The role of the State in Globalization
Introduction: Understanding Globalization
Globalization is a multi faceted term that incorporates many ideas in the society. It is a term that has been used to describe and explain many worldwide events in the 20th century. Much debate was been said about the very idea of globalization, yet they can never come up with a concrete answer as to where globalization would bring the entire humanity in the new millennium.
Globalization is relatively a new concept, but all through out history, many wars was been made out of globalization. What really is globalization? Globalization is the term used to describe the changes in societies and the world economy that result from dramatically increased international trade and cultural exchange. It describes the increase of trade and investing due to the falling of barriers and the interdependence of countries. In specifically economic contexts, the term refers almost exclusively to the effects of trade, particularly trade liberalization or "free trade, more broadly, the term refers to the overall integration and resulting increase in interdependence, among global actors, be they political, economic, or otherwise.
Globalization is the beginning of endless debates from two polar points of views. It has been given positive connotations by those who advocate greater economic and cultural integration across national borders, while it has been fiercely criticized by radical groups who perceive it as threat to social cohesion and is only one of the many wheels in the advancement of unfettered capitalism.
Globalization is a complex phenomenon that it brings no justice to label it as sanctified or demonized, nor should it be used as a scapegoat for the major problems that are affecting the world today. It has a multi dimensional character and thus it does not have the privilege of unique definition. It creates both opportunities and costs for different players in the globalization of goods, services, capital, ideas information and people. This unrestricted assimilation produce cross border integration of a number of economic, social and cultural activities.
Main Body (The Role of State in Globalization)
It seems that man has a natural instinct to expand his territories beyond his border, and venture towards horizon. Globalization might be a new concept, but man has been practicing the very basic of ideals of globalization since man found out that “the grass is always greener on the other side of pasture”.
Alexander, Napoleon, Magellan and Columbus all pioneered global expansion of territories. Alexander and Napoleon might be thinking of military might as the reason for its expansion of empire while Magellan and Columbus where thinking of economic gain and advantage by finding the island of spices and controlling the trade route of the old world. All this conquest, were sponsored by the state. Alexander, Napoleon, Magellan and Columbus sailed and conquered the world carrying the name of their state. The mission in the first place was funded and was for their own respective territories.
The modern worlds enjoys and defend well, well defined territories and state which is sovereign from one another, and is recognized by other states and the community of nation. A state is defined as an organized political community occupying a definite territory, having an organized government, and possessing internal and external sovereignty. Recognition of the state's claim to independence by other states, enables it to enter into international agreements, this is not only important for the establishment of its statehood, but equally important that a state can take part in the activity of nations.
Because of this need for state to enter into international agreements, globalization seemed inevitable. The interdependence of nations and states created a global community. A world, reduced or shrinked into what is now termed as the “global village”.
There are four main driving forces behind increased interdependence of the states. This are trade and liberalization, technological innovation and the reduction of communication costs, entrepreneurship and lastly global social networks. Trade and investment liberalization is important to every state, especially those who lacks in economic materials needed to run their economy efficiently. A state that do not enjoy large oil deposits like the Arab countries have, would engage into trade with states with large oil deposits, large enough for their own consumption. In this way, both state receives advantage and can continue operating smoothly. With the birth and wide use of internet, individuals and states can now communicate freely with out leaving their own neighborhood.
0 comments:
Post a Comment