Globalization: Prosperity and Development

       Chances are high that globalization has the potential to lift the poorest up and expand peace and prosperity as the world community is driven by the realization of their interdependence which is a product of active exchanges in terms of social, economic, technological and scientific assets along the context of sound, pro-active, responsive politics, a politics of good governance, liberty, equity and social justice, a democratic politics that is consistent with the entirety of a global economy (Watters 201-255).  Most people, however, are terrified with globalization. They are used to individualistic living rather than collectivism. When dire needs catch up with them, they are rarely prepared.

     In the world today, globalization as the development of an increasingly integrated universal economy continues (Merriam Webster 308), is largely economic in nature having many facets that cut across economic, political, social and cultural domains. Hoogvelts (1997) three models framing political economy of globalization explains: 1.) the realist model focusing on the autonomy of the nation-state in the conduct of international relations, with order stability and international balance of power as its main concern (7); 2.) The institutionalize views based on liberal values of economic interdependence and cooperation and strong support for a system of global governance (7-8); and 3.) The structuralize approach which suggest a dominant core and subordinate periphery in the structures of global economic and political relations (8-10), without a priori supposition in all cases of the disappearance of the state. Hirst and Thompson in 1996, posit: that while globalization enhances more pluralistic, diversified and multi-polar international economic and political relations, the state remains a key source of rules and decision-making in regulating uncertainties of globalization; that the nation-state persist despite the changing concept of territoriality resulting from the increasing interdependence of nations; that the rule of law becomes more important rather than less by moving into a more complex and pluralistic social and political system such that the state which is the source of lawful system will become more central; and that even if the world economy and polity become increasingly internationalize, regimes and agencies will still be governed by binding laws and rules emanating from the member-states (277-280).

       One good way to perceived globalization is to look at it when it hit the highest point of profitability since its initiation in the early years of the 1990’s when trade and industry flourished, technology and scientific investigations brought unbelievable developments; financial stock market rose to its peak, and travels and tours was very lively. However, its risk cannot be overlooked which boiled down to the speech of Kofi Annan in 1998 about its politics and policies at Harvard University, speaking on behalf of the United Nations Council Organization, apparently a bothered figure, but, not just a snappy, steel-trap thinking, managed to present analysis with a cross-section on the eventualities after almost a decade of its existence, in the midst of what he calls universal confusion, comprehensive disagreements, financial disasters and biased disputes (Watters 200), a degeneration  bringing about unforeseen anxieties and apprehensions among people and among countries in the different parts of the globe.

The speed of deterioration which caught everyone unguarded is a lesson of modesty in distress over the sad fate of globalization (Watters 200).  These marked an occasion to revisit the bureaucratic frameworks, the foundations that predisposed such uncalled outcomes. This was clearly the result of a poorly planned globalization patterns, imbued with ulterior selfish motives, filled with loopholes and weaknesses which could have been avoided if policies were more comprehensive, outreaching and not self-serving (Watters 206).  Nevertheless, nothing is impossible with people of intellect.  What is needed is a continuity of courage and ability to address recent difficulties.  In an unprecedented effort to largely influence and bring back globalization to its fore Kofi Annan came up with a roster of recommendations based on the framework of sound governmental politics.

It is a politics that must encompass the marginal members of the global community (Watters 207) from as far as Africa down to Asia (Watters 203), that is in fact the one major component beneficiaries and the one major consideration for the idea of globalization besides the impact on its sustenance for security of requirements in the fields of energy and food.  This sound governmental politics would cover: 1.) Establishment of enduring support organizations; 2.) safety nets to enhance globalization processes and not to bring down the principles of globalization back to mere exploitative nature, 3.) safety nets for responsible financial borrowings, 4.) safety nets for productive investment ventures, 5.) policies that would include and consider an understanding of national and cultural differences, transcending barriers and limitations; and 6.) a well-balanced architectures of policies providing equal human benefits and equal human rights to everyone, in a word or two, governmental policies founded upon the basics of a democratic philosophies.

      The confidence that many people gained from globalization boost their chances for establishing new trading partners. Common schools of thought arising above influences see the continuing positive effects of globalization on the rise along the areas of energy, food, skills and services as these are all enhanced without denying regardless of culture but limited to the enthusiast in perspective and outlook. For example is the limited perspective of Huntington as cited by Altwairji (Global Policy Forum) considering only the Western influence over the rest of the globe which is a false generalization overlooking the two way traffic of events in the process of globalization, and overlooking the intellectual abilities of the member states and countries in the different parts of the world as a consequence of interchanges.  Likewise, Huntington apparently believes in the preservation of Western culture by limiting its transactions along its boundaries thus preventing its influence over the rest of the world (Altwairji Global Policy Forum), fine, because globalization does not necessarily involve enculturation whence it may mean only a simple trade in business for goods and services.  One does not have to dive into the culture or even melt into the culture of another to get goods and services. A Fad or a trend may be set through the media. With all the modernity’s in technologies and communications, transactions can now be realized through the wires without necessarily going into specific locations for goods and services, thus the limits of influences.

Where troubles arose, it is a common knowledge that these are usually provoked by internal selfish desires to gain more over the rest of the populace engaging others to come in and cause more chaos in the pretext of an existing difficulties. These are just pockets of events that are usually localized and do not really mean global influence. It is usually the game of the shortsighted and those with little learning or none at all.  Once their amusement is over and done and they are usually gone, then peace and quite and the usual trade and business prevails. For example is the eventuality that took place in the Middle East where after Iraquis suffered casualties of war everybody was trying to grab at a piece of satellite in the market for international television patronage, funny, but true. It is also facts that though globalization is today more emphasize and well publicize it has been with mankind since civilization began.  People came and went, civilizations came and went, but globalization remains in the mainstream of every replacement society as by nature men are social beings who are gifted with the will to travel and sojourn the world for whatever reason there may be.

       Probably the most difficult problem for people to fit into the arena of globalization is their attitude of individualism. Firstly, they have to understand globalization and its productive ends. Some people confuse globalization with intimidations, like some civil societies in the different parts of the globe varies and are diverse much as issues are varied and diverse, usually without alternatives and without unified positions because of differences in issues, tactics, strategies, ideologies, political demarcations, organizational bickering, as well as sector-based concerns. Second, people have to learn to overcome probable tendencies towards selfish desires.  Selfishness can lead to divisions, dissatisfactions and unhappiness. Third, people and state governments with farsighted and unified views should take advantage of globalization by making national policies more responsive to its opportunities.

        Johnetta Cole in Conversations, 1993, said: Meeting the world is not just a joyride and source of personal insight and enlightenment.  As we reach out and acquaint ourselves with the world, we will not only think globally but, hopefully, feel globally as well. Thinking globally will instill in us the capacity for empathy-that honest concern for others that sees the connections between the yearning for freedom and equality in an East German in Leipzig, a South African in Johannesburg, and an African American in Atlanta: that sees the ties that bind a physician in a small African village, a nurse in the hills above Port-au-Prince, and a doctor in rural Mississippi. As it increasingly registers that we are all of the same human species, we will come to know that a child in Palestine is no less deserving of our prayers and concern than a homeless child in Harlem (Martin 16-29).

       People need to ask themselves, “If I have to pursue living in this big wide world of modern technologies, with an ever increasing population and demand for goods and services, and an ever diminishing resources, starting tomorrow morning, would I know how if I am left to my individualistic attitude?  If the answer is “No”, they need to become conscious of what globalization calls for. People who face up to life usually do not have to hide from it later on.

Works Cited

Altwaijri, Abdulaziz O. Identity and Globalization In the Perspective of the Right to

       Cultural Diversity. Global Policy Forum. [email protected].

Hirst, Paul and Thompson, Grahame. Globalization in Question: The International

       Economy and the Possibilities of Governance. Cambridge: Polity Press. 1996.

Hoogvelt, Ankie. Globalization and the Post-Colonial World. Basinstoke: MacMillan.

       1997.

Martin, Judith N. “Intercultural Communication Competence: A Review.” Intercultural

       Communication Competence. Ed. Richard L. Wiseman and Jolene Koester.

       Newbury Park, CA: Sage, 1993.

Watters, Ann. Global Exchange: Reading and Writing in a World Context.

       www.prenhall.com/watters.