Anthropology
Patricia Biron
M. Fields
Anthropology 101
September 29, 2008
The Pros and Cons of Globalization
Globalization is seen as a sign of a hopeful future by some and a disaster for the world’s economy by others. The term, “Globalization”, has become a common word within the last few decades, but the concept has been around much longer. Globalization primarily covers the economic side of our lives, but the impact reaches much farther than our economy. Globalization affects every aspect of our life, culture, social, psychological and political arenas.
Globalization has been greatly affected by the ability for the world to be interconnected by improvements in communication and technology. The internet has become one of the greatest communication tools in our history creating boundless potential for all nations. This trend has created postindustrial societies that have reduced the manufacturing sectors of their economies (Scupin 2006). Companies, large and small, now have the same opportunities and same target customers. Globalization has opened up new markets for small business through the use of the internet, but many small business owners are still hesitant about going global. They feel it is too risky and complicated because of different languages, cultures, and business practices (Friedman 2006).
A globalized economy would make for big, and possibly better, changes in our world; therefore, the debates for and against globalization can be fierce. Most economists and business leaders focus on the benefits of globalization. A greater flow of international trade and investment stimulates economic growth, which in turn will generate more employment opportunities and higher living standards. Global competition also keeps domestic businesses on their toes, forcing them to innovate and improve the quality of their products (Weidenbaum 2003).
The dark side of globalization is that millions of Americans and Europeans have lost jobs due to imports or...
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