Pros and Cons of Globalization
Pros
- Increase in Accessibility of Information
Online libraries, information websites, videos, online courses, etc. has allowed widespread information to the far corners of the globe. Such tools have increased the education standard worldwide by making it more available with internet connection.
- International Communication
Mass social networking sites like Facebook and Skype has allowed relatively intimate international communication.
- International Awareness
Online media and videos have been used to raise awareness about certain issues dramatically, and has resulted in an increase in donations for important necessities like global relief and aid. Example: Kony 2012 and Yolanda relief efforts
- Increase in the availability of more goods and services
Cons
- Exploitation of Poor
Outsourcing work is now a popular strategy being employed by profit-driven firms that want to minimize expenditure at all costs. Example: Nike has an ongoing controversy as it is being criticized for "the following year it was revealed that workers in one of its contracted factories in Vietnam were being exposed to toxic fumes at up to 177 times the Vietnamese legal limit."
- Illegal Activity Online
The internet's introduction to the world brought with it new activity that needed to be legislated against or prohibited. These include but are not limited to: Child pornography, purchasing and selling of illegal substances, pirating. For example, "TOR" was an underground search engine that was well protected by its creators from any kinds of surveillance. It therefore became popular shortly after the turn of the century for the online drug market and other illegal markets.
- Strain on resource deposits
Fossil fuels are a finite resource that are definitely being strained by globalization. More oil, coal, natural gas are needed by countries transitioning out of agricultural economies and into more economies that are more oil-reliant. This will reduce the fossil feul reserves and lead to higher prices that could strain these economies
- Environmental strain
Ecological footprint could dramatically increase with more oil-reliant economies as production will probably increase.
Muy interesante. I agree on the stain on resource deposits, because more countries are starting to rely on oil, which will then lead to an environmental strain. I also agree that globalisation has helped increase communication in countries.
ReplyDeleteGood points made, definitely some things that you touched on that I didn't think about straight away, hahaha.
ReplyDelete"the following year it was revealed that workers in one of its contracted factories in Vietnam were being exposed to toxic fumes at up to 177 times the Vietnamese legal limit."
^^^ This in particular was an interesting fact. I think it is important to consider where the blame lies; is it Nike's fault for going to Vietnam with the intention of increasing their profit margin? or is it Vietnam's fault for allowing their citizens to be exploited to increase the trade activity between itself and multinational corporations? And whilst on that tangent, if those people weren't working in that factory, where else would they work? It's easy to condemn a company for not paying their people enough, but what if the only other option was not being paid at all?
I agree with Lance and Margret for sure. It seems obvious to me that you felt more strongly about your cons than you did your pros. This is evident in the details you felt you needed to go into to make your points. With regards to the Nike thing, I think its safe to say that money talks and if we are going to continue buying into the current macroeconomic system, globalization will inevitably have winners and losers. Don't ya think?
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