Free The Reality Of Globalization: The World’s Big Step Back From Real Progression And Success Argumentative Essay Example

Globalization is among the most talked about social issues worldwide. Generally perceived to influence heavily the economical progression of every country worldwide, globalization is being subjected to scrutiny now more than ever. Considered an important social problem, examining the issue of globalization and its real effects on our society nowadays is undoubtedly essential, especially when we are among the ones largely affected by those. Globalization is generally presented to be born out of extensive formulation of plans that will drive up the economy of countries worldwide while promoting global unity with the help of trade policies that enforce countries’ cooperation with one another. However, with the current status of worldwide economy, globalization seems to bear with it more negative impacts than positive ones—contrary to what its advocates claim. The current, observable widening of gap between the rich and the poor as well as the rapidly progressing depletion of already scarce resources for countries worldwide, particularly the developing ones, can be attributed to globalization as will be demonstrated by the various researches studied in this paper.
In general, there is no single definition for globalization that is accepted worldwide (Movius, 2010). For this reason, globalization takes various definitions that further contribute to the diversity of ideas being linked to it (Sharma, 2004-2005). As Ehrenfeld (2003) explained, globalization “refers primarily to an economic system in which raw materials, manufactured goods, intellectual property and financial transactions flow freely (although not equally) across international borders under the supervision of an international trade authority” (p. 99-100). Sharma (2004-2005), on the other hand, explained that globalization is “a way of integrating worldwide government policies, cultures, societies, social movements, [and] financial markets through trade and exchange of ideas” (p. 27). Aside from such definitions, a simpler one describes globalization as the progress a country makes in terms of technology and communication—an outright and concise definition (Ogunsola, 2005). With such definitions regarding globalization, we can generally say that globalization is an economic system that particularly targets the economic progression of countries worldwide through industrialization and modernization of resources available while promoting countries’ interdependence with one another. Globalization came into existence during the mid-twentieth century, when industrialization, modernization, and other anthropogenic measures have been increasingly taken to expand resources available and improve the quality of production of goods and other products (Sharma, 2004-2005). As surges in economic growth became increasingly noticeable over the past decades, globalization became more remarkable. Globalization is generally seen as the main reason behind the increases in economic growth observed since the past century (Sharma, 2004-2005). Taking into account only the upward movement of economic growth, globalization would seem the ultimate solution to the world’s prevailing poverty (Sharma, 2004-2005; Prasad et al., 2003). However, economic growth is in no way representative of overall progression of countries worldwide (Prasad et al., 2003).
Although globalization undoubtedly plays an important role in the surges in economic growth that we get to observe presently, such surges does not completely guarantee global economic progression. While it is true that economic growth has been generally showing an increase over the years, this increase remains highly “unbalanced and uneven across the globe,” resulting to what is being generally referred to as the polarization of the poor and the rich (Sharma, 2004-2005, p. 27; Ehrenfeld, 2003). As estimated, economic growth has only showed to remain consistent and fruitful among 15 countries which have 86% of the world’s health, leaving 89 less developed countries behind with only less than 20% of the world’s health (Ehrenfeld, 2003; Sharma, 2004-2005). Such result of uneven distribution of economic growth through globalization threatens the already poor countries to become poorer in the coming years while ensuring the rich ones of greater wealth in the years to come (Sharma, 2004-2005). The main culprit behind this pattern that seemingly buries the poor further below is largely attributed onto the trade and market policies and practices that high-income countries—the ones who “own” the market—impose which leave the poor countries in consistent dependence onto them (Sharma, 2004-2005). As wealthy countries hold the market, they impose prices that put financial pressure on poorer countries that have weaker economic base (Sharma, 2004-2005). As a result of such, pressured, weaker, and poorer countries are left with no choice but to borrow money from their mogul country counterparts which lock them “into a downward spiral of exploitation and poverty” (Sharma, 2004-2005, p. 28). These poor countries, made even poorer by unfathomable debts to other countries get deprived of the opportunity to establish their own economy and sustain their own needs free from the financial support and pressure of other countries (Sharma, 2004-2005). Aside from this, globalization also has other negative impacts on the society and these can either be direct or indirect.
The disparity between poor and rich, with the poor being marginalized more, the basic institution of a society—the family—becomes heavily affected (Ehrenfeld, 2003). As unemployment rates blow up and small wages become hopelessly irreparable, family in poor countries become emotionally and physically distressed that they often look for other things that will make their status worse such as dependence to illegal drugs and alcohol (Ehrenfeld, 2003). Aside from that direct consequence of globalization on society, the massive and extensive industrialization included in the process of globalization affect environment and natural sources of the citizens of affected countries (Ehrenfeld, 2003). Industrialization and excessive use of technology, aside from resulting to massive unemployment, also contribute to pollution of air, water, and soil (Ehrenfeld, 2003). Crops and livestock are also affected as their biodiversity is manipulated according to the trend of the market (Ehrenfeld, 2003). Crop varieties, for example, are being trimmed down and those the do not sell well in the market are excluded from the inventory, only to be re-introduced again as commercial crops by some plant corporations (Ehrenfeld, 2003). Livestock in developing countries, on the other hand, are being replaced with new breeds whose needs for maintenance are more commercialized and expensive (Ehrenfeld, 2003). All such movements are part of globalization.
Globalization is indeed very helpful in stabilizing and improving global economic growth. However, it still has negative effects that seem to be greater than its positive effects. Globalization can result in further poverty of already poor countries, worsening the unbalanced economy of the rich and poor nations worldwide. Globalization also cunningly contributes to the further depletion of natural resources available nowadays. The excessive use of technology and machines contribute to pollution and further reduce employment. Furthermore, commercialization also negatively affects biodiversity and environment which indirectly affects society. Globalization indeed does more harm than good especially as it continues to be operated on greed, as expounded by one of the sources used in this paper (Ehrenfeld, 2003).

References

Ehrenfeld, D. (2003). Globalisation: Effects on Biodiversity, Environment and Society. Conservation and Society, 1(1), 99-111. Retrieved from http://www.conservationandsociety.org/article.asp?issn=0972-4923;year=2003;volume=1;issue=1;spage=99;epage=111;aulast=Ehrenfeld
Movius, L. (2010). Cultural Globalisation and Challenges to Traditional Communication Theories. PLATFORM: Journal of Media and Communication, 2(1), 6-18. Retrieved from http://journals.culture-communication.unimelb.edu.au/platform/resources/includes/vol2_1/PlatformVol2Issue1_Movius.pdf
Ogunsola, L.A. (2005). Information and Communication Technologies and the Effects of Globalization: Twenty-First Century “Digital Slavery” for Developing Countries—Myth or Reality? Electronic Journal of Academic and Special Librarianship, 6(1-2), n. pag. Retrieved from http://southernlibrarianship.icaap.org/content/v06n01/ogunsola_l01.htm
Prasad, E.S., et al. (2003). Effects of Financial Globalization on Developing Countries: Some Empirical Evidence, 1-44. Retrieved from https://www.imf.org/external/np/res/docs/2003/031703.pdf
Sharma, S. (2004-2005). Impact of Globalization on World Society, 27-38. Retrieved from http://www.hsu.edu/academicforum/2004-2005/2004-5AFImpact.pdf