Globalization in Politics and on the World Peace

Introduction

Globalization greatly affects both domestic and international politics. There exist different views and ideas on the effects of this complex multifaceted concept on politics. The cross-border economic and technological activities instigated by international relations have resulted into political changes in international politics.

Globalization has created an environment for economic interaction among different states of the world. It has resulted into freer movement of goods, finances, and ideas across the different corners of the globe. Economists view globalization as a platform for equal economic growth in the world as it encourages fair distribution of resources. Political leaders, especially in the poor countries, oppose globalization on the grounds of preserving the national sovereignty of their states.

In social perspective, globalization is a phenomenon for enhancement of world social integration. For realists in general, globalization provides an opportunity for powerful nations to exploit the less powerful and poorest countries. In addition, politicians (in poor countries) view the phenomenon as the great perpetuator of hegemony in the world. Neoliberals and the proponents of globalization argue that, globalization is the means to liberalization of the new world order.

Other scholars treat globalization as an emerging form of imperialism, which is likely to ruin governance and the political leadership of the less powerful countries. Although there have been significant studies in politics and globalization, there exists very little work on its impact on peace and unity in the world. As argued in this paper, globalization in politics will result into more conflicts in the world.

Globalization in politics and the peace in the world

Globalization has led into loss of sovereignty in governments. Through globalization, people, goods, money, and ideas have become freer to move than they were before. The governments control over people and their businesses has therefore reduced (Neil 2004, 123).

As a result, people from different states have migrated into nations with favourable trading policies. The high rates of immigration of people due to trade with little control by the government pose a great threat to the peace and unity in the future. First, with the freedom from the government to carry out businesses anywhere in the world, there is likelihood of exchange of illegal goods such as drugs and arms.

Such goods, especially drugs, enhance violent acts. Increase in such goods in a state whose sovereignty is low will lead to more people consuming the goods. Availability of drugs for instance, results into increased number of drug abusers within a country. On contemplation, this retrogressive trend subsequently increases the poverty levels since majority of drug abusers do not or are unable to work. Poverty has direct correlation with violence.

In fact, violence characterizes the poverty-stricken nations, with African countries serving exemplarily for this argument. Since the government does not have control in face of globalization, people may engage in violent means such as theft and looting to satisfy their needs. Secondly, the continued loss of sovereignty by most states in the world, due to globalization, may lead to loss of stability of security in the countries.

Globalization and the inability to control people may extend to the military forces such that, these forces enjoy freedom analogous to the people in the business world. This phenomenon will expose the state to internal and external attacks such as terrorism. Since globalization enhances freer mobility of people, it will be difficult to maintain security in such low sovereign states, which would degenerate into conflicts. Thirdly, loss of sovereignty encourages creation of illegal groups, which pose threat to the peace of the world.

Political competition within a less sovereign state will result into formation of such groups. In fact, majority of the gangs in the world are results of political competition. These groups further pose threat to the peace in the world. Therefore, through globalization, there is continued loss of sovereignty among states, which exposes nations to more conflicts. The conflicts may further result into violence and therefore destabilizing world peace.

Globalization enhances flow of information and ideas. The cross-border flow of economic activities has enhanced the transfer of information across different political states, which affects both the international and domestic politics in a number of ways. First, it influences people in different states to demand for transformation of political governance from their states.

According to Berger, globalization has enhanced the growth of international media coverage (2000, 47). As a result, it is now easy and cheap for information about the political activities of a particular country or region to flow to the rest of the world. Since the populace make decisions based on the reports from the media, the activities in other countries may instigate actions in other regions of the world.

The current unrest in the Muslim countries in Africa and Middle East originated from Tunisia. Given the media coverage, the situation in Tunisia received, other countries such as Egypt, Libya, Morocco, Venezuela, and Yemen became critical to their political leadership. This resulted into mass action to demand for political transformations in these countries.

Globalization therefore encourages political liberalism, which may further result into degradation of peace and unity. The political leadership of countries marred by mass actions such as Libya are reluctant to reformation and as a result, these governments initiate counter forces in order to calm the situations.

Subsequently, this results into conflicts between the activists and the government forces, which leads to violence. Secondly, the spread of information also results into exchange of political strategies among states or politicians. Because of globalization, politicians of different backgrounds, experience, and ideologies are able to mingle and exchange political ideas.

While some of the ideas may be for the good of the public, experience evidences that most of them concentrate on maintaining the political supremacy and self-interest of the politicians. Majority of the African countries face peace threats due to the strong positions held by their political leaders. Interestingly, such leaders remain applauded by their international counterparts even though they enjoy less support from their citizens.

Through the advice, which these leaders get during international meetings, such as the UN, Common Wealth and African Union conferences, they gain confidence to cling to power against the wish of majority, which is the founding principle of democracy. With this trend, the leadership in most African countries will continue to infringe democratic rights of the people and since globalization continues to promote the flow of ideas on peoples liberalization in the world, more politically-instigated violent acts are likely to occur in future.

Globalization results into loss in community values including cultural and traditional values. Globalization encourages interaction of people of different social and cultural backgrounds. Cross-cultural adoption among people of different spheres of life has been vivid since the 20th century. Blend of cultures and traditions has therefore resulted into loss of the community values in different regions of the world.

Loss in community values has adverse effects on domestic politics of a country. Constitutional violation by the political leadership is the obvious effect of loss in community values. A constitution upholds the values of the community, which it governs. Therefore, political leaderships disregard of these values implies a constitutional infringement. This may result into conflicts between those critical to the constitution and the values and the leadership.

Conflicts create tension and uncertainty among people and may lead to wars. Another significant impact of loss in community values to politics is the adoption of practices by the public, which threatens security and hence peace of a nation. Due to globalization, people adopt values of other communities at the expense of theirs. Such practices, which include drug abuse among others, encourage deviant behaviours among the people.

These behaviours threaten the political stability of the state as such people may involve in violent acts. A state, which does not uphold its community values, is subject to malpractices by the leaders. Corruption and dishonesty are among the malpractices experienced in such states. These practices compromise the governance of the state and could result into conflicts between the people and the leadership, thereby threatening peace and unity.

Through globalization, corrupt officials conceal their ill-acquired properties and funds in other countries. Political theorists attribute the advanced forms of corruption in African countries to globalization. Generally, loss in community values results into loss in confidence among the citizens to their leaders and this may result into more conflicts and hence wars in future. Conflicts in the Muslim world are results of loss of values of Islam.

The influx of non-Muslims and the interaction between the region and other non-Muslim regions through trade and international relations has prompted the loss of Islamic values in those regions. The result has been the disregard of the Sharia law, which forms the basics for governance in the Islamic countries. The Egyptian and Libyan situations apparently illustrates the results of loss of community values to politics, peace, and unity of the world.

As previously mentioned, globalization encourages freer flow of goods. This has considerable impact on politics, especially when dangerous goods come into play. Trading in arms has become easier and convenient with the globalization and the loss of sovereignty in the states.

Due to international trade, militia gangs in Somali and other war-torn countries are able to acquire arms. With the freer trade in culmination with less government control of businesses and mobility of people, there is increased accessibility to guns and other arms. If this trend continues, more than 67% of the population in the world will own these arms in the next 3 years (McGrew 2001, 98).

Such statistics are alarming and indeed, indicates a threat to peace and unity. Increase in number of people owning guns and other forms of arms poses security threats in that, people will result into use of violence to resolve their disputes. With the increased armament, there is likelihood to increase in terrorism in the world. Terrorism creates tension and results into conflicts. The long lasting conflicts between the United States and the Middle East are results of terrorism.

Tension results from mistrust between the perceived terrorists and the target nations. In such conditions, there is likelihood of conflict, which results into violence and therefore destabilizing peace in the world. Countries with free flow of arms experience conflicts and are centres for prospective wars.

It further destabilizes the political order of these countries and may subsequently result into collapse of leadership and governments in such countries. Countries marred by political wars have readily available arms. The availability of these arms in most of the politically war-torn countries such as Somalia is a result of globalization. Through inter-border interactions, government rebels acquire weapons and arms to fight the government thereby causing political instability.

Countries with political instabilities pose threat to their security and that of their neighbours. Therefore, with the current trends in globalization, the world continues to experience spread of arms and growth in armament and the plausible prediction would be the increase in political instabilities in the world. As a result, globalization will perpetuate conflicts and therefore destabilize peace in the world.

Globalization enhances migration of people within the cross-border economies. This has considerable impact on the world politics and peace. Because of international trade, business people move freely to favourable regions (target) of their businesses, which results into increase in population in the target regions.

Population increase affects the politics within an economy in two ways: first, it presents a challenge to the political leadership with an extra responsibility to plan and provide for the increased citizens; and second, the political responsibility to control such populations is indeed a challenge. The opportunity provided by globalization for freer movement of people across different states is subject to exploitation by non-business people (McGrew 2001, 13).

The result will be strain in the budget of these states, as some of the immigrants are not involved in production or business and this trend results into poverty in the highly populated areas. For instance, majority of the poor population of the United States compose of the Southern Americans, most of which are immigrants. Poverty poses threat to peace and unity of a country.

The migration encouraged by globalization provides a mean for mobility of the terrorists in the world. Since people are free to move around, there is ease in spread and expansion of terrorism in the world. Through globalization, people of different nationalities are able to shift their originalities to other nationalities to become full citizens by right in the new countries.

Such individuals have political rights like any other citizen in that state; they can vie for political positions and get involved in decision-making of vital matters of the country and this transforms the domestic politics of countries as such people introduce novel strategies of political competition. The outcome of the transformation may however be conflict and tension among the competitors.

In fact, the Rwandan genocide was a result of conflict between the perceived immigrants, the Tutsis, and the real citizens, Hutus. From the Rwandan case, it is imperative to point out that the growing immigration and changes in nationalities due to globalization may lead to replication of such violence in most countries, especially those with political contentions. The migration, as aforementioned, leads into loss in community values and as previously argued, loss in community values creates tension and hence conflicts.

Interrelationship, a result of globalization, enhances power struggle among nations. Globalization enhances interrelationship among different nations. The interrelations may be economic, social, or political. In whatever case, the member nations must collectively make decisions in the interrelationships.

However, it becomes difficult to ensure equal rights in decision-making for situations of rich-poor country relationship. The rich and powerful countries, especially the developed, tend to believe that their views supersede those of the poor and developing countries (Ian 2000, 169). For instance, European countries such as France and Britain enjoy voting rights in the UN unlike their African counterparts.

In the Common Wealth, Britain is the most powerful and major decision maker. Political critics impute the inequality to the rich-powerful dominance over the poor-weak countries. Such inequalities pose threat to the peace in the world. First, the poor countries perceive the inequality as a means of oppression by the powerful countries. Since globalization encourages liberalization and freedom, these countries protest against such oppression by the developed countries. The result is a continued tension among the rich and poor countries.

This tension may lead into conflicts and wars between the rich and poor countries. Therefore, the struggle for supremacy puts the world peace at stake. Secondly, the inequality among these nations results into imposition of policies to the poor countries by the rich nations. Some of the policies may be practically inapplicable in the politics of the developing countries; the policies may either enhance violence or interfere with the order of politics in those countries. Political disorder creates anxiety among the citizens, which is a threat to peace.

The power struggle among the rich countries is another factor threatening the peace in the world. Some nations struggle to prove the most powerful over the others. The result is therefore that the decisions made in the international politics do not focus on improving the world order rather than a revelation for power and influence by majority of the richest nations. This may lead into competition among these countries to prove their mighty.

Lessons of the 1990s Cold War show that, competition for the mighty may lead to conflicts and wars; it was due to competition for who is powerful that led to the infamous Cold War (conflicts) between the former Soviet Union and the United States. As long as globalization bears, power struggle among various nations will continue and the future peace of the world will remain uncertain.

Globalization enhances exchange and imposition of policies by the rich countries to the poor countries. Through the international relations and cross-border economic activities, countries are able to exchange policies. However, the exchange has resulted into imposition of policies to the weak nations by the powerful countries (Leo 2006, 500).

The colonization of most African, Asian, and South American countries by the European countries during and before the 19th century presents a lesson to the todays historians and scholars on the intention of the rich and powerful countries to the poor nations. Analogous to the colonial times, the aim of the rich countries is to assimilate the developing countries into their policies.

It is important to note that such imported policies cannot work in the indigenous countries. Instead, such policies transform the political situations into arenas of conflicts and such conflicts often result into violence. In addition, the imposition of policies results into loss of the sovereignty of the state, which further threatens future peace of the specific country. The contention in the rich-poor relationship is due to the imposition of policies to the poor countries by the rich countries.

The current increasing protests to the International Criminal Court by most of the African countries clearly illustrate the effect of policy imposition. Assimilation into other policies interferes with the legal framework of the indigenous countries, thereby contravening the rights of the citizens in these countries. In the face of globalization, people across the world have become resilient and sensitive to oppression. The result of imposition would therefore be mass actions and political unrest in these countries.

Although globalization encourages policy exchange among the rich and poor countries, the rich stresses on the adoption of theirs. To political critics, the imposition is a tool for oppression to the poor countries and its perpetuation presents the cause for prospective conflicts and wars. The imposition is another form of colonization in the 21st century, which is advancement of neo-colonialism.

Since developing countries would like to maintain their sovereignty and independence, such impositions receive wide oppositions from these countries. Probably, the opposition may be through mobilization of the public actions, which may interfere with the peace of these nations. Globalization enhances exchange and imposition of policies among various nations in the world and therefore, transforming the political situations of various countries. The transformation may create tension and thus conflicts.

According to international trade theory, globalization is a phenomenon that greatly alters the principles of politics, both the international and world politics. It is a further development of a growing interdependence, which further transforms the principles of world politics (Kapitoneko 2009, 589). Globalization achieves this through bringing in non-state actors&and shifting their strategies from military and strategic to economic and social needs (Kapitoneko 2009, 589). As discussed earlier in this paper, these factors have resulted into polarization of the borders of various states.

Furthermore, it has led to freer movement of goods and labour. Based on the second factor of shift on focus from military empowerment to economic and social expansion, it is clear that globalization focuses on economic efficiency at the expense of the military. Since the state engages in long-term co-operations in order to achieve the above strategies of globalization, it encourages more people to cross into their borders.

This poses great threat to the peace of the state. The opening of the borders for freer accessibility of the country by more people in the name of partners in cooperation provides an opportunity exploitable by people with bad intentions. In addition, since the states support to the military has greatly reduced, it becomes easier for such people to enter these states. Such people may be terrorists or other kinds of illegal gangs in the world.

The co-operation for economic expansion at the expense of security of the state simply exposes states to the attacks by such gangs. Further contemplation reveals that the diminishing focus on military and security in favour of economic growth through globalization will result into creation of more gang groups like Al Qaeda; a threat to the peace in the world and therefore cause political disarrays in the world.

The growth in interdependence due to globalization further makes some governments passive in decision-making. Interdependence promotes collective making of vital decisions and as a result, some states leave some decisions for advice from their international co-operation.

Based on the earlier argument, this may result into conflict. Again, due to perception of the rich and powerful countries on the poor states, some decisions may be biased and offensive to the rights of the citizens. Subsequently, this may result into tension and therefore conflicts. Therefore, by altering the principles of the world politics, globalization creates tension and a prospective for future conflicts and wars.

The movement of some states to the territories of others facilitated by globalization presents potential causes of conflicts. With the globalization and the international co-operation, states are freer to enter into other states and such entrances influence the politics of the both states in two ways: first, it transforms the politics of these states since the co-operation may involve influencing some key policies.

For instance, the entry of the United States into Iraqi government influenced the nation to persecute and execute the former president, Saddam Hussein. The entry may call for constitutional changes and thereby considerably changing the politics of such states. However, some entry of states into others may result into chaos.

Although, for instance, the American entry into Middle East in search of terrorists seemed justifiable, it resulted into resistance by majority of the people in that region. This further degenerated into conflict between the citizens and the US soldiers. The entry into other countries, accelerated by globalization, may lead to conflicts and wars. Secondly, the entry interferes with the political order of the other nations.

When a country enters into the matters of another state, it disrupts the order of the operation of political systems in that country. This disruption may be either because of the adjustments required for the issues raised by the other state or due to disorganization, which the entry brings into the other state. Entrance, which disrupts the policies of a state, also creates friction between the states and may result into conflicts.

The entrance is more detrimental when it comes into rich states entering into poor states. Critics perceive the entrance as hegemony and a means to exploit the poor state (Monbiot 2001, 45). Again, this results into conflict between the states. While liberals argue that the relationship between such states enhances checks and balances against the states governments, to critics, it is an opportunity by the powerful nations to exploit the weak states.

The political entrance of states into other states may influence the policies of governance of such states to infringe the rights of the citizens, thereby calling for unrest within those states. Political unrest is a prospective cause of future conflicts and wars and indicates the instability of peace in the future world.

Conclusion

The globalization effects on politics will result into increase in conflicts in the world. As argued in the preceding discussion, globalization has led to loss of states sovereignty in the world. The result of loss in sovereignty is the increased mobility of people, finances, ideas and goods, with little states control. The high rates of immigration of people due to trade with little control by the government, pose a great threat to the peace and unity in the future.

The freedom by the government to carry out businesses anywhere in the world increases the likelihood of exchange of illegal goods such as drugs and arms. Such goods, especially drugs, enhance violent acts. Increase in such goods in a state whose sovereignty is low, will lead to more people consuming those goods. High number of drug abusers within a state puts the peace and unity of a country at risk.

Globalization enhances flow of information and ideas. The cross-border flow of economic activities has enhanced the transfer of information across different political states. The information flow through the liberalized media sensitizes the public, which further enhances violent acts. Loss in community values has adverse effects on domestic politics of a country. Constitutional violation by the political leadership is the obvious effect of loss in community values.

A constitution upholds the values of the community, which it governs. Therefore, if the political leadership disregards these values, it implies a constitutional infringement, which may result into conflicts between those critical to the constitution and the values and the leadership. Trading in arms has become easier and convenient with the current globalization and the loss of sovereignty in various governments.

In the light of international trade, militia gangs in war-torn countries are able to acquire arms. With the freer trade in culmination with less government control of mobility of people, there is increased accessibility to guns and other arms. In making decisions in international relations, the rich and powerful countries, especially the developed, tend to believe that their views supersede those of their poor and developing countries and this creates tension among the nations thereby causing conflict.

The movement of some states to the territories of other states presents potential causes of future conflicts. With the globalization and the international co-operation, states are freer to enter into other states. This, as argued, further results into conflicts. It is therefore justifiable that globalization will promote conflicts in the world.

Reference List

Berger, Suzanne. 2000. Globalization and Politics. Annual Review 3, no. (August/September): 43-62.

Ian, Holliday. 2000. Is the British State Hollowing Out? The Political Quarterly 71, no.2 (February/ March): 167176.

Kapitonenko, Mykola. 2009. Globalization, nation-state, and global security arrangements. Europolis 6, 586-603.

Leo, Christopher. 2006. Deep Federalism: Respecting Community Difference in National Policy. Canadian Journal of Political Science 39, no. 3 (July/August): 481-506.

McGrew, Anthony. 2001. Globalization and global politics. Cambridge: Polity Press.

Monbiot, George. 2001. Captive State: The Corporate Takeover of Britain. London: Pan Press.

Neil, Brenner. 2004. New State Spaces: Urban Governance and the Rescaling of Statehood. New York: Oxford University Press.

Globalization and Language Teaching

Recent studies indicate close connection between language teaching and globalization. Globalization has been instrumental in the wide spread of different languages mainly English language. Since globalization entails worldwide spread of social relations, there is a need for a common ground in language between the parties. Globalization ensures that distant and different localities connect in such a way that distant events shape the local happenings and vice versa.

The major instrument for these social relations between countries is language since it will construct and maintain the social connections. In order for people from different areas of the world to connect and undertake their activities successfully, there has to be a common mode of communication through language. For this reason, there have been an increased number of people in need of learning different languages, and this has been through ELF and EIL approaches. These approaches ensure that people from a different areas are able to master the native language of the others (Gnutzmann, 2005).

Globalization calls for cross-cultural understanding as it helps people to be more polite and effective in attaining its goals. Globalization can only be effective if there is a reduction in miscommunication amongst people. Miscommunication comes about when people do not have the initiative to learn and master language of the other natives. Globalization has increased the number of English speakers because it has become necessary for people to master the language for interactions purposes.

Through globalization, different activities have become an international affair and these include education, businesses, work, marriages, tourist destinations, and even sports (Springgay, 2008). On the other hand, globalization has had a negative impact on the teaching of language especially English. The approaches used in teaching language are not up to standard as they only aim at the learners mastering the spoken language.

There are several cases of poor English language approach being in use even in schools, and this is because the approaches aim at quick learning of the language. The two subjects- globalization and language teaching- connect on both a positive and negative platform (McKay, 2003).

Visual Pedagogy

Visual pedagogy refers to the art profession or science this is paramount in young children. Through visual pedagogy, we are able to build the young ones minds as at a tender age children think more with their eyes. What a child sees is more powerful than what he or she gets through the other senses. Cognitive development goes hand in hand with the way children learn to think, and this is better through visual pedagogy.

Teachers or caregivers of young people mainly make use of visual items to build their brains and minds (Coupland, 2010). Thinking is a fundamentally human activity that we all engage in from birth. Visual pedagogy plays a significant role in thinking because we think of what we see. Thinking is an intentional activity, which we engage in without much force. On the other hand, visual sense is relevant in increasing the creativity and imagination of young people (Duffy, 1998).

In preschool, the teachers support creativity and imagination using visual items and objects. For instance, kindergartens and preschools have several charts, which have drawings of different items that the children can easily identify. By seeing the objects on the charts on a regular basis enables the young people to identify objects even in a setting outside school. Toys and play objects comprise of items the young ones can recall for instance small cars, dogs, cats, guns, etc.

Adults can be instrumental in building the childs imagination through engaging them in constant conversation about the things they see either at home or in school. Letting the children make guesses of the objects they see will increase their imagination and creativity capacities. Toys like building blocks whereby the children can build different objects from the blocks increases their creativity and imagination (Duffy, 1998).

CLT in Asian Context

Creativity Language Teaching (CLT) is a methodology that was first proposed in England in the 1970s, and it was to be revolutionary because of its focus on creativity in language learning classrooms. This approach has served as a major source of influence on English teaching practice especially in the Asian context- where they use English as a foreign language (Goldfarb, 2002). Despite the major disapproval of CLT by several scholars, there has been a strong position for adopting CLT in Asian countries.

When talking of Asian countries, which make use of CLT we comprise of Chinese, Japanese, Taiwanese, Korean, and Vietnam. It has been close to impossible to implement CLT approach in these Asian countries because of the present English teaching circumstances. The concerned scholars have identified certain barriers, which when looked in to will allow for creativity language teaching in Asian countries (Sakurai, 2004).

CLT debates the essence of putting language learnt to practice which will ensure that the learners master the language. Having knowledge of a language and not putting it to use will not improve the persons efficiency in language. Advocators of CLT advocate for language teaching and learning in social context and social rules. For instance, teaching English in the Asian context should make use of objects and items of Asian origin to increase understanding (Phan, 2004).

Teaching English in Asian countries using foreign examples will not provide room for relation by the learners. Using examples that learners can relate to will increase the creativity of the learners, and more so the learners will build interest in learning the language. Creativity Language Teaching will increase the understanding of the language being taught as it encourages the learners to relate the language to their real world (Yu, 2001).

References

Coupland, N. (2010). The handbook of language and globalization. Malden, MA: Wiley-Blackwell.

Duffy, B. (1998). The role of adult: Supporting creativity and imagination in the early years. Buckingham. Philadelphia: Open University Press.

Duffy, B. (1998). The importance of creativity and imagination for society and young children in: Supporting creativity and imagination in the early years. Buckingham. Philadelphia: Open University Press.

Gnutzmann, C. (2005). The globalisation of English and the English language classroom. Tubingen: G. Narr.

Goldfarb, B. (2002). Visual pedagogy: media cultures in and beyond the classroom. Durham: Duke University Press.

McKay, S. (2003). Towards an appropriate EIL pedagogy: Re-examining common ELT assumptions, International Journal of Applied Linguistics, 13(1), 23-35.

Phan, L. (2004). University classrooms in Vietnam: contesting the stereotypes, ELT Journal, 58 (1), 10-18.

Sakurai, K. (2004). Wearing two pairs of shoes: Language teaching in Japan, ELT Journal, 58(2), 16-25.

Springgay, S. (2008). Body knowledge and curriculum: pedagogies of touch in youth and visual culture. New York: Peter Lang.

Yu, L. (2001). Communicative language teaching in China: Progress and Resistance, Tesol Quarterly, 35(1), 9-16.

Globalization and Language Teaching

Recent studies indicate close connection between language teaching and globalization. Globalization has been instrumental in the wide spread of different languages mainly English language. Since globalization entails worldwide spread of social relations, there is a need for a common ground in language between the parties. Globalization ensures that distant and different localities connect in such a way that distant events shape the local happenings and vice versa.

The major instrument for these social relations between countries is language since it will construct and maintain the social connections. In order for people from different areas of the world to connect and undertake their activities successfully, there has to be a common mode of communication through language. For this reason, there have been an increased number of people in need of learning different languages, and this has been through ELF and EIL approaches. These approaches ensure that people from a different areas are able to master the native language of the others (Gnutzmann, 2005).

Globalization calls for cross-cultural understanding as it helps people to be more polite and effective in attaining its goals. Globalization can only be effective if there is a reduction in miscommunication amongst people. Miscommunication comes about when people do not have the initiative to learn and master language of the other natives. Globalization has increased the number of English speakers because it has become necessary for people to master the language for interactions purposes.

Through globalization, different activities have become an international affair and these include education, businesses, work, marriages, tourist destinations, and even sports (Springgay, 2008). On the other hand, globalization has had a negative impact on the teaching of language especially English. The approaches used in teaching language are not up to standard as they only aim at the learners mastering the spoken language.

There are several cases of poor English language approach being in use even in schools, and this is because the approaches aim at quick learning of the language. The two subjects- globalization and language teaching- connect on both a positive and negative platform (McKay, 2003).

Visual Pedagogy

Visual pedagogy refers to the art profession or science this is paramount in young children. Through visual pedagogy, we are able to build the young ones minds as at a tender age children think more with their eyes. What a child sees is more powerful than what he or she gets through the other senses. Cognitive development goes hand in hand with the way children learn to think, and this is better through visual pedagogy.

Teachers or caregivers of young people mainly make use of visual items to build their brains and minds (Coupland, 2010). Thinking is a fundamentally human activity that we all engage in from birth. Visual pedagogy plays a significant role in thinking because we think of what we see. Thinking is an intentional activity, which we engage in without much force. On the other hand, visual sense is relevant in increasing the creativity and imagination of young people (Duffy, 1998).

In preschool, the teachers support creativity and imagination using visual items and objects. For instance, kindergartens and preschools have several charts, which have drawings of different items that the children can easily identify. By seeing the objects on the charts on a regular basis enables the young people to identify objects even in a setting outside school. Toys and play objects comprise of items the young ones can recall for instance small cars, dogs, cats, guns, etc.

Adults can be instrumental in building the childs imagination through engaging them in constant conversation about the things they see either at home or in school. Letting the children make guesses of the objects they see will increase their imagination and creativity capacities. Toys like building blocks whereby the children can build different objects from the blocks increases their creativity and imagination (Duffy, 1998).

CLT in Asian Context

Creativity Language Teaching (CLT) is a methodology that was first proposed in England in the 1970s, and it was to be revolutionary because of its focus on creativity in language learning classrooms. This approach has served as a major source of influence on English teaching practice especially in the Asian context- where they use English as a foreign language (Goldfarb, 2002). Despite the major disapproval of CLT by several scholars, there has been a strong position for adopting CLT in Asian countries.

When talking of Asian countries, which make use of CLT we comprise of Chinese, Japanese, Taiwanese, Korean, and Vietnam. It has been close to impossible to implement CLT approach in these Asian countries because of the present English teaching circumstances. The concerned scholars have identified certain barriers, which when looked in to will allow for creativity language teaching in Asian countries (Sakurai, 2004).

CLT debates the essence of putting language learnt to practice which will ensure that the learners master the language. Having knowledge of a language and not putting it to use will not improve the persons efficiency in language. Advocators of CLT advocate for language teaching and learning in social context and social rules. For instance, teaching English in the Asian context should make use of objects and items of Asian origin to increase understanding (Phan, 2004).

Teaching English in Asian countries using foreign examples will not provide room for relation by the learners. Using examples that learners can relate to will increase the creativity of the learners, and more so the learners will build interest in learning the language. Creativity Language Teaching will increase the understanding of the language being taught as it encourages the learners to relate the language to their real world (Yu, 2001).

References

Coupland, N. (2010). The handbook of language and globalization. Malden, MA: Wiley-Blackwell.

Duffy, B. (1998). The role of adult: Supporting creativity and imagination in the early years. Buckingham. Philadelphia: Open University Press.

Duffy, B. (1998). The importance of creativity and imagination for society and young children in: Supporting creativity and imagination in the early years. Buckingham. Philadelphia: Open University Press.

Gnutzmann, C. (2005). The globalisation of English and the English language classroom. Tubingen: G. Narr.

Goldfarb, B. (2002). Visual pedagogy: media cultures in and beyond the classroom. Durham: Duke University Press.

McKay, S. (2003). Towards an appropriate EIL pedagogy: Re-examining common ELT assumptions, International Journal of Applied Linguistics, 13(1), 23-35.

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Impact of Globalization and Neoliberalism on Crime and Criminal Justice

Introduction

Globalization entails the conception of principles, perpetuated by both governments and organizations that have altered the way nations perceive the obligation for a criminal justice system and the ability of the governments to control crime in society. With the emergence of transnational crime, there have emerged new kinds of crime that have been described as a serious problem at the turn of the millennium. A number of institutions and organizations monitoring the emergence and expansion of new crime waves have identified criminal aspects of globalization as grave domestic and international security threat. Some argue that transnational crime undercuts neoliberal policies and the performance of an ever rising number of capitalist market-driven economies through out the world.

Accordingly, various solutions have been suggested and implemented with most of them being relatively extreme and involve covert strategies, approaches and processes carried out by intelligence services and their means are usually invasive all in the name of fighting global crime. Neoliberalism is also an ideology which supports the lenience of economic policies to acknowledge multinational organizational interaction in trade so as to capitalize on the private business sector and reduce the role of the state in business. Through neoliberalism, some cultures, societies and political policies have evolved to using business oriented systems based on competence, liberal thinking and individual governance so that individuals rather than governments and corporations take charge of risks. Consequently, this category of market based thinking has become rather popular and is finding its way into the area of public and poignant interaction. This essay aims at unearthing the impact globalization and neoliberalism have on crime and criminal justice.

Impacts of globalization and neoliberalism on crime

With the permeability of international borders through globalization and neoliberalism severe cross-border waywardness has undoubtedly come to the awareness of the international community though only diminutive organized research has been committed to comprehend the causes, pattern, essence and consequence of severe international crime due to the low attention given to the acts by international governments and organizations. Without fully understanding the impacts of globalization and neoliberalism on crime, the crime is therefore basically a moving target for the stringent measures being studied and put into practice in various countries.

Consequently the stringent measures may lead to collateral damage due to the application of envisaged policies to curb international crimes that have not been intricately studied. It is therefore imperative to start at the kernel of the issue by understanding the effects of globalization and neoliberalism on crime.

Urbanization

The most immediate and visible result of globalization and neoliberalism is the emergence of metropolitan centers. Organizations and companies that are seeking to expand their asset base will do so in different countries while employing residents of the nation either as permanent or casual workers (Findlay, 1999). Governments are also involved in the development of areas of interest by providing tools, equipment and infrastructure for the organizations thus coming to a business agreement with the organizations (Hogg, 2007). In addition, neoliberal ideology promotes the market or business way of thinking which in turn allows an urban population to effectively do business and enrich themselves (Nelken, 1998). This leads to the rapid emergence of cities where numerous opportunities are available for individuals with interest as wells as qualifications to work in the metropolitan areas (Fletcher, 2002).

The inevitable result is that people from other areas will migrate towards the towns consequently surpassing the number of available opportunities. Competition then sets in with individuals seeking similar opportunities endeavoring to out-do each other by attaining higher qualifications. This means that some qualified individuals are left without jobs while other individuals seeking jobs continue to migrate towards the city (Hirsh, 1997).

According to Anthony and Cunneen (2008), the influx in population leads to the emergence of slums where a high number of those living there are unemployed or casual laborers hence the slums are comprised of low income earners. Most of the unemployed end up doing odd job for sustenance due to the fact that urban lifestyle is expensive since every item is purchased including water. Consequently, a significant percentage of slum dwellers also turn to crime since they have no other option bearing in mind that all job opportunities have been allocated (Barak, 2001).

Competition amongst the highly qualified also churns out a large number of well educated, unemployed individuals who engage in elaborate crimes and syndicates that siphon a lot of money usually through the internet, identity theft or dubious bank accounts as identified in Fletchers work (2002, pp. 132-138). According to Michalowski (2009) changes in urban life and systems due to neoliberalism were studied in six Latin American nations which are Uruguay, Brazil, Peru, Chile, Argentina, and Mexico. The ultimate study titled The Free-Market City: Latin American Urbanization in the Years of the Neoliberal Experiment was availed by Alejandro Portes and Bryan Roberts. The Free-Market City was basically a comparative study that took into account data from census, surveys, and fieldwork. Neoliberalism analysis was comprehensive in the six countries with various aspects being studied among them, urban unemployment, informal jobs, urban disparity, poverty and urban crime and victimization (Devetak, 2007). The facts and figures assembled showed a strong relationship between the economic policies implemented trough neoliberalism and the consequential patterns brought about by urbanization.

Illegal trade of goods and drug

Globalization and neoliberalism eventually led to the marketing and sale of restricted goods and drugs. A report compiled by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) revealed that the global drug trade alone accumulates annual revenues of more than three hundred billion dollars(Fletcher, 2002). It is in this perspective that drugs from Afghanistan and Mexico are able to find their way into America and Canada while firearms from Austria are smuggled to Africa and parts of Europe. In addition, human trafficking has risen exponentially with approximately six hundred thousand Africans being smuggled into Europe for sex trade (Michalowski, 2009). The United Nations estimates that there are in excess of forty million addicts of heroin, cocaine and synthetic drugs through out the world.

Endangered species products are also highly restricted but globalization and neoliberalism have created ready markets for such products in different parts of the world (Findlay, 1999). The ivory from elephants for instance has a ready market in china and since the trade of ivory is illegal in many African countries, traders have resulted in poaching which has drastically reduced the number of elephants in countries such as South Africa and thus reducing the revenue generated through wildlife tourism (Devetak, 2007). Another example is of Japan which has a huge market for blue fin tuna which is bought at a very high price hence open sea fisheries often sell the fish in Japan with some specializing in the capture of blue fin tuna. However, the fish is on the verge of extinction and unless the fishing of that species subsides, they may become extinct (Michalowski, 2009). The international trade of endangered species and their parts such as turtles, seahorses, rhinoceros horns, leopard skin, whale oil and tiger parts has resulted in a black market which has led to the extinction of some of the species (Nelken, 1998).

Inequality

Globalization and neoliberalism are hugely responsible for the escalation of economic disparity. Findlay, (1999) observes that neoliberalism also referred to as the American Market Model, has the propensity to encourage low wages and high inequality. Economists have determined that neoliberal policies have been a substantial component of the U.S. economy where just 40% of the working class populace in the U.S. is regarded as satisfactorily in employment (Barak, 2001). Studies reveal that more than 28% of workers in the U.S are low income earners while a further 37% of the workers are employed on a wage basis.

The Centre for Economic Policy Research (CEPR) assert that a succession of premeditated, neoliberal policies such as the anti-inflationary bias, anti-unionism and exploitation of the health industry have been the motivation leading to the rising inequality in the U.S (Hirsh, 1997). According to CEPR, intensive Anglo-American neoliberal policies have led to a significant rate of social exclusion which incorporate among others high differences in income, high relative and absolute poverty rates, poor and disparate academic results, different health outcomes, and high rates of crime and imprisonment (Anthony & Cunneen, 2008). Consequently, the marginalized groups will turn to crime either as a source of income or as a way to vent against the inequality in society (Sassen, 2000).

In addition, globalization and neoliberalism lead to a better standard of living in society but low income earners are often excluded from social development (Findlay, 1999). Consequently crime becomes a viable option for one to fit into society or for one to be considered well off. For instance a large percentage of the Aboriginal community in Canada has been poor and marginalized for a long time while the society around them continues to develop. As a result, a large percentage of aboriginals are criminals with five out of eleven prisoners being members of the aboriginal community (Devetak, 2007).

Terrorism and mercenaries

With the ever increasing opportunities brought about by globalization and neoliberalism, business and organizations have a chance to invest in foreign countries. However, there are cases where the local population is disgruntled with the way foreign companies are handling a particular resource (Hirsh, 1997). For instance the international companies that mine oil along the Niger delta are constantly faced by threats from rebels who protest that the occupants of the region are not receiving proceeds from their lands resources (Findlay, 1999). Consequently, reports of kidnaps, attacks, bombings and shootings have been raised with the rebels targeting foreign workers (Anthony & Cunneen, 2008).

In addition, different governments or organizations invested in a particular a nation may have differences in ideology, values, principles or policies (Hogg, 2007). In secluded cases, these nations will fail to come to a diplomatic agreement and hence unleash covert war tactics on each other. The end result is that small private armies are formed to assault or defend a particular nations interest and eventually, these armies for example the Taliban become too strong to control and terrorism acts prevail with instances such as the London train bombing and the Twin Tower bombing (Michalowski, 2009).

Impacts of globalization and neoliberalism on criminal justice

Barak, (2001) affirms that due to the increasing number of crimes and the dynamic state in which some of the crimes are committed, it has become imperative for the criminal justice systems to undergo various amendments in order to incorporate international crimes. The development of the technological age in particular has led to a new wave of crime involving internet and credit card accounts meaning a crime committed in Africa can be affecting someone in the United States (Nelken, 1998). Consequently, several measures and laws have been put in place by regional and international governments either as collaboration or singly in order to formulate mechanisms in which crimes with vague jurisdiction can be handled (Sassen, 2000).

Courts

With the expanding social space created by globalization and neoliberalism, there had been the need for a central point in which global conflict could be resolved. This led to the creation of the International Court of Justice (ICJ) in The Hague, Netherlands in 1945 as the prime judicial division of the United Nations (Sassen, 2000). The main function of the ICJ is to resolve disputes between nations and also acts as legal council to the UN General Assembly (Devetak, 2007).

The International Criminal Court (ICC) was established in July 2002 as a permanent tribunal after the implementation the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court. The role of the ICC is to investigate and prosecute criminal acts of a large scale which a state is either unwilling or unable to prosecute (Anthony & Cunneen, 2008). Such criminal cases include genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes (Sassen, 2000).

Policing

Devetak, (2007) confirms the fact that the cross-border patterns in which crimes are committed has led to the formation of international policing bodies with the authority to investigate and arrest individuals in most countries. The most prominent bodies are International Criminal Police Organization (INTERPOL) and Central Intelligence Agency (CIA). These organizations work in collaboration with the host country in which an active investigation is being carried out and work in liaison with over one hundred governments.

The CIA also collects information regarding foreign governments, companies, and individuals, and also plays an advisory role in shaping public policies (Findlay, 1999). Furthermore, due to the active nature of the terrorism threat to many nations, special anti-terrorism units have been formed to actively pursue terrorism suspects and monitor terrorism activities to avoid attacks (Barak, 2001). The Joint Terrorism Task Force in the U.S for instance plays an active role in investigating terrorism threats (Michalowski, 2009). Other departments such as Computer Analysis and Response formed by the FBI were designed to monitor and prevent cyber, hi-tech and other forms of white-collar crimes (Fletcher, 2002).

Conclusion

Globalization has certainly led to the emergence of a universal product market hence extending consumers access to a wider range of foreign products. This has allowed for an exponential rise in international trade which has conversely increased the rate of both domestic and international crimes. Trafficking of drugs, weapons, prostitutes and children has become a major threat to the stability and economy of various countries with organized crime running underground or shadow economies.

Neoliberalism on the other hand has opened up new markets and business opportunities though higher economic freedom which has led to a better standard of living. However, neoliberalism has also led to social stratification with certain neoliberal policies being perceived as discriminatory hence disparity among the working class. Generally, globalization can be attributed to the surge in international crime and the emergence of international bodies to fight global crime. Conversely, neoliberalism has been mainly accredited with causing local crime through inequality thus the development of specialized bodies to monitor specific crimes.

References

Anthony, T & Cunneen, C. (2008) Critical Criminology Companion. Annandale: Hawkins Press.

Barak, G. (2001) Crime and Control in an age of Globalisation: A Theoretical Dissection, Critical Criminology, vol. 10, no. 1, pp. 57-72.

Devetak, R. (2007) Globalizations shadow: An introduction to the globalization of political violence, in Devetak, R., Hughes, C. (eds) Globalization of Political Violence: Globalizations shadow, Taylor and Francis, Abingdon.

Findlay, M. (1999) Globalisation of crime: understanding traditional relationships in contexts. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.

Fletcher, K. (2002) Globalisation and Criminal Justice, Hecate, Vol. 28, No. 1, pp. 132-138.

Hirsh, J (1997) Globalization of capital, nation-states and democracy, Studies in Political Economy, vol. 54, No 2, pp. 39-58.

Hogg, R. (2007) Criminology, Crime and Politics Before and After 9/11, Australian and New Zealand Journal of Criminology, vol. 40, No. 1, pp. 83-105

Michalowski, R. (2009) Power, crime and criminology in the new imperial age, Crime, Law and Social Change, vol. 51, no. 3-4, pp. 303-325. &

Nelken, D. (1998) The Globalisation of Criminal Justice, in Freeman, M. (ed) Law at the Turn of the Century. London: Oxford University Press.

Sassen, S. (2000) The State and Economic Globalization: Any Implications for International Law?, Chicago Journal of International Law, vol. 1, No. 1, pp. 109-117.

Globalization and Race: The Black Other and African Diaspora

Introduction

The book Globalization and race: Transformations in the Cultural Production of Blackness, explores a number of issues related to the race of the black. The book mainly revolves around diasporic movements, missions and modernities, geographies of racial belonging and the popular blackness and legitimacy.

The book is a collection of essays which explore the change in perception of the black people with recent developments in globalization. According to the author, it illuminates the connections between contemporary global processes of racialization and trans-national circulations set in motion by imperialism and slavery.

Several writers give their opinions which suggest that imperialism and slavery was still the order of the day in some ways. The main concern is the life of the black people who live away from home that is in the European and Americas. The author refers to this kind of people as Diaspora in the book. Some writers have tried to explore the contents of the book and why the black other is central in explaining the experiences of the African diaspora.

The first part of the book, entitled Diasporic Movements, Missions, and Modernities, shows how earlier models of racialized subject formation provide a foundation for the continuation or reinterpretation of these political, social, and economic identities in the current process of globalization.

In part two Geographies of Racial Belonging, the authors focus on clarifying how the mapping of diasporic circulations of belonging articulate with the kinds of relations that emerges in local fields of engagement. In the final section of the book, Popular Blacknesses, Authenticity and New Measures, the focus is explicitly on addressing the ways that the mapping of race and space has also influenced, and has been influenced by, the production of popular cultural forms.

Diaspora and Desire Gendering Black America in Black Liverpool By Jacqueline Brown

The term Black Other here means brother hood or rather identification with a fellow African. The terms black Liverpool and black America, no less than the African diaspora, refer to racialized geographies of the imagination. The mapping of racial signifiers onto geographical ones lends such terms the illusion of referring to physical rather than social locations. That there is no actual space that one could call the African Diaspora, (Kamari and Deborah 73).

The researcher (Brown J.) did am investigation in the city of Liverpool, United Kingdom, in this essay the findings showed that the black Liverpool was attached to the Black American. According to Brown, He became increasingly amazed at how frequently my informants would make discursive forays into black America. (Kamari and Deborah 73). Clearly this indicates that the Black Liverpool identified with the Black America. Thus the Black Other was a very essential factor in their social, political and cultural structures.

She argues that, Diaspora culture is not connected to the home land by citing the example, Black Britons connection to black South Africans is based on neither a primary affiliation to Africa, romantic visions of a homogeneous African culture, nor shared Africanness; on the contrary, it is quite particular, deriving from a common experience of powerlessness understood in racial categories (Kamari and Deborah 158) (Kamari and Deborah 75).

And further explains that, Black Britain defines itself crucially as part of a diaspora. Its unique cultures draw inspiration from those developed by black populations elsewhere. (Kamari and Deborah 75). This clearly shows that the Black Other is not the mother land black but the diaspora black mainly in America and the Caribbean.

In relation to sex, Black men explained that the kinship they felt toward black women precluded the formation of any sexual desire for them (Kamari and Deborah 76). However, the black seamen to Liverpool are credited to giving birth to the black community in Liverpool. The black race in Liverpool is largely associated with the black seamen. To explain further on how the black men associated with black women, different race relationships in Liverpool comprise a majority of black men and white women. (Kamari and Deborah 80).

Mama, am Walking to Canada Black Geopolitics and Invisible Empires By Naomi Pabst

This article examines the relationship between black subjectivity and geopolitics as one trans-historical manifestation of globalization. It emphasizes that, Geopolitics is about the proverbial cultural studies homonym of routes and roots. It is about identity in relation to place, with place signifying dwelling and movement. (Kamari and Deborah 298).

There is so much that is borrowed from the Black America for the Black Canada. However, Canada embraced multiculturalism as indicated by (Yolanda 240) My point here is not merely about the politics of inclusion. Rinaldo Walcott says it well when he insists that it is enough that black Canadas exist and will continue to do so.

With regard to the experiences borrowed by the Black Canada from the Black America, there are a number of instances which are clearly manifested.

The book indicates that, consequential fall-out for those transnational black subjects within and outside of the U.S. context who become black others, inauthentic and inappropriate blacks, in the wake of circulating ideologies of African Americanness that unintentionally set a standard for blackness locally and globally (Kamari and Deborah 241). It is clear that the Black America set some standards for the Africa Diaspora which in turn may have been practiced by Black Canada.

As much as the Black Canada borrows much from the Black America life in America for Blacks, it is totally different from life for Blacks in Canada. Kamari and Deborah (242) illustrate that, despite sharing certain manifestations of racial oppression, black Canada is not a replica of black America nor does racism in Canada replicate the U.S.s. The black/white binary is not the primary racial formula in Canada.

Therefore, the experiences of Black Canada may be molded along the aggression of White Canada towards them. The behavior of Black Canada is widely borrowed from the Black America.

Recasting Black Venus in the New African Diaspora By Jayne Ifekunigwe

This piece of article directly connects the Black Other to the Black Diaspora. The article addresses continental African dispersals to Europe, highlighting the trafficking in West Africa (especially Nigerian) women to Italy as part of the global sex trade. It will enable the understanding of the effect of the black other in relation to the experiences of the Black diaspora.

There are a number of ideas that attempt to draw together new African diasporas by looking backwards to an ideal African homeland and to sets of Afro-centric values that stream from this common origin Kamari and Deborah (206) emphasizes.

The author explains the differences in the job opportunities for African men and women among the Europeans. Clearly, male and female exhibit extreme differences in terms of the job opportunities. Kamari and Deborah ( 207) argue that, If one asks a recently arrived migrant woman today where the opportunities for work lie in Europe, she will tell you that apart from sex work or domestic work, the avenues for employment are closed to her (Yolanda 131).

The author argues that due the placement of the diaspora in a certain class, blacks may not be in a position to forge their way out. As implied in, Otherness, so common in work on representations of the socially oppressed, whether women, black people or working- class people. This ends up by placing the oppressed as objects within a previously conceptualized framework that denies them any consciousness to refuse their place (Kamari and Deborah 208). Thus, their experiences may be affected by their current situation.

Havanas Timba: A Macho Sound for Black Sex By Ariana Hernandez Reguant

Havana Timba was music that saturated the air, It was the worst economic crisis in memory, yet the blasting beat was everywhere, playing on the radio along with new commercial advertisements and live at night clubs throughout the town (Yolanda 249). The origin of the music is illustrated by this explanation,  Timba is  a hard-edged form of salsa, but unlike New York style salsa, it is based as much on rumba, bata, and other traditional Afro-Cuban rhythms (Kamari and Deborah 251).

This kind of music explains the spread of the black Culture and the importance of the Black Other. In this essay (Kamari and Deborah 251) explain the black experience through Timba, Black experience at the heart of what it meant to be Cuban in a post-Soviet era caught the imperatives of socialist morality and market expansion. It further explains that Timba, naturalized blackness and along with its difference and inequality.

The essay brings out the hyper sexuality of black men, &nature and culture situated the black male on top-male hyper sexuality being a marker of superiority. & Timba fixed black as a naturalize category and being black became an asset rather than a hindrance (Kamari and Deborah 251).

In Conclusion, the route and roots of any diaspora explains the current experiences of the diaspora. The other is the source of most of the experiences mainly because of the sense of belonging.

Works Cited

Kamari, Clarke; Deborah, Thomas. Globalization and race : transformations in the cultural production of blackness. Durham : Duke University Press, 2006.

Yolanda, Moses. Article Title: Globalization and Race: Transformations in the Cultural Production of Blackness. Durham : Duke University Press, 2006.

African Diaspora and Globalization

Diaspora can be discussed as one of the most typical characterizations used in the modern world and society which develop according to the contemporary principles of globalization and multiculturalism.

In spite of the fact the notion of diaspora is connected with the definite publics associations and examined by many researchers, historians and sociologists are inclined to define diaspora in different ways, determining it as a process, a phenomenon, or a condition. Clarke and Thomas propose their variant of defining the concept of diaspora, basing on the idea of referring to both the process and condition.

From this point, diaspora is a process that generates subjects through negotiations arising from particular structural and historical conditions that change over time (Clarke and Thomas 12).

Thus, specific historical and social conditions are essential for forming diaspora, and this statement is also relevant for discussing the problem of the African Diasporic cultures which were formed under the influence of the Western imperialism, colonialism, and capitalism.

Racial capitalism and colonialism affected not only the development of the African diaspora but also the transformation of the Western culture in which the social life and capitalistic relations began to depend on the racial discrimination and slavery when the African Diasporic identity formed, and Africanisms spread.

The Western world changed with developing the principles of racial capitalism and colonialism because cultures can vary significantly under the impact of intensive intercultural relations.

The concepts of colonialism and imperialism as the base of the progress of the racial capitalism traditionally depend on the racial discrimination toward the Africans moved to America as slaves and toward the developed Africans diaspora in the other countries as the discriminated minority.

Thus, Clarke and Thomas concentrate on determining the problems of such diasporas as African Americans, Black Canadians, and Afro-Germans (Clarke and Thomas). The principles and ideas of colonialism and imperialism made Africans as the representatives of different diasporas consider themselves as racially unequal to white people.

From this point, the development of slavery in America, the accentuation of the Africans primitiveness and backwardness in comparison with the civilized Westerners in combination with the status of discriminated minority resulted in discussing the question of the African Diasporic cultures as the controversial issue.

For instance, it is impossible to speak about colonialism and imperialism without referring to the problem of slavery as the fundamental aspect of the African American diaspora. Moreover, racial capitalism is also a negative factor for the development of the diaspora. Basing on racial identity, racial capitalism became the main discriminating factor in relation to the racial inequality.

The question of the African Diasporic cultures should be discussed with the focus on relations of the representatives of diasporas and the dominated nation. Diaspora is often defined as the nation which is not limited by the official boundaries in spite of the fact it is located at the definite territory.

The situation of separateness from the native lands make the representatives of diasporas feel oppressed by the dominated nation. It is important to note that colonialism and racial capitalism contributed much to the development of such associations.

The representatives of the African Diasporic cultures have to emphasize their identities under the impact of the Westerners who are discussed as more civilized and educated than the Africans.

Nevertheless, the development of the African Diasporic cultures is a result of the changes in the Western world because the Africans were not inclined to form diasporas in the Western countries before the progress of colonialism and imperialism (Clarke and Thomas).

Being the product of the Western world, the African Diasporic cultures influenced the Western culture, and colonialism and racial capitalism played the leading roles in the process.

If racial capitalism and colonialism influenced the development of the African Diasporic cultures as the phenomenon, is it possible to speak about the transformation of the Western culture under the impact of colonialism and racial capitalism?

The transformations were observed due to the fact the development of racial capitalism and colonialism changed the whole social system in the countries where the African diasporas appeared as a result of the imperialistic policies and tendencies to use slaves as the base for the economic relations.

The African Diasporic cultures began to develop in the Western world, which could not be the same as it was before the moves in colonization and imperialistic policies. Thus, Africanisms and Pan-Africanism should be associated with the African Diasporic cultures influenced by the effects of the racial capitalism.

To understand the situation clearly, it is necessary to correlate it with the contemporary tendencies in the process of finding the compromise between stating the identity of the diaspora and establishing effective relations with the dominated nations.

Clarke and Thomas state that contemporary transformations in the production of blackness are as relevant to the globalization of late capitalism as deployments of race-thinking & were to earlier periods of imperialism, state formation, and nationalism (Clarke and Thomas 9).

Thus, the notion of globalization was added to the discussed concepts of race, equality, and identity as one of the most significant factors. If several centuries ago, the question of the African Diasporic cultures was connected with the results of imperialism, today the globalization processes in economy and social life are discussed as more influential factors.

The notions of racial consciousness and cultural identity are often discussed in relation to the African diaspora with references to the questions of the racial inequality and discrimination. These associations and interpretations are effected by the development of the racial capitalism. However, it is also necessary to focus on the further progress of the situation when the Western culture was also transformed.

Clarke and Thomas pay attention to the fact that the idea of race and the hierarchical institutionalization of racial difference emerged dialectically in relation to sixteenth-century economic transformations that ultimately created that what we now know as the modern West (Clarke and Thomas 11).

From this point, rigorous historical and social processes influenced the modern situation regarding the problem of diaspora and contributed to adding more points to the discussion of the issue of race.

To conclude, it is essential to note that racial capitalism in its association with colonialism and imperialism influences the development of the situation when the representatives of the African Diasporic cultures are perceived as the former slaves.

This fact explains the controversial discriminated position of the Africans in the Western world, which can be not accentuated, but it is a result of the historical development. Furthermore, the Western culture was also transformed because of its orientation to the discussion of race and racial equality as one of the significant factors for building economic and social relations.

Works Cited

Clarke, Kamari, and Deborah Thomas. Globalization and Race: Transformations in the Cultural Production of Blackness. Durham: Duke University Press, 2006. Print.

The Roman Empire: Globalization and Religious Power

The Roman Empire is the first-ever experience of world globalization, the creation of a universal multinational society, in which the main directions of historical development with its ups and downs, unprecedented progress, and wild barbarism were identified. In this sense, the Roman state has been going on, taking one form or another, for 2000 years. And all because Rome never considered itself as a state in the modern sense of the word, i.e., as one state among other states. The Roman Empire claimed to be not just a state but a universal state, the only state in the universe, coinciding in scale with the entire civilized world. In this sense, the Roman Empire thought of itself rather not as a state but as all civilized and politically organized humanity. What really distinguished the Roman Empire from its predecessors and contemporaries is that it really managed to combine cultural universalism and political isolationism and put them into practice  it was, in fact, multi-ethnic, turning into a formation where ethnic differences had no political values. The political order hovered over ethnic division, just as our civilization hovers over national borders, and is not a pretext for chauvinism.

The creation of popular religions that spread around the globe played a huge role in the globalization of the world. When the Christian religion appeared, it influenced whole countries of the Roman Empire, changing peoples vision of life, culture, and traditions. Religion was a key thing, which gathered a lot of nations, and ethnicities together under a common belief. The spread of religions resulted in a number of global events. A lot of wars were started on a religious basis, which covered big territories. Cultures, languages, and knowledge was also spreading along with the spread of religion. Even though religion was changing and transforming depending on the traditions of particular ethnical groups or nations, it was the thing that was connected nations that culturally and physically far from each other. A separate group of clergymen themselves became the owner of land, property, and slaves demanded a significant share of the product produced and captured trophies to increase their wealth and make sacrifices. Along with state power, religious power appeared, which had common interests with other strata of the ruling class, but often came into conflict with the secular ruler.

World History: Globalization in the 1970s-2000s

Introduction

Globalization is an integral part of the modern world, and its processes affect all countries and all inhabitants of the earth. However, the effects of this process are controversial, since, on the one hand, it is beneficial, but on the other, it has negative consequences for many countries. Especially these differences can be noted by comparing the situation of countries that only after the 1970s gained independence and embarked on the path of democratic and economic growth and developed countries. The period of the 1970s2000s is the most vivid for understanding the impact of the process of globalization and changes in the world order. The system of colonization and the bipolar world was finally eliminated, and democracy replaced the dictatorships in many countries precisely during these years. Consequently, this paper will explore the period of the 1970s-2000s to determine the events and impact of the first stages of globalization in different countries and their people.

Main body

The first feature of this period is the fact that almost all countries of the world have switched to a democratic system and a free market economy. The last African colonies gained independence, Latin American countries overthrew dictatorial regimes, and the Cold War ended with the collapse of the Soviet Union (Tingor et al., 2014). The latter event had the most significant consequences for Europe and part of Asia, since after the collapse of the USSR, 15 independent states appeared on the world map. In addition, the reduction of the influence or support of the communist ideology to such countries as Czechoslovakia, Germany, and Yugoslavia, and internal causes also led to their collapse and the emergence of young democracies (Tingor et al., 2014). The newly emerging countries or governments had to correct the mistakes of previous authorities and create new institutions and structures to ensure the development and a sufficient standard of living for their people. However, all these states demanded support and implementation in the new economic system, which led to increased cooperation and integration, and therefore globalization.

One of the landmark events of that period was the fall of the Berlin Wall, which for nearly 50 years, symbolized the division of the world into a capitalist and socialist camp. This event was expected and unexpected at the same time. As Ann Tusa notes in her article, the mass migration, or rather escape, of East Berlin residents through other countries or gaps in the Wall has grown to a considerable extent, as well as citizens protests (Tingor et al., 2014). Hence, the USSR authorities were not able to control the situation and decided to open access for East Berlin citizens to West Berlin (Tingor et al., 2014). Ann also notes that such an event was completely unexpected for both journalists and the public and was the beginning of the unification of Germany (Tingor et al., 2014). Such changes in German politics, as well as the opportunities of its western part, allowed the state to join the processes of globalization in short lines, benefit from it, and become one of the most developed countries in the world.

Changes also occurred in the political system of some African countries, which brought the end colonialism era. Guinea-Bissau, Angola, and Mozambique gained their independence from Portugal that had the last colonies in Africa, which became the end of the rule of white people in Africa. In addition, large-scale protests in South Africa against apartheid also yielded results as political fighters against apartheid were released in the late 1980s (Tingor et al., 2014). In the early 1990s, one of the leaders of the resistance Nelson Mandela became president of the state (Tingor et al., 2014). The Tim Jarvis photo published by The Guardian is indicative of both the history of South Africa and an understanding of globalization and democratization of society (Figure 1). A protest urging states to impose sanctions and abandon trade with South Africa is aimed at opposing apartheid, since the white government of the country could not resist the economic crisis in the country. The residents of London came out in defense of South African people that demonstrate the transformation of a global culture in which people are increasingly concerned about issues of human rights and freedoms.

Figure 1. Jarvis, T. (1987). The Guardian. Web.

However, other states that recently gained independence needed to build an effective economic system and deal with internal political and social issues. For example, South Africa faced many problems, since, after the abolition of apartheid, the black population had to replace white people in important governmental and managerial positions. However, the lack of education and experience that was caused by the policies of previous years led to a lack of skilled workers. In addition, the new government needed to rebuild postcolonial political and social institutions and industries (Tingor et al., 2014). Therefore, even with the availability of resources, the government could not properly dispose of them, which significantly impeded the development of the country. This situation was typical of other African, Latin American, and even European states, since not all of them had the resources to become agents of globalization but not its objects.

At the same time, other states benefited from global processes, especially in the economic aspect. West European countries, the USA, Canada, and Australia were in the most advantageous position. These states had the resources to develop international trade, and globalization allowed them to use cheap labor and transfer production to Asia, Africa, or Latin America. The Los Angeles Times successfully portrayed this trend in 1996 by using the cartoon (Figure 2). This picture shows the difference between residents of different countries, and also indicates the problem of cheap labor, which many global corporations have used. Other sources also indicate that some states have managed to make a significant leap in this period, also taking advantage of globalization. For example, Japan entered the top countries for economic development due to its technological progress and the benefits of the free market, even though in 1958, most Japanese could not afford a TV (Overfield, 2013). Therefore, one can note the increased level of inequality in the world, comparing the situation of countries that appeared after the 1970s, and states that had a developed economic and political structure.

Figure 2. Danziger, J. (1996). The world according to Nike. Los Angeles Times.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the analysis of the historical period of the 1970s-2000s demonstrates the significant political and economic changes that were the cause and consequences of globalization. While the new opportunities of world trade and interaction have brought benefits to developed countries, other states have found themselves in even more difficult situations due to the inability to compete with world leaders. Consequently, the first stages of integration of the world community brought both positive and negative consequences, which are still reflected in the modern world situation.

References

Overfield, J. H. (2013). Sources of global history since 1900 (2nd ed.). Cengage.

Tignor, A., Kotkin, A., & Tsin, M. P. (2014). Worlds together worlds apart/ Volume C: 17750 to present (4th ed.). W. W. Norton & Company.

Globalization and Globalization as an Economic Phenomenon

Introduction

Globalization is the integration of trade around the world to form an international marketplace where goods and services produced in one continent go to another. Advanced transport and communication technologies facilitate this integration. It has led to a drastic transformation in the way people live around the world, as more efficient processes result in higher quality products.

Labour exploitation

With globalization came diversified labour. Corporations outsource production of certain goods and services to countries that specialize in their production.

Labour outsourcing saves immensely on production costs as corporations seek to utilize fully the cheap labour available in third world countries. Some even go to the extent of targeting countries that offer subsidies on their establishments.

Critics call this labour exploitation as these corporations take advantage of poor workers desperate enough to offer their services for income enough to provide food for their families for the day.

Moreover, diversion of these resources leads to the reduction in the purchasing power of the population in the home country. This then leads to an increase in unemployment rates in the same country the products will be up for sale.

Environmental degradation

Globalization raised the volume of trading taking place as it gave rise to technology that increases the amount of goods produced per unit of input.

Advances in the financial sector then made this trading more efficient through possibility of making of product orders online and clearing the bills instantly.

Improved standards of living also result from increased personal incomes brought about by growth-induced trade (Panayotou) as an added advantage.

Consequently, increase in trade meant increase in pollution from industries and automobiles. Pressure to produce to meet the high demand then led to destruction of cultivating land and forests to avail space for industries.

Changes in climate then follow, condemning the surrounding areas to calamities that include famine and floods. No corporation ever offers to take responsibility for such reactions, as finger pointing ensues when such issues come into light.

Quality of life and economic measures for the family (Central Intelligence Agency)

Life expectancy: 76.11 years

Infant mortality rate: 12.7 deaths/1,000 live births

Number of children per family: N/A

Household income: $9,925

Percentage of population below the poverty line: 19.5% (2003)

Literacy rate: 77.9% (age 15 and over can read and write)

Unemployment rate: 2.4% (2001)

Population with telephones:  9.358 million (2008) (Mobile Cellular) (% N/A)

  • 31.4% (2008) (Main line)

Population using the internet: 60.9% (2008) 4,798,491

Economic Measures for the Country (answer below)

Total GDP:  $186.8 billion (2009 EST.)

GDP real growth rate: -2.7% (2009 EST.)

GDP by sector:  Agriculture: 1.1%

  • Industry: 48.5%
  • Services: 50.4% (2009 EST.)

Labour force by occupation:  Agriculture: 7%

  • Industry: 15%
  • Services: 78% (2000 EST.)

Total exports: $174.7 billion (2009 EST.)

Exports as a percentage of GDP: 93.5%

Inflation rate: 1.5% (2009 EST.)

The UAE has proven to be an economic winner after its successful strategies saw it survive the economic recession. Successful efforts at economic diversification have reduced the portion of GDP based on oil and gas output to 25% (CIA).

They heavily depended on oil and real estate revenues, which were the hardest hit, but their wide investment portfolio that includes fishing and ship repair cushioned them. Reassurance is that There are signs of recent increases in hydrocarbon revenues (and) merchandise exports. (The World Bank Group).

Conclusion

As much as globalization advances, people need to understand that it is both to the positive and negative. Currently, advances are in progress in a drive that intends to patch up the zones rendered useless as a result of activities enhanced by globalization. It is only right that corporations contribute all they can to such drives.

The phrase, patch up the zones rendered useless as a result of activities enhanced by globalization means,globalization has resulted in land degradation leading to once fertile land being turned into waste land by irresponsible developments. For example, when minerals are discovered in forests, the forests are cleared to give room for extraction.

After the minerals are exhausted, the land that remains cannot be used yield any vegetation, hence is useless. Therefore, globalization has now led to development of technology to return usefulness back into these pieces of land. The most popular method currently is refilling the pits with soil and replanting vegetation.

Works Cited

Central Intelligence Agency. CIA  The World Factbook. 29 September 2010. Web.

Panayotou, Theodore. Globalization and Environment. Cambridge: Centre for International Development at Havard University, 2000.

The World Bank Group. The Middle East and North Africa region shows tentative signs of Recovery in 2010. Web.

Globalization and the Commons

The average global temperature is rising and mankind is about to experience a deadly catastrophe as a result. This is as a result of accumulation of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere.

It has been primarily attributed to human activities such as combustion of fossil fuels and deforestation. Global warming can be termed as the greatest threat facing humanity in the twenty first century whose effects are overwhelming due to massive climatic changes.

It is attributed to the rise in sea levels, alterations of rainfall patterns as well as extension of subtropical deserts. Besides, it has been associated with the extreme weather such as tsunami and retreating of glacier in Polar Regions to cause rising sea levels. Consequently, species extinction and food insecurity due to reduced agriculture has been evidenced especially in the developing world.

With the rising population along with food shortages, mass starvation could be evidenced as well as sanitation issues and other health problems. The melting of ice caps will desalinate the oceans, reduce its temperature and change the ocean currents, leading to another ice-age, which could overwhelm the human civilizations causing their extinction (Miller & Spoolman, 2008).

The developed world is aware of these threats to humanity and has engaged into various mitigation policies to alleviate the issue. They have proposed ways of dealing with global warming that include adaptation to its effects and geo-engineering geared at eliminating the buildup of greenhouse gases. Additionally, the developed world has initiated international mitigation procedures outlined in the Kyoto protocol.

The protocol includes the developing world in mitigating emission of greenhouse gases. However, the developing nations maintain that it is not their role to regulate their greenhouse gas emissions because they have much less per capita emissions as compared to the developed countries.

From research, it has been noted that a third of the global population is not aware of global warming. Significantly, those in the developing world particularly in Africa are least aware while the other developed countries such as the US maintains that global warming is a serious threat that result from human activities (Miller & Spoolman, 2008).

Research shows that developing countries are not expected to lower their emissions up to a time that their economies are developed although some limits have to be executed. Global warming has affected a big percentage of our planet thus becoming a global issue. The developed world has a role to play in assisting the indigenous communities of the developing countries.

This has been seen in their efforts to enhance the standards of lives for the population in developing countries by giving them food aids (Goff et al., 2007). They have also helped to set policies in these nations to prevent air pollution and advocating for their investing in alternative clean sources of energy other than the fossil fuels.

Besides, they have helped the developing countries to go green by enhancing public awareness of the need to safeguard the environment by planting trees.

In Africa for instance, the US and other developed countries have helped to enhance water sustainability to eliminate issues of water shortages.

Finally, the developed nations should continue to fund the developing countries e.g. through the Least Developed Countries Fund (LDCF) and Special Climate Change Fund (SCCF) to finance the adaptation measures in these nations (Paterson, 1996). Irrespective of the momentum of several problems, the issue of global warming is still unresolved. Measures should be drafted accordingly in poor countries while their governments should act responsibly to mitigate global warming.

References

Goff, R. D., Moss, W., Terry, J., Upshur, J., Schroeder. M. (2007). The Twentieth Century and Beyond: A Brief Global History. New York: McGraw-Hill.

Miller, G.T & Spoolman, S. (2008). Sustaining the Earth: An Integrated Approach. Belmont, CA: Cengage Learning.

Paterson, M. (1996). Global Warming and Global Politics. London: Routledge.