Criticism Of Globalization

Globalization has been often described as the growing interconnectedness of ideas, economies, cultures and people from all around the world. As nations around the world continue to modernize and adopt new technologies, they are undeniably becoming more and more intertwined with one another. The outcomes created through this process have subsequently spurred controversial debates on both sides of the spectrum. While many individuals perceive globalization as beneficial process, others have argued that this process should be approached with great caution. A plethora of arguments and evidence have been brought about through this discourse supporting both advocates and opponents of globalization. These arguments raise valid concerns regarding globalization

Despite the fact increased cross-border trading and production has raised average incomes globally, inequality has nonetheless become more prevalent. Cee J. Hamelink notes that, “Millions of farmer, immigrants, poorly qualified urban workers, youth and women suffer globalization's negative consequences...marginalized and excluded (Hamelink, 29). Rather than collectively making the world more prosperous, critics attest that “if there is any globalization at all, it is the ‘globalization of poverty’. The benefits created through this process of interconnectedness is only experienced by a very small percentage of the global population leaving behind much of the developing world. According to Amartya Sen, the main issue is not the process itself but rather the institutional inequality that has led to the unequal distribution of opportunities created through globalization (Sen, 24). There is no question that this process has contributed to the development of nations around the world and lead to technological progress, however critics believe that global integration is unequally distributed. Institutional efficiencies among other things, has historically prevented marginalized groups of people from being able to fairly benefit from this process. As firms seek to cut costs and maximize profits, pessimists of globalization

Free-trade reduces barriers and benefits both the consumers and producers of good and services. John Micklethwait and Adrian Wooldridge argue that globalization benefits producers by giving them choice over materials, production techniques, and labor while giving consumers quality goods at significantly cheaper prices (Wooldridge & Micklethwait, 14). Furthermore, optimists also argue that it gives developing nations access to technology and foreign capital which allows them to develop and prosper. Micklethwait and Wooldridge note the example of the Bangladeshi farmers who are now able to use their phones to check the most accurate prices for their produce. Their increased access to information created as a byproduct of globalization, allowing them to benefit tremendously and ensure that they are treated fairly. While they note that some are inherently left behind through this process, enough people are made wealthier to make “the whole process worthwhile”. This process according to optimists is helping to shape an economy where self-interested individuals make decisions that lead to a mutually beneficial outcome. Ideas, inventions, and religions have been able to spread throughout the globe as a result of globalization. Simplifying this intricate and complex process down into a form of “westernization” is