Comparing Fletcher's Arguments Against Globalization And Free Trade

Globalization refers to the development of an integrated world economy, exchange of cultural views, thoughts, and products (Wikipedia, 2013). Pologeorgis (2012) states that, essentially globalization began with the exploration and settlement of new lands. Communication and transportation advances have aided in this process.

The issue of globalization for the people of the United States has been a long and terrifying problem for them. Although other countries many have had issues with this problem it appears the U.S. is still being affected by it to this day. Although not everyone in the United States may have been affected by the issue. Majority of the people (mid class and lower class) have somehow been affected by it or knows someone that has been affect because of it. This issue of globalization has been talked about by politicians so it appears it had to been a major impact to the country. Thus, this issue of globalization has been an issue for the United States for a long-time way before the twentieth centuries. Therefore, this paper will discuss what is globalization and how it has impacted Americans views and how some people’s views changed because of it and finally, what is the impact of communications technology. All these key topics will help with getting a better understanding of what these issue is and how it has affected society today.

While globalization is often a highly controversial topic, I believe it is a natural progression of human civilization. It does appear to be have part of the strategy of several political ideologies, that is increasing global trade through exports and more.

Globalization is difficult to simply define due to the variety of changing definitions that have been established over previous decades. Hamilton and Webster (2012) suggest that globalization is the connection between nations, defining globalization as a process in which barriers are reduced in order to encourage exchanges between countries. This view proposes that globalization refers very much so to the trade barriers and the improved communications between countries in order to ensure the world is unified. Globalization increases economic activity across the world and opens up markets for foreign investment.

Never in Earth's long standing have people so greatly profited from the economic freedom that globalization provides. While not everyone in the world has gained, or gained equally from the consummation of globalization, it is still very easy to argue that never have so many people, from so many places around the world lived in such prosperous conjunction. It is this reason that globalization is the tsunami to our ocean, flooding and taking over our whole world, while also benefiting us all.

Globalization is slowly causing the world to expand its trade borders to help link together countries around the world in order to avoid isolating themselves economically. Nations are starting to rely on foreign trading because "the more trading that takes place, the more wealth is created, and global trade across international frontiers has created more wealth than ever before in human history, and [has] helped lift more people out of mere subsistence than ever before." (Pirie, Globalization). The extra wealth generated by globalization has brought an increase in employment in the service sector, which provides for many of the new jobs needed. Globalization helps countries of all economic ranges to be able to succeed in the global economy by allowing them the opportunity to use foreign resources in order to succeed. Poorer countries are able to succeed by providing labor that is cheap, causing foreign countries to invest in the country, which in turn allows them to earn enough to stay out of poverty. It benefits wealthier countries as well because the money saved from importing cheaper foreign goods allows consumers to maintain a higher standard of living. Globalization also forces firms to become more efficient in order to compete with other foreign firms to succeed. However, not everyone believes that globalization is a good thing. A group called the International Forum on Globalization believes that globalism "[benefits] transnational corporations over workers; foreign investors over local businesses; and wealthy countries over developing nations."(Hoppough and Meredith, 398-399). But if this were true then the local businesses and local people in the developing nations would have no reason to ever attempt to trade outside of their borders. The reason that globalism is able to even work is because the local

1). Choose a current issue as it relates to any one topic we have covered over the course of the semester to explore cross-cultural variations in culture change as it relates to globalization. What is your issue? How does this issue relate to any one topic we have covered over the course of the semester?

Globalization became fact of life and inevitable, we all heard the world became a small village or the globe is shrinking. Even the most conservative countries such as Saudi Arabia or China you can see signs of globalization such as Macdonald or KFC or Four Seasons In Syria; not only that, but Chinese, Indian and Thai food became very popular out west to the point where you will find plenty of fast food such as EDO, Thai express or Mandarin Restaurant chain. Countries can no longer live in silos; most of the countries are open or started to open its door to the world including Iran with their recent peace talk.

Baines, H.V., & Ursah, J. (2009). Globalization: Understanding, Management, and Effects. Retrieved from The University of Phoenix eBook Collection Data Base.

Some opposing arguments are that economic globalization, on the name of multinational companies, exploit human and natural resources of developing countries, and create income inequality across countries (Adam, 2008, Lee, 2006). The argument is that while a small segment of population benefits from the entrance of global market, the majority of working class people remain trapped in national or local labour markets with limited options. Economic globalization in this way has created a huge class polarization in the labour market. The development of a new international division of labour and the increasing inflow of migration has had great impact on race and gender relations in the workforce. Moreover, neo-liberalism as a powerful dynamic of

Jagdish Bhagwati, a renowned economist from Columbia University and author of “In Defense of Globalization”, at his speech at IMF Economic Forum in 2004 “argued that when properly governed, globalization is in fact the most powerful force for social good in the world today.” ⁷

Since the mid of the Nineteenth century particularly after the end of the cold war, Globalization has become the catchphrase that attracts everybody. However Globalization is a complex concept to be defined, there are many different definitions of Globalization. According to Thomas Friedman in his book The Lexus and the Olive Tree, he defined Globalization in terms of PARADIGM SHIFTS as the follow: “ it is the inevitable integration of markets, nation-states and technologies to a degree never witnessed before – in a way that is enabling individuals, corporations and nation-states to reach around the world farther, faster, deeper and cheaper than ever before and in a way that is enabling the world to reach into individuals, corporations and nation-states farther, faster, and deeper, cheaper than ever before.” Moreover, Globalization is represented in two eras. First, which started in the mid of the nineteenth century and ended with the start of the World War I (WWI), and the Second era began in the aftereffects of the World War II (WWII) and still continuous until today.

Globalization is a very broad topic; a sweeping term established in the minds of individuals primarily over the past quarter-century. It describes the widespread global integration of economic, political, social, and cultural systems that is shaping the world we live in today. Marked by the establishment of trade liberalization movements such as the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT) and the World Trade Organization (WTO), globalization has greatly accelerated over the past twenty-five years, indeed, "world exports have grown at an exponential rate of 6.0 percent in volume [annually]" (Tremblay, 2015). Depending on the angle in which we choose to look at it, we may define and interpret it differently: good or bad, positive or negative. As Jan Aart Scholte describes, "knowledge of globalization is substantially a function of how the word is defined" (Scholte, 2000). Initially, the topic of globalization touched primarily on local and global issues such as poverty and world peace, homogenization, and cultural, economical, and political convergence. Now, it is understood to be a far more complex subject that is "contingent, ambiguous, contradictory, and paradoxical" (Stromquist et. al., 2014). Regardless of whether one chooses to take a positive or negative standpoint on globalization, the fact remains that this process is taking on an increasingly global scale and has profound effects on individuals, nations, governments, and businesses every day. Moreover, it is

Looking around my desk: a computer, glass mug, textbooks, a microphone, and various small mementos; just in the close vicinity I have more products of globalization than an entire household just a few centuries ago. Globalization is the flow of culture, a byproduct of spreading technology and economic influence. This process has allowed the world once stricken with distinct cultures and borders to consolidate into a functioning machine-like entity. This entity not only delivers the products seen on my desk, but it also has the potential to do wonders. For example, Thomas Friedman proposes the theory that globalization is not merely an efficient machine but a mechanism for peace in his book The World Is Flat. This peace is held together through a symbiotic relationship, with each component secured with their place in line. While his theory seems promising it is important to evaluate both sides to look for practical limitations or exploitations.

“Globalization is not just one impact of the new technologies that are reshaping the economies of the third millennium” (Thurow 19-31). When speaking of globalization, most people will not have a complete understanding as of what it actually means or what aspects of the world it affects. Globalization promotes free trade and creates jobs. The capital markets attract investors, resort cheap labor, and leads to job losses in some areas of higher wage. While all of this is happening, the world economy is being effected: economically, culturally, socially, and politically.