Features and Consequences of Globalization Essay

Features and Consequences of Globalization - Essay Example Globalization has rapidly changed the lifestyles of many people without their even being unaware. To take an example, most people had not even heard of the Internet in 1990. Also, few people had an e-mail address then. But today the Internet, cell phones and e-mail have become essential tools that many people just cannot live without, in both developed and developing countries. But globalization does have its opponents. This essay examines the fundamental aspects of globalization such as meaning and definition, features, aims and organized and un-organized globalization. Globalization is commonly understood as the process by which physical, political, economic, cultural barriers separating different regions of the world are reduced or removed, thereby paving the way for exchanges of goods and knowledge. Globalization facilitates freedom of movement without political and geographical hazards and this seems to be the attraction of globalization to most people. Globalization also promotes mutual reliance. As the number of exchanges of goods and of information increase, the result is a growing interdependence between countries as they come to rely on various imported products, services, and cultural input. Thus, from economic point of view globalization is the integration of world economies into a single economy. Definitions Globalization means and includes increased closeness among countries most notably in the areas of economics, politics, and culture. The term 'globalization' has been defined by various authors in different ways. In fact, it has as many definitions as there are authors. The most commonly used definitions include the following: 1. Globalization is "a complex set of distinct but related processes-economic, social and also political and military-through which social relations have developed towards a global scale and with global reach, over a long historic period" (Rajaee Farhang, 2000, p.44) 2. The prominent Islamic scholar, Muhmoud Ayoub, defined globalization in the following way: "It is said that we now live in global village. To extent that it is true, it is a negative process. Globalization is a latest manifestation of Western Imperialism" (Rajaee Farhang, 2000, p.30) 3. In its most concise definition, globalization "simply refers to the complex of forces that trend toward a single world society. Among these forces are mass communications, commerce, increased ease of travel, the internet, popular culture, and increasingly widespread use of English as an international language." (Lautier Frannie, 2006, p.34) Features of Globalization Globalization means the integration of an economy with the rest of the world so as to ensure free flow of goods and services without any legal political and geographical boundaries. Globalization is different to different countries. The way in which one country approaches globalization phenomenon is different from that of another country. It depends upon the nature of economy, the political scenario and many other similar factors. However, the common features of globalization remain the same to all countries. They include: (OECD Handbook. 2005. p. 18) 1. Reduction of barriers to trade 2. The high interaction of financial markets is increasingly impacting on the conduct and performance of