What is Globalization?

Globalization can best be described as the leveling of international boarders giving way to an even worldwide playing field. Thomas Freedman’s The World is Flat: A Brief History of the Twenty First Century takes this metaphor and expands it to discuss the commercial implications of globalization. Friedman explains that advances in technology have broken down geographical barriers and have given way to a global economy and more importantly a global work force (Friedman, 2005).

Curran and Park look at globalization as “a universal phenomenon that is transforming the entire world.” They go on to describe the effect of globalization as creating a “global village” that has reduced division through connection and communication. This “global village” is the product of increased technology giving way to increased communication. The result of this, according to Curran and Park, is the “building of mutuality.” The effect of this mutuality is not limited to just commercial growth and development. Instead, the globalization and flattening of the planet has allowed for the spread of culture, ideals, and beliefs from all ends of the globe. Global communication breeds the spread of information and gives way to mass communication such as globally available news publications, historical texts, and syndicated television programming. This ultimately produced the steps towards a progressive society with international dialogue. Additionally, minorities from across the world were given the ability to gain importance in the global marketplace. Silicon Valley became home to thousands of Indian immigrants who came to work as computer programmers (Curran and Park, 2000).

“The New Rules of the Game” describes the great financial benefits of the global economy. The boom in global expansion during the 1990s allowed for the vast investment in emerging markets. This, however, due to a lack of regulation, lead to the development of a bubble market that, upon collapse, created a huge spiraling downfall. Beyond the financial interests of the South East Asian bubble burst, the social results were dramatic. As investors pulled money out of the region, shockwaves were sent through the region. Thailand, Malaysia, and Indonesia experienced a great devaluation of their currencies. Indonesia’s currency collapse led to a full collapse of the government, and in turn the collapse of the social fabric. This in turn led to the burning of holy buildings and the looting of stores. The retching effect of the downfall spread through the global markets. Globalization tore down borders, but in turn left the world susceptible to the spread of failure. In turn, failure spread through societies, not only through financial markets (Commanding Heights, 2003).

Noam Chomsky describes globalization as one aspect of international integration. Although Chomsky is in favor of international integration, he illustrates the idea that globalization is a destructive force that kills domestic production, lowers domestic wages, and increases imports from other countries. Chomsky speaks about how globalization killed the American farmer and forced the American farmer into the city to work in the labor force. In turn this increased the size of the labor force, without increasing demand. This led, ultimately, to a decrease in the wage of a laborer. “The New Rules of the Game” explained that during this time of Globalization and the North American Free Trade Agreement, the fear of losing one’s job to outsourcing encouraged workers to take the lower wages (Chomsky, 2007).

One’s inability to access the global information marketplace decreases one’s access to information, to knowledge, and to one’s neighbors. Globalization tore down borders and expanded communication worldwide. However, those without access to global communication are left apart from this growth and expansion.

Beyond Globalization Theory. (2000). In De-Westernizing Media Studies [Digital Download] (pp. 1-17). (Reprinted from De-Westernizing Media Studies, by J. Curran & M.-J. Park, 2000, New York: Routledge)

Chomsky, N. (Speaker). (2007, March). What is globalization? [Via Youtube]. Retrieved from http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RdYwAXZh0ME

Friedman, T. (2005). The World is Flat: A Brief History of the Twenty-First Century. New York: Farrar, Straus and Giroux.

Height's Production, Inc. (2003). Commanding Heights: The New Rules of the Game [Video file]. Retrieved from http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/commandingheights/hi/story/ch_menu_03.html