Globalization - something good or bad?

2004-05-04
After an interesting reading of S.T. Akindele, T.O. Gidado, and O.R. Olaopo’s text named “Globalisation, Its Implications and Consequences for Africa”, a few questions popped up in my head. Why are the world and the societies within it looking like this? What is globalization? Is it good or bad? Is it really achievable? Is it something we should fight to realize? I will try to bake a tasty essay-cake with ingredients based on both the authors and my view on globalization and the issues surrounding it. Enjoy your meal!

To be able to follow the discussion we need to be familiar with the term globalization. The authors explain it like this: “Globalisation can be seen as an evolution which is systematically restructuring interactive phases among nations by breaking down barriers in the areas of culture, commerce, communication and several other fields of endeavour. This is evident from its push of free-market economics, liberal democracy, good governance, gender equality and environmental sustainability among other holistic values for the people of the member states”.

From my point of view globalization has always been intimately connected with trade, money and economy. That has constantly been the major goal for the globalization. Just take a second look at the authors’ definition of globalization. Breaking down barriers to encourage commerce of free-market economics. After all “money talks” and that is in the western-world’s culture. No doubt about the fact that we live in a world ruled by the greed of capitalism. Most people would love to associate globalization with liberal democracy, good governance and gender equality, but sadly that is not the case. It is more of a futuristic utopia. The authors are with me on this when they say: “globalisation could be correctly defined from the institutional perspective as the spread of capitalism (MacEwan, 1990)”.

Maybe I am a pessimist, but I think this globalization-thought will come to an end. Well, not exactly to an end, but it will never develop as it is described in the quotation above. That is because of the fact that the rich world’s wealth is depending on the poor world’s poverty. When/if we in the future will understand that if we really want to have an equal world and society, we must give to the less fortunate, we probably will hesitate. Human beings hunger for power over ruling and power is depending on oppression. The authors mean that there it is a strong connection between understanding and respecting a society, and the culture within it, and solving globalization problems. Western powers want to help and that is a good thing. But they want to help on their own premises and that is a bad thing. It is pretty significant for the western world, don’t you think?

So, is globalization something good or something bad? Is it really achievable? Is it something we should fight to realize? The authors admits, not very surprisingly, that the issues around globalization are rather complex. They focused on the globalization involving the African continent and the western based countries and see some good aspects and some bad aspects. What is more interesting is their formulation of a possible solution to it the problems with globalization: “This will only be possible through a sincere, committed sociological, cultural, economic and political realignment that is truly African in nature, and intent. Without these conditions, it will be difficult, if not totally impossible, for Africa and Africans to talk about political and economic integration, improvement and, above all, emancipative development in the twenty-first century”.

Yes, the globalization issues are rather complex. The thoughts about free-market economics, equality among people and liberal democracy are good, very good. We can all confirm that the world would be a much better place to live in, if everyone were allowed to speak out their view of opinion. But when the globalization is practically spread from day to day, from country to country, something goes wrong. Exactly what is hard to put the finger on, but a couple of possible answers I have put into the light here in my essay.

The major point in this essay is that it is the people of the western world, you and me, who are the problem. We just do not see all the problems, because we either are unable to change perspective or we do not want to see them.

But, in fact, there is more to it than what I have been telling you so far. Our problems are based on an embarrassing double standard of ethics and morale. We must once and for all make a statement. Either we say and live after the expression: “care about yourself and no one else”. Or we say and live after the expression: “do to others what you want them to do for you”. For me it is an easy choice to make. Now it is up to you…!


Dan W Boter
danbor02@student.umu.se