Globalization: Advantages and Disadvantages
Globalization is a phenomenon that affects all of our lives. More and more, we find ourselves living in a globalized society and this helps to shape everything from how we do our business deals to how we make friends – even how we love.
But what exactly is globalization, and is it any good for us? To help you to make your mind up about this important issue, we have put together a quick guide to globalization and a handy list of 10 advantages and disadvantages of globalization.
What is globalization? Globalization is the process by which the world is becoming more and more interconnected. This interconnection occurs on a global scale, involving people from different nations all over the world.
In a globalized society, for instance, people do business with other people half way around the globe. People also, often via the internet, make friends with like minded people in different countries. Expanding trade links and personal networks in this way has led to different cultures influencing each other, and co-existing side by side. For this reason, globalization is often closely linked to multiculturalism.
In contrast to a globalized society, a localized society is one in which people only really do business, and socialize, with people in the same city, town, or even village as them.
Social analysts tend to argue that, thanks to technologies such as the internet, and thanks to more efficient air travel, our world is becoming less and less localized and more and more globalized. But, is this necessarily a good thing?
10 Advantages of Globalization.
- Globalization makes trade boom!
Branching out internationally is a key sign that a business is doing well. In today’s globalized society it is becoming increasingly easy to make international business connections and build networks of contacts that stretch across the globe.
- It expands our understanding.
Thinking on a global rather than a local level helps us to broaden our horizons, think outside the box and appreciate the world on a scale that exceeds our parochial one.
- It brings us freedom.
Imagine only being able to work, study or marry within a 10 mile radius of your home. Globalization means that we have the whole world to choose from, and can find the absolute best choice for us.
- Finding exciting friends.
We can now have friends in different countries all over the world and stay connected with them online no matter where we physically happen to be.
- Promoting peace.
One theory goes that globalization makes the world more peaceful, as all of its inhabitants have a strong sense of being connected to, and dependent on, each other.
- Preventing food shortages.
In an insular society, it could be argued that a food shortage spells certain disaster! In a globalized one, mechanisms of import and export, as well as international aid networks, ensure that we can help each other out.
- Staying informed.
Being aware of news and current events on a global scale, rather than merely on a local one, enables us to understand them on a much deeper level.
- Making cultures richer.
Globalization enables different cultures to come into contact with each other and thus to inform and enrich each other.
- Sharing ideas.
In a globalized society, a Japanese engineer’s idea for a green energy project can be implemented not just in the engineer’s native Japan but all over the world, thus benefiting many more people.
- Freedom of movement.
A global outlook encourages us to move freely throughout the world, whether for business or leisure, and to explore it to the full.
10 Disadvantages of Globalization.
- We did not all choose a globalized life.
Some people feel that globalization has been imposed on them, whether they like it or not.
- The poorest people lose out.
Many people have argued that globalization exploits the poor. For instance, It has been argued that globalized trade enables rich nations to pilfer natural resources from other countries, leaving the poor inhabitants with nothing.
- Corporations ruling the world?
As corporations branch out on a global scale, they gain more power over our jobs, our finances and even our culture. Not everyone believes this to be a good thing.
- Homogeneity.
Many people argue that globalization is making people all over the world too homogenous.
- The loss of local traditions.
Has the drive to globalize led people to lose their respect for, and interest in, local traditions, indigenous languages and one’s place of birth in general?
- Loneliness.
Though it purports to keep us connected, a globalized society can also be a very lonely one where people are made to live and work thousands of miles from their friends and family.
- A lack of roots.
People can often feel ‘uprooted’ in a globalized world, leading to confusion over their identity and an intense nostalgia for the people and places they leave behind.
- Superficiality.
Opponents of globalization may argue that it gives us an illusory sense that we understand other nations and cultures when in actual fact we only have a very superficial understanding of them. This can be a dangerous combination.
- Bad for the environment.
Frequent air travel is bad for the ozone as well as increasing noise pollution levels.
- Dividing families.
Is the traditional close knit family, or even the close friendship group of people who go to school together and then stay close for life, a thing of the past thanks to globalization?
Conclusion.
There is no denying that there are plenty of arguments both for and against globalization. Globalization can offer great opportunities for business, education, friendship and even love. More and more people are meeting their partners online and then traveling across the world to meet them these days!
However, there are also some downsides to globalization. Most saliently, it can be exploitative and bad for the environment, as well as having the potential to be overly corporate and threatening the survival of local cultures, languages and traditions.
Whether we like it or not, it seems that we are all living in an increasingly globalized society. And so it is very important for every one of us to decide which aspects of globalization we think are good and which we think are bad – and to act accordingly. Hopefully this list of 10 advantages and disadvantages of globalization has helped you to make up your mind about this complex issue.
