Global Politics Unit 2 Part 1
Global Politics Unit 2 Part 1
UNIT 2
INTRODUCTION
This chapter talks about globalization, which means how people all over the world
are connected more than before. It started becoming important in the 1940s but
got really popular in the 1990s. Some early ideas about globalization made it
seem like it was just about spreading money and getting rid of local traditions. But
it's actually a lot more complicated than that. This chapter tries to explain what
globalization really is, how it happened over time, and why some people disagree
about it. It also looks at how things are changing now and what problems we're
facing because of globalization.
Defining globalization can be tough because people use the term in different
ways. A simple definition could be: globalization is a process where social
connections and interactions between people and places around the world
become stronger and faster. This means there are more flows of things like trade,
culture, and power across countries. It's like a big web of connections that links
everyone together. This definition also talks about the idea of "globality," which
means moving from a focus on individual countries to thinking more globally. It
suggests that we're still figuring out how this global system works and facing
challenges along the way.
Globalization means the world becoming more connected. It's when countries,
cultures, and economies mix and depend on each other a lot. This happens
through trade, technology, and people moving around. Big companies can sell
their stuff everywhere, and ideas spread fast. It's like the world is a big
neighborhood where everyone's linked. But some worry it might make rich
countries richer and poor ones poorer, and that local traditions might fade away.
Still, it's changing how we live, work, and think, bringing both good and bad
things, and it's a big part of how the world works today
Understanding globalization means realizing how things are changing all over the
world. It's not just about money or trade; it affects everything from how countries
work to how people live and think. Globalization isn't the same everywhere—it's
different depending on where you are. People now see themselves as part of a big
global family, not just from one country. This idea of being both local and global is
called "glocal." Globalization makes the world more connected through things like
technology, making it easier for us to talk and trade with each other, and
changing how we see the world around us.
When did globalization begin? That's a tricky question with different answers.
Some say it's been happening since ancient times, while others think it's more
recent. Experts like Manfred Steger and George Ritzer have different ideas. Steger
sees globalization evolving from way back in history to now. Ritzer breaks it down
into different periods and events. This part of the discussion is about exploring
these different views and understanding how globalization has changed over
time.
Manfred Steger talks about the history of globalization in different parts. The first
part is the Pre-Historic period, from about 1000 BCE to 3500 BCE. Around 12,000
years ago, people started moving around the world. They settled in places like the
Fertile Crescent and China, where they started farming. This led to more people
living together and different social classes appearing, like leaders and workers.
Even though globalization wasn't as big then, there was more contact between
different groups through things like farming, religion, and wars. This time is called
"divergence," as people and connections spread out from one place.
During the Early Modern period, from about 1500 to 1750, a new idea called
"modernity" started to emerge. This was a time when Europe became really
important in global affairs. They got a lot of new ideas and technology from other
places like the Islamic world and China. Europeans started exploring and
expanding around the world, using ideas like limited government. Big cities in
Europe grew, and capitalism started becoming more common. They also formed
big companies for trading, which changed how global trade worked and led to
colonization. Other parts of the world also developed in their own ways during
this time.
MODERN PERIOD
In the Modern period from 1750 to 1980, Europe became powerful in global trade
but often treated others unfairly. Capitalism, where people work for their own
gain, grew, noticed by thinkers like Marx. The 19th century saw more global
trade, colonization, and new technology. More people moved around, factories
were built, and there were social and political movements. Two big wars
happened due to extreme nationalism. After World War II, people hoped for
peace through groups like the United Nations, despite tensions between capitalist
and socialist countries.
CONTEMPORARY PERIOD
Since the 1980s, globalization has accelerated, bringing people and connections
closer together faster than ever. This period, known as 'convergence,' saw the
collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991 and efforts to create a global market through
'neoliberal' policies. Deregulation and advancements in technology, like the
Internet and digital media, propelled globalization further. This contemporary
period is what we commonly understand as globalization today, marked by
worldwide interconnections and exchanges
CYCLICAL : Some people see globalization as a cycle that happens over and over
again throughout history. They don't worry about finding one starting point
because they think it doesn't matter much. Instead, they believe that globalization
happens in cycles, where the world becomes really connected for a while and
then less so. They say that what we see as a big global age now has happened
before and will happen again in the future, as part of this ongoing cycle of
globalization.
In the 21st century, three big changes happened that really shook things up. First,
after World War II, the United States became super powerful, influencing the
world a lot in military and money matters. Second, big companies that started in
one country, like Ford and General Motors, started doing business all over the
world. And finally, when the Soviet Union fell and the Cold War ended in 1991,
globalization got even faster.
DRIVERS OF GLOBALISATION
BENEFITS OF GLOBALISATION
Economic Growth: Globalization helps economies grow by boosting trade,
investment, and job opportunities worldwide. It enables businesses to reach new
markets, creating more goods and services and lifting people out of poverty.
CRITICISM
Economic Inequality: Globalization often widens the gap between rich and poor,
creating more wealth for some but leaving others struggling. This inequality, seen
within countries and globally, can lead to social unrest and instability.
They talk about how interconnectedness is a big part of both globalization and
deglobalization, covering things like economics, medicine, and social connections.
In economic terms, globalization means countries becoming more connected
through things like trade, foreign investment, and technology. This can bring
prosperity, but it also highlights inequalities between countries and the uneven
impact of these connections
Globalization isn't just about economics; it also affects health and social
structures. Medically, it's seen in how diseases spread globally, like yellow fever,
influenza, AIDS, and COVID-19. This shows how health is interconnected across
borders, needing global cooperation to tackle challenges. Socially, globalization
changes how we think about communities and politics, separating them from
territorial boundaries and leading to ideas like global citizenship. Despite
globalization, some scholars see deglobalization happening, with nationalism and
local identities becoming stronger alongside global connections.
Since the late 2000s, some people think deglobalization is getting stronger,
changing how connected the world is. O’Rourke and Williamson talk about times
in history when globalization and deglobalization happened, like when countries
restricted trade. The financial crisis of 2007–2009 made people wonder if global
finance and trade reached their highest point and will go down. Some compare
this crisis to the 1930s Great Depression. Sociologists see deglobalization in
different ways: Hannerz sees it as cultural differences, while Walden sees it as a
chance for a fairer economy without big global companies. So, globalization is
complex, covering many areas, but deglobalization is becoming more important,
challenging the idea that the world is always getting more connected.
DE-GLOBALISATION TRENDS
Deglobalization can have both positive and negative implications. On one hand, it
may promote greater economic self-sufficiency, protect domestic industries, and
address concerns about income inequality and job losses. On the other hand, it
could lead to reduced efficiency, slower economic growth, and increased
geopolitical tensions. Overall, the concept of deglobalization reflects a shift in the
dynamics of global interactions, with significant implications for economies,
societies, and international relations.
Nationalism and Populism: People in some countries are feeling more patriotic
and wanting to focus on themselves, not the world. They're worried about losing
jobs and their culture because of globalization. This has led to leaders promoting
policies that keep their country separate from others.
Reshoring and Supply Chain Diversification: Companies are moving their factories
closer to home or spreading them out more. This helps them reduce risks and be
more flexible in case of problems with trade or politics.
CAUSES OF DE GLOBALISATION
These factors intertwine, shaping policies and attitudes that redefine global
relationships and challenge the foundations of globalization.
IMPACTS OF DE GLOBALISATION
Deglobalization brings several impacts:
CRITICISM OF DE GLOBALISATION
1. Less Efficient Economy: They say that when countries stop trading as much, it
makes things more expensive and slows down growth. It's like saying no to buying
cheaper goods from other countries.
2. Less Innovation: If countries don't work together, they miss out on sharing ideas
and new technologies. This means progress might slow down because people
aren't learning from each other.
3. Isolation from the World: Some worry that when countries focus only on
themselves, they might not help out with big global problems like climate change
or diseases. It's like saying, "We're only looking out for ourselves, not the whole
world."
4. Less Understanding Between People: If countries don't trade as much or share
cultures, people might not learn about others. This can lead to more fear or
dislike of people who are different from us.
5. Hitting the Poor Harder: When countries don't trade as much, it can be harder for
poorer countries to grow their economies and help their people. It's like they're
being left out of opportunities to make things better for themselves.
People talk a lot about globalization and whether it's good or bad. Some say it's
making things worse, like exploiting people, making inequality worse, and hurting
the environment. They have different ideas for how the world should work, like
focusing on fairness and human rights. The World Social Forum is a place where
people discuss these ideas, opposing the World Economic Forum's views. Some
people want to change globalization to make it better, and global civil society,
including activist groups and NGOs, is a big part of this.
People who work together globally on important issues like human rights and
climate change have gotten attention. But some doubt if they've really changed
things much or made countries less powerful. Changing how the world works
needs to think about countries and what they need. Post-globalization is when
the world might slow down or change how much it connects. Populism, with
leaders who focus on what's popular, challenges the way things have been done
before. It's linked to economic problems and not liking different cultures. There
could be two futures: countries focusing on themselves or different popular ideas
competing. While the world will still be connected, things might change in how
countries trade and work together. Post-globalization means rethinking how the
world has been working lately
1. Ulrich Beck: Post-globalization means societies are taking back control from
globalization, creating new ways of organizing themselves beyond global
capitalism.
2. David Held: It's a time when how we govern and connect with each other is
changing, moving beyond just countries to tackle global issues together.
3. Manfred B. Steger: Post-globalization is about globalization losing its grip, leading
to a more fragmented world where different ideas and norms compete.
4. Arjun Appadurai: In this phase, new power structures emerge, challenging the old
ways and creating room for different ways of organizing societies.
5. Paul James: Post-globalization is about finding new ways for diverse groups to
work together, aiming to solve problems and build better societies.
SCENARIO FOR POST GLOBALISATION
In the post-globalization era, different paths could unfold:
1. Rich Get Richer, Poor Get Poorer: After globalization, some people got a lot of
money, but others got left behind and struggled to make ends meet.
2. Jobs Went Away: Many jobs disappeared in rich countries because companies
moved factories to places where workers get paid less.
3. Hurt the Environment: Globalization made it easier for companies to harm the
environment by using up resources and polluting.
4. Everyone Starts Looking the Same: Globalization made many places look and act
more like the West, which means we're losing some of our unique cultures.
5. Workers Get Treated Badly: Some companies treat their workers really poorly in
countries where they can get away with it because the rules are weak.
6. Money Problems: Globalization made it easier for big money problems, like the
big financial crisis in 2008, to happen.
7. Countries Lose Control: Some countries feel like they don't have as much say over
their own rules and decisions anymore because big international groups and
companies have so much power now.
These are simpler versions of the criticisms people have about what's been
happening in the world after globalization became a big deal.
POLICY IMPLICATIONS
To handle the shift from globalization to what comes after, we need different
plans at different levels: in our own countries, in groups of nearby countries, and
worldwide. Here are some ideas:
1. In Our Countries:
Teach and Train Better: We should spend more on education and training
to help people learn new skills for new jobs.
Safety Nets: We need stronger support systems, like unemployment
benefits and healthcare, to help out when people lose their jobs.
Help Small Businesses: We can give a hand to small businesses with things
like loans and advice to help them grow and make more jobs.
Take Care of Nature: Let's make rules to encourage companies to be kinder
to the environment, like using less energy and creating less pollution.
2. With Nearby Countries:
Work Together More: We should team up with countries nearby to do
more trade and help each other out economically.
Be Friendly Neighbors: We can agree on things like how to treat workers
and protect the environment so everyone's better off.
Build Things Together: Let's make plans to build stuff together, like roads
and factories, so we can all grow stronger economies.
3. All Around the World:
Change the Big Rules: We need to change how big international groups like
the World Trade Organization work so everyone gets a fair deal.
Fight Climate Change Together: We should all join hands to fight climate
change and take care of the planet we live on.
Help Each Other Out: Rich countries should help poor ones with things like
forgiving debts and giving money when times are tough.
Support Those in Need: We should help out countries and people who are
struggling to find their way in this new world, making sure everyone has a
fair shot at a good life.
By working together and being smart about how we do things, we can make sure
that as the world changes, everyone gets a chance to thrive.
POST GLOBALISATION PROSPECTS
Post-Globalization Prospects:
Technological Sovereignty: Countries want control over their own technology and
data, so they're focusing on technological sovereignty and keeping data within
their borders to protect privacy.
CONCLUSION