“How justified are the skeptics in suggesting that globalization is in fact a myth?”

[Writer's Name]

[Writer's Institution]

“How justified are the skeptics in suggesting that globalization is in fact a myth?”

Introduction

The word globalization can be applied to many things. It can be applied to social sciences, populations and technology. In most contexts, the word globalization generally tends to mean the high interdependency that is frequently seen among nations in terms of sharing information that is related to cultures, languages, communication techniques and the ease with which information can be acquired. With the many individuals that actively speak in favor of the phenomenon, there is an equal number of individuals who oppose its existence; setting it aside as nothing more than a theory. An individual that actively refutes the extent, even the existence of globalization is Scholte. Sholte believes that through arguments that extend the fields of measurement, chronological occurrences and explanations based on normative judgment, one can classify globalization as nothing more than the following; universalization, modernization, internationalism, liberalization and deterioralization (Scholte, 2002, pp. 8-13). Based on how the individual perceives their surrounding, the individuals meaning for the word change accordingly. This can be seen in how choosing modernization to be your view can be seen one using economic, capitalistic and political methods to decipher the meaning of the said term. Similarly, he who chooses universalization approaches a much more neutral and unbiased position.

The purpose of this paper is to take a closer look at the concept of globalization and to decide whether the justification skeptics provide to falsify globalization bears any ground or not. This will be done by analyzing the meaning of the word 'globalization' in varying contexts. These definitions will be put up against the general consensus's definition, compared and assessed as a reasonable justification or not. The paper will conclude accordingly; based on the reasoning mentioned here on out.

Discussion

As described earlier, the word globalization has different meanings for different people. Understanding which meaning people prefer and use to grasp the concept is vital to making a decision whether or not globalization can be termed as either myth or fact. The debate can be divided into two broad categories, comprising of the radicals and the skeptics; the two opposite ends. Skeptics are of the position that globalization is nothing but talk; a cliché rather than an actual phenomenon.

Contrarily, the radicals are adamant that globalization is quite true and is growing stronger with every day that passes. Giddens (2002), a man famed for his analytical approach to sociology, claims the skeptics believe that globalization is nothing but an attempt to dismantle welfare, an attempt to cut back on state expenditure and part of the belief to make the rich richer, and the poor even poorer. In his numerous lectures around the world, Giddens argues that globalization involves several principles; politics, economics, cultures and technology.

With Gidden's approach in mind, one can fairly say that skeptics view the word globalization not as a noun, but rather as a verb. The strongest ...