Counterpoint: Globalization: Improving the Standard of Living
Counterpoint: Globalization: Improving the Standard of Living
This article presents an argument in favor of globalization. Globalization is unmistakably the driving force behind vast improvements in the human condition over the past 50 years. Much of the debate over globalization centers on the loss of cultural traditions in developing countries due to the supposed overwhelming influence of Western brands and culture. However, the affluent and distant critics of efforts to open the borders of such countries often ignore the decimating effects of poverty on culture. In addition to improving basic health, globalization also brings freedom from economic oppression.
Thesis: Globalization is unmistakably the driving force behind vast improvements in the human condition over the past 50 years.
Summary: This article presents an argument in favor of globalization. Globalization is unmistakably the driving force behind vast improvements in the human condition over the past 50 years. Much of the debate over globalization centers on the loss of cultural traditions in developing countries due to the supposed overwhelming influence of Western brands and culture. However, the affluent and distant critics of efforts to open the borders of such countries often ignore the decimating effects of poverty on culture. In addition to improving basic health, globalization also brings freedom from economic oppression.
Globalization is unmistakably the driving force behind vast improvements in the human condition over the past 50 years. Previous efforts to promote representative government and capitalism throughout the world were often reactionary military conflicts that cost millions of lives. Humanitarian aid efforts to fight hunger and disease are also reactionary, usually affording little in the way of long-term relief.
In contrast, globalization takes advantage of the power of economic and social freedom to promote long-term improvements in standards of living. The mushrooming of new communications technology at the turn of this century is just one of many examples of technologies that expedite globalization. Such innovations allow nations, tribes or individuals to take from the best of global culture while simultaneously promoting their own, thus building new communities of shared tradition throughout the world.
Introduction
In its broadest sense, the term globalization refers to the expansion of the world economy across previously closed borders, moving away from dictatorships and other nationalistic systems toward more democratic political and legal systems. This trend accelerated rapidly at the end of the twentieth century as countries such as the Soviet Union, China and India, along with many smaller nations such as South Korea, began to move toward more open political and economic systems, aided by the world communications revolution brought about by the Internet. Even the developed nations of Europe moved to take advantage of globalization by forming the European Union (EU) and creating a single currency (the Euro).
The Positive Impact of Globalization on Developing Nations
Much of the debate over globalization centers on the loss of cultural traditions in developing countries due to the supposed overwhelming influence of Western brands and culture. However, the affluent and distant critics of efforts to open the borders of such countries often ignore the decimating effects of poverty on culture. They seem to argue that cultural purity is preferable to food, clean water, shelter and modern medicine. Obviously, culture will be lost if entire groups of people succumb to starvation.
Developing countries now have a chance to follow the lead of post-WWII Asia in raising their standards of living. According to United Nations statistics, the poorest 20 percent of the world's population have more than doubled their income since the 1960s, infant mortality has been cut in half, safe water supplies have doubled, and average life expectancy has increased more than 30 percent. In total, the UN statistics show that "in the past 50 years poverty has fallen more than in the previous 500." These improvements are largely due to globalization, in particular the limited introduction of modern medicine in the developing world, but also from the influence of economic aid and direction from more affluent countries.
The Fall of the Berlin Wall
Globalization was a large part of the reason for the dissolution of the Soviet Union. While the U.S. had long pressured the U.S.S.R. militarily, the Berlin Wall also fell because of the influence of the global economy. Soviet state-controlled enterprise was simply inefficient and unable to compete in the global marketplace. Freed of the yoke of communist control over free speech, small states quickly asserted their cultural independence. No longer beholden to send all profits from individual enterprise to the state, business also began to flourish in many areas. Russia has a long way to go in building a true free-market system, but it now stands a chance to take advantage of its substantial human and material resources.
North and South Korea
Another striking example of the power of globalization can be seen by contrasting North (Democratic People's Republic of Korea) and South Korea (Republic of Korea). After the country split in 1948, the North remained resolutely closed to outside influence, while the South embraced globalization (South Korea is home to about 250 McDonald's restaurants).
Today, North Korea is often cited as one of the worst violators of human rights in the world. Since the 1990s, only massive international aid has kept the country's population from starvation, even while the government pours funds into a military buildup. In the same period of time, South Korea has become an international economic powerhouse. Its citizens are well educated and have some of the best Internet access in the world. Average income in South Korea is 20 times that in the North.
Environmental and Social Impact of Globalization
In addition to improving basic health, globalization also brings freedom from economic oppression. With the advent of cellular phones and capital markets in developing countries, individuals are no longer beholden to one buyer for goods and services. They may be able to borrow money from a bank to finance their own crops or other business, rather than working as virtual slaves for wealthy landowners. On a larger scale, with the cooperation of local governments, outside education and advanced technology can offer developing countries economic progress while lessening the environmental or social disruptions brought about during the industrial revolution in the West.
Cell phones are just one example of a modern technology that affords much less environmental impact as compared to older wired communications systems. Modern agricultural techniques and hybrid seeds can offer better yields on existing lands, replacing the need of farmers in developing countries to cut down scarce forest reserves while seeking more fertile farmland.
Denim, Disney and McDonald's
There is no reason to assume that the introduction of denim, Disney and McDonald's will automatically wipe out indigenous culture. In fact, the opposite often eventually occurs as different cultures move to assimilate foreign influences while reasserting their own. For example, international McDonald's restaurants are usually locally owned, buy from local suppliers and cater to the established tastes of their customers. They offer seaweed dishes in Japan, falafel in Egypt and rabbit in France. In many Asian countries, the restaurants make little attempt to convince patrons of the need for "fast food," instead offering their facilities as something more akin to the role of a coffeehouse in the U.S., where people linger to read or talk.
Japan was once enthralled with American popular culture, and was noted for copying American fashions, business models and products, including cars, electronics and other items. But rather than lose its own identity, Japan now profoundly influences American culture. Corporations such as Sony and Nintendo create sophisticated games that mesmerize Americans, and hugely popular children's programming such as "Pokemon" takes its cues from Japanese culture, as do films such as "The Matrix." Japanese automakers eventually nearly put their U.S. counterparts out of business, due to their superior quality.
America is usually the target of protests against globalization, but such efforts ignore the fact that U.S. culture is already a hodgepodge of international influences. Japan is just one of the latest contributors to a mix of Western and Eastern traditions that have influenced American culture over the past 200 years. Studies also show that while Western films and music are often embraced around the world, most countries eventually produce their own even more popular cultural icons -- due in part to the desire of any given audience to identify with an artist.
The Internet and Community
The advent of the Internet, along with worldwide shipping courtesy of Federal Express, United Parcel Service, DHL and others has further enabled people in developing nations to create websites that promote local culture and products. Totalitarian governments find it is now almost impossible to create a closed border. Wireless devices, the Internet and cheap personal computers make controlling access to free speech much more difficult.
The Internet also facilitates communication among cultures and subgroups across geographic boundaries, allowing the strengthening of existing communities by creating mutual interest groups. As was always the general intent of the Internet, this allows for a decentralized pattern of influence across the World Wide Web.
The Language of Code
Computer software has also been accused of harboring Western influence. However, programming is based on the universal language of mathematics, thus allowing any individual with sufficient aptitude and access to an education a role in its development. While such systems were initially the product of Western design, programmers now come from around the world to seek high-paying jobs in the West -- typically from Asia, India or Russia. This globalization of the creation of code will almost certainly lead to an improvement in the usefulness and effectiveness of worldwide computer applications. It will also create more high-paying jobs in these countries, as workers come back to their homelands to start their own businesses.
Conclusion
Will globalization eventually vanquish poverty and war? Perhaps not, but it can certainly go a long way toward improving the standard of living for the poor or oppressed by creating a free flow of trade, ideas and culture, while eliminating much of the traditional impetus for armed conflict.
Ponder This
1. What is the author's main argument in favor of globalization?
2. How did technological advances in the second half of the twentieth century make globalization possible?
3. Which of the author's examples most convincingly illustrates a benefit of globalization? Explain.
4. Which of the author's examples least convincingly illustrates a benefit of globalization? Explain.
5. Do you agree or disagree with the author's assertion that local cultures influence local branches of multinational corporations? Give an example to support your view.
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