What Is Globalization?

Globalization is the spread of products, technology, information, and jobs across national
borders and cultures. In economic terms, it describes an interdependence of nations
around the globe fostered through free trade.

On the upside, it can raise the standard of living in poor and less developed countries by
providing job opportunity, modernization, and improved access to goods and services.
On the downside, it can destroy job opportunities in more developed and high-wage
countries as the production of goods moves across borders.

Globalization motives are idealistic, as well as opportunistic, but the development of a

global free market has benefited large corporations based in the Western world. Its
impact remains mixed for workers, cultures, and small businesses around the globe, in
both developed and emerging nations.

Globalization Explained

Corporations gain a competitive advantage on multiple fronts through globalization.

They can reduce operating costs by manufacturing abroad. They can buy raw materials
more cheaply because of the reduction or removal of tariffs. Most of all, they gain access
to millions of new consumers.

Globalization is a social, cultural, political, and legal phenomenon.

Socially, it leads to greater interaction among various populations.

Culturally, globalization represents the exchange of ideas, values, and artistic expression
among cultures.

Globalization also represents a trend toward the development of single world culture.

Politically, globalization has shifted attention to intergovernmental organizations like the

United Nations (UN) and the World Trade Organization (WTO).

Legally, globalization has altered how international law is created and enforced.

Real World Examples of Globalization

A car manufacturer based in Japan can manufacture auto parts in several developing
countries, ship the parts to another country for assembly, then sell the finished cars to
any nation.
China and India are among the foremost examples of nations that have benefited from
globalization, but there are many smaller players and newer entrants. Indonesia,
Cambodia, and Vietnam are among fast-growing global players in Asia.

Ghana and Ethiopia had the fastest-growing African economies in the world in 2018,
according to a World Bank report.

Multicultural Literacy

Multicultural Literacy consists of the skills and ability to identify the creators of
knowledge and their interests (Banks, 1996), to uncover the assumptions of knowledge,
to view knowledge from diverse ethnic and cultural perspective, and to use knowledge
to guided action that will create a humane and just world (Boutte, 2008).

Multicultural Literacy then, brings attention to diversity, equity and social justice to
foster cultural awareness by addressing difficult issues like discrimination and oppression
towards other ethnicities (Boutte, 2008). According to Boutte (2008) education for
multicultural literacy should help students to develop the 21st century skills and
attitudes that are needed to become active citizens who will work towards achieving
social justice within our communities. Because of the growing racial, language and
ethnic diversity in our country, Multicultural Literacy needs to be transformed in
substantial ways to prepare students to function effectively in the 21st Century (Boutte,
2008).

By making small changes within the classrooms, it can create big changes globally
(Boutte, 2008). As diversity grows, there is a need for the emergence of multicultural
education that is more representative of the students in today’s classrooms. By teaching
students to be advocates for multiculturalism, we are also sending a message of
empathy and tolerance in schools as a need to develop deeper understanding of others
and appreciation of different cultures (Banks, 2003). With this being said, in order for
students to develop these attitudes and skills, it requires basic knowledge prior to
teaching students how to question assumptions about cultural knowledge and how to
critique and critically think about these important cultural issues, which is what
essentially makes Multicultural Literacy a 21st Century Literacy (Banks, 2003).

“Cultural diversity is a central rationale for and tenet of conceptualizations of

global citizenship education” (Eidoo, Ingram, Macdonald, Nabavi, Pashby, Stille,

2011). Multiculturalism defines an inclusive approach to cultural diversity in

government policy, school curriculum, people’s life style, and popular understandings

of a certain country. (Joshee, 2009, cited in Eidoo, Ingram, Macdonald, Nabavi,

Pashby, Stille, 2011). “Multicultural literacy has become a term that best represents

the awareness of social-social diversity that exist in most countries today” (Raihanah ,

Hashim & Yusof, 2012). Namely, multicultural literacy is the awareness and

appreciation of different beliefs, appearance, and lifestyle. Taylor and Hoechsmann’s

(2011) view toward multicultural literacy focus on developing a means of measuring

openness to contestatory knowledges, intercultural awareness, and respect as lived

relations and processes.

Advantages of Multiculturalism
1. Education

There have been changes in the syllabus of subjects, like history, to accommodate a
more comprehensive and broader version of the past events. This can be seen as giving
more exposure to children, wherein they learn about different perspectives on a given
topic. Kids are educated about equality, and thus develop an attitude against racism.

2. Professional

Employees coming from various cultures can contribute with a wider range of
perspectives on an assignment. A mix of cultural experiences helps in problem-solving,
and can create a strong team. Having a diverse group of workers always enriches the
office environment, improving the work culture.

3. Multinational Companies

These service industry giants, specifically the FMCG (fast-moving consumer goods)
manufacturers, have benefited greatly from globalization. A diverse population
employed by these companies in different countries helps them capture global markets,
increase customer base across nations, and earn profits easily.

4. Skilled Migrant Labor

Multiethnic countries are home to majority of immigrants, a significant population of it

being a highly educated skilled workforce. For example, students coming from Asia to
the United States for higher education become part of the country's workforce. Besides
their aptness for the job, a basic requirement, like knowledge of the English language,
serves as an additional asset for both, the employer and the employee.

Disadvantages of Multiculturalism

1. Education

Children from ethnic minorities or immigrant families would take time in getting
accustomed to a new environment. This may get reflected in their academic
performance, when compared with that of the local children.
2. Professional

Although largely it is a benefit, managing a multicultural workforce can be very

demanding. Prejudices of employees may work against the people belonging to a
minority. Encouraging cooperation among all the coworkers, especially in collaborating
as a team, can be a task.

3. Fear of Influence

Living in a multicultural society, even a cosmopolitan city for that matter, may inculcate a
fear among individuals or minority groups, that they would lose their original ethnic
identities or lifestyle. Being influenced by other cultures or foreign belief systems, at
times create a protectionist tendency among the citizens.

4. Risk of Social Conflict

The possibility of a social conflict occurs due to differences in religious beliefs and
practices, ethnic rituals, or certain ways of life that may cause a rift between two or
more groups. However, in those countries that have adopted multiculturalism as an
integrative policy, it has been noticed that conflicts arose mainly during financial crisis
and due to lack of social programs.

Purpose

Promotes empathy and unity

Multicultural literature fosters positive self-esteem and prevents students from feeling
isolated. It has the ability to nurture respect, empathy and acceptance among all
students (Steiner et al, 2008). Whoever You Are (Fox, 1997) is an older publication that
illustrates perfectly how multicultural literature can promote unity among different
cultures. The story highlights the fact that all children feel the same emotions no matter
where they live in the world, what language they speak, or how they look. It suggests
that although people have many differences, there are common traits that unite us.

Promotes cross-cultural friendship

Multicultural literature promotes the interaction of children across differing ethnic
backgrounds (Steiner et al., 2008). Stories portraying cultural diversity can foster the
belief that race is not a barrier, but rather a contribution to the beauty of our
multicultural world. This ideal is portrayed in Kobald’s My Two Blankets (2014). A young
girl named Cartwheel relocates to a westernised country to escape the war that is
occurring in her homeland. She feels lost and lonely until she meets a young girl in the
park. Over time their friendship develops and the young girl helps Cartwheel to
understand her new world.

Helps students look critically at the world

Multicultural literature can help students develop global awareness by introducing them
to current cultural issues. When students vicariously experience the feelings and
emotions of others through literature, they are encouraged to look critically at the world
and gain a greater understanding of the global community (Monobe & Son, 2014).

Encourages identity formation

Multicultural literature can also assist students with their identity formation (Hseu &
Hetzel, 2000). Identity formation is important in the social development of all children,
as it gives them a sense of belonging and acceptance in society.

In classroom

There are six main goals in teaching children multicultural literature. First,

multicultural literature increases sense of self-worth and a sense that they have a
chance

for a successful future. Knowledge about other cultural groups lays the foundation for

developing cultural pluralism, which is defined as a condition in which many cultures

coexist within a society and maintain their cultural differences (dictionary.com),

intergroup harmony and the ability to think from a multicultural perspective (Ford,
Harris

& Howard, 1999).

The second goal includes achieving educational equity. Educational equity has

three basic conditions: a) an equal opportunity to learn, b) positive educational

outcomes

for both individuals and groups, and c) equal physical and financial conditions for

students to grow to their fullest potential cognitively, academically, and affectively (Ford,

Harris & Howard, 1999).

The third goal is working towards cultural pluralism. When educators support

cultural pluralism they modify fundamental conditions to promote equitable learning.

Their goal is to help students develop understanding and respect for people who are

different from them (Ford, Harris & Howard, 1999).

The fourth goal of multicultural literature is to create a sense of empowerment in

students. Students must help students become independent learners. Empowerment
also

helps student take an active role in improving the lives of others (Ford, Harris & Howard,

1999).

The fifth goal includes the ability to work in groups in harmony. Educators

provide knowledge and skills that prepare students to work with members of their own
cultural groups and other cultural groups. Instruction includes opportunity for students
to

work with and learn from each other (Ford, Harris & Howard, 1999).

The final goal includes teaching from a multicultural perspective. This means

educators must challenge assumptions and stereotypes. For example, teachers need to

select literature that does not promote stereotypical perspectives. Also, teachers must
see

that culture, race, gender, religion, SES, and ability are variables in the learning process

(Ford, Harris & Howard, 1999).

Elements

They are cultural care, cultural understanding, cultural compatibility, cultural respect,
and empathy in facing cultural difference.

Advantages of Globalization

1. Globalization allows us to pool all our resources together.

One of the best examples of globalization within our lifetime is the construction of the
International Space Station. The cost to construct the ISS was $150 billion. Compared to
the Mir station at $4.2 billion, the price tag is astronomical. When the first component
for the ISS was launched in 1998, five different programs came together to join in
ownership, cost, and operations. The United States, Russia, Canada, Europe, and Japan
are all involved in the financing and continued operations of the program.

When nations work together to fund common goals, then more money becomes useful
for needs other than national defense. Imagine what we could do if the $1 trillion spent
annually on warfare and defense could be used for the global greater good?

2. Globalization would also reduce labor exploitation issues.

When borders become less restrictive around the world, people tend to move to
locations where their best opportunities exist. Under the current structure of our planet,
impoverished nations with a lower standard of living offer wages that the developed
world would find abysmal. Someone in Bangladesh making clothes for 10 hours per day
earns less in a month than some workers in the U.S. earn before lunch.

By focusing on globalization, we could reduce child labor issues. Human trafficking

concerns would be limited because of more border freedom. People could live, work, or
go where they please with fewer restrictions, making it easier to chase their dreams.

3. Globalization reduces the prospects of tyranny.

As the world moved slowly toward globalization in the 20th century, the nations realized
that having a concentrated power with one administration reduced the likelihood of
tyranny in pockets around the globe. Although there have still be issues with
government oppression, including the chemical attacks on populace centers in Syria, the
number of incidents is slowly declining.

When we’re able to move toward a global-centric society instead of a nation-centric one,
these issues will continue to decline over time.

4. Globalization improves communication access.

The Trump Administration announced new travel restrictions in September 2017 to

focus on 8 countries: North Korea, Chad, Libya, Iran, Syria, Somalia, Yemen, and
Venezuela. “Making America Safe is my number one priority,” President Trump tweeted
when announcing this decision. “We will not admit those into our country we cannot
safely vet.”

Under a globalization perspective, people would have their risks associated by a central
perspective instead. It would be like the United Nations vetting immigrants instead of
the individual country. By reducing border restrictions, we improve communication
access because we’re no longer restricting the movements and actions of people on a
per-nation basis.

5. Globalization would remove tax havens for wealthy individuals and businesses.

Tax havens are defined as either a country or independent area where taxation levies are
at low rates. They offer foreign businesses and individuals an opportunity to keep their
profits in local institutions with little or no liability. These havens share little, if any,
information about these finances with other tax authorities.

Globalization reduces this issue because it eliminates the administrative structures in

place which allow the wealthy to hide their funds from being taxed. That would mean
these businesses and people would be treated as an average citizen is today. Greater
transparency here would lead to better funding of social programs, which could reduce
poverty and food insecurity over time.

6. Globalization would help the developing world progress faster.

Most of the world today is not developed. Outside of about 40 countries which have
gone through their own version of the Industrial Revolution, the rest of the population
still struggles as a primarily agricultural society. By reducing border restrictions, creating
common payment formats, and opening product access by reducing export barriers,
more people could improve their way of life. Higher incomes often lead to lower
maternal and infant mortality rates too, which means we’d be saving lives with this
effort.

7. Globalization would reduce currency manipulation problems.

There are three primary currencies traded in the world today: the Dollar, the Euro, and
the Pound Sterling. When a nation offers access to a weaker currency, those with
stronger currencies buy and sell more often with them. It offers better value than
spending at home. Globalization would reduce the efforts made to build weakness or
strength into these currencies to influence local markets. We’d be working toward a
society where economic growth occurs on a global scale instead of in only local
economies.

8. Globalization encourages free trade.

Borders create restrictions to the free flow of goods and services. One example of this
issue is a duty and taxes paid on imported goods originating in the U.S. when purchased
in Canada. These taxes apply on luxury items and other items of high value. The HST in
Canada may be collected at a rate of 13%. Canadians use shipping service receptacles at
locations like Point Roberts, WA to get around this tax simply because the laws haven’t
globalized like our access to goods.

There are currently over 1,500 different restrictions in place with the global
import/export market right now.
9. Globalization could create more employment opportunities.

With fewer barriers to the import/export market, the cost of producing goods or offering
services would decline without affecting the profit margins of companies. Consumers
would benefit from the lower prices, consume more, and create additional job
opportunities around the world. By creating an environment where free trade
encouragement readily exists, more innovation, creativity, and engagement would occur
at every level of society.

Disadvantages of Globalization

1. Globalization may encourage more offshoring instead of less.

With fewer restrictions in place at the national level, some businesses may use
offshoring to their advantage. Even if they kept jobs local, the threat of sending jobs to a
different, cheaper region overseas could be used to justify lower wages at home. The
end result of an effort to remove borders would be an increase in wages in the
developing world, but a decrease in developed countries. Many households could see
their standard of living go down if consumable price decreases don’t occur
simultaneously.

2. Globalization benefits the wealthy more than the poor.

Value-added taxes above 25% exist in some nations. Tariffs above 70% exist for some
products. Unless borders are completely removed, the advantages of globalization are
challenging to achieve. The people who have the power to dictate policy would reap the
most significant rewards. Those with money to invest would see their bank accounts
continue to rise. At the same time, households living paycheck-to-paycheck would
struggle to access what they require, suppressing their ability to pursue a better job.

3. Globalization would encourage disease transfer.

The outcome of the Columbian Exchange was profound at the time. Over 90% of some
population centers died because of their exposure to smallpox, chickenpox, and other
diseases that the Europeans were somewhat immune to at the time. The Europeans
brought back syphilis and other diseases as well. If global travel restricts eased, then
issues with malaria and tropical disease could spread to portions of the world where
exposures are minimal. Tuberculosis, certain influenza strains, and other communicable
disease could produce outbreaks at epidemic levels.

4. Globalization could reduce social safety net programs.

Most nations today offer those in extreme poverty access to safety net programs for
basic supplies. Even in the United States, programs like WIC and SNAP offer food and
care access to those who cannot afford it on their own for whatever reason. When we
reduce or eliminate borders, there would be a likely shift in social programs to benefit
those earning less than $2 per day while ignoring the needs of those at home.
Households living in poverty in the U.S. or United Kingdom fit into a different definition
when compared to global poverty.

5. Globalization would create a new system of politics.

We’ve already received a sneak peek of what a global society would be like from a
political perspective. The individuals and organizations who spend the most to lobby
politicians would receive the best chance of having their needs met first. We’ve seen
billions spent in U.S. elections lately to influence legislation and policy to become
favorable toward specific outcomes. This issue would translate to a global economy,
where only the richest and most influential would influence laws which would impact
everyone.

6. Globalization would not prevent resource consumption.

The goal of globalization is to equalize patterns of consumption for populations around

the world. Even though there would be movement toward doing so, there is no getting
around the fact that the wealthiest nations will still consume the most resources. The 20
richest countries in the world today consume almost 90% of the planet’s resources each
year. The United States constitutes 5% of the global population right now, but it
consumes 24% of the world’s energy as a country.

When you look at the per capita consumption rates of energy globally, one American
consumes as much energy as 31 people in India. If you go to a developing nation, it takes
370 Ethiopians to use the same amount of energy that a single U.S. citizen uses to meet
their needs.

7. Globalization would make it easier for people to cheat.

The statistics of consumption (especially food) show us already that those who are in
power take the majority of resources away from the general population. Americans eat
almost 200 billion more calories per day as a nation than they require, which means 80
million people are hungry needlessly because of these consumption habits. About
200,000 tons of edible food is disposed of daily in the United States. By the age of 75,
the average person in the U.S. creates 52 tons of garbage.

Globalization would likely centralize distribution of necessary resources. With only a few
controlling access to the many, the chance to negatively impact populations on a large
scale become greater when borders are reduced.

8. Globalization doesn’t fix a lack of skills.

The future of employment involves programming, robotics, and artificial intelligence.

Workers who adapt to automation with their skillset are the most likely to find
employment in the coming generations. Jobs which require repetitive functions will be
the first to go away, which are the employment opportunities often found in the
developing world. With no meaningful skills to a globalized economy, there could be a
higher unemployment rate if border restrictions reduce because only those in the
developed world would be trained for the new economy.

Unless new vocational development opportunities implement with the globalization

structures, the boundaries between the developed and developing world will likely
continue to exist.

9. Globalization changes how humans would identify themselves.

Humans are global citizens in some ways already. We all share the same planet, after all,
so we are united with that common ground. If we lose borders, however, we also lose a
piece of our culture, ethnicity, or family heritage. People identify themselves based on
their history, so being Irish in a global world would have less impact than it does today.
We already seen how this works when Texas came into the U.S. after being an
independent nation. Some Texans label themselves as such first, but many see
themselves as an American before being a Texan.

10. Globalization would negatively impact the environment.

We’ve already seen what free trade does to the environment. Greenhouse gas emissions
rose in 2018 despite efforts to curtail them. Micro-plastics invaded our oceans, creating
negative impacts on marine life. The waters of our planet are slowly acidifying, creating
economic and health impacts every day. Over 200,000 Americans die each year because
of pollution exposure. If caps are taken off of what is not permitted through
globalization, then this issue will continue growing worse.

COMPONENTS OF GLOBALIZATION

Global Hierarchy of Countries

based on political, economic, and cultural influence

1. Core : dominate trade, industrialized, market-oriented

2. Periphery : dominated, full of productive areas, ex-colonial nations

3. Semi-Periphery : partially industrialized, exploited and exploiters

Capitalist Economic System

dominated by transnational corporations who maintain direct control of their product

development, marketing and brand management - makes the company to work on a
global scale

Political Interconnectedness

- created through colonialism, warfare, treaty organizations, and supranational

institutions (ex: UN, WHO, OPEC...etc)
- Political issues connect to all over the world

Gulfs Between Rich and Poor

rich becomes more rich, poor is still poor. (core, semi-periphery, and periphery)

Displacement of Traditional Systems of Culture

causes breakdown of folk traditions of culture. (there are only 10 languages spoken all
around the world. in the past, there were 100 languages spoken)

McDonaldization

as new styles move from one place to another, that certain culture blends into the
original culture and make it more alike. (neg- high risk of losing traditional cultural
aspect of the original)

Cultural Hybridization

mixing and blending of cultural styles (mexican food, abstract murals on streets)

Rise of Mega-Cities

more and more people living in urban areas; people tend to live in big cities (capital, big
cities) than rural areas (시골)

Internationalization and Feminization of Migration

accelerated rates of international migration, especially by women (as time passed,

women were able to get proper education, and even get jobs)

Differences Between Birth and Death Rates

birth/death rates significantly differ between core and periphery countries

Local Resistance/Ethnic Nationalism

local ethnic groups to react to the impersonal aspects of globalization

Environmental Transnationalism

days like 'world environment day', world working on 지구온난화..etc