Globalisation - Response

1) Is globalization imperialism repackaged?

Imperialism is defined as extending the rule or authority of an empire or nation over foreign countries, usually dominating its economic, cultural and political workings. On the other hand, globalisation reflects the increasing interconnectedness, integration and interdependency of the world today brought about by improvements in technology and telecommunication services.

Globalisation can be said to be imperialism repackaged

- Similar economic motives and hence outcomes for both processes: Imperialism resulted from the need for developed countries due to increased demand of cheap raw materials as well as to gain more markets and increase their consumer base as a form of maintaining their booming economy. Globalisation, similarly, is a process where countries seek to maintain their economic competitiveness by outsourcing their factories to lower-cost locations by utilising cheaper factors of production (i.e. labour) in those countries.
- In both processes, the winners (i.e. countries that benefit the most at the expense of others) are usually the developed countries that are economic juggernauts and have a strong political clout over other developing countries that may benefit unequally (e.g. due to profit repatriation in manufacturing industries) due to globalisation/ imperialism.
- Dilution of cultures may occur as a result of both the influx of foreign ideas from the colonial masters due to imperialism as well as increasing consumer convergence due to globalisation (i.e. more countries are consuming goods from all around the world)

Globalisation is not imperialism repackaged

- Imperialism means that a country loses its identity/ nationality totally as it is under the rule of another nation. However, globalisation retains the identity of each country, just that there is increasing interdependency between various countries.
- An advantage of globalisation involves the transfer of technology and skills to the developing world as workers learn to manufacture goods, but this is not seen in imperialism.

2) Will globalization create a more peaceful or conflict-laden world?

More peaceful

- Part of globalization deals with the creation of Free Trade Agreements (FTAs) and trade blocs (e.g. European Union) that allow more economic cooperation between countries
- Creation of international aid agencies such as the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Bank (WB) has alleviated poverty in some of the poorest countries e.g. the Multilateral Debt Relief Initiative by the IMF and offered assistance during emergency crises e.g. Debt Crisis in 1982

More conflict-laden

- Protectionistic measures by developed countries results in increased income inequality between the “haves” and the “have-nots”: measures such as the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) in Europe and huge subsidies given to cotton farmers in America have led to the developing countries being unable to match the low prices of those in developed countries and are thus unable to sell off their exports and earn income
- Despite the creation of agencies such as the IMF and WB, aid given usually comes with strings/ conditionalities attached such that developing countries are unable to repay their loans in the future and become worse off. Moreover, these bodies are designed such that the powerful Western nations are favoured (e.g. countries like US are allowed a veto, enabling to block decisions that go against their own economic interests.)

3) Can we be part of the global economy and still retain our own unique culture/ traditions? Or would we end up being mini-Americans?

Culture Retained

- Globalization will definitely impact countries, but their culture can be retained if there is government intervention. By continuing to celebrate different religious festivals such as Deepavali or Hari Raya, it will help to retain a country’s unique culture/traditions.

Culture not Retained

- Globalization will affect local culture due to language barriers. English is widely accepted as the universal language. As such, this will give rise to the erosion of certain languages such as dialects. As countries become more and more globalised, dialects will slowly be forgotten and eventually be gone for good.

Done by: Christian Chow, Eugene Ang, Samantha Tang, Justin Liu, Vionna Luah
09S07A