Download Globalization and Global Problems

Globalization and Global
Problems
(Chapter 13) in “Social Problems in Canada”
Presented by: Hesam Seyedi &
Gopal
Question:
What is Globalization?
Globalization Discussed:
"The simple definition of globalization is the
interweaving of markets, technology, information
systems and telecommunications systems in a
way that is shrinking the world from a size
medium to a size small, and enabling each of us
to reach around the world farther, faster, deeper,
and cheaper than ever before, and enabling the
world to reach into each of us farther, faster,
deeper, cheaper than ever before. That's what
globalization is." - Thomas Friedman
The Extent of Globalization
Princess Diana Death
"An English princess with an Egyptian boyfriend crashes in a French tunnel,
driving a German car with a Dutch engine, driven by a Belgian who was
drinking Scottish whiskey, followed closely by
Italian Paparazzi, on Japanese motorcycles, treated by an American doctor,
using Brazilian medicines!
And this is sent to you by a Canadian, using Bill Gates' technology which he
got from the Japanese …
And you are probably reading this on one of the IBM clones that use
Philippine-made chips, and Korean made monitors, assembled by
Bangladeshi workers in a Singapore plant, transported by lorries
driven by Indians, transported by Indonesians and finally sold to you by a
Chinese! …
And this Presentation is being presented by an Iranian and a Bengali
That’s Globalization !!
Globalization and Global Problems
Globalization Means Different things to Different People:
Globalization alarms people, reassures others, confuses most
people
Globalization as Economic Prosperity, Market Fundamentalism,
Globalization as an Connector Instrument, Globalization as
Democracy
Three Conundrums of Globalization: 1) How does economic
integration not lead to social disintegration; 2) How to maintain/
create social cohesiveness on shared values on mutual commitment
and trust but also through the distribution of benefits; 3) How to
balance an intrusive government intervention and unregulated
market forces
Globalization and Global Problems
(cont’d)
Haves vs. Have-Nots: The economic balkanization of
the haves and have-nots are often the byproducts of fate. The
"lucky" ones are born in the right time and right place, while
the unlucky ones (majority of the world) are born in the wrong
place and time. Often time, the policies that is supporting
capitalism, and perpetuating the economic destitution and
hopelessness of the "have-nots" resort to violence to try to rip
the capitalistic system down.
Integration, or Division? Globalization is producing lots of
contradictions. Perhaps its biggest paradox is why does
globalization - a process that promises to unite the world
under prosperity and success - fostering such a
huge division? The coming-togetherness of globalization is a
hard logic to stomach, when there are many conflicts emerge,
like the open vs. tradition bound societies, a conflict between
rule of law state and lawless territories, and also
between modest cultures and excessive consumerism.
Phenomenon of Globalized Problems:
– (1) Prospects for peace is undermined
because war emerges from conflicts involving
genocide and intercommunal massacres;
– 2) poverty and inequality emerge, a situation
where both rich and poor live side-by-side
nationally and internationally;
– 3) the problem of sustainable development
and management of global environment;
– 4) a society will have to control its own
destiny, and set-out an agenda of priorities,
which will have to factor-in globalizing forces
Tensions of Racism in “Globalized
Cities”
Globalized Cities: Mass migration (for better economic
and political opportunities) means that interaction
between people of different ethnicities/ races and creeds
will become commonplace. They will occupy the same
place, and this will provoke extreme reactions (either an
accommodative one, or one of racism, hate and
violence) …
<<<<<<<<<Racism in Football Clip>>>>>>>>>
Question:
Since Toronto is known as the “most
ethnically diverse” city in the world, it’s
successfully been able to alleviate racism
and all its stereotypical offshoots?
Think: Is there serious problem of racism
in Toronto? Would what goes on in
Europe, i.e. Arab-African riots in France/
Racism in Football, happen here?
Framing the Problem
Disarrayed World: The global drive for growth is laying waste to a
planet that cannot possibly sustain a consumer-driven lifestyle
without self-imploding.
United Nations Human Development Report: Statistics (i.e. nearly
1 billion are illiterate)
Global Apartheid: This enormous gap between the rich and the
poor is moving towards a “global apartheid” where extremes of
power and wealth are placed into geographically segregated zones
to create an “apartness”
Tribalism, xenophobia, and ethnic chauvinism
Who is to blame for the social problems in the developing world?
Globalization is Colonialism by another name?
Raging Debate about Globalization? Good or bad?
Framing the Problem (cont’d)
Globalization Brings Forth Benefits (economic benefits for the
rich) and Costs (human costs and consequences)
Cultural diversity, social security, ecological sensitive practices
are becoming displaced by global governance that praises
commercialism, consumerism and a culture of
disenchantment
The structural forces (i.e. IMF Liberalization Programmes) and
government polices (i.e. policies that weaken the social safety
net in favour of privatization) that perpetuate patterns of
dependency and underdevelopment must shoulder the blame
Westernization = Globalization? Ramifications for 3rd-World
Countries
Globalization: Problem or Solution?
Globalization as Redefining Change: Just like the Industrial
Revolution, globalization entails radical change. Pundits emphasize
different features of globalization to stress the kind of changes that
globalization brings.
Globalization as a Solution: Communication allows the world to be
a global village; free movement of capital/ investment allows for wellneeded funding of underdeveloped industries in underdeveloped
countries;
Globalization as a Problem: ruin third world economy; international
division of labour; increase the economic discrepancy between
classes; monoculturalism
Reactions to Globalization
Globalization, Promoter of Strong Reaction: Protests, Terrorism
Concerns About Globalization: Foremost in these fears are over
unbridled American power, might of big business, pace of economic
change, growing divide between rich and poor, failure of state to
regulate market fundamentalism, regional inequalities
Commoditization of Everything: Consequently, a system that is so
hell-bent out on defining everything by the market will have a market
value (everything is fitted into a supply and demand category)
Triumph of Liberalism: Globalization is packed with a liberal
ideology, which preaches individualism (as opposed to collectivism),
“rationality” (as opposed to tradition) and progress (as opposed to
“backward-oriented” societies)
Reactions to Globalization (cont’d)
Benefits of Globalization: Benefits are fourfold (1) Expanded pie
vision so that everyone’s lot is improving; (2) information penetration
which will undermine elite control while creating a real-time
information economy; (3) a universal solvent vision that washes
away autocratic regimes through trade liberalization and foreign
investment; (4) “peace dividend” by weaving interdependencies
between nation-states (i.e. in particular, democratic peace theory –
that democracies don’t go to war with one another)
Information Age: Globalization has been also synonymous with the
information age
Outsourcing: Outsourcing occurs when companies find a nation,
where they do business, that is cheap (in labour wages) and
considered “business-friendly”
<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<OUTSOURCING CLIP>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
Multi-dimensional Globalization: Globalization is
multidimensional, it is an economic phenomenon; political
phenomenon; cultural; social disruption and communicative
Globalization is a Bourgeoisie Process: Globalization is defined
as the geographic penetration of capitalist market relations into new
sites of production in relentless quest of profits.
Four Implications that Follow: 1) Globalization constitutes an
international system of exchange with its own set of rules, logic,
structures and procedures (there is a significant increase in crossnational flows of trade, investment, and technology that reflects and
reinforces a global division of labour; (2) Globalization goes beyond
a simple economic shift created by the cross-border exchanges of
high technology, instantaneous communication, investment, reduced
subsidies, and free trade; 3) the ascendancy of globalization has
compelled a rethinking of what society is for; 4) the interplay of world
economic markets and globalization has undermined conventional
thinking about national sovereignty
Common Theme of Globalization: The common theme is that
globalization offers both the prospects of great benefits, but these
benefits are often overshadowed by the human costs and
consequences. Globalization is a double-edged sword.
Transnational Corporations: Engines of Injustice Or
Catalyst for Growth?
What is a transnational corporation? A corporation
that is generally based in an affluent country and has
branches, networks, productions or affiliations placed
internationally. A corporation whose profit making and
production tentacles has no limits, reaching anywhere in
the world. 60,000 Transnational corporations drives
Globalization with more than half a million overseas
affiliates, accounting for about one-quarter of total global
output
By the late 1990’s 51 of the top 100 economies in the
world were transnational corporations.
51 Out of Top 100 Economies, Are
TNCs
23) General Motors 176,558.00 ($ million)
24) Denmark174,363.0025 WalMart
166,809.0026 ($ million)
25) Exxon Mobil 163,881.0027 ($ million)
26) Ford Motor 162,558.0028 ($ million)
27) Daimler Chrysler159,985.70 ($ million)
http://www.corporations.org/system/top100.html
TNCs (cont’d)
How much money do they make? Just the combined revenue of
the 200 largest corporations is 7.1 trillion which is greater than that
of the 182 nation-states that have responsibility for the livelihood of
80 % of humanity.
What is so bad about transnational corporations? enrich
themselves at the expense of the poor; destroy local industries;
control and perpetuate the exploitation of people; consumers
perpetuating and expanding unjust globalized practices
Good Side of TNC: Extremely efficient profit generating “machines;”
revitalize economies; can propel development; spill-over effect;
technological transfers
How have transnational corporations come to power? countries
are absorbed into a capitalist world system; consumers perpetuating
and expanding unjust globalized practices etc.
<<<<<<<<<<<“The Corporation” Clip>>>>>>>>>>>>>
Questions:
How much blame can we place on ourselves for the expansion of
transnational corporations in its unjust globalized practices?
(Keeping in mind that we are the consumers of these tainted
goods and services who these corporations profit from)