Canada And Globalization

The source fairly describes globalization as a force that unites countries and creates interdependence between them, and its potential virtues as being able to increase living standards using knowledge and the combined efforts of people. Rather cynically, though, it implies that human nature prevents globalization from bringing about sustainable prosperity for all. Conversely, those who advocate for and believe in international cooperation and progress would argue that the forces of globalization are improving living conditions around the world. The sentiments of the source are more optimistically reflected by what Hans Rosling, a Swedish academic, said,“The 1 to 2 billion poorest in the world, who don't have food for the day, suffer from the …show more content…
Economic globalization has produced stronger economies in a lot of cases, and has led to greater prosperity for nations as a whole. Having powerful trade partners increase opportunities for exporting valuable natural resources and growing the economy. Businesses in less developed countries have a greater capacity to become part of international supply chains and production networks that are the pillars of trade. Entire industries have surged as a result of economic globalization, creating many jobs for people. The oil industry in Canada is hugely driven by foreign demand for oil. 73% of Canadian crude production is exported to foreign countries. The emerging industry revolving around the Internet and those who develop it is quickly becoming one of the most lucrative and important in the world. More than $1.2 million dollars are generated by e-commerce every 30 seconds. The greater economic interdependence in the world means that it is in a country’s best interests to act in all their trade partners best interests. This gives rise to the power of sanctions, and gives countries more leverage when it comes to settling human rights violations, and even genocide. Muammar el-Qaddafi of Libya, when under pressure from U.S. and UN sanctions, admitted responsibility for the 1988 Lockerbie bombings and renounced its weapons of mass destruction program. Access to produce and products is …show more content…
A major flaw in the internationally reaching hand of globalization is that less developed countries are often exploited - in their resources, and in their workers. King Leopold II of Belgium can easily be considered one of history’s most brutal mass murderers. His exploitation of the Congo’s natural rubber resources was purely in the interest of accumulating personal wealth, and costed anywhere from 2 to 15 million lives. The work was very labour-intensive and posed significant health risks. Rubber quotas were given to villages and, if failed to be met, hostages would be taken and shot. When the Rana Plaza factory collapsed in Bangladesh, over 1135 garment workers died, and 2515 more were injured during the disaster. This was not just a tragic industrial accident; it was a crime, perpetrated by corporate greed and the blissful ignorance of consumers fortunate enough to eat 3 meals a day. The poor working conditions that led to the eventual collapse of the factory are the responsibility of the transnational corporations using factories like it to meet the demand for cheaper and cheaper clothing. Large corporations and wealthy individuals take have the ability to take advantage of foreign tax havens and dirty money conduits. Economic globalization has unfortunately given powerful people and organizations the means to move large sums of money