The Effects of Globalization on Human Life Aspects: Review ...

[Pages:6] Stallings and Gwatkin INOSR Experimental Sciences 6(1): 43-48,2020. ?INOSR PUBLICATIONS International Network Organization for Scientific Research

ISSN: 2705-1692

The Effects of Globalization on Human Life Aspects: Review

Stallings, B. and Gwatkin, D.

Department of Sociology and Psychology, Mizan Tepi University, Ethiopia.

ABSTRACT

Globalization has today become a major sort of debate among academicians, policy makers and NGOs. Its impact is profound. Despite the continuing emphasis on promoting global prosperity and achieving a more "just world," negative aspects of globalization remain rife in our globe. Poverties, inequalities, injustices, starvations, backwards and marginalizations are all serious problems many societies are still experiencing. The purpose of this paper is to examine the positive and negative aspects of globalization and realize how one could successfully deal with the challenge it poses. The study shows that though globalization is a process by which capital, goods, services and labor cross national borders, and acquire a transnational character, it is often accompanied by the flow of related lifestyles, tastes, ideas, and even values across boundaries which help reshape local political institutions, cultural patterns and social relations. Keywords: Globalization, Human life, marginalizations and boundaries

INTRODUCTION

Globalization is the word used to describe

domestic politics of soaring levels of

the growing interdependence of the

cross-border

capital

movements,

worlds economies, cultures, and

migration, foreign direct investment, and

populations, brought about by cross-

the

new

transportation

and

border trade in goods and services,

communication

technologies

that

technology, and flows of investment,

accelerated movement of information and

people, and information. Countries have

goods among

built economic partnerships to facilitate

Countries [3]. But the idea that

these movements over many centuries.

globalization undermines the autonomy

But the term gained popularity after the

and leverage of the nation-state appears

Cold War in the early 1990s, as these

in writings from this earlier period of

cooperative arrangements shaped modern

internationalization.

Globalization

everyday life [1]. This guide uses the term

undermines the national state, these

more narrowly to refer to international

observers claim, not only by shrinking the

trade and some of the investment flows

resources under national control for

among advanced economies, mostly

shaping economic and social outcomes,

focusing on the United States. The wide-

but also by reducing government's

ranging effects of globalization are

legitimacy and authority in the eyes of

complex and politically charged. As with

the public. Across virtually all advanced

major

technological

advances,

industrial countries over the past two

globalization benefits society as a whole,

decades, there has been an erosion of

while harming certain groups [2].

public confidence in central governments.

Understanding the relative costs and

Even when analysts mention the role of

benefits can pave the way for alleviating

specific national causes in this loss of

problems while sustaining the wider

trust, still they tend to emphasize the

payoffs.

universality of the shifts how everywhere

Before World War I, it was only the rare

globalization destroys national control of

observer of the international economy

information flows, hence weakens a

who wondered about the effects on

government's ability to influence its

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INOSR Experimental Sciences 6(1): 43-48,2020.

public [4]. The effects of the

internationalization of the media, the

marketing and export of American

popular culture, and the deregulation of

information all combine to weaken

national values and traditions, and in so

doing, they dry up the springs of support

for national action. The effects of changes

in the international economy are

experienced through the national political

leaders' diminished control both over the

material determinants of a country's

prosperity and over the vehicles for

reaching common public understandings

of national well-being. In this widely held

view of the coming political order, the

eclipse of the national state is the central

fact.

Positive Effects of Globalization

There are some positive effects brought

with the process of globalization:

1. In the education field, some of the

new

communication

and

information technologies, which

are of course linked to the

globalization process, have

enabled students, researchers and

young people in distant and to

access ideas and information from

the best libraries in the world [5].

They are able to peruse through

libraries in different countries

without having to travel.

Globalization from this point of

view assists people in the

dissemination of values related to

knowledge, and in the promotion

of values related to health care etc.

2. Globalization

has

made

communication much easier and

cheaper than before [6]. The

number of subscribers and users

of the Internet are now increasing

remarkably.

3. The potential for people of

different communities, countries,

cultures and religions to know and

understand one another is greater

than ever before. Knowing and

understanding each others are

very important to promote and

establish common values among

people of different communities.

Globalization also makes it

possible for people to demonstrate

their sympathy and compassion

for the victims of natural

calamities and man-made tragedies

all over the world regardless of

religions, lands, languages, colors,

cultures etc [7].

4. Globalization has also brought to

the fore issues such as the rights

of women and children [8].

All these aspects promote globally certain

common values such as equality, human

rights, justice, democracy and moral

values.

Negative Effects of Globalization

While there are some positive aspects of

globalization, its negative effects are

,,overwhelming. It almost affects all

aspects of human life [9].

1. Globalization

and

culture:

Globalization affects human

cultures

from

various

perspectives:

a. Globalization represents a

challenge to cultural and local

languages. United Nations

study [10] shows that half of

local languages in the world are

expected to disappear. This

could lead unenthusiastically

to marginalizing many local

cultures.

Scientific

and

economic superiority of the US

and the flow of information

technology assist in imposing

certain languages in particular

English as a second language in

some

developing

and

developed countries, and as a

first language in some others.

There is no doubt that

language has significant impact

on cultures and, therefore, the

dominance of English could

contribute to the emergence of

a global and intercontinental

culture which may wipe out

traditions, customs, and values

of many societies and

marginalizes their cultures

[11].

b. Globalization has significant

impact on local entities. Its

complexity takes decisive

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Stallings and Gwatkin

INOSR Experimental Sciences 6(1): 43-48,2020.

dimensions in particular with

regard to its effects on labor

immigration from the South to

the North [12]. In many cases

this problem not only has

political reflections, but also

social

dimensions.

For

example, when the Algerian

football player Zaindeen Zaidan

has appeared as a star in the

French team in World Cup

1998, French Right Wing

started to criticize the presence

of non-aboriginal French in the

national team [13]. At the same

time, Algerians in both France

and Algeria were so pleased

and looked at Zaidan as an

Algerian hero, despite the fact

that he was born in France and

still resides there. So

globalization in this sense is

reshaping the identity of many

peoples particularly migrants.

2. Globalization and developing countries:

Globalization has serious effects on many

developing countries:

a. Although developing countries

contribute in a way or another to

this process, yet they do not yield

the benefits of this contribution.

Indeed, they remain far away from

what we might call ,,the impact

point to influence its truck or

contribute to its direction [14]. In

contrast, the process destroys

many aspects of life in these

societies. The irresponsible

behavior of some multinational

corporations

toward

the

environment of those countries, or

more dangerously marketing

expired products and other illegal

goods are examples of this

destruction. So globalization in

this context changes the world to

become a "global pillage instead of

being a global village" [15].

b. The widening gap between the

North and the South at

international level, and between

haves and have-nots at national

level is another serous aspect of

globalization. In fact, the real test

to globalization is through its success in reducing the gap between the rich and the poor at local, national and global levels. c. Globalization has forced many countries in various parts of this world to regulate to a lower league the most fundamental needs of their peoples [16]. The equitable distribution of food, adequate health care facilities, and the quality of education are no longer priority concerns the political agendas of the governments in these countries. All these indicate that poor societies in the third world not only remain far away from benefiting from globalization, but also they continue to suffer from its calamities, pitfalls and misfortunes. It then contributes to laying the foundation of injustices and social inequalities, and moreover preventing the growth of new markets in these countries because they are unable to compete with the advanced markets. Here, competitiveness seems to be unequal and its result under all circumstances remains in favor of the strong and those who control international markets. So instead of filling up the gap between the rich and the poor, globalization in its present formula widens this gap [17]. 3. Globalization and religions: Although globalization might benefit religions through the easier exchange of information and different opinions about these religions, it however represents a source of harm to many religious and spiritual values [18]. Globalization, through its cultural and informational aspects and the promotion of consuming patterns and value corruption, challenges religious systems [19]. In fact, it is gradually replacing these values with pure secular systems within which certain religious values will lose their influence on peoples behaviors. 4. Globalization and morals: The immoral character of globalization is becoming even more serious and its negative impacts in this context have different aspects:

45

 Stallings and Gwatkin INOSR Experimental Sciences 6(1): 43-48,2020.

a. Globalization has internationalized crimes. Drug trafficking and the trafficking of women and children have become much more difficult to control because of their international character. Not only crimes are globalized, but also disease [20].

b. Another aspect of this problem is that most users of Internet in cyberspaces are adults and they waste a lot of time using the Internet for unnecessary purposes. One of the most dangerous effects of globalization on young people is the immoral usage of the Internet. Studies show that the number of adults and young people who use web sites containing immoral materials are increasing in particular among schools and universities students [21].

5. Globalization and international politics: The collapse of the Soviet Union has led to the US control of the global system and international relations. This provides the US with many opportunities to defend its own national interests globally and to challenge international legitimacy through marginalizing the role of the United Nations and ignoring the international law. Power and interests become the main characteristics of interstate interactions. 6. Globalization and economy: Globalization as an economic movement has significant effect on national and global economies [22]. Although many trade blocs were established and many industrial and economic nations have emerged as a response to this process, the rules of this process have contributed to the collapse of many national economies. The emergence of what can be called ,,electronic trade though the Internet is another negative aspect of globalization. Piracy is also reinforced by this process. 7. Globalization and science: Although globalization contributes remarkably to new scientific revolutions in many fields including computer and space sciences, these revolutions are accompanied by new sciences that may be used for

immoral purposes or to damage the dignity of man whom the Almighty God honors. Example of these sciences is Genetic Engineering Science, which leads to the emergence of Cloning Science. 8. Globalization and societal structures: The free economy and the development of technology have negative impact on laborers. As known, twenty percent of the world population is producing the needs of all population in this world, while most of the rest 80% are unable to find a suitable source of income. This is serious because underprivileged people are expected to revolt against their bad conditions. This is possible with the growing decline of states power to the favor of private sectors, on one hand, and to the growing decrease of the governmental expenditures on social and public services such as health, education etc., on the other [23]. In this, globalization is a source of social instability and class disparity. 9. Globalization, motivated by economic and technologic progress, has also popularized a consumer culture among people due to the flow of goods and products. Since the desire to consume more and more can never really be satisfied, the consumer becomes addicted to shopping to a point where the spiritual, moral and intellectual dimensions of his/her personality do not grow or develop [24]. These are actually due to the business corporations, which produce the wide array of consumer goods and the media, which advertise them. This aspect could eventually create what is called "homogeneous global culture" and, therefore, lead to the decline of diversity and variety among peoples. 10. Globalization and prosperity: Globalization poses serious questions about peace and prosperity: Is there any relationship between the process and peace or prosperity? Could the implementation of free market principle globally enhance international peace and security or prevents wars, as globalists argue? Prosperity, welfare and economic progress which market economy is expected to achieve could enhance or create some opportunities for political

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INOSR Experimental Sciences 6(1): 43-48,2020.

stability; but it does not necessarily

world, particularly if market forces

ensure peace or social stability [25]. It is

continue to dominate the mechanisms of

true that market economy has contributed

power without restrictions. There is also

to social and political stability in liberal

no guarantee that economic crises and

states and to peace among them, but it

social unrests will not spread to advanced

does the opposite in many developing

nations. The largest demonstrations

countries. Asian economic crisis of 1997

against globalization are usually held in

is a case in point [26] [27]. The free

these countries.

market forces allowed manipulators to

All these negative aspects of globalization

control stock markets and to transfer

pose real challenges not only to many

large amount of money just to maximize

developing countries as usually

their profits, while they were destroying

emphasizes, but also to all human beings

the economies of many Asian countries.

who should, if they have to manage these

Indeed these activities have destroyed the

problems, inject religious, ethical and

social structures of those societies, and

moral considerations, activities and

furthermore, created what might be called

objectives associated with the

potential social unrests in the region [28].

globalization process [29]. Indeed,

That is why globalization in its current

peoples should globalize themselves

formula does not necessarily ensure

within the religious sphere and common

social and political stability, and

values to build a more just world.

therefore will not lead to a more peaceful

CONCLUSION

Over many centuries, human societies

manufacture products in many

across the globe have established

countries and sell to consumers

progressively closer contacts. Recently,

around the world. Money, technology

the pace of global integration has

and raw materials move ever more

dramatically increased. Unprecedented

swiftly across national borders. Along

changes

in

communications,

with products and finances, ideas and

transportation, and computer technology

cultures circulate more freely. As a result,

have given the process new impetus and

laws, economies, and social movements

made the world more interdependent

are forming at the international level

than ever. Multinational corporations

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