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'globalization'

Submitted by jasmiles on February 15, 2006 - 8:37am.

People speak about 'globalization' as if it was a single thing, but the term actually denotes at least four large-scale changes: one is economic; another political; the third involves communication, and the fourth is cultural.

Economic globalization is the process—now about 400 years old—by which the world has increasingly become a single economic market, while boundaries that divide nations have become less and less important, from an economic point of view. Economic globalization has its roots in the age of discovery, when explorers from Europe traveled to Asia, India, and the New World, paving the way for trade and colonization. The Industrial Revolution in the 19th century contributed to the interdependence of the economies of different nations, with colonies providing raw materials for the industries of more developed countries. In the early 20th century, especially because of the invention of means of rapid transportation (good road systems, air travel), and global communication (telephone and radio), business activity at a distance was made possible and was accelerated.

In the late 20th century, economic globalization pressed on at an even faster pace: the end of the Cold War led to an opening up of new markets and an exchange between free-market and formerly communist countries; moreover, multinational corporations arose which were now capable of viewing the entire world as their labor and consumer markets. And, finally, throughout the 20th c. industrial nations ratified a series of trade agreements such as GATT (General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade) and NAFTA (North American Free Trade Agreement), which served as catalysts for worldwide economic interdependence.

Political globalization is the process by which an

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Think Long Term

Submitted by COMCAPCO on February 15, 2006 - 10:55am.

This posting missed a zero. The one after the number 400. It should be 4000, or perhaps 14,000. We humans have a tendency to think that the "world" is the world limited by our knowledge and imagination. Four thousand years ago, the world for Egyptians, into which they navigated to trade to bring home slaves and products, was as complete a picture as the "global" world we now imagine. This generation needs to get over itself--all of the artifacts of civilization, including GATT, NAFTA, the UN and Washington, D.C., are but interim structures that will not even be remembered in 400 years, let along 4000. What will remain, if we are lucky are the articulate works of artists and designers and writers challenging the universe with inspired consciousness. The rest is all rationalization for systems of hierarchy that benefit whatever whoevers are managing things for either personal or organizational hegemony. Things haven't changed in 25,000 years that we know of human existence. What is important, thus, are your principles. What you stand for, In your community. With your vote, Your courage and commitment to life in your interactions and your speech and what you write.

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Think Long Term

Submitted by COMCAPCO on February 15, 2006 - 10:55am.

This posting missed a zero. The one after the number 400. It should be 4000, or perhaps 14,000. We humans have a tendency to think that the "world" is the world limited by our knowledge and imagination. Four thousand years ago, the world for Egyptians, into which they navigated to trade to bring home slaves and products, was as complete a picture as the "global" world we now imagine. This generation needs to get over itself--all of the artifacts of civilization, including GATT, NAFTA, the UN and Washington, D.C., are but interim structures that will not even be remembered in 400 years, let along 4000. What will remain, if we are lucky are the articulate works of artists and designers and writers challenging the universe with inspired consciousness. The rest is all rationalization for systems of hierarchy that benefit whatever whoevers are managing things for either personal or organizational hegemony. Things haven't changed in 25,000 years that we know of human existence. What is important, thus, are your principles. What you stand for, In your community. With your vote, Your courage and commitment to life in your interactions and your speech and what you write.

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