global economic intergration, in which countries increasingly drop border restrictions on the flow of capital, goods and services. Acknowledged risks of more rapid spread of disease and pests accompany the speedier and more massive movement of goods and people, but these are not new. Risks can be managed and are more than offset by benefits in the diffusion of new ideas, technologies and steady global economic growth.

(Wikipedia dictionary: 2013) “Globalisation is the process of international integration arising from the interchange of world views, products, ideas and other aspects of culture”. Globalisation describes the interplay across cultures of social forces such as religion, politics and economics. Globalisation can erode and universalize the characteristics of a local group. Advances in transportation and telecommunications infrastructure, including the rise of the internet, are major factors in globalisation, generating further interdependence of economic and cultural activities.(Willet 2001a:1) in Study Guide, development problems and institutions,DVA1601:139) mentioned that globalisation captures a description of the widening and deepening of economic,political,social and cultural interdependence and interconnectedness.

Globalisation is composed of five dimensions: Economic, Political, Cultural, Ecological and Ideological. Economic globalisation refers to the intensification and stretching of Economic interrelations around the globe. It encompasses such things as the emergence of a new global economic order, the internationalization of trade and finance, the changing power of transnational corporations, and the enhanced role of international economic institutions. Political globalisation refers to the intensification and expansion of political interrelations around the globe. Aspects of political globalisation include the modern-nation state system and its changing place in today’s world, the role of global governance and the direction of our global political systems. Cultural globalisation refers to the intensification and expansion of cultural flows across the globe. Culture is a very broad concept and has many facets, but in the discussion on globalisation. Topics under this heading include discussion about the development of a global culture or lack thereof, the role of the media in shaping our identities and desires and the globalisation of languages. Ecological globalisation refers to the global environmental issues. Topics of ecological globalisation include population growth, access to food, worldwide reduction in biodiversity, the gap between rich and poor as well as between the global North and global South, human induced climate change and global environmental degradation.

“Economic globalisation is the increasing economic interdependence of national economies across the worlds’ through a rapid increase in cross border movement of goods, services, technology and capital. Whereas the globalisation of business is centred around the diminution of international trade regulations as well as tariffs, taxes and other impediments that suppresses global trade, economic globalisation is the process of increasing economic integration between countries leading to the emergence of a global marketplace or a single world market. Depending on the paradigm, economic globalisation can be viewed as either a positive or a negative phenomenon. Economic globalisation comprises the globalisation of production, markets, competition, technology and corporations and industries. Current globalisation trends can be largely accounted for by developed economies integrating with less developed economies, by means of foreign direct investment, the reduction of trade barriers as well as other economic reforms and in many cases, immigration”(Wikipedia Dictionary 2013).

Economist, Takis Fotopoulos defined economic globalisation as the opening and deregulation of commodity, capital and labour markets that led toward present neoliberal globalisation. He used “political globalisation” to refer to the emergence of a transnational elite and a phasing out of the nation-state. Cultural globalisation he used to reference the worldwide homogenization of culture. Other of his usages included ideological globalisation, technological globalisation and social globalisation.

In 2000, the international Monetary Fund (IMF) identified four basic aspects of globalisation: trade and transactions, capital and investment movements, migration and movement of people and the dissemination of knowledge. With regards to trade and transactions, developing countries increased their share of world trade, from 19 percent in 1971 to 29 percent in 1999.

Discuss the arguments in favour of and against globalisation
There are many arguments in favour and against, both for the developed world and the underdeveloped world. There is no argument that levels of income disparity and poverty are significant between advanced and emerging countries and globalisation has started to bridge that gap.

Globalisation took a big step backward during the First World War and the Second World War. Integration of rich countries didn’t recover to previous levels before the 1980s. After the second world war, work by politicians led to the Bretton Woods Conference, an agreement by major government to lay down the framework for international monetary policy, commerce and finances and the founding of several international institutions intended to facilitate economic growth multiple rounds of trade opening simplified and lowered trade barriers. Initially, the General agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT) led to a series of agreement to remove trade restrictions, GATT’s successor was the World Trade Organisation which created an Institution to manage the trading system.

Environmental challenges such as climate change ,cross boundary water and air pollution and over-fishing of the ocean ,require trans-national/global solutions. Since factories in developing countries increased global output and experienced less environmental regulation, globalism substantially increased pollution and impact on water resources

In regard to employment many have argued that the process of globalisation leads to relocation of work to developing countries from developed countries, which in effect increases unemployment in the developed world and leads to exploitation of workers in poorer countries. Unemployment leads to problems within the government as they are expected to pay for workers to find jobs.

Conclusion
Globalization made a huge impact in developing and developed countries and both countries benefited from it.However exportation and importation of goods is running at a very fast rate on a daily basis but the sad part is that the developing countries does not benefit a lot of money due to the trade rate of the country they are importing to that particular country. Globalization dimensions clearly explain as to how each operate in a country.

References
1. Labonte et al (2004:1) in Study Guide, Development Problems and Institutions,DVA 1601:139
2. Griffin 2007
3. Wikipedia Dictionary:2013
4. Willet 2001a:1 in Study Guide, Development Problems and Institutions,DVA 1601:139

References: 1. Labonte et al (2004:1) in Study Guide, Development Problems and Institutions,DVA 1601:139 2. Griffin 2007 3. Wikipedia Dictionary:2013 4. Willet 2001a:1 in Study Guide, Development Problems and Institutions,DVA 1601:139