Globalization

Globalization

What does globalization mean? One can answer that globalization is a time period or a financial situation when the world is involved with similar economic, technological, social, and political views on the economy. Globalization can be very helpful for some countries and yet very harmful for other countries. Globalization allows different countries to be unified and also this helps them to be more financially stable.

By examining globazilation more closely we can view the political and economic dimensions to help us understand what globalization really is and how it be beneficial and at the same time very harmful. By looking at the economic dimension we can understand that globalization relies on the "free-market" and o 20520l111u n "neo-liberalism". Free trade system allows all nations to trade with each other with out , or with very low tariff. This can be very beneficial to some countries, yet it can hurt the poorer countries. The free trade system allows countries to have free zones, this also can be very beneficial to some yet cheap labor can be hurtful to others.

In the documentary "Life And Debt" Globalization and Jamaica one can realize that the country was terribly hurt after receiving its independence from Britain. The country was not financially ready for a change and Globalization and Neo-liberalism also started a new nightmare for the Jamaican citizens. When globalization was imposed on Jamaica there were many social consequences that have changed its citizen's lives and businesses. The free-market system allowed foreign imports to be much cheaper than local goods and that caused major problems in Jamaica. One of the other major problems was farming. In an interview one of the store employee mentions "Vegetables and fruits are much cheaper than local goods" (Life and Debt documentary) The cheaper imported goods result in abandoned farms and less hope for the farmer's employees.

By looking at the political dimension of globalization we can understand that globalization is controlled by the "World Government". Although the world government is usually controlled by the stronger country and in today's case it is The United States we may understand why the poorer countries do not support globalization and the free market system. In most cases the powerful countries are usually the ones who benefit the most in this system. It is very important how Nancy Kleniewski mentions Lenin's idea of capitalism and in my opinion how it effects globalization. "He thought that the gap between richer and poorer countries may increase rather than decrease as the poorer countries become colonies and were expoloited by the wealthier and politically powerful countries. (Kleniweski p161) To prove Lenin's theory we can look at the United States ( A Capitalist nation) and Jamaica which is a poorer country and how the free-market had effected the Jamaican farms.

The causes and consequences of globalization may differ depending on the country's situation. In most case the only one who really benefits from Globaliztion are larger corporations. In Jamaica's globalization situation we can realize that the Jamaican citizens are not really benefiting from globalization. Yes of course globalization in Jamaica made goods cheaper for its citizens but did anyone notice that their farmers are running out of business and that "they are demanding their old market back" (Life And Debt) due to exploitation? Today everything is imported to Jamaica and as a result the Jamaican farms are being abandoned leaving many farmers very angry with the idea of globalization.

Multinational corporations and international financial institutions are usually the ones who benefit the most from globalization. In Jamaica we can realize that big American Corporations set up free-zones on Jamaican land property for employment opportunities. But if one actually opens their eyes these companies are not there to give the country's citizens a job, but its there for cheap labor. Due to expoitation these citizens have no other choice but to work for these companies and try to make a living.

International Financial Institution is another company that benefits the from globalization. The International Financial Instituion is there for the countries to lend money. In Jamaica's situation these financial institutions refuse to help the country because they are already too much in debt and if they do lend the money to Jamaica to has to be given back in a short time frame and with a high interest rate.

Neo Liberalism and globalization impact the countries in a positive way and it impacts the poorer countries in a negative way. The next problem that one may predict is the oil problem that will most definitely effect the poor and rich countries. Lenin also mentions that "imperialism , the development of political empires based on military conquest was a natural stage of capitalist development" (Kleniewski p161) Today the media may tell us that on September 11, 201 the attack on America was an act of terror, but was it really? Or was it a lie and a reason to "conquest" the Middle Eastern countries where the oil is located? So many questions may be asked wondering what the truth is and what the government really does to keep its economy strong. A person may also ask himself a question, does it make sense that the U.S has surrounded the world's energy resource with the army? (Documentary Film-Oil Smoking Mirrors) Does it also make sense that there were no weapons of mass destruction found in Iraq? I believe that history will repeat it self and a country will lie and do anything to stay in power.

There are so many unanswered questions a person may ask about his country and how the economy runs. There are so many things that a person will never find out what the truth is about the country's government and economy. I know that globalization may help some countries financially but it may also destroy others. In a capitalist economy different things may happen so the country does stay strong, but lets not forget, history does repeat it self and previously there were many countries that were in power and as time went by they lost that power. Strong things tend to get weak.

Work Cited

"Cities, Change, And Conflict", A Political Economy Of Urban Life. Third Edition.

Author: Nancy Kleniewski

Documentary Films:

"Life And Debt" Globalization And Jamaica

"Oil Smoke And Mirrors"