Term Paper on "Globalisation Is Often Portrayed as a Process"

Term Paper 5 pages (1703 words) Sources: 7 Style: APA

[EXCERPT] . . . .

Globalisation is often portrayed as a process of economic, political and cultural homogenisation. Critically evaluate this portrayal.

Globalization of the modern world in several decades dramatically changed its image, leading to social, cultural and economical homogenization of the whole humanity. The level of globalization penetration today is vividly described by the fact that features of consumerism culture are quite obvious in the most outdated and undeveloped societies. For example Coca Cola and Pepsi are the most recognizable brands in the world. (the Global Brands Scorecard 2006). According to one of the most popular definitions: "Globalization, also globalisation, refers to a process of increasing global connectivity and integration between nation-states, households or individuals, corporations and other organizations. It is an umbrella term referring to increased interdependence in the economic, social, technological, cultural, political, and ecological spheres. In the context of global trade, the term globalization is the opposite of protectionism." (Levitt, 1983) Globalization today is not only characterized by transnational political, economical, social and humanitarian institutions, but it's also characterized by the growing rate of cultural integration and spreading of popular mass culture values: "The 'global' refers to the imperialist goals of nations and corporations to increase power and profit; it incorporates the sub-processes of 'capitalism, Americanization, and McDonaldization" (Ritzer, 2004, p. 73)

Globalization processes in Australia represent an integral part of globalization in the Pacific region, where Austria is seen as on of the most important players on regional arena. Being one of the richest countries in the world at the beginning of the twentieth century and a country with stagnating economy and high unemployment rate up to 1980's, Australia had made a big step forward due to successful reforms in the sphere of economical liberalization and foreign investments flow to the country. Such reforms allowed to rebuild economic sector and attract more funds to welfare programs and social infrastructure. (Arnoldy, 2006)

Globalization in terms of economy's liberalization had made a lot of positive effects for Australian economy which was experiencing recession supplemented by a number of social problems caused by unemployment in after war years. Abolition of protectionism over a number of goods produced in Australia and attraction of foreign investments made positive effects on future development of country's economy. Today Australia is a global player on world markets of metal ores, coal, agricultural products and gold mining, contributing to nearly 50% of total exports (according to the Economist Intelligence Unit). Commenting the place of Austria on global markets specialists mark its leading positions in the markets of mineral resources and agricultural production:

Globalization does have winners and losers, but mostly we're a winner," says John Edwards, chief economist with HSBC Bank Australia Ltd. In Sydney. "When farmers in Korea protest against globalization, or miners in Germany protest globalization, they're protesting against us."

Modernization tendencies in Australia today show a remarkable shift towards post-industrial society, where manufacturing jobs are being replaced by growing employment in service sector. Openness of markets, foreign investments and expanding welfare programs led to the development of consumerism tendencies.

Free trade agreements and transparency of borders led to the increase of immigration to the country, mainly labor immigration which covered labor deficiency in different segments of stimulated economic sector: "What we find is that Australian attitudes to embodied globalization have varied considerably across the last decade or so; however, as the intriguing chapter on immigration by Murray Goot and Ian Watson shows, opposition to immigration has fallen significantly across the period of 1996 to 2003. In 2003, 69 per cent of respondents thought that 'Immigrants are generally good for the economy' and 74 per cent believed that 'Immigrants make Australia open to new ideas and cultures'."

Yet, open trade with China, the U.S.A. And Japan led to the decrease in high tech industry. Gaining leading positions in minerals and agricultural exports it lost competition in developing competitive national high tech industry.

The influence of globalization on Australian society can be characterized in a single way. According to the general opinion globalization leads to the growing gap between rich and poor not only in international scope, but also in the scale of one society, making class division more obvious. Such tendencies are vividly reflected on Australian present situation: "the Bureau of Statistics has found that the richest 20 per cent of Australians hold almost two-thirds of the nation's wealth, or an average $1.4-million per household. The poorest 20 per cent holds just 1 per cent, with around $23,000 per home." According to surveys, Australians today find that it' more difficult to find time for family activities, as a typical Australian family works 50 hours a week.(Arnoldy, 2006) Such tendencies of globalization are common all over the world. According to Garrett:."..while globalization has benefited many, it has squeezed the middle class, both within societies and in the international system. In today's global markets, there are only two ways to get ahead. People and countries must be competitive in either the knowledge economy, which rewards skills and institutions that promote cutting-edge technological innovation, or the low-wage economy, which uses widely available technology to do routine tasks at the lowest possible cost. Those who cannot compete in either include not only the erstwhile industrial middle class in wealthy nations, but also most countries in the middle of the worldwide distribution of income, notably in Latin America and eastern and central Europe."

Today specialists agree that negative effects of globalization on Australian society will become vivid only in several decades. According to G. Sauer-Thompson (2005), Australia will remain to be a mineral donor for developing economies of industrial and high-tech monsters of Pacific region. it's economy will be mainly based on mining and agriculture, being dependent upon industrial and high technology products from its main trade partners. Even modern statistics shows that Australia is very dependent upon industrial production and consumer goods imported from abroad. (These articles form nearly 63% of total imports) Today it is already clear that Australia was bypassed by Asian industrial countries, which today are ready to complete with the U.S.A. In the sphere of technological innovations.

The basis of nation's wealth of natural resources and high potential of agriculture, was not rationally utilized in the twentieth century. Even liberalization of economy, freedom of capitals flow and freedom of investments failed to guarantee a stable economical strategy of prosperity for future generations in the form of innovative alternative to mining and farming. (Sauer-Thompson, 2005) as Sauer-Thompson notices: " We have so few developing emerging technology clusters here and unlike Asia, the state is not spending 3% of GDP on R&D. Australia is drifting back to being a quarry providing the raw materials to fuel the industrial machinery in Asia." Such situation will have a negative reflection on social classes as it will limit the space for white collar jobs and will only create the growth of working class. To the opinion of specialists even welfare programs will change little in growing gap between the richest and poorest in Australia in the near future.

In a global scope such dependence will have negative effects on international image of the country, making it dependent upon the decisions of the regional and world superpowers. (Sauer-Thompson, 2005) it's enough to remind pointless participation of Australia in Vietnam war, in order to predict it's future positions in world the world of political manipulations.

Making a conclusion it's important to note that despite all problems Australia got with liberalization of its economy, society greatly benefited from globalization. Stable growth of GDP during last 20 years (about 3% annually), low level of inflation and optimistic forecasts about country's economy for future serve as the best evidence about positive effects of making country's economy transparent for interaction with the rest of the world.(Arnoldy, 2006) Australia today has a high potential due to its small population, natural resources and stable economy of a developed industrial society. Today it's one of the richest states with one the most developed social infrastructure and developed welfare programs, being at the same time transparent for immigration.(James, 2006)

Globalization has brought modernization of the way of life in the country according to the data of the Economist Intelligence Unit, making it one of the most developed it societies in the world. Immigration, stimulated by fair legislation and wide labor opportunities, has not only contributed to economical development by also to cultural and ethnic diversity within Australian society, making it one of the most liberal. Globalization I brought homogenization of international society and economy, establishing new rules and laws of social development and world trade. For such societies as Australia its a chance to develop a new culture enriched by diverse ethnic particularities with advantages of globalization (high technologies, informational and communicational advances, etc.), but not simply to adopt popular culture of consumerism, which is already a concern in the U.S.A.

Appendix

Major Imports and Exports of Australia

Data from the Economist Intelligence Unit) (http://www.economist.com/countries/Australia/profile.cfm?folder=Profile-FactSheet)

Main exports 2005 of total

Major imports 2005 of total

Metal ores, minerals&metals

Machinery

Coal, coke&petroleum… READ MORE

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