Nan Yang
09/16/2014
ENGL 101-98
Journal 1
A Moderate View of Globalization
Globalization is a crucial step for the evolution of world economy system. In the
reading, June Johnson collects diverse perceptions of globalization in “Exploring and
Defining Globalization”. Controversies through economists, environmentalists, Nobel
Prize winner of journalism and professors of theology and ethics are both strongly
supported by their books and articles published in press. Every expert’s inspiring
thought makes it very difficult to identify self-position of either Globalization is a
great, beneficial historical process that can build a “blue planet” for everyone;
Globalization is another way that strong nations and corporations “reaping the most
rewards from increasing global integration”. It is too early to give globalization a
final definition because it is still in the process and it is controllable.
As mentioned above, the definitions of globalization are diverse in academia.
Personally, Jagdish Bhagwati’s and moderate critics’ perceptions about economic
globalization are more acceptable. Jagdish Bhagwati gave his definition in article “In
Defense of Globalization”. He said: “ Economic globalization constitutes integration
of national economies into the international economy through trade, direct foreign
investment (by corporations and multinationals), short-term capital flows,
international flows of workers and humanity generally, and flows of technology.” It is
hard to deny that people rely on each other more than ever before the modern
transportations made international trade possible and profitable. Everything we had,
eat or observe has the tag that indicates where does it come from. However, using
more products form another countries will defiantly jeopardize the domestic
industries. Many clothes making companies move their factories to offshore, in
order to reduce the cost of labors and material. Companies have to fire employees
who have worked for them many years. Unemployment rate keeps rising in many
countries. Joseph E. Stiglitz, in his book “Making Globalization Work”, wrote:
“globalization as it has been conducted has favored advantage to compete; economic
globalization so far has resulted in “unbalanced outcomes, both between and within
countries.” We can see that globalization is not totally beneficial; experts and
philanthropical entrepreneurs are seeking solutions of keeping balance.
In addition, human activities and decisions still have the crucial impact of
globalization. Author of the reading wrote that “Envisioning integration into the
global economy as a “development ladder” the countries need to climb to reach full
economic and industrialized maturity through the collaboration of governments and
private business and the spreading of scientific and technological.” It means that if a
developing country wants to get over poverty，it is necessary to work with
developed or advanced corporations. Also, economist Jeffery Sachs from New York
Penguin Press “offers a hopeful win-win vision of globalization that involves ‘shared
prosperity’ rather than simply a redistribution of wealth from rich countries to
developing ones.” “Shared prosperity” could be the best solution that can keep the
globalization in the healthy and balanced process.
In conclusion, globalization is inevitable for every individuals and nations.
Human can defiantly benefice from it. Even though it has some limitations because
of exploitation of poverty. The world will become a whole economy nation if the
globalization goes to the right way, or do you still think being totally isolated form
the worldwide economy community will be the better solution of ending poverty
and unbalanced distribution of wealth?