The world seems to grow smaller and smaller. Here I sit in my room, write down a document and mail it to a friend to lives miles away. All I do is type it on a technological box called computer, upload it to the internet and press a button and my friend receives it. This same mail could be send to my brother who lives in a country thousands of miles away and even to my cousin who lives hundreds of countries away.

This is globalization. It has brought the world so close that the inter connections can never be cut off.

One country produces something on its land and the other day the stuff exported to another country miles away.

This sounds good to hear, but the greatest problem is we tend to ignore how this could be used by other evil forces at work. If a good can be traded so easily, how difficult would it be for a terrorist to smuggle arms and ammunitions, even bombs over boundaries? Are we ignoring the high smuggling to drugs all over the world? Drugs that are produced in African countries and then traded all over the world. How a terrorist leader hides insides the caves of Afghanistan and control a suicide attack in America?

If globalization has opened borders, it has done so for everyone. It is an irreversible process that is being now used by forces that tend to work to bring harm to the world and its inhabitants.

If one nation prospers, are we forgetting that it is doing over the suffering of another nation, simple economics, u take from one and give it to the other, stuff just doesn’t come out of nowhere.

The world has become a GLOBAL VILLAGE but do not butter yourself with the phenomena, it connects not only you but everyone and everyone does not work for the betterment of its inhabitants.

The world is now a Global Village is a cliché which is used to define Globalization most of the times. The way the world is now interconnected and in some cases interdependent and the influence of one country on another is what Globalization is all about. Culture invasions, creation of excess and mass demand, trends in the way of living, comparative advantage and Industrial revolution are some of the very distinct outcomes of Globalization.

The best example of culture invasion is the westernization of culture in the Asian countries. We see that over the years, way of living and culture has been heavily influenced by the western countries, in the form of the clothes we wear, the food we eat and even our recreational activities. This change in the way of living creates an excess of demand because the more we get exposed to the variety  of products and utilities that are offered the more the demand it creates and hence there is an excess of demand.

This is taken advantage of by large multinationals as they come and setup factories in developing countries  which have been the worst hit as they are the biggest importers of western products. This is because most developing countries have an absolute advantage in Agriculture and they concentrate on the production of agriculture and import industrialized products.

Globalization on the other hand also has its negative impact. The mass production of products has resulted in rapid depletion of the natural resources. It has created a huge market for the trade of Arms and Ammunition which has given rise to terrorism around the world. The race towards industrialization to take advantage of the mass demand has caused Global warming. This has resulted in drastic climatic changes giving rise to deadly natural disasters which remains to be a major concern throughout the world.

The term  globalization is a phenomena which is inevitable specially at this point and time. The world is largely becoming a global village and there is a rise in the interdepence amongst countries. One could say that the world is becoming more and more efficient as far as the usage of resources and production of products is concerned. Thus the world is evolving and becoming a stage where the survival of the fittest is the need of the hour.

Globalization has not only encouraged development and prosperity amongst nations but has also created an environment where specialization as well as quality control and development procedures have attained a lot of importance along with a lot of development in these fields has also taken place. For example now countries know their strengths and weaknesses specialize in those fields which would be beneficial for the growth of the nation.

But like everything globalisation also has some disadvantages. The world has become very competitive and the countries who own the resources dictate terms to the dependent partners. The war which had initially started to attain greater market access has eventually leaded to a war to attain resources. The greatest example is the United States which started the war against terror so that terrorism be eradicated but if one reads different analysts associated with different think tanks around the globe, there is a general perception that the war is just a way to get hold of the resources present in Iraq and Afghanistan. Former President George Bush and Vice President Dick Chenny have been associated with different scams in regard to the war on terror.

The other disadvantage could be the unequal distribution of wealth as the rich are becoming richer and richer while the suffering of the poor is increasing by every passaging of day. Some believe that it is the result of free trade which is a product of globalization which has adversely affected the small trading partner.

Having said that still the benefits comapred to the disadvantages of globalization are far more greater. The concept of world becoming a global village might eventually lead to an international government which would act like a regulator amongst different countries.

The interaction amongst different cultures and traditions is also on a rise which would eventually lead to a common ground where all segments of societies could meet and the differences amongst them would be eliminated and by this interfaith harmony would also be possible.

By this the world would become a better place to live……

Globalization has been there for many years. Before, people traded goods and travelling across immense distances. The modern globalization starts with the Industrial Revolution ; new machines were able to manufacture cheaper goods. Countries move about closer to each other. Natives, businesses and organizations in dissimilar countries can live and work mutually. We can trade goods, cash and ideas quicker and cheaper than ever before.

Numerous experts have said that we require a different kind of globalization in our world today. There must be customs to make certain that all countries profit from the superior sides of globalization. We ought to help inferior countries by giving them better education and viewing them how new expertise works.

Free trade has increased among nations. Corporations have bigger flexibility to function across borders. So far the flow of communications has increases which allows vital information to be shared amid individuals and corporations just about the world. Lessening of cultural barriers increases the global village effect, spread of democratic ideals to urbanized nations. International bodies like the World Trade Organization contravene on national and individual sovereignty. Globalization decreases in environmental integrity as polluting corporations take benefit of weak regulatory rules in developing countries.

In the previous few years groups against globalization have prearranged protest marches in addition to demonstrations to point out that not everybody is content with how the world’s market is mounting.

They say that globalization is the reflection of relations between different regions of the world and the shared influence is what societies exert upon one another. But this general perception does not always capture the relationship between every region. Our knowledge and experience of the world reveals this reality to us that globalization is more or less a concealed term for westernization or Americanization. If we say for example that Hollywood is inspired by Massai then this statement might sound ridiculous but if we say it the other way round then this would certainly not sound as ludicrous although the fact that Hollywood is influenced by Massai is likely to be true. Even right now when I am using these terms like “Massai” Microsoft Word is marking it to be spell checked. The entire system of trade and decision making is based on the will of a single region to which other nations have to comply, in order to survive. This process, at least in South Asia, has started with our colonized mind sets through which we have warmly welcomed exploitation through globalization and many regions themselves have given up by choosing to become the “labour class” and letting the receiving region become the “capitalist”.

Globalization is the new world order. It is a phenomenon that is enveloping us all, and in almost all aspects of our life. And yet defining this concept is not simple. In the plainest terms, globalization is the emergence of the world as a global village; where connections are not only possible but very easy, quick and efficient. The advent and spread of technology to many regions of the world has made communication from across the sphere from the globe very effortless and potentially straightforward. Globalization now incorporates trade, economics, social and cultural spheres of a nation. A country could never exist solely in isolation and now it is even more impossible. Nations from across the world in engaged in political, economical and social ties with each other, and relationships have become an interconnected web supporting many different links. As with everything else, globalization and its consequent interdependence and linkages come with advantages and disadvantages. The greatest benefit of globalization is undoubtedly the spread of modern technological advancement to the developing countries. This promotes technological innovations in the developed countries and provides opportunities for the world as a whole to grow in the technology scale. Other advantages include the economics and trade markets. Trade has thrived in the competitive global market. Consumers are now presented with innumerable number of choices which allow them to opt for a lifestyle they want. The mixing and promotion of different cultures and tourism are also seen as desirable consequences. Social values are also being propagated and promoted; global forums and societies are working to raise awareness against global issues. The disadvantages include the usage of technology to form more advanced WMS. Arms trade between the countries has also increased and with that the black and grey markets are also thriving bringing small arms to the streets of developing countries. The concept of free market economy has made the global arena highly competitive, where survival is no easy task. It is not always possible for all nations and all companies to meet the stringent criteria for a high standard and other requirements. Similarly, the foreign substitutes in a nation result in the local products losing their market. Increased globalization is promoting a plan to change the map of the world by the superpowers known as New World Order which is more suitable for the world we are living in, as the state system is becoming less efficient now.

It is an ongoing debate. Where perspectives shift based upon global position. This global position includes the geographical location; western world or the eastern, and the global status; super power, developed nation or a developing nation. But before the weighing the scales on this phenomenon, what does it actually mean? Globalization is the integration of the world into one small village. It is essentially a term that represents connections. The world is now connected with modern technology and internet providing instantaneous long-distance communications. Globalization has revolutionized the concept of distance; its meaning, its implications have now been challenged. The process or rather state of globalization which allows a global free-market trade, as well as exchanges of technology, culture and social values is assumed to be a positive thing. Obviously it is good if the world is coming together and there is interdependence and cooperation. Nations are linked in several ties with others, and each is helping the other to progress and advance towards betterment. This is the general idea that the seeming wonderful concept of globalization portrays. However, a closer look at our world today reveals a different picture. Poverty has increased, and continues to do so. More and more regions of the world are now coming under this label. Starkly contrasted to this is the fact that the wealthier regions of the world are as steadily becoming richer and richer. Is globalization indeed benefitting all? It is true that new and modern technology has reached the developing world, but the developed world still continues to remain the basis of comparison. And by comparison the developed world is still far behind. And this power imbalance and status quo will remain, for globalization is reinforcing it. Globalization is benefitting different regions at different paces and to different extents, if indeed it is benefitting all regions. Multinational companies such as Nike open up factories in poorer region under the pretext of providing employment and revenues while actually exploiting cheap labour. World organizations such as IMF and the world claim to help developing regions by monetary assistance, however in exchange of loans the nation has to agree to many conditions which are often detrimental to it, and furthermore, the superpowers feel that they have a license to interfere in the internal matters of a nation. The concept of free trade asserts that it provides everyone an equal chance to compete in the global market. However, it is a competition and like all competitions, the fittest win. The developing nations often fail to match the high standards of their wealthier competitors. Those who support it, associate the concept of interdependence with globalization. However, in most cases it actually translates into the dependence of the weaker nation and the domination of the wealthier. Instead of striving to be self-sufficient, globalization traps the developing nations to rely on the developed superpowers for their survival.

Globalisation as a social policy phenomenon has added a new paradigm to politics, economics and international relations. Competition and intercountry relations have drastically changed.

·         More competitve industries; as the competition increases, efficiency also increases benifiting the economy and consumers with a variety of goods to choose from with higher added value.

·         Improved lifestyle of standards of living; As variety of goods and quality increases, this also increases the standards of living of individuals

·         Flow of capital investments; seeking new buisness ventures, hot money can flow into the economy to use the resources; minerals, diamonds etc. This brings the economy some benefit.

·         Green energy;  The use of eco-friendly tools is encouraged as groups internationally stand by and fight for these anti-eco friendly chemicals.

·         Outsourcing  of labour; 3rd world countries gain employment as it becomes cheaper. This is another way of increasign the economies labour force.

·         Cultural exchange and acceptance; Media and other sources encourage the culture and heritage this way the countries intrinsic value also increases.

·         Technological transfer and advancements; With time, technology advances and leading companies send their teams to update in return of efficient means of production. This aids lowering cost and increasing profits.

·         Unify information systems

·         Increased international security

With all these advantages, we also have to face many drawbacks too. Some of which may be;

o   Soveignty of government

o   Interference into international affairs;  Countries that have little say also have the right in the UN and thus it causes complications to a simple dual country issue.

o   Import of luxury items; Economies like Pakistan, has lower local produce and imported goods causes more money to flow out of the economy. This eventually is bad for the economy.

o   Interdependence of  fragile structure of economy

o   Unemployment; Countries that outsource increase unemployment in their economy, and this causes a lot of redundancies.

o   Promotion of wars through media hegemony

o   Loss of culture

o   Increased gap between rich and poor

o   Brain drain

o   Industrial pollution

o   Exploitation of cheap labour

o   Identity crisis

o   Media illusions.

In my opinion, globalization is one of those phenomenons which can be experienced but not adequately defined in words. We all have a general idea that globalization is happening but explaining what that means becomes sort of complicated. One of the most important phenomenon of globalization is the shortening of time required (for literally anything).

Whether globalization is good for Pakistan or not will not be an easy question to answer at any level in any aspect. We can simply realize that globalization has both pros and cons for a country like Pakistan. Pakistan, at the time of its inception and for quite a large period afterwards, was an agriculture based country. While the western countries benefited from industrialization, Pakistan was stuck in discussing how should the land be utilized “best” for agriculture. But then soon enough, in a matter of decades, foreign industries began helping Pakistan get the wheels of industrialization oiled (previously they were stuck because of the lack of professional “oiling”). Finance, skills and culture; everything that Pakistan didn’t have, began to flow into the country. Oops did I say culture? I meant “respectable” culture. Or “follow able” culture. Or “something to be proud of” culture. Yeah these types of cultures began to flow in along with the paisa and the technical skills. These helped in improving the standard of living of the Pakistani people (?) and provided them with a better lifestyle (previously they had a “butter” lifestyle). Hmm along with this, a “few” luxury goods also began to be introduced in the country. But whether that was beneficial for Pakistan or not depends on whether you could afford them or not.

Globalization also affected the sovereignty of the Pakistani state. Super powers of the world do not need to be in the country any more (like the poor British had to be) to control the country. Well they don’t control the whole country; they just control the political, economical and social aspects of the country and leave the rest for the local “government”. In all the other aspects, the Pakistani government and the people are completely free to live their lives as they want. No (international) restrictions whatsoever.

Due to globalization, the foreign industries and financers blessed Pakistan with some portion of their hard earned wealth (because Pakistan is so cute!) and this generated employment and thus rozi for the Pakistani people (something that the government had forever been unable to do for undefined reasons). But since our local “industries” weren’t prepared for this foreign disguised attack; the local industries began to close down and thus balanced the employed and the unemployed. The huge industries set up by skilled foreigners (and later by the Pakistani people) produced pollution which affected the natural balance of the country. The fishes complained of dirty water in both the rivers and the seas and began to threaten the people with poisonous food supplies. But pollution wasn’t a problem for the people as such. Why? Well because the educated people of the country feel that pollution is a personal matter and should not be discussed at a societal or state level (so the next time you are bothered by the smoking area anywhere; feel free to stay in your smoke free home!)

While globalization helped in transferring technology in the country, the brain to understand the technology was either kept out of the country (if it was already out of it) or was attracted (through huge money and men/women magnets) out of the country. Also it is becoming an established fact that the “worthy” technology has to be stolen (with northern help preferably) rather than waiting for it to be “gifted” because then it is usually delayed (by only 10 years or so).

But the biggest advantage that globalization has had for Pakistan is the identity crisis! How so? Well because now we at least realize that we do have an identity crisis and that (may be) we want to have an identity!