Is Globalization a Positive Force in Today's World? Globalization is an immense force in today's world. The world is more connected than it has ever been and continues to become smaller. Our society is rapidly being integrated on an international level as countless world views, products, cultures, and ideas are exchanged daily. Unfortunately, these exchanges are often far from fair as they almost always occur under the dominant actor's terms. On the surface it may seem as if globalization generates new opportunities, but in reality it usually just deepens old inequalities. Although it has many “approbatory” definitions and positive characteristics attached to it, in reality, it is merely a code-word for global capitalism. In order to effectively
…show more content…
Powerful Western nations stole the resources of weaker nations across the globe. During the late-19th century European nations carved up Africa and brutally murdered any opposition. The greatest injustice probably occurred in the Congo, where King Leopold II of Belgium forced the natives to harvest rubber, under unspeakably dreadful conditions. An estimated ten million Congolese were killed as a result!2 Millions of innocent people in other African countries were killed as well and most of the areas involved aren't even close to recovering. This brutal colonization is the focal point of Sven Lindqvist's Exterminate All the Brutes. In his book (inspired by Heart of Darkness by Joseph Conrad) Lindqvist not only gives a historical account of the events that occurred, but makes his own fascinating inquiry. He argues that the European colonizers didn't want to improve the lives of the African natives, he believes they wanted to expedite their extinction. Lindqvist is able to convincingly establish a connection between social darwinism and these colonial practices. He even goes on to theorize that these events are actually the roots of the the Holocaust.3 Although killing ten million Africans may not have lead to King Leopold II being as reviled or infamous as Hitler, it is certainly possible that he inspired his actions. Globalization may not be as blatantly evil today as it once was, but it still reeks …show more content…
Although, capitalism and liberalism are not entirely responsible deeply institutionalized and internalized hierarchies of difference, they thoroughly benefit from them. Contemporary capitalism is such a dominant force, because the world has become smaller and and more interconnected over the years. It is capable of significantly shaping the ways billions of people think. Recent developments have made Dependency Theory an even harsher reality. Corporations have a tight grasp over a majority of the world's media, so liberal and capitalist ideas are heavily promoted. Only one story is told and thus “there is no alternative”. Capitalism and subsequent globalization become the only options.5 In Kate Manzo's chapter, Does Colonialism Belong to the Past?, she argues that colonialism is still alive and well. The world is by no means “postcolonial” and appears to be more “neocolonial” if anything. Neocolonialism is a concept based on Marxism that implies “that nothing much has changed in the world economic order since independence, in that patterns of economic power and unequal exchange remain more or less exactly as they were”.6 It is well supported by the global landscape today. The world has not been decolonized and neither has contemporary international relations. This made is evident by the actions of the leaders of many global organizations, particularly financial
Powerful Western nations stole the resources of weaker nations across the globe. During the late-19th century European nations carved up Africa and brutally murdered any opposition. The greatest injustice probably occurred in the Congo, where King Leopold II of Belgium forced the natives to harvest rubber, under unspeakably dreadful conditions. An estimated ten million Congolese were killed as a result!2 Millions of innocent people in other African countries were killed as well and most of the areas involved aren't even close to recovering. This brutal colonization is the focal point of Sven Lindqvist's Exterminate All the Brutes. In his book (inspired by Heart of Darkness by Joseph Conrad) Lindqvist not only gives a historical account of the events that occurred, but makes his own fascinating inquiry. He argues that the European colonizers didn't want to improve the lives of the African natives, he believes they wanted to expedite their extinction. Lindqvist is able to convincingly establish a connection between social darwinism and these colonial practices. He even goes on to theorize that these events are actually the roots of the the Holocaust.3 Although killing ten million Africans may not have lead to King Leopold II being as reviled or infamous as Hitler, it is certainly possible that he inspired his actions. Globalization may not be as blatantly evil today as it once was, but it still reeks …show more content…
Although, capitalism and liberalism are not entirely responsible deeply institutionalized and internalized hierarchies of difference, they thoroughly benefit from them. Contemporary capitalism is such a dominant force, because the world has become smaller and and more interconnected over the years. It is capable of significantly shaping the ways billions of people think. Recent developments have made Dependency Theory an even harsher reality. Corporations have a tight grasp over a majority of the world's media, so liberal and capitalist ideas are heavily promoted. Only one story is told and thus “there is no alternative”. Capitalism and subsequent globalization become the only options.5 In Kate Manzo's chapter, Does Colonialism Belong to the Past?, she argues that colonialism is still alive and well. The world is by no means “postcolonial” and appears to be more “neocolonial” if anything. Neocolonialism is a concept based on Marxism that implies “that nothing much has changed in the world economic order since independence, in that patterns of economic power and unequal exchange remain more or less exactly as they were”.6 It is well supported by the global landscape today. The world has not been decolonized and neither has contemporary international relations. This made is evident by the actions of the leaders of many global organizations, particularly financial