Are you for globalization or against it? Do you think it will be beneficial to the citizens of the world or do you think it will make things worse? Io
It scares me as the power plays would be even more devastating as at least for now World Politics sometimes keeps countries in
I'm all for it. Globalization is the interweaving of markets, technology, information systems and telecommunications systems in a way that is shrinking the world from a size medium to a size small, and enabling each of us to reach around the world farther, faster, deeper, and cheaper than ever before. This total world-view now taken for granted is a fairly recent development. Globalization started a few centuries ago when adventurers began to explore different parts of the globe. Back then there were some bizarre beliefs about peoples from foreign parts. The Chinese, for instance, believed that the English would die of constipation if they didn't eat rhubarb. Missionaries displayed extraordinary arrogance when they saw their task as one of 'civilizing the savages' they encountered in Africa. Since then the world has become a single social system resulting in multinational companies taking advantage of the diverse tax and wage rates and levels of unionization in different countries, forcing employees to compete in a world labor market. In the last 15 years we've gone from a world of division and walls to a world of integration and webs. Today globalization is not about trade anymore, it's not about things we choose to do. Globalization is driven by technology and what the technology can empower us to do. The technology already exists to blow away walls and tie us all together, and at the same time getting access to the best technology and the cheapest wages of Taiwan, Mexico, or Mississippi. It's these capabilities which create all kinds of intentions, not the intentions that are creating the capabilities.
It depends... An economical one... Will make it worse for poor and in-development countries... A cultural one... Will destroy many cultures... and is already happening... An ideal... Is one where people all over the world are respected in their differences... Is one where everyone is equal... Is one where everyone is called citizens of planet Earth instead Brazil, Canada, US... Is one where everyone get together to make the world a better place for our children. Love, Nelson
There has never been a culture which remained isolated. It's not a new thing and not necessarily a bad thing when cultures mix. If a company from Australia invests in a new factory in India, that is economic activity moving into India. Health, education, and such all come from the economy. The better the economy goes, the better other things go. And once that starts happening, the better education and such prompt further improvement to the economy, nice big snowballing thing. In the long run, moving labour to cheaper sources is good for the cheaper places. It is, however, bad for the wealthier place, as it turns those wealthy places into pure consumer societies with less and less industrial power and fewer jobs. What would fix all that? A fully integrated global economy, everyone with the same currency and same fair labour laws. However, that would destroy growth and slow our technological advancement terribly. Competition is good.
Adam ... "In the long run, moving labour to cheaper sources is good for the cheaper places." Oh? How about Bhopal, India (Dec.'84)? A worst case senario. " A fully integrated global economy, everyone with the same currency and same fair labour laws." Hell, even countries, including the US of A, don't meet that criteria ... And you want it world wide? What planet are you from? Take care Please Register or Log in to view the hidden image!
Who will rule the World? And if a dictator or despot should arise, who would be left to oppose him? My fear is that individual freedom will be lost to the larger, all-powerful body which would be "globalization." Such a thing would require, eventually, the centralization of power. Also, the push for "globalization" has been centered on monetary benefits, not social prosperity. I think that is reason enough for concern--might we be ruled in the future by the corporate greed which would most likely impose bottom-line values to our daily lives? That thought doesn't appeal to me.
Did I somehow kill this thread?<img src = "http://www.sciforums.com/t6329/saac74635ca81086441952a28ab9e34b9/images/icons/bugeye.gif">
well this is a difficult topic. Firstly, we know of its environmental and economic impacts. They arent very good and bring sight of a very dreary world if things arent done. But I firmly believe that if people just remain conscience of this and never abondon democracy, then things should be fine. People wont stand to be oppressed. Some german guy once said that the only way for evil to prevail is for good people to do nothing. So i'm sure that if good people do stuff (ie boycott specific operations, democracy etc.) then things should be fine. Also, globalization makes technological advancement much cheaper and efficient. This may however be a mixed blessing in that people handle technologies differently, if you know what I mean. So basically what I'm saying is it's going to happen, so we can either embrace it and milk it for what its worth, or cry and break things at the g8 summit (which is by the way starting about an hour from my house, in a month.) Anything that has the potential to advance the human species (reasonably speaking) has my backing. Thats what were here for...
Elbaz ... "Thats what were here for..." Canadians? Take care Please Register or Log in to view the hidden image!
