Globalization, according to Payne and
Nassar, is the integration of markets, politics, values and environmental
concerns across borders. Globalization is the major phenomenon of great change
and yet the phenomenon of great capitalism. In effect, the fate of developing
countries lies in the hand of First world countries. It will result in a more
big problems, conflicts and issues. The world is a great market and yet a great
opportunity but not for developing countries rather it is for First World
countries like United States.
1. Government , Politics and Cultures in Africa, Asia, the Middle East
and Latin America
A people are group of individuals who make up a community. The way
a people organizes its affairs is called politics. Essentially, the study of politics
is the study of government and power allocation and use in a society.
Government is a mechanism that people employ to organize their affairs and to
protect themselves from threats. Aside from politics, people also informally
manage their affairs through culture. Culture is a set of traditions, beliefs,
and behaviors that a people express and hold. Although culture and politics
often interdependent, they can be separated in order to study societies. In our
world, government, politics, and cultures are going through rapid
transformation as a result of globalization.
Throughout the world, different cultural groupings often live under
one state. A state is an internationally recognized, politically organized,
populated, geographical area that possesses sovereignty. Aside from different
cultures, state often posses many different nations which are distinct from
state and culture. A nation refers to a group of people who identify with one
another as a political community because of common territorial, cultural and
other similar bonds.
2. Global Interdependence
The growing interdependence of our global community is slowly
changing the relationships of states and individuals. It has yielded many
positive as well as negative influences upon human life. Economically, the
world is so interwoven that the livelihood of one depends on the production of
many others. Thus, it will result to a more serious problem; the great
capitalism. This relationship of interdependence transcends the economic sphere
and includes environmental and political interests. In addition, the world has
become smaller through efficient and low-cost traveling and the electronic
media such as the internet. Other areas of global interdependence include our
own health when viruses and diseases travel beyond borders and infect people of
all races and nationalities. AIDS, for example, does not discriminate on the
basis of race, religion, nationality, sexual orientation or any other human
characteristics, immutable or otherwise. Indeed, global interdependence affects
all of us, from the clothes we wear and the air we breathe to the food we eat
and any forms of technology we use. Interdependence has yielded many positive
as well as negative influences upon human life. Hence, for example, although
jeans and football have become global cultural icons, many critics brand this
trend as cultural colonialism, whereby American culture has spread to engulf a
world where there exists no global minimum wage or labor laws to protect
ordinary people from the exploitative tendencies of mass production.
Religion has been used for good and bad. Throughout history,
religion was used for political purposes. Thus, the religion has been
politicized. And we can see it here in the Philippines where the Catholic
Church is using his power to be involved in political decision of the country.
It will result to the clash of values and government decision. In Iran, Islam
was used to rid the country of an oppressive absolute monarchy. Once in power,
Islamic leaders attempted to use Islam to suppress opposition to their
leadership. In India, Hinduism was also employed in the struggle for
liberation. Gandhi’s approach borrowed from the Hindu notion self-sacrifice and
Dharma in order to move a population struggle against British colonization.
Soon after the British withdrew, the Hindu Caste system caused India much
suffering and it is now used as a political tool by some. Buddhism was also
used to bring about freedom from poverty. But as we have seen in Sri Lanka, it
also contributed to the rise of extremist nationalism and bloody conflict with
a Hindu minority. Christianity has often been used to suppress others. In Latin
America, Christianity was partly responsible for oppression against the native
populations. The Catholic Church also produced a brand of theology that
contributed to the betterment of the region and its peoples.
Religious revivalism is a phenomenon of our times. Some resent it,
others praise it. Although religion can be a tool for oppression, it also can
be one for liberation. What matters here is that you have a better idea about
the religious cultures of those regions and that you understand that all
religions are in the same boat. They are being rocked and battered by the
revolutionary changes in today’s world. As a result, religious leaders
occasionally fight back. Some do so by rejecting modern practices, others do so
by reinterpreting their scriptures to lead the process of change. That religion
and politics relate is a simple fact. That religion is a globalizing force is
also a simple fact, for better or for worse.
And today, this trend continues.
4. Nationalism, Colonialism and Independence
Nationalism has many different consequences, some positive and
others negative. Thus, although nationalism may promote competition among
nations that produces growth and development, that competition may spawn wars
and genocide. Nationalism also creates a different perception and yet a
different attitudes and knowledge. Thus nationalism may also lead to
colonialism or the expansion of a nation’s thinking. It was also nationalism that led to wars of
national liberation such as the American and the Indian revolutions from the
British Monarchy. Despite wars of national liberation, the legacy of
colonialism on all countries that were either colonizers or colonized is
permanent. Hence, Britain’s riches extracted from overseas colonies remain a
major source of wealth among Britons and in the British economy. Conversely,
many territories possessed by Britain such as Ghana are still recovering from
years of exploitation and enslavement both of which directly resulted from
British domination. Although the transfer of wealth under colonial enterprises
has always been lopsided, the transfer of ideas has been more equal because
Europeans and the people they colonized equally acquired many advances in
civilization. What is worse about independence is its impact of colonial
thinking that the colonizers have been implemented to the minds of the people
of the colonized country before the independence. Thus, it will result to a
more different problem and we can see this phenomenon in Asia and Africa.
Although living standards have improved significantly in many
countries over the past century, global inequalities have risen steadily. The
vast majority, approximately 80% of the world’s population live on about 20% of
the world’s income. Historic trends indicate that the richest countries will
maintain their lead over the poorest countries for a long time. The gap between
the richest country and the poorest country was 3 to 1 in 1820, 11 to 1 in
1913, 35 to 1 in 1950, 44 to 1 in 1973, 72 to 1 in 1992. By the end of the 20th
century, the riches 20% of the world’s population had 86 times as much income
as the poorest 20%. Although the gulf between rich and poor varies along the
North-South divide on a country-by-country basis, the gap between the rich and
poor is greatest in Asia, Africa and Latin America.
Moreover, women in the South appear to be the poorest, least
literate group. Along with the great income gaps, malnutrition and famine are
rampant. Approximately 24,000 people die from hunger and hunger related disease
daily. The vast majority of the victims are children under five years of age.
Where poverty is extreme, the youngest members of society tend to be the most
vulnerable. Access to food is often to determine by sex, control of resources
and social status. In some societies, girls and women have lower status and
generally receive less food. The contemporary quandaries of inadequate health
care, malnutrition and poverty are attributable to natural disasters, personal
decisions, colonialisms and its legacy of inequality, wars, lack of inequitable
distribution, government decisions and overpopulation. Ways to resolve those
problems include democracy, Green Revolution, Debt Reduction, Free Trade,
Development Assistance and Nongovernmental Organizations (NGO).
6. Challenges and Development
Although change is a necessary part of life, some people often
receive it negatively. Thus, development, which encompasses change is perceived
differently by different people and countries. However, with globalization and
increasing interdependence, countries throughout the world are concerned with
issues and development. Numerous factors contribute to change, including
country’s values, ideologies, institutions, resources and technology. Many
scholars believe that development is synonymous with industrialization and
modernization. Developing an infrastructure is the key to development. Even
though development includes social and political aspects, the ultimate measure
of the development and growth of a country is through economic changes seen in
the gross domestic product. Economic changes are also essential for social and
equity changes that affect the quality of life. Governments are the major
actors in development. Developing countries need social order, revenue, law
enforcement, education, and health care to develop. These areas are largely in
the hands of the government although the global community has an increasing
responsibility to help those countries struggling to develop.
Some common factors impeding
developments are a lack of natural resources, hostile regional or international
economic environment, high or low populations, poor health care, ethnic
conflict, political instability, corruption and lack of foreign aid. When
corruption exists in a developing country, the development will not be achieved
because it is the great barrier of change and development. Philippines is very
rich in natural resources but has a great corruption. Hence, the Philippines
will not achieve development because of that great barrier. Natural disasters
are major impediments to development. A lack of natural resources makes it
extremely difficult for self-sufficiency. The AIDS epidemic in the developing
world is also incapacitating their populations. Foreign aid, even when provided
can also cause problems for the developing world because of stipulations the
developing world must follow in order to get aid.
7. The Costs of Development
Economic development is inevitably accompanied by various costs.
However, not all of these costs are inevitable. Sometimes countries and
particular communities within them, pay a much higher cost for economic growth
than is necessary. Progress usually is achieved at price. Developing and
developed countries alike wrestle with costs of development. Many of the costs
of development are borne by people in the developing world. These include 1.
urbanization, 2. pollution, 3. deforestation, 4. political instability and
corruption, 5. the destruction of cultural artifacts and communities due to the
construction of dams, airports, roads and other infrastructure projects, 6.
consumerism and 7. the growing inequality within developing countries. These
costs, even those that are obviously undesirable, are usually accompanied by
many benefits.
As modernization theorists argue, development, by definition,
involves the destruction of traditional values and cultures and the adoption of
values and cultures found in industrialized societies. Hence, development
requires change without change there is no development but it should be in a
positive sense. One of the most severe important social costs of development is
the escalation of criminal activities and a significant change in the nature of
the crimes committed. Modernization weakens many of the social bonds that help
reduce crime. Two groups that most frequently bear the most severe negative
consequences of development are women and children. Many argue that destruction
of the old social fabric, degradation of ecosystem and high levels of
exploitation are hallmarks of development. Critics of such a “no pain, no gain”
approach on the contrary argue that development can be achieved at sustainable
levels, and that the development of underdeveloped countries in Africa, Asia
and Latin America will not occur along the same destructive linear lines that
were taken in case of the developed countries in Europe.
8. Women in the Developing World
Throughout the developing world, women are the principal initiators
of change that will improve their lives. Access to education and economic
opportunities has enabled many women in Asia, Latin America and Africa to
develop a degree of social and financial independence that most women in the
United States and other industrialized countries enjoy. The fact remains,
however, that women throughout the world remain the largest marginalized group.
In the developing countries of Africa, Asia, and Latin America, traditions make
women primarily responsible for domestic work. Such general roles in poor
countries are shaped to some extent by colonialism and the globalization of
industry and trade. Even though women’s status continues to improve in many
developing societies, most women suffer from an inferior status. Thus,
throughout the world, women are seen by societies as inferior beings with many
attempts at controlling them. Violating gender roles can often have serious
ramifications. Gender often serves as tool or jurisdiction for oppression.
Throughout the developing world, women remain less educated and
less nourished on the basis of their sex and perceived gender roles. Women’s
achievement in the developing world should not be overlooked. Hence, India,
Pakistan, and Bangladesh have all seen women prime ministers and throughout the developing
world, women serve in leadership position that run the gamut of private and
public life like Corazon Aquino and Benazir Bhutto. Thus, today we can see that there is
development in the status of women not only in Asia but also in Africa.
9. Transitions to Democracy and Human Rights
Most developing countries struggle to achieve both economic
development and democracy. Some have achieved remarkable degree of democratic
freedom and respect for basic human rights, despite their relative poverty.
Many have experienced significant economic growth without making major progress
toward democracy. Hence, democracy and economic growth should address at the
same to see the clear development. Judicial systems are essential of
maintaining democratic freedoms including political participation. Democratic
governments respect the rule of law. Many developing countries, however, have
weak and ineffective judicial systems. Philippines, for example, has a lot of
laws but lack of implementation. Thus, it will result to more serious problem
regarding political development.
Interest groups like political parties and judicial systems are
critical players in societies that are becoming and already democratic. As
economic development becomes more widespread, interest groups such as labor
unions and agricultural groups begin to organize to protect their interests.
Students are also strongly involves in politics in developing countries.
Political scientists often refer to factors like judicial systems, interest
groups, respect for the rule of law opposition and fair elections as
preconditions for democracy. Economic development also influences the adoption
of democratic values. Moreover, pressure for change influence transitions to
democracy. Many for the pressures for change stem from women, international
pressure groups perceived to be marginalized in a political system, students
and many other less obvious variables. A major component of democratic
societies is the respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms. Although
transitions, to democracy continue throughout Asia, Latin America and Africa,
they do not occur in a prioritized order.
10. Political Leadership and State Capacity
The entity that is responsible for administering governmental
decisions is known as the bureaucracy. Decisions are made by leaders but
carried out by bureaucrats. Although it is this governmental arm that
transforms hope into reality, its powers extend far beyond administering public
policy, this is because the bureaucracy also holds valuable knowledge that
other officials need in order to form policies and ultimately modernize the
country. The bureaucracy is therefore inextricably linked to a country’s
modernization process, which involves not only running an ongoing system but
also developing new modes of operations, refining old norms and building the
new modern state. Without the bureaucratic tasks of implementation and
regulation, the country would most likely advance slowly, if it advanced at
all.
11. Ethnicity, Ethnic Conflict and Conflict
Resolution
Ethnic issues and ethnic conflicts in the developing world would
have received increased attention since the end of the Cold War. Increased
globalization, especially the growth of telecommunications, has brought ethnic
conflicts in areas that were once thought of as being extremely remote into
American homes. Despite the proliferation of media attention to ethnic
conflict, ethnic diversity within the developing world or in the rich countries
does not automatically result in conflict. Hence, even though Canada and United
States are two of the most ethnically diverse countries in the world, they are
extremely stable politically and avoid serious racial and ethnic violence
despite past and present problems with race and ethnicity.
Ethnic group members often have their own social organizations,
support a particular political party, live in specific areas of the country,
attend the same schools, develop business partnerships and are associated with
the same religious organizations. Ethnic identity often functions to draw sharp
distinctions among groups to promote group solidarity. Because of those
distinctions, the most obvious cause of ethnic conflict is the geographical
proximity of different groups. In addition, when a group’s identity is based
largely on adversarial relationships on the basis of us versus them – conflict
is almost inevitable. Other causes of ethnic conflict include the deliberate
manipulation of negative perceptions by leaders, competition for scarce
resources, modernization, governmental mismanagement and proliferation of
weapons along ethnic lines. Ethnic conflicts and warfare result in outrageous
economic, political, and human costs to any society. Neighboring countries as
well as countries in which members of particular ethnic groups live are often
negatively affected by ethnic conflicts.
12. Migration
Migration is the movement from one place to another is an integral
part of human behavior. People have always moved from one area to another for a
variety of reasons. There are many different types of migration and migrants. Two
broad reasons behind migration are known as push and pull factors. Push factors
motivate people to leave their homes and include human rights violations,
political oppression, forced resettlement programs violence and political
instability, overpopulation, unemployment, poverty, natural and environmental
disasters and the lack of educational and cultural opportunities. Pull factors which
the Filipinos main reason for migration include employment opportunities,
higher wages, political and social stability, a healthy environment,
educational and cultural opportunities and family reunification. Most refugees
and internally displaced people in the world are in Africa. But in a larger
sense, migration is the downfall of the traditional culture lies since birth of
a person migrated from one country to another country with different culture
and values. And that’s what is happening to the Filipino culture in America and
in Europe.
13. Foreign Relations of the Developing Countries
As globalization increases, the fate of rich countries is increasingly
linked to that of poor countries, to varying degrees. Although much of the
discussion of foreign policy and internal relations is focused on developed
countries especially the United States and members of the European Union,
foreign relations are also extremely important to many developing countries. The
poverty of developing countries heightens their vulnerability to events beyond
their borders, events over which they have relatively little control. Foreign
policy making is essentially decision making by countries about their national
interests. In a general sense, foreign policy deals with efforts on the part of
one country to influence the behavior and attitudes of other countries, NGOs,
transnational actors and international institutions. The foreign policies of
developing countries are expressions of what governments, groups, and
individuals determine to be national interests. The foreign policies of
developing countries are influenced by many factors including 1. The country’s
geographical location,, 2. The level of economic development of the country, 3.
The nature of the country’s political system and the quality of its leadership,
4. The military capabilities of the country,
5. The nature of international public opinion and the priorities of
major countries and non-state actors and 6. Cultural ties with other countries.
Despite many similarities among poor countries and their efforts to
work together, each region has at least one major country that attempts to
influence developments in the area. Because America is a global power with
global interests, major developing countries often find that their pursuit of
their foreign policy objectives in their regions colliders with the interests
of the United States. In result, Philippines, for example, becomes the doll or
a puppet of United States, a puppet that he can control anytime in order for
him to become more rich and in the power. And that is the real essence of
relation of one country to other countries like US; the principle of
Utilitarianism.
Insights:
The developing world represents the
overwhelmingly majority of the people and countries of our world, yet economic
policies remain centered on a few countries that are mostly in Europe and North
America. It is time for us to learn and think of concerns not on European and
North American terms but more importantly about the concerns of the developing
countries in which we belong. It is also time to awake that in order to achieve
development; we must focus on the problems that our country is facing today
like inequality, gender issues, judicial system, corruption, etc. it is so funny
to think that the Philippines is rich in natural resources but a developing
country. Globalization can be positive instead if those challenges brought by
Globalization can address by our country and the citizens. The key for development is truly in our hand
not in the hands of other countries.
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