Lab+1+(1124)

**GLOBALIZATION** **Definition of globalization, advantages, disadvantages** Globalization is a social and economic process in which different parts of the globe become interconnected. It started many years ago on a worldwide scale. The specific definition of this word is still debatable, but all definitions match in one specific thing: “the boundaries of geography have been receding…”(Waters M.) so there is “…an intensification on worldwide social relations” (Giddens A.) that has had an influence on all individuals’ spheres. This process has sped up since 1970s to 1980s due to different reasons. It was the result of the combination of different elements: Technological innovation increase in the speed of transportation, global problems, end of the Cold War and liberalization. Without a “global plan” there was a big consequence: the absence of world walls or specifically their reduction. World walls reduction affects five dimensions that are also related to each other: the economical, social, environmental, political and cultural dimension. That is to say, people’s standards of living have been changing. Globalization is certainly having an impact on people’s life, but there are different opinions that show the positive and negative about the effects of this process. So there are a lot of advantages that make nations dream as well, as disadvantages that make them angry. One of the advantages of Globalization is that trade has expanded. There is free trade between nations that also makes easier for investors in developed nations to invest in developing nations and corporations to have greater flexibility to operate across borders. A second advantage is that reduction of cultural barriers increased the global village effect, namely the absorption of different cultures and cultural information exchange. Due this,nations have a better understanding between each other, something that was almost unimaginable in the past. Third, the “drastically improved access of technological latecomers to advanced technologies ” (Ganguly P.), Globalization has granted nations a lot of access to of technological innovations. For example, with internet, the money transfer can happen in minutes and the exchange of information is easier, problems can be solved even with huge distances, but the most important factor is developing nations can use developed nations technologies like machinery to extract and process raw materials where they had no access before. With globalization advantages people could see how the world can have an economical, political and social development, but it is not a fairytale because in this case, the advantages come with a lot of disadvantages such as unemployment, destruction of the environment, poisoned food, civilization diseases, crimes and addictions. One bad consequence is that technology development makes the production of goods faster but also makes faster the loss of jobs because workers are now replaced for machinery that can work better and with fewer errors. Other consequence is that developed nations replaced skilled people for unskilled workers from developing nations and the reason is that this workforce is cheaper. Cultural integration and information exchange come with problems and misunderstandings between nations, such as the threat that media world control (by a handful of corporations) will limit cultural expression and international bodies like the World Trade Organization, infringe on national and individual sovereignty. People do not always react in a good way with cultural clashes; they can be violent in an attempt to preserve their nation’s cultural heritage. Other consequence is that developed nations take advantages of weak regulatory rules in developing countries, and make damages not only in developing nation’s climate, they also do it on worldwide environment. Also, they take advantage of their power and make the rules of the economic game, their economies grow. However, less powerful countries have to surrender to them. Globalization is not only increasing world unknowns, incurable diseases and materialist-cosmist people that just want to be more powerful; there are even worse consequences for example chances of civil wars in developed and developing countries that both are looking for resources and want to collect more and more wealth. To conclude when discussions emerge about Globalization “supporters of it point to the economic benefits of growing international trade and specialization” and “critics fear the increasing power of unelected multinational corporations, financial markets, and non-government organizations” (also social and environmental problems). It means this phenomenon is not good or bad, it is a combination of both characteristics and its definition depends of every individual point of view, his age, his social and economic status and of course, the country is he or is she part of.



= Second viewing =

Watch the video for a second time. These are the topics covered in the video. Place them in the correct order.


 * //Street Interviews asking people to define globalization.( 1 ) //


 * //A technical definition of globalization.( 2 ) //


 * //Interviews on the effect of globalization on individuals.( 3 ) //


 * //Interviews on how globalization has affected small and local businesses.( 4 ) //