GLOBALISATION

Globalization

Globalisation

Globalization is one of those words everyone has heard of, but the meaning of which is not very widely understood. So before we proceed to the discussion on the positive effects of globalization, let us see what globalization is.What is Globalization?

Let's face it. People are moving from one country to another, the trade restrictions are reducing, domestic markets are opening up for foreign investments, telecommunications are better established and the countries that are leading the innovations are passing on their know-how to the countries who are not. In short, the people are no longer bound by territorial restrictions any more, getting the world closer. It's no longer about 'my country and me', it's now more like, 'the world and us'. People are no longer bound by territorial restrictions-unless of course, there are security issues. The businesses are expanding, the horizons are widening, and the people are coming together to form one homogeneous unit - HUMANITY. (Pavcnik, 2008, 199-220)

Globalization is not just the coming together and integration of people. It is the integration of ideas, of cultures and of values. The pessimists continue the talk about the friction this is generating, but the endorsers of globalization choose to remain positive about things and go with the flow. The optimists want to jump on to the bandwagon of the globalized world and reap the benefits of a larger market and a larger talent pool. And hence, despite the doomsayers, globalization goes on unabated.

Globalization refers to the absence of the walls of matchboxes that every country had, between themselves based on suspicion, mutual distrust and ambition. We were different countries, in fact divided into worlds, and therefore could never manage to deal with natural holocausts and deadly epidemics, which time and again challenged us. Globalization has strengthened the nexus and has helped us to know each other's need in a better way. It has helped to demolish those walls that separated us and curbed our natural identity of being fellow human beings. Globalization has primarily become a fiscal term but its impact is not limited to the economy of the countries only, the term globalization actually refers to every aspect of life like cultural, social, psychological and of course, political.

It is true that the impact of globalization is visible and affects largely the politics and the economy of the country but its effect on the mindset and the culture is noticeable gradually in the way people think and react. It's like the Iceberg theory wherein what we do and say are at the tip and what we think and believe is at the base. The base is not visible but manifestations at the top are conspicuous. It applies here as well where people do not change abruptly but may be after a decade the change starts showing and seems radical. (Vogel, 2008, 141)Pro-Globalization

Globalization is not a new phenomena, the base was laid long back when the Dutch East India Company and the British East India Company started trading with ...