Category: Globalization

Louis Pasteur, a renowned French scientist once said that luck and fortunes are products of prior preparedness (Nissley 2011, para 1). These words are synonymous with the ideas of Thomas L. Friedman, a New York Times journalist who explains that the definition of the term globalization has changed with the evolution of information technology. Friedman stipulates that the world has become flat, with no physical, political or social barriers, which is the hallmark of the new globalization (Friedman 2006. para 1).

This is due to the role that information technology is playing in facilitating faster communication across the globe. As such people must be prepared to see the world as flat and also be ready to unlearn old knowledge, relearning, and also have an open mind. The ability to unlearn and relearn prepares people as well as corporations to reap the benefits of information technology-based globalization. The new global order, Friedman asserts, is evident through technology as well as political occurrences. Such include the ballooning of technological innovations such as the internet, the mobile phone, cloud computing, and the fall of the Berlin wall among other major occurrences.

The significance of these occurrences is that they have eliminated both technological as well as political barriers that have in effect made it ease for information and knowledge to flow freely globally With such open space nations are rising up to the challenge and are thus making new innovations but as Jaithirth Rao, and Indian outsourcing guru says American is always a step ahead of the rest and that it is always on the edge of the next creative wave (Coveylink 2011. para 8).

Freidman explains that the convergence of technological innovations especially information technology tools such as the internet and the mobile phone, and political occurrences such as the fall of the Berlin wall as well as the fiber optic cables have globalized knowledge and information flow. As such this has made the world to be flat as there are no barriers, physical, technological, or political towards that hinder communication across the world. This is the hallmark of modern globalization (Manyika 2008).

To fully enjoy the benefits of globalization people, corporate bodies, as well as government, must wake up to the reality of a flattened world supported by information technological innovations. Friedman laments that America is so engrossed in other affairs such as the Middle East crisis that most politicians have not woken up to the new reality. This is occasioned by the fact that America is led by lawyers who are only interested in politics and are not aware that other countries such as India and China are on the fast track towards technological maturity and as such will, in the near future, pose a very big challenge to America.

This, however, does not mean America is lagging behind in terms of technological innovations and indeed American and American companies are always leading the rest of the world in this field. The Federal government is devoting a significant amount of money to research especially in information technology-related fields. Due to such government efforts, much of the economic growth experienced in America in the last 100 years can be attributed to innovation made by industries that are as a result of federal funding.

Information technology is the foundation for the progression of the American economy and is also enabling American firms to increase research and development initiatives and as such advance innovations in all fields. Such IT-based industries have transformed the way in which Americans live as they have enabled and improved manufacturing, service, and other industries that have to improve the economy. This comes in the wake of a downfall in IT-based innovations in other parts of the world (Harsha et al 2008; Domestic Policy Council 2006).

Federal government support to increase research and development activities has also led to the emergence of American global brands in the recent past. While the famous Ford T model is the emblem of American global brand domination, there are other American companies that have gone global on the platform of groundbreaking innovations and have continued to set the pace for innovative discoveries.

In a recent survey by Business Week, it has been discovered that American brands dominate the top spots of the 50 best global innovations. Among the worlds leading innovators include Apple, Google, Procter and Gamble, Microsoft, Amazon, IBM, and many others, and have grown to global status due to their innovative products that outshine innovation from competitors from other parts of the world (BusinessWeek 2011).

One of the most visible American global brands is Google Inc, an information technology firm that has a vast interest in internet search services. From the year 2005, the company recognized the need to build its growth around innovative products and services in order to stay ahead of the competition. Therefore Google Inc started out on a campaign to launch a number of innovative products intended to make it not only a global firm but the leading innovator in the field of internet services and products (Bower 2005).

As such Google comes up with a policy that requires every employee to devote at least 20% of their time in working on their own innovative products and services for its web-based operations. Googles activities are a reflection of the companys CEO, Eric Schmidt, who asserts that the internet is the place to be (Manyika 2008, para 13). Eric further asserts that the internet has put leverage on the global playing field, something akin to Friedmans assertions that the internet has flattened the world. Google has realized that the internet is no longer a place to search for information but also a place to get things done.

To support these additional and demanded services the company has developed a number of products that set it apart from the rest of the competition like Microsoft and Yahoo. Google Search is the biggest online search engine that not only helps users to access hundreds of billion of WebPages but does so for free. Google has come up with Gmail, the leading public email platform, where users sign up for free accounts.

Gmail is intended to allow users to send and share information privately amongst users, is easy to use, and allows users a very large capacity of up to 7000 megabytes of free storage. Google also knows that documents do exists in different formats and as such has developed Goggle Docs, an in-built Office application, that helps users to download and upload various forms of document formats such as spreadsheets, word-processed documents, excel databases, pictures, and presentations. Users can easily view or upload any document from any type of computer or smartphone in any part of the world.

Google Docs eliminates the need to have such applications as Microsoft Office in users computers. One of the features that support Friedmans assertion that the internet has flattened the world is Google Translate. This feature allows users to translate online documents to many international languages for free. This means that users can share information across the globe by using this application to translate online documents into any of the major languages. Scholars, academicians, and students are also catered for.

Google launched Google Scholar and Google Books to allow users looking for scholarly content access to unlimited books, academic journals and scholarly articles. Google Images helps users to search and access thousands of images from the web, while YouTube has been incorporated as one of Googles applications to help users to access videos for free.

Chrome, the companys own browser is emerging as the browser of choice for my users as it not upstages rivals such as Mozilla and Microsoft Internet Explorer but also has additional features and is faster and more reliable (Google 2011). These are just a few of Google inbuilt products services and applications which have not only made it a truly global brand but also a pace setter in innovations.

Those who understand Friedmans assertions that the world has become flat do also understanding and the role and implication that innovative information technology is playing to facilitate the globalization phenomena. These innovations have enabled a free flow of information across the globe. In effect the global economy has benefited greatly from such innovations. There are many global companies from Europe and Asia but many of the world leading brands are American.

Such brands such as Google not only set the pace in innovative applications but also dominate the internet search industry. Many of the application developed by Google have endeared to the global consumer, and as it is has become a household name. This proves that America is always ahead of its peers in innovative discoveries.

Reference List

Bower, A., 2005. Google: Catching Up to Stay Ahead. Time. Web.

Businessweek., 2011. The Worlds 50 Most Innovative Companies. Web.

Coveylink. 2011. Where were you when you realized the world is flat? Web.

Domestic Policy Council. 2006. American Competitiveness Initiative. Web.

Friedman, T. 2006. The World is Flat: A Brief History of the 21st Century. New York: Farrar, Stratus & Giroux Google. Web.

Harsha, P. et al., 2008. Information Technology R&D and U.S. Innovation. Web.

Manyika, J., 2008. Googles View on the Future of Business: An Interview with CEO Eric Schmidt: How the Internet Will Change The Nature Of Competition, Innovation, And Company Operations. Web.

Nissley, T., 2011. Where You Were When You Realized the World Is Flat? (Or Have You?): A Conversation with Thomas L. Friedman. Web.

Introduction

Diaspora is the concept of migration or dispersion regardless of the time spent on its creation or the time of its existence. Diaspora may be characterized by two different states as it is both a process and a condition. It is a process since it is constantly in the creation, and as a condition, it is located within the universal sexual category and hierarchies.

Diaspora as a process is continuously being transformed trough movements, exodus journeys and in the imaginary thought patterns as well as political struggle and cultural creation. As a condition, it is constrained to the procedure by which it is prepared and remade. Diaspora can be reversed just the same way it was made. This calls for examination of various Diasporas from various historical backgrounds and locations.

The extensive based conceptualization of African Diaspora is augmented by its long history. The process of creation of this particular Diaspora was influenced by racial capitalism, imperialism, and colonialism. In essence, the African Diaspora exists within the framework of gender hierarchies and global race which are made along legal, cultural, economic, imperial and social lines.

Effects of slave trade on definition of Diaspora

The aspect of slave trade directly affected the African Diaspora. The groups of slaves were sailed across the Atlantic while their concentration in the African culture remained intact. The groups never became unified or monolithic. Differences of gender and class were integral and deeply entrenched in social relations to Central and West Africa.

Imperial structures and wars brought together the Soyinka and Wolof due to their closeness to each other in location and common trade routes. Black labor migration brought about by slave trade was basically triggered by the need for capital, labor policies and ideologies. This made the migrants to work in mines, plantations, and rail works of the Europeans (Patterson and Kelley, 2000, p.13).

Major political dimensions and developments with regard to industrialization were shaped by revolutions, violence, famines and international wars. The revolutions yielded immigrants some of whom were dispersed in the U.S. Therefore, Black Nationalism has not necessary been originated from Africa.

It is linked to international movements like socialism, feminism, communism and religious affiliations. In the modern world, Diaspora is also significant, especially, in Europe and America. The Afro Diaspora politics and identity have changed the political landscape of the new world.

Historical and social characteristics of diaspora

Diaspora characteristics are historically and socially constituted and replicated. The collective identity of the Blacks in Diaspora is constantly shifting and appears to be conditional. The cultural identity is defined in terms of collective culture, history and a common ancestry (Patterson and Kelley, 2000, p.11).

The complex process of identity formation and the demographic changes led to regional variations in the fight for social and political equality. The fight for cultural autonomy was a major reason for social protest.

For instance, in Salvador, the Afro-Cuban involvement in wars for national liberation was widespread, and the military leaders assumed political seats when the war had ended. After the race war, the efforts for the Afro Cubans to organize and participate in the national affair were curtailed.

The concept of dominant ideology is competing in struggle, historical gender circumstances, class and products of alliance (Patterson and Kelley, 2000, p.12). The focus is on the efforts of African descents to secure the third citizenship rights, define them as part of the nation and challenge the idea of limited racial consciousness.

The consciousness of non-English speaking societies was limited and complex. Marginalization by the ruling class laid the basis for the opposition and uprising on the political ideology. The activist formulated ideological assumption for opposition to the ruling philosophy. They resorted to cultural field which included recreation and religion as a way to level out inequality.

Replacement of Asian labor with newly empowered slaves in South America and South Africa brought about reshaping of racial labor stratification where the Indians were employed, and as a result, they established the peasant existence.

The divide and rule policies of the colonial masters raised tensions as the blacks were considered authentic after the rise of the post colonial nationalism. The black Indians, also known as Dalitas, developed an alertness of their African history and ancestry and hence strengthened the efforts of the African struggle.

The gender mainstreaming was also evident in Diaspora development, especially, regarding the Africans. Masculine characteristics of nationalism and Diaspora historically and genealogically left out women. The Diaspora condition which is much based on gender hierarchies is well documented by many authors studying African Diasporas (Patterson and Kelley, 2000, p.18).

The focus is on the impact of Black Nationalism, but little attention is given to the womens participation and efforts in the struggle due to their gender and feminism. Despite womens participation in religious activities as diviners, for example, in the Caribbean, the institutional hierarchies in churches were dominated by men.

Identity development process and demographic dynamics resulted in regional discrepancy in struggle for political and social fairness. The creation of African culture was conditioned by the same, and this created harmony in sociopolitical agendas.

For example, in Brazil, the Afro-Brazilians realized the material and political barriers which faced them and tackled them through political mechanisms. Need for political equality and identity resulted in political struggle which was meant to intensify the understanding of African descent people.

The impact of African Diaspora can be illustrated by comparing the post empowerment societies. Transition from slavery to freedom was a holistic process presented across all the continents. Slavery was a global concern, and it mainly led to industrial capitalism.

The transformation from slavery to freedom is also a process which aimed at labor force reconstruction which in turn had implications on democracy, racial ideology and capitalism. In the modern world, the aspect of empowerment was a global concern in the framework of industrial capitalism.

Conclusion

Despite the overpowering Diaspora patterns in the Atlantic, in the modern world, Black Nationalism is growing by day. Africa is not the sole source of black globalization. These movements which were entrenched in freedom, socialism, gender recognition and anti-colonialism cannot be limited to the US, Africa or Asia. From the foregoing, it is evident that the African Diaspora is a process.

It is evolving in time trough historical and political developments across the globe. Slave trade and colonialism greatly impacted the development of the African Diaspora. Being a process, it has continuously been transformed and changed due to movements, such as mass departure, borders crossing, as well as such patterns as political struggle and cultural creation.

As a condition, it has been inhibited to the procedure through which it is prepared and changed. In fundamental nature, the African Diaspora has subsisted within the outline of gender hierarchies and global race which are made along cultural, legal, economic, imperial and social spheres

Work Cited

Patterson, Tiffany Ruby & Robin D.G. Kelley. Unfinished Migrations: Reflections on the African Diaspora and the Making of the Modern World. African Studies Review, 43.1 (2000): 11-45. Print.

Introduction

Diaspora is one of the leading features of globalization and its principal meaning refers to a people who are not in their homeland. The etymology of this word means scattering, and as we see in Jacqueline Browns article, the black other has a different meaning.

There is a second home, a second country, although in the new context, people in a Diaspora seemed lost, lost In geographic location, and perhaps, have lost their own identity. Jayne Ifekwunigwe defined the new African Diasporas as the clandestine movement of Africans  in whatever way  so they could get away from the impoverished urban centers to economically advanced places in Europe, or what Harding (qtd. in Ifekwunigwe 207) called European metropoles. It is known as the African migration for economic purposes, but whether they attain their goals when they reached their destination is a big question.

Present-day Diasporas

Ifekwunigwes thesis and contention refer to present and ongoing African Diasporas; these are African migrations to Europe, some of which are not legal but it refers to trafficking and smuggling of men and women from West and North Africa by way of Morocco, and then Europe (Harding, qtd. in Ifekwunigwe 207). Nigerian women were illegally brought to Italy to become sex workers, but there were also voluntary Diasporas to Ireland from Nigeria.

Even pregnant women left West Africa to give birth in Spain and Ireland which created debate and controversy over their citizenship. Nigerian sex workers are aplenty in Italy, and Ifekwunigwe relates this reality to black sexuality, referring to Sharpley-Whitings work Black Venus. Black women became victims because of poverty. Albanian men were also smuggled along with women. The Diasporas were done in desperation mostly because of poverty.

West African migrants were promised of higher European Union wages, many times higher. Black men were preferred by EU businesses. Migrant men and women were brought to one destination but with different destinies; the women were to become sex workers, or for domestic work.

Early Diasporas: Liverpool

There are other black men in different parts of Europe and the United States. In the 1920s to 1930s, Africans were used as cheap labor in Britain, which is synonymous with slaves. Black identity in the Liverpool area was the opposite of the English and British identity. Jacqueline Browns investigation centred on the difference between black Liverpool and black America over two periods in history  the period immediately after the war and the time of the U.S. civil rights movement. (Brown 75)

Brown made her differentiation of the black other on two geographical areas  black Liverpool and black America. In the mid-nineteenth century up to the 1970s, Liverpool was an international seaport which grew largely because of the services of African slaves who were hired by shipping companies. Even if the industry died down, African sailors continued to flock and contribute to what they call the Liverpudlian identity which constituted the black Liverpool.

For lack of marriageable black women, African sailors were profoundly originators of interracial marriage when they courted English and Irish women in Liverpools port, and they started a new community called black Liverpool. But when black women were becoming available for marriage, the black men would not consider even courting them. The black men said that they considered the black women as kin, so they did not have a sexual desire for them. (Brown 75-76)

The African seamen had access to different cultures, particularly American culture. They brought with them American music to Liverpool. Traditional black music, whether African or American, reached Liverpool because of the African seamen. During World War II, American servicemen were assigned in the different parts of Britain, particularly Liverpool.

Black GIs came and intermingled with the black Liverpool population. Black Americans spoke harsh of the black Liverpudlians, calling them jungle men and other racist innuendos about Africans, when in fact these two groups were from African ancestry.

Which are the other black? These are the black Liverpudlians who have settled in Liverpool, and who black Americans had little regard about and called them jungle men. Black women in Liverpool married black Americans and were able to migrate to America. Because of the interracial marriage, there was a growing animosity between black Americans and Liverpools black men.

In Liverpool, the black Americans brought with them what were considered classy and extravagant  big cars and clothes only actors and actresses wore. But Africans didnt have direct link to Africa except through America. Black women from Liverpool migrated to the United States and expanded the blackness of Liverpool.

Most Black Liverpudlians now have relatives in the United States. But black men didnt like it  the migration of their sisters to America. The black mens migration from Africa to Britain was devoid of comments from black women but the men expressed their bad feelings with the womens migration.

There was a gendering of travel. This refers to the return of black seafarers and black women to Liverpool. Upon the seafarers return, they were greeted with parties, the African style. The womens arrival, on the other hand, was criticized by men. The men chided the women for pursuing their dream of going to America and their return to Liverpool was considered a failure. (Brown 89)

The Canadian Context

There is another kind of blackness Diaspora and that is in Canada, Americas neighbour in the northern side. The elements of this Diaspora were American fugitive slaves who fled America to find freedom. Canada was seen as a place where they could be free, but there was racism in Canada  even up to this day (Pabst 113).

Canada was never safe for black people. An example is Mary Ann Shadd Cary, an active nineteenth century black feminist who lived for fifteen years in Canada but later went back to the United States because of the prevailing racism in Canada. There were many others, writers, sportsmen, politicians, who walked to Canada and fled.

Canada is a well developed country, with a cultural mosaic, and an institutionalized policy of accepting people of diverse cultures. In spite of these, there is an existing Canadian racism. It was the journalist Margaret Cannon (qtd. in Pabst 114) who coined the term invisible empire, referring to Canadas racism which looks like invisible, pervasive, yet formidable.

Slavery is no stranger to Canada  for two centuries, black people endured it, although it is not as large as in the United States and in a different form. Slavery in Canada is reformed and reformatted, like it never happened because of the fact that the country also accepts fugitive slaves in the form of cheap labor.

When black slaves were emancipated in the United States, they were received by Canada to become labourers, but soon they would leave Canada to return to their loved ones in the U.S. to escape Canadian racism. But since there was opportunity for blacks in Canada in the form of cheap labor, African Americans continued to migrate there. (Pabst 114)

Globalization has transformed African Americans. There is a distinct definition for American blackness. Worldwide, the definition of black subjects is influenced by the African American struggle for political and civil rights. It might be similar with Canada although Canada has sometimes escaped the writings about or against black people. (Pabst 117)

Black Canada and black America are somewhat related, or when we talk of one, we refer to the other. The reason behind could be the proximity and historical ties of black people of the two countries. Despite Canadas racism, Canada recognizes the origin and heritage of people with different cultures.

Canada does not look at the color of skin, yet it is called the great white north (Pabst 118). Black people are regarded as foreigners or aliens in Canada. Canadian blacks are addressed as coming from some island. The Canadian belief is that black people are new to Canada, or they just arrived after World War II, but contrary to this, they have lived in Canada as early as the 1600s.

The multiculturalism policy is not a policy to benefit black people because it looks at black people as simply non-Canadian, or immigrants. This is different from the case of black Americans or Asian Americans. Asian Americans are immigrants because they just arrived in America. But the other black people in Canada are seen as immigrants even if they have been in Canada centuries ago. Pabst states that if black Canadians are not considered authentic Canadian, they are cast out of their being black.

Womanism or Feminism

Womanism has a special place in African America that seems like giving freedom to African Americans. Black American feminists are good at articulating their race and gender. Blackness that is not recognized from whence it came from is often seen as American black (Pabst 119). There are other blacks in Canada, Liverpool, and in many parts of the world, who have to be recognized according to their roots and legacy.

Diasporas are global in scope but their impact can be felt in a localized setting. Some Americans have their own Diasporas as they travelled to the different parts of the world to exercise power. They would not have enjoyed it if they remained in their own states. Black Americans lived and left their homeland, in what they call the black America.

Conclusion

Black other also refers to other black people who may be Africans or non-Africans and have made their own Diasporas. They settle in Europe or in the United States but whether they live peacefully and contentedly cannot be answered straight here. It is reasonable to state that they leave their homeland to scatter in many places to seek for economic opportunity.

Men and women migrate to Europe and the United States or to wherever they find themselves in a suitable situation. This is a continuing human activity, a phenomenon that needs further study and focus. Black men and black women have been emphasised here because it is this group of people who are in a continuous Diaspora because of poverty.

Works Cited

Brown, Jacqueline. Diaspora and Desire: Gendering Black America in Black Liverpool. Globalization and Race: Transformations in the Cultural Production of Blackness. Ed. Kamari Maxine Clarke and Deborah Thomas. United States of America: Duke University Press, 2006. 73-92. Print.

Ifekwunigwe, Jayne. Recasting Black Venus in the New African Diaspora. Globalization and Race: Transformations in the Cultural Production of Blackness. Ed. Kamari Maxine Clarke and Deborah Thomas. United States of America: Duke University Press, 2006. 206-225. Print.

Pabst, Naomi. Mama, Im Walking to Canada: Black Geopolitics and Invisible Empires. Globalization and Race: Transformations in the Cultural Production of Blackness. Ed. Kamari Maxine Clarke and Deborah Thomas. United States of America: Duke University Press, 2006. 112-132. Print.

Introduction

In the early 2000s, it was estimated that close to 156 million people with an African descent were living in Europe and the Americas. However, from a comparative analysis, it has been established that the African Diaspora population is not very prominent. There are some countries in the world where there is an insignificant population of individuals with the African descent.

These include China, India, and Indonesia. The African Diaspora is mostly found within the Atlantic regions. However, other African Diaspora population can be found in Colombia, Peru, and the US Pacific coastal areas. The majority of the African Diaspora is found in South America (57.2%). The North American continent is host to 22.3% of the African Diaspora population.

The central American region has 1.4% of the African American population. The Caribbean has 17.9%, whereas Europe has about 1.2% (Patterson, 68). The anthology that was edited by Clarke and Thomas focused on the African Diaspora and their experiences in various parts of the world. Various contributors have highlighted the various discussions and issues affecting the African people.

However, the focus was on the Africans living in different parts of the world, and not in their homeland. This paper explains why an understanding of the black other is central to explaining the experiences of the African Diaspora. In this case, the paper makes reference to the essays presented by Jacqueline Brown, Naomi Pabst, Jayne Ifekunigwe, and Ariana Hernandez-Reguant.

Background of the African Diaspora

The African Diaspora is a term used to refer to the Africans who are living outside the African continent. The Diasporas came into existence due to migrations. However, the migration of the African people from the African continent can be categorized into three: Primary, secondary, and tertiary migrations. In reference to primary migration, it was facilitated by the slave trade that was rampant between the mid 15th century and the late 19th century.

About ten million Africans were taken into the Americas as slaves between the 17th and 18th centuries. The secondary migration of the African Diaspora was witnessed during the late 18th century. The slaves in the U.S. crossed into Canada and the Caribbean. In the 19th century, the fleeing slaves ran to Canada through the Underground Railroad.

During the early 19th century, the Afro-Caribbean individuals relocated to the US and the Central American region. The secondary migration of the African Diaspora was witnessed during the late 20th century. There was a migration of the Africans to various parts of the world including the U.S., Western Europe, North America and the Oceania region.

The Afro-Caribbeans have been identified as the most migratory group accounting for over 90% of the secondary migration across the Atlantic. The tertiary migration of the African Diaspora was characterized by the movement of the people of African descent to urban areas. In this case, there was a mass movement of people of African descent from the South to the urban North in the United States.

Therefore, it can be observed that most of the African Diaspora resided in urban areas after the tertiary migration. However, most of them are found in slum areas where the living conditions are deplorable. It has been established that, in North America, Europe and the Caribbean, the African Diaspora has a high rate of urbanization (Patterson, 71-72).

Understanding of the black other

The Diaspora has been defined as a process that generates subjects through negotiations arising from particular structural and historical conditions that change over time (Clarke and Thomas, 2006, 12). This process should be observed within the relational network context that has been established through the aspect of globalization.

In general, it can be agreed that social aspects emanating from numerous, political economies are missing in the debate on globalization. This way, the relationship between people and things was disregarded.

The essay by Jacqueline Nassy Brown centers on the issue of gender and sexual desire played a part in shaping the Diaspora. Therefore, Browns work focused on the issues of cultural and geographical aspects. The author explored the manner in which the movements of the African Diaspora and their desires have been shaped based on gender and sexuality.

The author reviews Liverpool as a seaport and the manner in which blackness was viewed by the residents of this city. According to Brown, the arrival of the African seamen in Liverpool led to their intermarriage between them and English and Irish women. This set into motion both the institutions of interracial marriage and its one-way gendering (Clarke and Thomas, 2006, 75).

The black men were regarded as sisters, and thus they were not viewed as marriage partners. The African women advanced a preference for the American Dream as something that the black men in Liverpool were not giving them. It can be viewed that, longing in the formation of the Diasporas prompted the migration to Liverpool where individuals would realize their dreams (Clarke and Thomas, 2006, 87).

In her essay, Ariana Hernandez-Reguent talked about the Timba music that was popular during the 1990s. She analyzed the issues related to this music and how the Afro-Cubans took the music. In fact, she noted that the Timba music presented the African Diaspora in Cuba with a platform whereby they could enjoy without posing a threat to the status quo. Indeed, she argued that the men were presented with social mobility.

This was attained through intimacy and sexuality (Clarke and Thomas, 2006, 250-1). The music was liked by the Afro-Cuban men as it reinforced their dominance over women. The essay is marked with numerous occasions where the men are presented as having dominated women in the various genders productions. This is widespread in the African settings where men are portrayed as superior to women.

The Cuban society is characterized with racial and gender hierarchies where the men are seen as superior. This essay discussed politics surrounding the issues of gender, sexuality and race and how these issues have been integrated into the national discourse. The issues discussed are also directed by class and state authority (Clarke and Thomas, 2006, 272).

Therefore, it can be argued that this essay focused on the politics of masculinity among the Afro-Cubans. Cuba boasts of a considerable number of the African Diaspora. In this society, the men are seen as superior to women, and these racial and gendered aspects have been incorporated into the national culture.

Naomi Pabst focused on the issue of blacks in Canada. The essay examined the association between geopolitics and African prejudice. She looked at the issue of the African Diaspora in Canada and North America within the geopolitical setting. The author is categorical that the essay does not focus on black Canada, but rather is a journey to and from Canada. She analyzed the journey of the Africans to and from Canada.

It can be noted that the African Diaspora who were serving as slaves in the US found their way into Canada with the hope of getting freedom. At the time when slavery was at its peak in the US, the African Diaspora used an underground channel to cross over to Canada. Canada was seen as a prospective homeland for the disillusioned African Diaspora in the US.

Although Canada was perceived to pose little danger to the Africans, there was no guarantee that Canada did not have elements of racism. In fact, there are reports of racism among those who went to Canada. According to the author, Canada is well known for its multiculturalism. However, racism is still witnessed within the Canadian society (Clarke and Thomas, 2006, 116).

The author observed that slavery in Canada has not been covered with a lot of emphasis. Canada was opposed to slavery, but it was not an anti-racist society. The fugitive slaves who were running away from the US were welcomed to Canada to provide cheap labor. It can be noted that Canada encouraged the runaway slaves to return to the US after the abolition of slavery.

Indeed, many African Diaspora opted to return to the US to be with their relatives, as well as free themselves from racism that was rampant in Canada. However, even as some African Diaspora returned to the US, others continued to cross into Canada for opportunities that were not available in the US. Therefore, the issue of blacks in Canada is quite complicated (Clarke and Thomas, 2006, 124).

Jayne O. Ifekwunigwe wrote an essay on the case of the African Diaspora found in Europe. The focus was on the Nigerian women who find their way into Italy as sex workers. In this essay, it has been established that women African Diaspora moves to Europe to work as sex workers or domestic workers.

The author noted that West African women are smuggled into Europe, especially Italy, where they find themselves working as sex workers. The issue of African women engaging in sex work is complicated. They are mostly driven into sex work due to financial constraints (Clarke and Thomas, 2006, 213).

Conclusion

The issue of the African Diaspora is very complicated. The African Diaspora has continued to struggle to establish their identity. They have experienced different challenges in their search for identity. Therefore, it is critical to examine the experiences of the various groups of the African Diaspora to have an understanding of their experiences in different parts of the world.

The collection of essays by Clarke and Thomas has been vital in telling the experiences of the African Diaspora. In the wake of globalization, the experiences of the Diaspora can be compared and different lessons noted. In the essays presented by Jacqueline Brown, Naomi Pabst, Jayne Ifekunigwe, and Ariana Hernandez-Reguant, it has been established that the African Diaspora had different experiences in various parts of the world.

These experiences were further defined by the gender aspect. In most instances, African women are highly disadvantaged in the society. The issue of gender discrimination is evident whereby women are forced to play second fiddle to men. Apart from the essay by Naomi Pabst, the other authors have integrated the issue of sexuality in the African Diaspora experiences.

Works Cited

Clarke, Kamari M, and D. A. Thomas. Globalization and Race: Transformations in the Cultural Production of Blackness. Durham, N.C: Duke University Press, 2006. Print.

Patterson, Orlando. Four modes of ethno-somatic stratification: The experience of Blacks in Europe and the Americas. n.d. Web.

The internet has overhauled the way people live and interact. It has been able to improve what was there in communication and bridged a big gap of distance enabling people to use it in every aspect of their lives. The advent of the internet has made people view the world as a small global village whose very service can be tapped into by clicking a mouse. Such activities like shopping, travel arrangements, dating, and the overall search for information and communication have become very easy with the advent of the internet. Finding spouses and the romance scene has been overhauled with people using a maximum of the internet to strike that goal.

Though this has been some of the major benefits of the internet it has greatly affected the social lives of human beings especially their relationships. The children are in constant danger of getting to morally bad sites that may be detrimental to their growth and development. There is a constant need for security in the transactions carried out on the World Wide Web. The social networking sites such as Facebook Twitter and constant blogging as people want to fit in the world of the internet and air their views are ruining workplaces. This has presented modern-day management with a paradox where it is crucial to embrace technology and strike a balance so as not to harm business (Mayo and Newcomb, 14).

The problem of the internet has also penetrated families, marriage relationships, and general friendships creating a lot of discussions. The advantages are insurmountable while the dangers are so real and are like ghosts. The friendship lines cannot be drawn anymore as people engage in flirtatious commentaries in-wall postings on social sites and as they chat. They may be claiming it is not romantic but platonic although the degree of deepness is questionable. Husbands and wives are finding it hard to strike a balance between their work and commitment to family and spouse. This problem is the reason this paper tries to look at the views of different scholars on this subject which has become interesting and paradoxical. This is going to help me to understand more and draw a conclusion on this topic (Mayo and Newcomb, 12).

The embracing of the internets usage as a means of communication in the future will depend on the evolvement of peoples quality of online relationships and the amount of time people are bound to be online. Further studies they conclude show that online relationships do not have the gloss and this makes them weaker compared to other relationships. Therefore it is the vibrancy with which people embrace social groupings in the internet that will determine the shift towards them being as real and pronounced as the other relationships. These relationships are also going to be dependent on the personality types of people. The extroverts are mainly going to be the winners while the introverts are going to struggle to form a relationship online.

The issue of internet addiction is tackled by the two who conclusively say that addiction is very real. They explore the manner in which it has been detrimental to families and to an individual. They continues to offer ways you can be able to ascertain whether you are an internet addict. Mayo and Newcomb (13) tries to counter an earlier conclusion that internet is being put to bad use by conducting follow up study. The study successfully concludes that internet is acting as a catalyst in the development of societies the world over instead of hubs for spreading terror and hate. This makes me to learn that I can use that in my field of education to spur growth of internet in the rural schools like in the third world countries.

Newcomb looks at community and its view on the internet. He says that it is the prerogative of communities to define the use if internet to their benefit. As a student I find that I can involve myself in sensitizing the nearby communities or those from third world countries on the manner in which it can change their wellbeing. This can further happen during my career as an educationist. Mayo and Newcomb give insights as to why people are feeling so much attraction to internet relationships. They say that it appears cool and a person is always likely to say more about him or herself over the internet than face to face. I learn to judge and urge people to beware of forming relationships that would not last and to be absolutely sure when engaging in one. As noted by Mayo and Newcomb (30) the manner of the effect of online relationships is two-pronged and has both advantages and disadvantages. It spurs the development of community socially and communication wise while on the other hand touches on the very core that makes a social setup respected. That is the morality of the community which is grossly affected by the availability of all sorts of information (good and bad) which can spur insecurity.

Work Cited

Mayo, Keenan & Newcomb, Peter.How The Internet Was Won. 2010.

Globalization and advanced technology are changing the world at a very fast pace. The two components are intertwined since technology advancement in the 21^st century has led to increased globalization and now, the world is a global village. People from different regions of the world can share their divergent economic, social, cultural, political, and technological differences.

In general, technology is now the driving force of globalization. This means that different cultures, products, ideologies, and opinions can be shared by people with different cultural diversity. Although globalization is associated with numerous benefits, it has also led to various problems in the society.

For example, globalization also led to increase in terror attacks, displacement of certain careers, political unrests, increased competition, and erosion of different cultural beliefs. The paper seeks to critically analyse the problem(s) globalization will have to systems engineer in the modern future. Increased levels of globalization will negatively impact the career of a system engineer in the future.

Globalization lacks a definite definition but it is used in reference to the amalgamation of political, cultural, social, technological, and economic forces of individual nationals, and how they affect society (Ray 1). Based on this definition, globalization will have an effect on virtually all the spheres of the society which influence individuals welfare and wellbeing.

With regard to systems engineering, globalization will lead to increased competition in the workplace as corporations will be on the lookout for the best and most qualified candidates for the jobs available in the market (OECD 26). The increased competition will be catapulted by the fact that technology is no longer confined to a single nation.

For example, the STEM (science, technology, engineering, and science) education program has become widespread in different nations as a result of globalization. Every year, systems engineers graduate from universities and technological colleges, resulting to increased competition in the workplace. Also, globalization has enabled engineering based firms to outsource system engineers with better technology, grades, and experience from other nations (Vest 2006).

For instance, a U.S based firm like Google Inc. will be in a position to outsource system engineers from Japan, Korea or China because of the platform offered by globalization.

This is a threat to the career of a systems engineer as he/she is required to compete not only at a national level but at an international level as well. It also implies that one will have to meet international standards to be able to get a job as a systems engineer. A system engineer is now required to embrace the latest technology that is being offered and also be in touch with the technological changes in the world.

Information technology is changing on a daily basis due to the demand created by globalization. For instance, the mobile industry is one of the most dynamic industries today and is characterized by a very high rate of expansion. As a result, a systems engineer will be required to adopt the different changes in technology that could aid him/her perform duties as a system engineer in a more effective and efficient manner (Vest 2006).

In the decades, globalization was very low while technological changes were very slow. However, the current platform requires a systems engineer to be acquainted with the latest technology that is applicable in the workplace. This is a problem in the sense that a system engineer will be required to be more innovative than ever to be in a position to compete internationally.

As a result of globalization, systems engineers are now required to have the latest technology if at all they are to remain relevant in the workplace. Also, a system engineer will be required to engage in numerous research and development activities so that he/she can compete and work at an international level.

As a nation, the United State is characterized by a large cultural diversity in the workplace and at the national level (Vest 2006). This is because the country has opened its doors to people of different nationalities so that they can increase their academic knowledge or work experience.

This has been necessitated by globalization. Gone are the days when engineering firms used to employ Americans in the workplace as nowadays people of different cultural backgrounds are employed in U.S. As a result, a system engineer will have to be trained in communication skills so that he/she can be in a position of communicating well in a culturally diversified workplace (Vest 2006).

They will also be required to be in able to accommodate different technological differences and challenges resulting from globalization. Although projections by the United States Bureau of Labour Statistics (5) indicate that there will be an increase in jobs from different sectors especially information technology and science, communication may create a barrier in getting these jobs.

The continued increase in the rate of globalization means that a systems engineer from the U.S will be able to work in China or Korea. These are countries that have very deep cultural backgrounds such as Confucianism. Therefore, for a system engineer to be employed in these nations and compete favorably, he/she will be required to learn different cultural backgrounds.

They will also be required to learn how to associate with employees from different socio-cultural backgrounds to avoid conflict in the workplace. In other instances, a system engineer working in foreign nations where there is cultural shock and language barrier, will be required to participate less as communicating ideas and opinions will not be harbored. This will affect the effectiveness of the system engineer working in a foreign workplace.

The same applies to foreigners working in U.S based systems engineering firms. According to Vest (2006), different working environments are incorporating systems engineering in their work schedule largely due to globalization and technology. As a result, a system engineer will be required to diversify in many subjects to compete favorably in the workplace. This has been echoed by the United States Bureau of Labour Statistics (144) which observes that competition will increase in engineering related jobs.

Based on the critical analysis, it can be concluded that globalization will impact negatively on the career of a systems engineer in many aspects despite the increase in job vacancies. It will lead to increased competition in the workplace as companies will be seeking highly skilled and competent employees thus limiting the chances of getting employed. It will also require a systems engineer to be able to compete internationally as globalization leads to unification.

Therefore, a system engineer will be required to have the latest technology and skills if at all they want to get jobs at the international level. They will be required to learn more communication and interpersonal skills to enable them socialize with different work colleagues with different cultural backgrounds. In instances where employees work in culturally different areas, the employees ideas may go unnoticed because of language barrier and fear of expressions. Therefore, globalization will have a negative influence on the career path of a systems engineer in the future.

Work Cited

OECD. Skills Upgrading: New Policy Perspectives. Paris: OECD Publishing, 2006. Print.

Ray, Larry. J. Globalization and everyday life. New York: Routledge, 2007. Print.

United States Bureau of Labour Statistics. Occupational Outlook Handbook. Washington, D.C: U.S. G.P.O, 2010. Print.

Vest, Charles. M. Educating engineers for 2020 and beyond. The Bridge, 6(3).

Introduction

Globalization is the increased global economic, people and cultural relationship. It may also be viewed as global distribution of services and goods production. There are several barriers to globalization, but they are mainly determined by respective regions, for instance, social and legal barriers among others.

This paper discusses the effects of American media on social and legal barriers to globalization. Furthermore, it highlights resistance to globalization and its nature. Moreover, it also highlights factors that cause resistance to globalization among Muslim dominated regions, for instance, Middle East. American media positively influences globalization leading to controlled resistance to globalization in Muslim dominated areas.

Globalization leads to effective coordination of resources from different regions hence effective production growth in the global industries. It also leads to exchange of knowledge and ideas. American media plays an important role in globalization being the nation with one of the strongest economies globally (Arango, 2008).

However, American role in globalization is greatly affected by social and legal barriers to globalization in certain areas especially Muslim dominated areas. Legal procedures and social values differ in different areas leading to legal and social barriers to globalization. Legal procedures and social values of certain communities in the globe support globalization while others hinder globalization (Murphy, 2007).

Despite differentials in social values and legal procedures in different areas or regions, American media plays an important role in trying to create a fair environment for globalization in all regions irrespective of their social and legal barriers to globalization through promotion of their cultures and values. American media have greatly assisted in harmonizing social values and legal procedures through entertainment among others (Murphy, 2007).

There are several regions that American media have played a great role in globalization by positively countering legal and social barriers to globalization, for instance, the Muslim world. After the September 11^th attack in the United States, and attack on Iraq by United States soldiers due to al-Qaida connection with the country, Muslim perception of the United States changed negatively and perceived United States as a Muslim enemy (Arango, 2008).

However, the American media have greatly played a role in promoting globalization through its values and cultures incorporated in entertainment and movies among other Medias. American media have effectively countered social barriers to globalization in the Muslim world through its entertainment and movie industry leading to acceptance of globalization by the region. Socially, the region does not embrace globalization because they fear it can ruin their cultural values (Arango, 2008).

Basically, countries in the Middle East resist globalization because they fear control by the United States due to their perception and relation with the country. The resistance is generally based on their perception of the United States and not globalization itself. Furthermore, most Muslim regions and nations believe that globalization might lead to direct interaction with the United States yet they consider it their enemy hence the strong resistance (Arango, 2008).

However, resistance to globalization by the Muslim community is not due to the nature of globalization and its negative effects as may be alleged, but their perception of the United States and fear of direct relation with the country due to globalization. Therefore, resistance to globalization by the region is not genuine in relation to the effects of globalization, but the media have played a great role in countering the social barrier to globalization in the region hence promoting it to the expense of the barrier (Murphy, 2007).

Resistance to globalization by the region is negative because it may negatively affect the region economically and or socially. Generally, globalization opens up trade and allows sharing of resources through trade and world market. Furthermore, it also promotes technological status of different countries leading to adoption of better production methods. It also improves economies of countries that embrace it because it increases economic activities leading to economic growth and development (Arango, 2008).

However, resistance of globalization hinders increment of economic activities, and may lead to slow economic growth and or economic inferiority due to lack of effective and modern production methods. Resistance to globalization by the region, especially the Middle East, being a Muslim dominated area may negatively affect economic growth and development of the region (Murphy, 2007).

Resistance to globalization by the region may also affect it negatively socially. Globalization not only improves economic status, but also social well being of the globe and peaceful coexistence. Resisting globalization may hinder peaceful coexistence with the rest of the global community due to lack of understanding of the other communities and their values.

It may also affect interaction between the region and the global community hence ends up in isolation. Furthermore, globalization promotes communal existence, but resistance may lead to isolation from the global community union. Therefore, resistance to globalization may not only affect the region economically, but socially too negatively (Arango, 2008).

Conclusion

Globalization leads to peaceful coexistence and even economic development. It also leads to sharing of resources. There are barriers to effective globalization, for instance, social and legal barriers among others. However, American media have played a great role in controlling effects of the social and legal barriers to globalization leading to effective globalization in the globe irrespective of the region and their perception of American people.

References

Arango, T. (2008, November 30). World Falls for American Media, Even as It Sours on America. Retrieved from New York Times: https://www.nytimes.com/2008/12/01/business/media/01soft.html

Murphy, P. D. (2007). Media and Democracy in the age of Globalization. Albany: State University of New York Press.

Abstract

The migration of people from one country to another is a common phenomenon in this era of globalization. The forces of globalization, such as social, economic, and political forces, are major drivers of migration across the world. Although these forces are common in all countries, the experiences that immigrants undergo vary according to the migration laws and policies coupled with the social, economic, and political conditions of the host countries. In this case, the study asserts that immigrants experience unique socioeconomic issues as they struggle to integrate into the host community. The ample literature review indicates that migration is a complex global issue, which requires comprehensive reforms. The research questions revolve around the nature of socioeconomic issues, current migration laws and policies, and the essential migration reforms. Hence, the study proposes to use a qualitative approach and descriptive research design in collecting data through the semi-structured interview from 100 immigrants. Thematic analysis of the collected data will provide insights about socioeconomic issues, current migration policies, and essential reforms. The study is significant because it enhances understanding of these socioeconomic issues, provides the basis for evidence-based reforms, and allows customization of the reforms.

Research Context

Migration is a complex global issue that has overwhelmed the international community because it is escalating with time in this era of globalization. According to Li (2008), owing to globalization, the speed, scope, complexity, and volume of world migration under the global era are unprecedented (p. 1). Essentially, forces of globalization, such as social, political, and economic forces, are the major drivers of migration patterns that are common across the world. Although the causes of migration are common, the experiences that migrants face in the host countries vary according to the migration policies, socioeconomic conditions, and political environment, amongst others. Countries such as the United States, Lebanon, Egypt, and Jordan are struggling to accommodate the influx of immigrants. Since migration policies are unfavorable, different countries are undertaking reforms to protect immigrants and the native population at the same time.

Evidently, migration is a serious and complex issue across the world because it has far-reaching socioeconomic implications. As immigrants strive to assimilate into the host country, they grapple with overwhelming socioeconomic issues. Essentially, socioeconomic issues are problems that are unique to immigrants because of their state as migrants. These socioeconomic issues are poverty, labor exploitation, unemployment, ethnic violence, racial discrimination, human trafficking, harassment, sexual abuse, and diseases, among others (Czaika & Hass 2013). The prevalence of these socioeconomic issues shows that immigrants comprise a vulnerable population that requires affirmative action to alleviate the socioeconomic issues that they face. Given that forces of globalization cause people to move from less developed countries to developed countries, the United States, as a developed country, hosts millions of legal and illegal immigrants. According to Liz (2008), the United States hosts over seven million illegal immigrants. Therefore, a large number of immigrants justifies the use of the United States as a case study. In this case, the research proposes to identify and elucidate socioeconomic issues that immigrants face in the United States with a view of shaping migration policies and reforms.

Literature

Migration is a complex global issue that is threatening the economic, political, and social stability of countries. Migration threatens economic stability because it causes brain drain and loss of human resources in the home countries of immigrants while increasing unemployment rates and poverty level. In the aspect of politics, migration predisposes countries to political instability because the quest for anti-immigration policies led to the formation of anti-immigration political parties in some states in the United States (Stivachtis 2008). Owing to migration, vices such as ethnic violence, racial discrimination, exploitation of migrants, human trafficking, and harassment are prevalent among host countries. Stivachtis (2008) argues that migration threatens national and international security because it provides avenues for criminals and terrorists to propagate their crimes. Gushulak and MacPherson (2004) add that migration escalates the spread of diseases across nations. Thus, ample evidence shows that migration is a complex global issue that has negative impacts on the social, economic, and political aspects of populations.

Since immigrants experience great challenges in the host country, they comprise vulnerable populations. Fundamentally, immigrants are a vulnerable population because they experience racial discrimination, ethnic violence, labor exploitation, unemployment, poverty, and diseases (Li 2008). These experiences are common among immigrants than the native populations because they do not enjoy similar privileges that governments provide. The migration policies of a country determine the nature of the experiences that immigrants undergo. Czaika and Hass (2013) explain that the past migration policy used ethnicity and race in selecting immigrants, for example, the immigration policy of Australia, which allowed only the Whites as immigrants. Following the recognition of human rights by various constitutions, immigration policies have undergone a series of reforms. However, poor understanding of the experiences of immigrants has led to poor reforms, which are not favorable and responsive to the unique experience of immigrants (Stivachtis 2008). Therefore, there is a need to understand the unique socioeconomic experiences that immigrants face with a view of leveraging migration policies and reforms.

Main Research Question

• What are the socio-economic issues that immigrants face in the United States as they assimilate into American society?

Sub-Research Questions

1. What migration reforms are necessary to alleviate or prevent the socioeconomic issues that immigrants face in the United States?
2. What are the current migration laws and policies that alleviate or prevent socioeconomic issues that immigrants face in the United States?

Variables

Socioeconomic issues and racial categories are the two variables of the study. Socioeconomic issues comprise the dependent variable of the research, while racial categories of immigrants constitute an independent variable of the research. Poverty, labor exploitation, unemployment, ethnic violence, racial discrimination, human trafficking, harassment, sexual abuse, and diseases are socioeconomic issues. Racial categories are Africans, Asians, Arabs, Europeans, and Latin Americans.

Methodology

How to Conduct Research

The research methodology is the heart of research because it determines the validity and reliability of data collected. The collection of quantitative data requires the use of qualitative methodologies, while the collection of qualitative data requires the application of qualitative research methodologies. As the study seeks to collect data about the experiences of the immigrants in terms of socioeconomic issues that they face, the data comprise qualitative data. In this case, collection of qualitative data requires the application of a research methodology that effectively collects appropriate data, which are valid and reliable. Thus, the appropriate research methodology is collection of data using interviews.

The research proposes to use descriptive research design in identifying socioeconomic issues that immigrants face in the United States. The descriptive research design will collect qualitative data among the immigrants with a view of identifying socioeconomic issues that they face in relation to their host country. Descriptive research design is appropriate because it allows the accurate collection of qualitative information. In employing a descriptive research design, the research proposal aims to interview immigrants from diverse racial backgrounds.

The target population of the proposed research comprises of the immigrants to the United States, who reside in various states. To study the socioeconomic issues facing immigrants, the proposed study will categorize them according to their racial backgrounds. Classification of immigrants is essential to enhance thematic analysis of their responses relative to their experiences. The basis of the research is that immigrants encounter unique socioeconomic issues, which relate to racial backgrounds and the immigration policies in the host country.

Procedure of Acquiring Evidence

In acquisition of evidence, the study will sample the immigrants using a non-probability method of sampling called quota sampling. Since immigrants have diverse racial backgrounds and represent a small proportion of the population, quota sampling will enable selection of immigrants from all races, and thus, enhance representation of the population. In this case, the study will sample 100 immigrants by selecting 20 immigrants from each race. The races targeted are Africans, Asians, Arabs, Europeans, and Latin Americans.

To collect data, the study will interview immigrants using semi-structured questions. The questions will focus on ascertaining the socioeconomic issues that immigrants experience in the host country as they assimilate into the native population. The kind of questions that the proposed study will ask relates to the challenges that immigrants experience as they strive to settle in the host country. Specifically, the interview questions will touch on poverty, labor exploitation, unemployment, ethnic violence, racial discrimination, human trafficking, harassment, sexual abuse, and diseases amongst other socioeconomic issues. The use of semi-structured interview provides the interviewees with freedom of answering questions according to their own perceptions and unique experiences.

Data Analysis

Since the collected data are in qualitative form, the method of analysis is thematic analysis. Evidently, the experiences of immigrants are unique and their socioeconomic issues are common. In this case, thematic analysis will provide an enhanced understanding of the experiences and challenges that immigrants face in the host country.

Significance of Research

The research will enhance understanding of the experiences that immigrants undergo in host countries. Socioeconomic issues are major challenges that immigrants experience in the host countries as they integrate into the native population. These socioeconomic issues make them vulnerable population because they endure poverty, suffer from diseases, encounter racial discrimination, experience exploitation in labor markets, and become victims of racial violence and human trafficking. Hence, the research will enhance understanding of socioeconomic issues that immigrants face in the host countries.

Moreover, the research will provide important information that is essential in reforming migration laws and policies. Currently, migration laws and policies are very contentious because the migration of people has significant impact on political, social, and economic aspects of a country. In the United States, reforms of migration laws and policies have been dominant in political discourse as politicians and migration experts hold opposing views. Since the contentious issues revolve around socioeconomic issues that immigrants face, this research is significant because it contributes to the body of knowledge, which support evidence-based reforms.

The findings of the study will be significant in the formulation of customized migration laws and reforms. Given that racial background determines the vulnerability of immigrants, host countries need to formulate customized laws and policies, which reflect the unique needs of diverse immigrants. In this case, the study will highlight unique needs of immigrants from diverse racial backgrounds, and hence, form the basis of customizing migration laws and reforms.

References

Czaika, M, & Hass, H 2013. The globalization of migration: Has the world become more migratory?, International Migration Review, vol. 48, no. 2, pp. 283-323.

Gushulak, B, & MacPherson, D 2004. Globalization of infectious diseases: The impact of migration, Clinical Infectious Diseases, vol. 38, no. 1, pp. 1742-1748.

Li, P 2008. World migration in the age of globalization: Policy implications and challenges, New Zealand Population Review, vol. 33, no. 34, pp. 1-22.

Stivachtis, Y 2008, International migration and politics of identity and security, Journal of Humanities & Social Sciences, vol. 1, no. 1, pp. 1-23.

Globalization has changed the worlds political and economic systems in a huge way. Globalization outlines that the once conventional, integrated and sequential national economies are no longer in existence and currently global forces dictate the political, economic and social composition of societies (Bonefeld 1). Globalization is now observed to be the new type of capitalism which transcends national interests (Bonefeld 1).

The Marxist theory which advocated for a new system of capitalism that transcends nation-states and pursues bourgeoisie across national borders seems to be what globalization enforces today. However, proponents of globalization disagree with Marxist principles because they note that bourgeoisie does not exist and instead, globalization is a new system of capitalism based on different functional aspects (Bonefeld 1). This type of system (globalization) therefore transcends an individual and leaves the working class and bourgeoisie defenseless over its forces.

However, with the advent of this new social, economic and political order, a lot of issues seem to follow its adoption. These issues characterize the politics of globalization. Key concerns encompassing these issues rest on social cohesion, environmental concerns, and poverty or wealth creation. In some aspects, globalization has solved the problems associated with unequal capital accumulation because despite the fact that it is based on class, it deals with a classless society (Bonefeld 1).

This order has even reduced human capital to a factor of production and nothing more (Bonefeld 1). However, with the advent of globalization systems, social relationships have taken a huge toll and the state has lost its grip on many facets of the society and economy. These issues and many more to a large extent constitute the politics of globalization and they are much deeper than previously thought. However, each country has its own unique sets of concerns. This study therefore carries out an analysis of globalization in Germany and the politics that surround its adoption.

Germanys Philosophy on Globalization

The recent German elections point out the fact that many Germans are not contented with globalization (Richter 1). This fact enforces a tendency where Germans wants to cut themselves from the rest of the world by reorienting their political, social and economic systems. The German government is no different either because it seems to be expressing the wishes of its electorates. Evidence can be given of its half-hearted implementation of economic reforms in the past few years (Richter 2). In other words, the economic reforms enhanced by the government are aimed at upholding the achievements of the social market economy at the expense of global progression (Richter 2).

However, this new approach by the German government is not being embraced by the German elite who are still grappling with the effect of global competitiveness especially in entrepreneurship and business (Richter 3). Nonetheless, surprising or otherwise, many Germans believe that Germany can live as an island and operate in tranquility by adopting systems of social justice while the rest of the world sails in turbulent waters (Richter 3).

This attitude explains a fall in Germanys position in the Globalization index where it has faired poorly in recent years when poorer countries such as Portugal and Slovenia rank higher (Richter 3). These postings show that Germany is quickly becoming very self-focused and is emphasizing more on national interests at the expense of all other factors (Dyson 50). In this manner, we can assume that Germany is still in sympathy of the mercantile system of operation because its government is very slow in flexing its policies so that the country can be strategically placed to enjoy the benefits of globalization (Richter 3).

Consequently, there is still a high sense of regulation of Germanys policies with regards to wage rates and tax policies which leaves the country at the wayside while other countries reap the benefits of globalization. The half-hearted economic reforms the state is employing are therefore not doing much justice for the European state. This system of operation therefore supports the skeptic view of globalization and conforms to the outliers view.

Approach to Globalization and Nations Competitive Advantages

Germany has a poor track record of coping with the challenges of globalization (Richter 3). In this regard, it has poorly adopted globalization as part of its socio-economic systems. In fact, the emergence of new points of power and depolarization of world power does not seem like a big issue to the once powerful nation; in spite of recent research showing that the traditional competitive strength of the European nation and indeed most of other European nations is quickly being undermined by the emergence of new world centers of power such as China, India, and Brazil.

This attitude is observed because the nation has widely adopted a state capitalistic policy with its industries. However, globalization seems to be defeating this system because many of the states industries are quietly suffering under the pressures of globalization. For instance, the high-end processing based on engineering solutions does not stand as Germanys area of competitiveness anymore (Richter 3).

When making comparisons to emerging economic powers in Asia, it can be noted that these new economies are not only covering economic strides because of low cost advantages but are quickly making huge profits from economies of large scale (Richter 4). At the same time, these new powers have the backing of a very productive working class population. For instance, in the coming few decades, the population of China and India alone is set to constitute approximately half of the worlds population, so one can imagine the potential these countries will have with regard to the self initiative the Asian youth have and the economic risks they are willing to take (Richter 4). These attributes are hardly found in Germanys population (Richter 4).

Germany still lags behind in trying to review major policy areas such as wage policies, labor laws and tax systems to be in line with the new global order. In this regard, its systems remain very inefficient and subsidies given by the state are slowly starting to lack relevance (Richter 4). Complimentarily, a risk adverse attitude is still prevailing among Germanys population and the new economic agendas the state wishes to implement can be largely perceived as a drop in the ocean.

Germany does not however stand alone with regards to slow acceptance of a globalized world because other nations such as Italy and Belgium are also following in its footsteps. Italys world-renowned Fiat brand collapsed because of a slow adoption of economic reforms while Italys government (just like Germany) is still adopting nationalistic, chauvinistic and rhetoric policies that are not in alignment with accepted globalization policies (Richter 5).

Effects of Globalization in Germany

Germany has in the recent past set a poor record in coping with globalization while the consequences for its actions are feared to become much worse in the near future. It is feared that the number of Germans working in the industrial sector is going to be at a record low of less than 10 million jobs (Richter 5). This surprisingly indicates that Germanys past prominence in industry performance is slowly declining due to globalization. Indeed, many companies in Germany are quickly starting to outsource their jobs abroad and in fact, some are setting up new bases out of Germany.

Germanys industrial base is therefore slowly disappearing with the infamous culture of white coat wearing employees; car making prominence and engineering prominence associated with Germany is quickly fading by the day. Some of the countrys main companies like Volkswagen, which is a major brand in Germany is raising alarm that more than 176,000 people need to be let to go in order for the company to stay afloat amid high global competition (Richter 6).

In fact, many of Germanys automobile plants are quickly being shut down while many more are being opened up in foreign countries. A trend is therefore coming up of many German employees rendering their services in Poland, Czech Republic, Slovakia or Hungary as the local economy gets poorer and poorer and job security becomes unguaranteed.

Apart from the Volkswagen brand, Opel, which is also another German brand, has announced in the recent past that it needs to carry out job cuts in order to stay afloat. Interestingly as major German automobile companies are making nationwide headlines; small and medium sized companies are quietly fading away and disappearing into the global melee (Richter 6).

What is therefore happening is that Germany is undergoing a huge transformation that is seeing the collapse of its core industries while others slowly emerge. Jobs are also quietly being outsourced globally. For instance, Siemens has been identified to employ more than half of its employees from overseas job markets as compared to the conventional German job market (Richter 6). This comes out of the fact that labor laws in Germany are changing very slowly when compared to the global labor potential which exists in the global market.

For example, the average wage rate per hour in Germany is 28 pounds while other regions in the world can pose wage rates of as little as one pound (Richter 6). This therefore means that when comparing the human capital costs in Germany, it is 28 times more expensive to do business in Germany than in other areas. This fact therefore explains why Germany is one of the worlds top exporters of Jobs even though it still retains its position as one of the worlds biggest exporter of goods and services (Richter 7).

The growth of Germanys economy therefore seems to be greatly impeded by the economic puzzle created by globalization. In this manner, many of German companies are seen to be growing exponentially in other global markets while they leave the local economy to shrink. In fact, people are slowly accepting the fact that, when major German companies are posting increased growths; it is normally not within the countrys borders (Spiegel International 7). New companies are therefore being opened either in Brazil or China, which are some of the most preferred destinations by many German companies (Richter 7).

Most German companies are only starting to embrace the idea of outsourcing (Spiegel International 7). The German economy is therefore set to suffer further because as the countrys government sits back (helpless at the wild spin of global pressures), the economic destiny of the country lies in the hands of other people who are active in the global economy. A study carried out by a Munich based economist also points out that 60% of German firms sampled, reported that they were thinking of outsourcing in the next few years and about 30% of the companies sampled were already outsourcing (Spiegel International 7). This paints a bleak future for Germany.

Conclusion

Two scenarios can be deduced from this analysis. One, the worst-case scenario may evidence the collapse of Germanys companies and later, a consequent collapse of its economy. A huge outsourcing tendency of Germanys small and medium sized companies into Asia may also be witnessed. This will involve its manufacturing plants and research and development facilities (National Research Council 32). As this trend slowly picks up, the antiquated corporate tax system in Germany will witness a change of most global headquarters shift into Asia. This will create a very bad social, economic and political outlook for Germany because its society will be impoverished and a class struggle will ensue, then later, a political implosion may be witnessed.

The second scenario may see a change of tact for Germany, where courageous politicians will take the nations mantle and redirect its destiny. The first approach would be to initiate social reforms so that new reforms can sustain in the long run. Such efforts can be done through the acceptance of downsizing as a means to increasing efficiency. However, the bulk of the reform agenda will lie on Germanys commitment to take advantage of new opportunities created by globalization and to integrate the nation with the rest of the world in terms of global competitiveness (Dettke 150). In doing so, Germany may surely continue to enjoy its economic wealth and at the same time, protect the social stability it enjoys today.

Works Cited

Bonefeld, Werner. The Politics of Globalisation: Ideology and Critique. 2010. Web.

Dettke, Dieter. The Challenge of Globalization for Germanys Social Democracy: A Policy Agenda for the Twenty-First Century. Berlin: Berghahn Books, 1998. Print.

Dyson, Kenneth. Germany, Europe, and the Politics of Constraint. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2004. Print.

National Research Council. Globalization of Materials R&D: Time for a National Strategy. New York: National Academies Press, 2005. Print.

Richter, Jurgen. Germany and Globalization. 2005. Web.

Spiegel International. Goodbye Made in Germany? 2004. Web.

Introduction

Just like the natural phenomenon like the universe with its grass soil and atmosphere, man also needs self-renewal. The more the individuals, communities and organizations strive towards revitalizing themselves in the mind and spiritually the more they become well placed to tackle the challenges of the world. Crisis is an inevitable phenomenon in individuals organizations and even societies. The concept of self-renewal arises because individuals, organizations and societies experience crisis at one given time and they have to recover from such threatening situations. Self-renewal is a very important tool which can be utilized to prepare for the future. With these tool individuals, organizations and societies face the future with confidence since it prepares them adequately by use of better strategies. Good planning for the future is based on a better understanding of the history planning on how to avoid the past mistakes. At individual level self-renewal is a very essential aspect of a successful person. People encounter different challenges whether domestic or at the workplace. Some of the challenges need life copying mechanisms so as to come over a crisis which might occur. Self-renewal in an individual does not happen once but it is an event that can occur over and over as the concerned party continues to exist. Most men and women out there in the world of work are more stale than they know (Gardner, 1990).

There is normally a notion that says that midlife crisis in life is the time for self-renewal.

Looked at from a career point of view , when someone changes from one type of job to another whether looking for better terms or pay , this is a self-renewal process.

This is normally a developmental process in the life of that particular individual in the sense that he/she is out to look for what is good for himself or herself. This can emerge in different ways in that particular individual. Sometimes necessity prompts self-renewal in individuals for instance somebody can be suffering from a life threatening disease in hospital. When he or she recovers from the illness there is normally to change the course of life and this is part of self-renewal process. This is the time such people start embracing a new way of living. Why is self-renewal essential at personal level? According to Gardner  Weve all seen men and women, even ones in fortunate circumstances with responsible positions who seem to run out of steam in midcareer

Self-renewal at individual level first involves a self-examination process. This aims at finding out where the pressures of change are emanating from. For instance is it the workplace or domestic. There is also the need to look at the satisfactions that an individual seeks to achieve during this process. Then an individual also needs to put in mind his or her feelings. The kind of buffers that is present in the mind of the person who wants to undergo self-renewal also matter. The key concept in self-renewal of an individual is the ability to focus and look straight into his life so as to know better the inner side of the self. It also touches on the self-esteem of an individual who is undergoing self-renewal process. Self-renewal is true in itself because it incorporates the use of modern technology so as to improve on the level of knowledge in an individual and the entire community. It is vital for people to utilize self-examination as an important tool for measuring the trueness of our self-renewal.

An individual who has achieved self-renewal must be considered to be an important asset for the well-being of the community. If a society posses more of such people , it becomes a demonstration of a balanced world.

Organization

An organization can be inanimate but it posses characteristics just like those of a living organism which is capable of self-renewal. Therefore this justifies why the process of self-renewal is essential if at all the organization is to be nurtured so as to attain the required productivity. This follows then that if organizations are not helped in the process of self-renewal they can age and die out slowly to the loss of the society and owners of such organizations. Self-renewal is a continuous process that occurs in all companies that are success oriented. This continuous journey is carried out with no prospects of reaching at a specific destination. The culture of self-renewal in companies has been on for centuries across the globe. Companies have lasted for centuries while enjoying success due to their adaptability to change.

For an organization to achieve self-renewal, there are certain essential process which have to be gone through. The first process involves the understanding the important future environments that the organization will encounter and interact with. Projections in the future can be made easily using scenario planning which ensures that the future is well explored into and even the factors that are likely to influence the future are determined by this process. Scenario planning is also essential in determining other factors that might influence the market place of the business.

It also entails identifying the possible challenges as a result of interaction in the environment. This also involves exploring into both the challenges and opportunities that can be brought about by changes in the environment. From scenario planning important information is obtained which aids in the identification of possible threats that might restrain the business from flourishing.

The most common scenario after identification of the threats is the convergence of businesses.

The major threat present for organizations comes from the competitors when they emerge with new entrants into the market. The processes also entail an assessment of the current business situation in a typically changed environment. It is also of importance to keep in mind that the understanding that the new environment in business would require new competencies and potentials to keep the business to the great heights in the new atmosphere.

Organizations have to adapt strategies that aim at reducing the rate of burn out of its employees. Burn out arises from factors such as overstaying on one position by an employee. While the organization undertakes self regeneration such aspects should be put into consideration to avoid future problems and risks.

Self-renewal in organization to a greater extent is facilitated by modernization and new technologies that change processes and procedures within an organization. Everybody has to be committed to the entire process as Gardner puts it The nature of ones personal commitments is a powerful element in renewal , The employees have to keep abreast with these latest trends so as to avoid being left behind when change and renewal takes center stage.Globalisation has an important contribution in the establishment of new trends and renewal in an organizatiuons.This is because the factors that arise with globalization bring change nearly in all corners of an organization.

Finally without developing a good strategy for organizational self-renewal the organization cannot succeed in the new environment.A good strategy will be backed and supported by the top management who are the main decision makers in the organization. Cooperate self-renewal is influenced by the entire workforce in an organization who are the implementers of change in that particular organization.

Society

Self-renewal in a society is entirely depended on the values and wishes of the people in that particular society. Members of the society are the main initiators and agents of change in that society. Societies require renewal so as to prevent vices such as corruption from cropping up and leading to the decay and disintegration of the same society that people have invested in so as to give results. Change in the society is fundamental towards revitalization of that particular society. The society has a responsibility to nurture the spirit of diversity and pluralism in its members so as to achieve cohesion and assist in steering the country forward. This is because without such a harmonious environment change cannot thrive and consequently we do not expect self-renewal in such a state of affairs. The people in the society are the facilitators of renewal process, There are men and women who make the world better just by being the kind of people they are as pointed out by Gardner.The agents of change, innovators and other channels of change have to be kept free from obstacles towards change in the society. Schools as institutions of change in the society contribute significantly towards societal self-renewal. The society has to produce people who are able to establish the type of crisis that might be threatening to tear the society and hence come up with strategies to solve the problems.

A society that has achieved success in self-renewal is better placed to tackle emerging problems since they will have been identified during the initial stages of change in the society. Such a society benefits all the individuals present in it that also stand to identify opportunities that exist in that society after self-renewal process. Threats emanating from corruption and other vices are reduced in the event of self revival and this shields the society from disintegrations.

Globalization

Globalization refers to the process of moving goods, people, capital and ideas from one country to another as a result of increased economic integration which is facilitated by trade increase. It can also be viewed in terms of doing away with boarders that limit free movement within countries. This phenomenon is associated with new technologies and ways of doing things and general life. Exploration and exploitation of existing information, knowledge and processes has been facilitated by globalization. Countries like India and china have benefited from Globalization for instance between the year 2001 and 2002 the number of imports and exports increased significantly and besides most of their companies feature in the international. With the free movement countries like the United states and china have continued to enjoy mutual labor relationships.

All the economic successes that have been witnessed in china are due to globalization. Through exploitation and explorations globalization has brought into existence new ideas, processes and even products. This has been as a result of China being an ally to the United States. Through economic integration there has been movement of people and capital from the United States to china and India therefore facilitating their economic development. The percentage exports from United States to China have rapidly been on the increase for the last 20 years especially for basic products from the manufacturing sector. The United States has been experiencing pressure from the international market as a result of economic growth from both China and India. Good leadership means that the capacity to undertake self-renewal is greatly enhanced. Leadership plays more on the role of directorship towards self-renewal than just having control over the process. The improvement of information processing systems in education and in organizations has brought a change which has been witnessed in most countries. The speed at which information flows from one point to another is very first. For people to get adapted to the new way of information access, manipulation and storage they have had to undergo self-renewal procedures so as to fit into the new system. Changes arising from the society reach the education sector and in organization so that nobody is left out when the new processes pick up and form the new way of life.

With change and renewal reaching the society, demands arise from the society on the needs of spreading the new order so as to ensure that those who are in school stay updated on the current events and new technologies. Individuals, organizations and societies work towards meeting the demands of globalization through various strategies. For instance in organizations this can be in the form of training for new programs. This in itself is self-renewal because it involves change of the course of life from the previous circumstance. The awakening of China after the world wars to economic power can also be attributed to self-renewal in organizations which has become a necessity in both the developed and the developing countries with its impact being felt in countries such as India and China which have embraced the spirit of globalization. The emergence of economic powers like china has been because of globalization.

References

1. John Gardner, Self-renewal
2. Thomas Friedman, The World is Flat
3. Robyn Meredith,The Elephant and the Dragon