Blog-Off II Entry: Globalization: Friend or Foe?

Globalization, friend or foe,is all around us whether or not we notice it. So much of what we do on a daily basis has some sort of global component to it: the car we drive, the food we eat, the clothes we wear. And depending upon the context of all of this globalization can be a good thing. The best example of this is Social Media. How else can millions of people connect with millions of other people that they normally would never know existed? Families are reunited, friendships and business partnerships are made, and important causes given attention.

There's so much that can be said about Globalization and whether or not it's a good thing. A simple online search yields a myriad of sources from quick opinion/comment posts to scholarly works. While many sites say similar messages, the consensus includes the following:

Globalization: Friend

• It's easy to reach out to people around the world for little or no cost.
• Vendors can "look at the big picture" and not just the clients who are local or regional.
• The internet makes the world seem "right around the corner".
• People's lives can be more diverse due to exposure to other religions, cultures, and lifestyles.
• Businesspeople can collaborate efficiently and effectively on a global scale which greatly increases the resources available to them.
• Countries can assist each other economically, academically, socially, politically, and technologically.

Globalization: Foe

• Diseases can be spread easily due to events such as global travel.
• A local or regional culture can be compromised because of the blending of cultures.
• Further inequalities between 3rd world countries and the rest of the world.
• An increase in pollution and other negative environmental issues.
• Loss of local and regional businesses and employment opportunities.
• Imbalances of trade surpluses and trade deficits.

Of course there's more to be discussed regarding Globalization. There are entire university courses dedicated to the subject.

The best and worst thing about something such as Social Media is that it can educate a global populous and perpetuate the problem simultaneously. Regardless, it seems as though Globalization is here to stay for a very long time, if not permanently.

As always, your thoughts are appreciated and encouraged. Best wishes to all of you.

Comments

[Kelly Ann]

Josh (Chernin): That's certainly an interesting way of putting things. I really think that Globalization is here to stay (like so much of the research indicates).

Cody M.: I've never seen that video before. Thank you for your input. I will certainly keep it in mind.

Kelly Ann

[Josh Chernin]

Hi Kelly Ann,

Whatever anyone may think of the pros or cons, it is an inexorable trend. Thanks to information technology and other advances, globalization will only increase. The pols and protesters can try to stop it with silly policies and tariffs, but they might as well fight gravity.

[Cody M]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7U7QJu_Wsbk

Pretty much says it all. None of the negatives of a global economy outweigh the positives that this article hardly touches on. To the educated there is no debate, only artificially created schism.

[kelly]

Looking forward to it Kelly Ann! From the Kelly in Singapore!! :-)

[Kelly Ann]

Kelly: What an awesome comment (and equally thought provoking). I like how you know so much about holistic alternatives. Now I have to go figure out what soursop is (I've never heard of it before). Stay tuned! There's more to come.

[kelly]

A very good thought-provoking blog!! You penned your thoughts sincerely - I appreciate you for this!

Globalization got me thinking about food too! Are food meant for globalization? I don't think so. If it's meant for globalization, there is no need to add questionable chemicals all in the name of "preservation" and "preservation without fridge".

Globalization also means an improvement in communication and internet technologies. For eg. with Skype or Instant Messaging, there may also be lesser need to travel.

"Diseases can be spread easily due to events such as global travel."

Again a good point! Good news is I believe that for every naturally-occuring disease, there is already a cure in natural herbs, foods, etc. We just HAVE to find it. Eg. Grape seeds, acai berries and soursop are anti-cancer. Big pharma renamed soursop as ROYAL GRAVIOLA in the hope ppl never know it's actually soursop.

It's the man-made diseases (like Sars, Bird Flu, H1N1 Flu) that we need to be more aware of because then, only a man-made drug or vaccine may be able "cure". Again the good news is, Vitamin D from some exposure to morning sunlight can help fight and prevent H1N1 Flu.

"Loss of local and regional businesses and employment opportunities."
The flip side of this is, new problems = new opportunities. What need to be fixed? Is there a market for a solution? What is that solution?

I have mind-block now. lol I look forward to reading what other readers think!

Adding this site to my "fav"!

[Donnie Wilson]

Excellent topic Kelly Ann! The desire to learn and grow and how we go about doing that is a very large topic and I do believe that you could write on the topic for the rest of your life without covering all of it. We as humans have been "globalizing" on some scale or another for all time. Whether it was different clans passing on hunting techniques or how to make fire, or the Pilgrims and Native Americans sharing knowledge about different religions and ways to farm. We started sharing recipes with neighbors, moved on to trying food from different cultures and today you can get food from many different cultures in any mall in almost any country with the introduction of the food court (yes, I am hungry). From a company perspective growth starts at city-wide and grows to county-wide, then state-wide, nation-wide, and finally world-wide (global). Who knows what is next? Sharing information with ET? A blog a thousand years from now may be about "Universalization", which I understand is not yet a word, but it could be.

I think as we move forward we will still have specialists that chose to stay local and those who chose to be a jack-of-all-trades and grow as much as possible, but as long as the knowledge we seek and share is for the overall good of humanity...I am a proponent.

[Kelly Ann]

Chris (Hopkinson)and Joe: I agree with you.

Rebecca (Michaels): It IS a village! And I'm a firm supporter of small businesses. We all should be. That's how every society started. I also agree with people having imagination. It's where great ideas form and it's the first step in those ideas becoming a reality.

[Rebecca Michaels]

Hey K.A.,

HUUUGE topic and I agree generally with all points... the only thing I see is that 'friend' list might be longer. I have texted / emailed with people from 3rd world countries who are full of so much more hope and IMAGINATION with the advent of internet communications. Imagination that they can have something different than their forefathers with dreams of possibilities. I also feel, as a person traveling between Europe and the US, that technology plays a key role in business development for small businesses, which are currently struggling in the US recession now. I think there are more 'pros' lets say, than 'cons'.

As Marshall McLuhan said, it's a global village.
Thanks for the reminder!

Rebecca MIchaels

[Chris Hopkinson]

The world is flat and becoming more so every day. Great post!

[Joe]

Nice topic, Kelly. Thinking globally also increases diversity in ideas and approaches.

[Kelly Ann]

Hi Tim, thank you for your kind words. I'm hoping that my series on Globalization here will spark a lot of discussion! The comments here a just the beginning of a very important discussion. I've responded to your request via Twitter DM. Stay tuned! There's more posts on this topic to come.

[Kelly Ann]

Good Afternoon everyone,

I think that all of you have made some really great points here.

Sandy B: The inequalities between 3rd world countries and more developed countries is referencing the fact that in spite of Globalization the rich (potentially) can keep getting richer and the poorer (potentially) will be no better off than they are not. That's not necessarily my personal opinion. That being said, I do agree with you that less developed regions of the world are now seeing advances that they never would have seen before.

Sam Diener: Thanks! What are your thoughts on Globalization?

@mlomb: Marcello, I think that is a fabulous piece of advice. I could go on and on too. In fact, keep an eye out for my next piece!

Mark (Aaron Murnahan): Wow. In your piece you definitely have echoed the sentiments of many people that I've encountered over the years. I think that regardless if we are looking at the global market or the corner market, a strong work ethic is important,and should not be considered drudgery.

@lacouvee: Janis, I have always said that I am human above all else. We are all distinctive in our individual ways, and that's not necessarily a bad thing. As far as the deepening of the gap between the rich and the poor is concerned, we can only hope that it's not the case.

Therran Oliphant: First, you're welcome. I try to produce thought provoking and intellectual material instead of gibberish. I think that it's more of an evolutionary process (which is what I got from your perspective as well, if I am correct). But "just going through growing pains...right now" - maybe not. We are only "doing more harm than good" when a large percentage of the parties are on the same page. As with most things, Globalization also has its opponents and skeptics.

[Tim Ruffner]

Kelly, I can see this topic generating much discussion in regards to manufacturing as well and NAFTA. Would it be ok for me to link this post in my blog I am working on now in regards to Manufacturing?

[Sandy B]

Important topic! I don't understand how Globalization furthers inequalities between 3rd world countries and the rest of the world. Globalization is sending jobs to countries which previously had NO CHANCE of improving employment for their population. What is happening is people in 3rd world countries are given the opportunitiy to work at a higher level and make much more money than was possible before. What this means for developed countries, however, is that we must work harder to compete and our standard of living will likely decrease as the 3rd world's standard of living increases.

[Sam Diener]

Kelly - great topic! This should really generate some discussion :)

[@mlomb]

Good job! You hit the nail right no the head! I could go on and on about this subject but for better or for worse, globalization is here to stay. My advice for People entering college: Don't go into engineering, programming, or any career being outsourced overseas. You do not want to pay $100k for an education that will grant you the honor to compete with people earning 1/5 of your salary. It is simply not a wise investment of your time or money.

[Mark Aaron Murnahan]

I wrote on the topic of globalization in January 2009. I wrote of how it influences the American work ethic. I do not expect agreement from everybody, but this touches on the American defeatist mentality that we just cannot compete. Perhaps the same concern is share by other nations as well.

We should all be aware that globalization brings the cream to the top in a way that was previously less threatening to lazy people.

Here is my piece on the topic:

http://www.awebguy.com/2009/01/american-work-ethic/

[@lacouvee]

You covered most points Kelly. I believe we all need to be diligent in protecting those aspects of culture that make us distinct while at the same time embracing the commonalities of being human.

If globalization will allow us to to that - bravo!

What I don't want to see happening is cultural homogenization and a further deepening of the gap between rich and poor.

[Therran Oliphant]

Globalization is it! I like to think that it is a good thing, but we're just going through growing pains with the issue right now. I would like to think that we are doing more good than harm because if two minds are better than one, then so are two (or more) countries. Thanks for the the thought provoking material.

Check out my most recent post! http://bit.ly/74v1oL

[Kelly Ann]

Hi D.J.,

Thank you. Are there any points I didn't mention that directly affected where you are (and should be included)?

Kelly Ann

[D.J.]

Short and sweet - hit the nails right on the head! Bop, bop, bop!