Globalization As A Threat To World Stability example essay topic

IS GLOBALIZATION A GOOD THING OR A BAD THING? What is globalization? People around the globe are more connected to each other than ever before. Information and money flow more quickly than ever. Goods and services produced in one part of the world are increasingly available in all parts of the world. International travel is more frequent.

International communication and interdependence are commonplace. This phenomenon has been titled "globalization". There is no definitive definition of globalization. The term or "buzzword" globalization is simply used to describe the political, economic and cultural atmosphere of today. Supporters of globalization believe that globalization is essential to our existence in today's modern world. That it influences cooperation and partnership amongst nations whilst promoting international peace and security.

Bridges the gap between the rich and poor regions of the world by engaging in free trade and by making the world smaller through today's technology it allows us to become a community united by the same goals and aims. Opponents of globalization take a different view; they believe that there is nothing "global" about globalization. That it simply exists to make the rich- particularly in the west, richer, that it exploits the poorer regions of the world, it is a threat to national sovereignty with the big businesses dictating policy to smaller national governments. They see globalization as a threat to world stability, employment and the environment.

It is because of these counter arguments that the question on whether globalization is a good or bad thing continues to dominate this issue today. To answer simply Globalization is neither good nor bad but a process of transformation, which can either benefit or affect us. Globalization and the world economy: There is no doubt that by allowing a more liberal trading system with the introduction of reduced trade tariffs and other trade barriers that the process of globalization has had a significant impact on the economies of the world. This system has been in operation since the end of the Second World War with the establishment of the GATT-General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade and its successor the WTO-the World trade Organisation established in 1995. Globalization is seen by many as having the potential to make countries richer through increased trade and investment.

Over the last few decades' economic activity has become globally integrated and more interdependent. Indeed it has been argued that international trade has become central to most domestic economies around the world. Over 60% of the total GDP of the OECD (Organisation of Economic Cooperation and development) countries is due to international trade. While most economists credit economic globalization as a means of increasing GDP through increased cross border trading it is not without its critics who argue that globalization has only benefited a select few mainly countries in the north- the US, Western Europe and Eastern Asia while countries in the south-Africa and South America, have continued to suffer economically despite the promise that economic integration would bring substantial growth to these regions. While economic prosperity cannot be scoffed at the main problem with this is that national governments are no longer the key actors in this process and are being made to sit on the sidelines while nongovernmental organisations such as the MNCs, and international organisations, the IMF, the world bank, the WTO (often accused of representing the elite) and also the UN enhance their own roles becoming themselves the policy makers of this new international globalized society.

While national governments have checks and balance systems in operation that allow for democratic participation, accountability and transparency. NGOs and the major international organisations do not and this is a fear expressed by those opposed to the way the economy has become more globalized. Globalization and International politics, Peace and security: Globalization challenges the role of governments in international affairs today. In this post Cold War era the terms globalisation and world order have become an integral part of international relations. With today's world no longer under threat from the fall out of the Cold War, the impact of globalization has created even more challenges to today's governments.

The threat of international terrorism, the rise of national and religious fundamentalism, the possibility of an economic crash, as well as ecological and epidemic disasters all pose a serious threat to the world today. Although these all existed previously the process of integration and interdependence in the last few decades has what critics opposed to globalization claim to have left us all vulnerable to potential disasters. The creation of a single global economy undermines international peace and security, contributes to the decline of the nation state with the loss of national sovereignty, the rise in MNCs and the dominant role of the elitists of the western world all support the claim by anti-globalists that globalization is bad. This is counter argued by supporters of globalization that with the establishment of cooperative relationships between nations and the willingness to contribute to the creation of a just global world there would be no such threats and that globalization promotes security and stability through the processes of integration and interdependence.

One example of this working can be seen in the EU. Others acknowledge that an increase in global integration will have a significant impact towards international politics, with the role of national governments remaining the same and still be key players in international politics. In this 'globalization era' national governments have become more involved in what some analysts call a multilayered system of government. Globalization has continued to infringe on national politics, bringing into question the principle of sovereignty and asking can state sovereignty exist hand in hand with globalization. Doubters of globalization claim that this cannot work with the dramatic increase of international and non-governmental organisations. These organisations, critics of globalization claim interfere with national politics putting constraints on national governments when implementing policy on issues such as political, economic and social development.

The argument against this and what supporters of globalization claim is necessary to the development of the world today is that globalization has brought national sovereign states together, therefore creating a community of shared sovereignty which addresses collective and international issues becoming the one power capable of implementing peace and stability that would not be here without global interdependence. An example of this working can be seen at the EU which after two World Wars has seen the creation of an inter-governmental organisation in which the member states have pooled their sovereignty and resources together creating a European economy and an end to conflict within its borders. Global and regional institutions have become an important part of International politics today. The benefit of this is that no one state can supposedly be a world superpower on its own this is characterised in the number of international treatise that most counties in the world have agreed to. I say supposedly because opponents of globalization would say that in fact the opposite is in place in that the most powerful wealthier states become more powerful and richer while the weaker nations become even weaker. The US is often used as an example to illustrate this argument.

Globalization, a divided world: One of the most contentious issues with the emergence of the global community is that many people believe that it simply does not exist. Why? Globalists believe that we live in one world shaped by movements and networks across regions and continents, it is this that global sceptics claim is missing. That globalization is creating an ever increasing gap between the haves and have nots.

This has been backed up by a United Nations Development Programme report in 1999 that contemporary economic globalization was accelerating the gap between rich and poor states. Globalization has increased the North-South divide. However as come to be expected supporters of a globalized economy paint a different picture. They claim that a market led global economy will led to a reduction in poverty, a more equal world, and a more developed third world. Evidence of this is shown in the decrease of worldwide poverty in the last fifty years than in the last five hundred years surely something that has to be welcomed. This could only have been achieved with the establishment of the global market and as a result more and more third world states are becoming more industrialised diminishing the gap between the first world and the third world.

The opposite of this suggests that the gap between the first world and the third world is not going away and it would seem is here to stay. It is often claimed that what is really happening is nothing short of a new wave of Western imperialism. Yes the less developed regions of the world do benefit from within this global economy but at a price. Over fifty percent of the worlds population are bound to the disciplines of the World Bank or the IMF and even the G 8 governments. This it is claimed interferes rather than benefits the proper development of these nations. Technology and a global culture: Globalization has had a massive impact on how we live are lives today in the past our lives would have been dominated by local issues but today with a flick of a switch we can keep up to date with events on the other side of world, watch our favourite Hollywood blockbuster.

This is all possible with the advancement of technology. However like all other aspects of globalization this development tends to be one-sided. The world wide web is something we all take for granted, indeed it has made the world a lot smaller but to others in the less developed regions of the world the world wide web is something that has yet to be introduced to them. Again this highlights the growing gap between the rich and the poor something that has to be addressed.

Conclusion: As mentioned in my opening, globalization is neither good nor bad but while the arguments of those for and against it continue to be debated, it is clear that the world will continue to become a global community. But while the debates continue it is important to accept whether good or bad what this era of globalization has achieved to date. Economic growth through economic integration has steadily continued to rise. Political, economic, and cultural interdependence has helped to halt the rise of so called superpowers.

The establishment of international organisations whether regional or global has helped to create a peace and stability albeit in the west. Globalization will continue and like all things their will always be winners and losers.