Globalization: Definition and Impact

• Globalization has emerged as a prominent idea affecting not only international relations but also the internal policies of nations since the 1990s.
• The effects of globalization are seen in economic, political, social, and cultural fields, influencing the idea of 'Sovereignty of Nations' in international relations.
• Increasing economic integration has led to a decrease in national boundaries and spheres of influence, alongside the emergence of new ideas within the context of globalization.

Globalization: Meaning and Definition

• Globalization is a process towards achieving a globalized world, primarily an economic concept with political, cultural, and technological dimensions.
• There is no universally fixed definition, but it can be understood as the absence of geographical boundaries.
• Nations establish relations with others by going outside their borders, with market forces operating beyond national boundaries.
• Capitalists seek cheap labor and raw materials for expansion, leading to globalization through economic, cultural, and political activities.
• The concept of a 'Global Village' unites entire nations, encouraging a neo-liberal system of capitalism.

Globalization: Historical Development

• While most scholars believe globalization results from the twentieth century, some argue it has existed since ancient times.
• Historically, individuals and empires sought wealth, power, and knowledge through alternative routes, such as the Silk Route connecting China to Europe.
• The empires of Genghis Khan and Timur Lung contributed to an undeveloped form of modern globalization during the medieval period.
• Real globalization can be traced to the expansion of trade links between Europe and Africa after the Industrial Revolution.
• The discovery of America by Columbus in 1492 significantly changed events.
• The 19th century saw globalization mainly concerned with industrialization, leading to affordable household items due to population growth.
• Great powers desired 'Trade control' in Asia, Africa, and Latin America, causing problems with the expansion of imperialism.
• Before World War I, globalization was led by Britain, and after World War II, it was led by America.
• The mid-twentieth century era of globalization saw the expansion of Multinational Companies established in Europe and America.
• Technological developments, scientific discoveries, and the spread of Western culture through mass media played a role.
• Globalization became common in the 1980s and 1990s after the end of the Cold War and the collapse of the Soviet Union.

Globalization: Disagreements and Protests

• Globalization has been a controversial phenomenon since the late 1990s, dividing supporters and critics in thought, politics, and economy.
• Critics argue that 'Ruling Elites' created a network of capitalist globalization to spread the world market for personal interests.
• The triangular confluence of Bretton Woods institutions, capitalist countries, and Multinational corporations created global structures that impose globalization from above.
• Critics oppose the uncontrolled authority of large multinational companies, alleging labor and environmental violations to maximize profits.
• Developing countries have transformed capital markets due to globalization, emphasizing deregulation supported by the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank.
• Strategies against capitalist globalization include grassroots mobilizations and decentralized public campaigns of direct actions and civil disobedience.
• Prominent grassroots organizations include Narmada Bachao Andolan in India and Landless People's Movement in South Africa.
• At the global level, various forces active against globalization are brought into mass protests and gatherings by the People's Global Action Network and the World Social Forum.
• Internet and new media are major mediums of anti-globalization movement.
• Oded Grajew, Chico Whitaker, and Bernard Cassen in 2001 conceived the 'World Social Forum' as a counter-forum against the pro-globalization ‘World Economic Forum'.
• The World Social Forum organizes meetings where forces fighting against neo-liberal globalization gather, share experiences, and present their views.
• Some streams are of a nationalist type, while others are against dividing the world into national boundaries.

Globalization: Alternative Perspectives

• Neo-liberal globalization, the highest level of capitalism, dominates every major sector of the global economy.
• International corporations have increased control over national governments and international organizations.
• Major global trends include increasing inequality, poverty, political instability, and global climate change.
• It can be concluded that neo-liberal globalization ignored the interests of the vast majority of the people and is unstable in economic and environmental terms.
• In the conflict of globalization, there is capitalist sovereignty based on privilege and dominance.
• The alternative perspective of globalization is based on values like freedom, unity, and social justice.
• Proponents of alternative globalization advocate for economic organizations with direct public or worker ownership, and a society with equal access to resources.
• Sustainable, democratic, diverse, and genuinely free societies are capable of being self-sufficient in local and regional economy and maintaining harmonious relations with its environment and with each other.
• Control of the local economy and diversification according to local needs is necessary.
• Alternative perspectives reject the pessimistic view that there are no alternatives to globalization.

The Local Economy

• The primary aim is to produce more primary products, manufactured goods, and services from regional resources.
• Trade with neighboring economies should serve as the primary source if regional production can not keep up.
• Long distance trading should be done only as a last resort.
• Controls like tariff barriers and quotas should be introduced gradually.

Capital and Investment

• Access to capital at the local and regional levels should improve social and environmental industries and communities.
• Not achieved by the free market as it encourages wider capital flows.
• Encourage local activities and must bring the wider capital flows under democratic control.
• Encourage organizations with financial institutions based on mutual principles.
• Encourage local and regional financial institutions and this large institutions.
• Community banks and credit unions can also play a major role in making of the local people resource-rich.
• Introduce national control over capital movements to be reintroduced and financial flows to be comprehensively regulated.

Controlling the Speculators

• Investment must be focused and must not gamble of speculation.
• Financial trading on the margins to be discouraged and restricted.
• Taxes to to discourage short-term speculative transactions in particular currency speculation.

Transnational Corporations

• International corporations of similar size should be used to give primacy to common interests rather than corporate interests.
• The only last resort is to convert such organizations into smaller management units using trade regulation, anti-trust legislation and fiscal policy.
• Breaking through trust legislation and fiscal policy should be encouraged.
• Access to the market should be based primarily on the principle of 'site here to sell here'.

Limited Market Access

• The market participation limit of a particular company should be fixed at the regional and national level.
• In a market where a particular company is dominant, new industries should be encouraged through grants.
• Proper control should be placed over the remittance of corporate and personal profits out of the country.
• Continuing efforts should be made to check tax evasion of corporations and offshore banking.

Multinational Agreements

• The existing approach is a hindrance to sustainable and equitable development, which has emerged in the form of agreements.
• These agreements at the cost of the rest of the world consider the interests of large multinational corporations and capitalists, including the regions and communities in which they are located.
• Financial aid policies and capital flows, technology transfer and residual international trade should be based on fair trade and not on free trade.

Conclusion

• Globalization has positive and negative consequences, with revolutionary changes in governance, telecommunications, education, and health.
• There is a lack of controls in the internal policies of states, affecting state nature, border effectiveness, and raising questions about the universalization of globalization.
• The World Social Forum emerges as a meeting place where forces fighting against neo-liberal globalization gather, share experiences, and present their views.