Globalization has been defined as the spread of corporate culture world-wide. This “spread” has accelerated significantly the past 25 years.
- various components of globalization interacted & intertwined & became synergistic
- this was not an organized “plot” - it simply was a result of people with power & resources acting in their interests & creating something different in the process
- their intent & its side effects resulted in globalization
This new form of globalization had significant impacts upon the following
- production (location mainly - going “off-shore”)
- markets ( the entire world is the market)
- finance ($$$ began to flow across international borders rapidly & easily)
- technology (reduced distance as a barrier to trade)
- global institutions (WTO, WB, IMF all (+)’ed power Þ (+)’ed globalization)
- corporate restructuring (concent. of control, decentralization of production)
- structure of work ( in contingent workers; labor as a commodity)
- neoliberal policies (aka “Washington Consensus”; no regs.; free market)
- role of the state (power of nation-states (-)’ed)
- neo-imperialism (old imperialism was imposed by military
force)
- (new imperialism imposed by corporations)
- movement of people ((+)’ed migration)
- cultural homogenization (cultures become more & more the same)
All of the above has been a result of globalization “from above”; i.e., top down with only a very few making the decisions on “what is best for everyone”
But, there are some significant contradictions of globalization “from above”
- globalization will benefit everyone, everywhere, “trust us”
- actual result has been a “race to the bottom” mentality
- impoverishment has been a result & (+)’ed poverty
- inequality - a greater change in the “have’s” & “have not’s”
- volatility - the international financial flows of $$$ can enter a country rapidly, but can leave just as rapidly
- democracy has taken a hit, b/c of the (+)’ed corporate power influence
- environmental destruction - poverty & the RTB effects
What about globalization “from below”? Counter-movements have emerged in response
pp. 11 - 14 present examples of local/regional groups being negatively effected by globalization
Confluence - a common ground exists between the various entities concerned with the negative aspects of globalization.