Chapter 24: Accelerating Global Interaction ( ¼)

From the reading so far of pages 723 to 734, we can see a clear visual that our world hasn’t changed much in the last four years since the text has been written, and more so that the issues brought up about America specifically and globalization are being fought more now than before. The text leaves us with the beginnings of issues globalization has caused such as sweat shops, outsourcing, the gap between rich and poor, America’s war on terrorism, and the secrets and theories that people hold against out government, even within our own country.

            It is important to understand that though there have been negative issues which rose with globalization; there have been positive marks as well.  World trade had skyrocketed from $57 billion in 1947 to a bit over $7 trillion in 2001. This lead to the most remarkable economic growths in world history.  Total world output grew from $7.1 trillion in 1950 to about $55.9 trillion in 2003. Because of this life expectancies grew almost everywhere, infant mortality declined, and literacy increased.

            Though these were obviously very positive outcomes of globalization, are the consequences that we still deal with today worth all of that. Yes the world was gaining and prospering with all the money, but the distribution of wealth was very problematic. It is important to note that economic globalization did not create the global rift between the rich and the poor (both individually and nationally) it did however worsen the gap. Because of this large gap it leaves people, and on larger scale countries, without medical care, incomes, clean water, education, employment, access to the internet, and many other human requirements to live and to communicate and trade with the rest of the world. Off shoring also added to this gap within individual nations, such as now in the U.S. Because of the factory wages, the United States moved many of their companies to Asia or Latin America. Many more companies, if not all, use outsourcing and sweat shops such as Nike and WalMart, and these issues have been argued against for years, yet we are still in the same state as we were when it started.

            Although the term, globalization, is something new the concept and idea behind it has been practiced before our time. We look back to the different empires of the time before such as the Mongol, Russian, Chinese and Ottoman empires, plus more. We also look at the work and trade done within the Silk Road, the Indian Ocean trade routes as well as those in the trans-Sahara. We also see the spread of religions such as Buddhism, Christianity and Islam. These different aspects brought new rulers, religions, products, diseases, and technology to everyone. This can be seen much in the likeness of globalization today. Negative and positive outcomes coming about in our world, and in our countries.

            The book notes that many people took their stance against economic globalization against the World Trade Organization in late 1999, and continue to today under the World Social Forum to gather and coordinate strategies, exchange ideas, and share experiences.