SUBMITTED BY : KUSH BANSAL, ROLL NO.

886
B.A. HONS POLITICAL SCIENCE- 2nd Year

SUBMITTED TO : SEEMA DAS MA’AM

TOPIC: THE GREAT GLOBALISATION DEBATE 

INTRODUCTION  
Globalisation is a long-term historical process that devotes the growing intensity of worldwide
interconnectedness: in short, a ‘shrinking world’. It is, however, a highly uneven process,
wherein far from creating a more cooperative world, it is also a signicant source of global
ction, instability, and conict. No development has challenged the conventional state-centric
view of world politics more radically than the emergence of globalisation. Globalisation is also
associated with conceptual shifts which involve embracing the idea of global politics. Some
have tried to bring greater clarity to the debate of globalisation by distinguishing between
globalisation as a process or set of processes, and ‘globality’ as a condition. Others have used
the term globalisation to refer to the general ideology of globalisation.

MEANING  
Giddens described globalisation as the ‘intensication of worldwide social relations that link
distant localities in a way that local happenings are shaped by events occurring many miles
away and vice-versa’. Globalization is a multifaceted phenomenon which encompasses
economic, social, political, technological and cultural dimensions. This phenomenon has
continued throughout history, notably through military conquests and exploration expeditions.
But it was only in the late 19th century and 20th century that globalization speeded up, due to
the technological advances in transportation and communication.

Globalization refers to the interaction of an economy with all the other economies of the world.
This kind of interaction can be from the financial transaction, trade, politics, education,
production and so on. Globalization terminology has four main parameters in its latest form:
The free flow of goods and services between countries is due to the reduction of trade barriers.
Create an environment for capital flows and inter-state investment. The free flow of technology
from one country to another. The free movement of labour among nations. True globalization
can only be achieved if all four components are present. However, globalization has both
advantages and disadvantages.
TYPES OF GLOBALISATION 
There are four major types of globalisation :

1. CULTURAL GLOBALISATION -
Cultural globalisation refers to the transmission of ideas, meanings and values around the world
in such a way as to extend and intensify social relations. This process is marked by the common
consumption of cultures that have been diffused by the internet, popular culture media, and
international travel. This has been added to processes of commodity exchange and colonization
which have a long history of carrying cultural meaning around the globe. It generates both
homogenisation and polarisation and diversity.

2. POLITICAL GLOBALISATION -
Political globalisation refers to the decline of the nation-state and rises of non-state actors. It
refers to the growth, complexity in the size of national governments and organs of government
and their interplay with non-state actors. It refers to the growing importance of international
organisations such as the United Nations. These organisations that are transnational in that
they exert inuence not within a single state, but within international areas. However, the nature
of political globalisation and its implications for the state varies depending on whether it is
modelled on the principle of inter-governmentalisation or supra-nationalisation.

3. ECONOMIC GLOBALISATION-
Economic globalization includes flows of goods and services across borders, international
capital flows, reduction in tariffs and trade barriers, immigration, and the spread of technology,
and knowledge beyond borders. It is a source of much debate and conflict like any source of
great power. It refers to the process whereby all national economies have, to a greater or lesser
extent been absorbed into an interlocking global economy. Economic globalisation is
understood as a ‘shift from a world of distant national economies to a global economy, in which
production is internationalised and nancial capital ows freely and instantly between countries’.

4. TECHNOLOGICAL GLOBALISATION-
Technological progress is a key driver of improvements in incomes and standards of living. But
new knowledge and technologies do not necessarily develop everywhere and at the same time.
Therefore, the way technology spreads across countries is central to how global growth is
generated and shared across countries. Technological globalisation has many key advantages.
It has reduced costs of transportation and communication across nations and thereby facilitate
global sourcing of raw materials and other inputs. It has also led to a global transfer of
knowledge. The assimilation of foreign knowledge and the capacity to build on it most often
requires scientific and engineering know-how. Investments in education, human capital, and
domestic research and development are thus essential to build the capacity to absorb and
efficiently use foreign knowledge.
THE GLOBALISATION DEBATE 
 
There are various aspects to the modern globalisation process. There are different viewpoints
which regard globalisation as a positive or a negative phenomenon. Much of the debate on
globalisation can be highlighted in two broad categories.
A) Debates on the approaches to globalisation
B) Debates on the process of globalisation

A) DEBATES ON THE APPROACHES TO GLOBALISATION 

David Held has distinguished the debate between three positions, namely - the Hyperglobalists,
the Sceptics, and the Transformationalists.

1.The Hyperglobalists: ​The hyperglobalist are the chief amongst the ‘believers’ in globalisation.
They portray it as a profound, even revolutionary set of the economic, cultural, technological,
and political shifts that have intensied since the 1980s. Hyperglobalism is based on a form of
technological determinism, which suggests that the forces creating a single global economy
become irresistible once the technology that facilitates its existence is available. The chief
image of hyperglobalism is captured in the notion of a borderless world. Nevertheless,
hyperglobalism offers an unbalanced and exaggerated view of globalisation in at least two
senses: rst, it overstates the extent to which policymakers have been dominated by irresistible
economic and technological forces. Second, images of the ‘end of sovereignty’ and the ‘twilight
of the nation-state’ can be said to feature amongst the myths of globalisation. The advent of
global terrorism and migration has re-emphasised the importance of the state.

2.The Sceptics​ - The sceptics have portrayed globalisation as a fantasy and dismiss the idea of
an integrated global economy. They point out that the overwhelming bulk of economic activity
still takes place within, not across, national boundaries, and that there is nothing new about high
levels of international trade and cross-border capital ows. They say that it is used as an
ideological device by politicians and theorists who wish to advance a market-oriented economic
agenda. According to sceptics, the term globalisation is an over simplication and obscures a
wide array of processes that are affecting the world in many different ways. Therefore they
emphasise the role of the international order of nation-states and international governance.

3.The Transformationalists​ - The Transformationalists offer a ‘middle road’, and claim that while
much has changed, not everything has. The breadth of interconnectedness has not only
structured social, political, economic, and cultural activities across national borders but also,
potentially across the globe. The intensity of interconnectedness has increased with the growing
magnitude of trans-border or even trans-world activities, which range from migration searches
and growth of international trade to the greater accessibility of Hollywood movies or U.S.
television. Interconnectedness has speeded up, through the huge ows of electronic money.
B) DEBATES ON THE PROCESS OF GLOBALISATION  
Many scholars have addressed the discrepancies in the process of globalisation. This can be
analysed through debates around the three major processes of globalisation- Economic,
political and cultural globalisation.

1. Economic Growth vs Rising Inequalities

Arguments for Economic Growth:

a) Increased employment opportunities - As globalisation grows, more and more companies are
building businesses in other countries. This, in turn, increases employment opportunities in
places where people redeem themselves. Today, many multinationals, such as Microsoft,
Google and Toyota, have offices in India, and many Indians work for these companies. Without
globalisation, Indians would not have the opportunity to work for these companies in India.

b) The rise in free trade: The increase in free trade opens the door for rich-world investors to
invest money in developing countries. Large companies in developed countries have the
freedom to operate in developing countries. In 2000s, Japanese and European companies such
as CQS and Siemens began producing high-speed trains in China. This helps Chinese
companies gain knowledge about the production process, and now Chinese companies such as
Southern China locomotive and rolling stock are making their own high-speed trains.

c) Improved quality of goods and services: Due to globalization, people can get the best quality
goods and services all over the world. The company must strive to provide consumers with
better products and services, consumers are also free to choose what he thinks is best for their
needs of products. Lower prices for goods and services: As a result of the rapid development of
globalization and intensified market competition, producers have to maintain the market at
competitive prices.

Arguments for Rising Inequalities:

a)The widening gap between the rich and the poor: 86% of the world's resources are said to be
consumed by the world's richest 20% people. This means that 80% of poverty will only consume
14% of the world's resources. This is a direct result of globalization, with some activists thinking
that globalization will only serve the rich and that the poor must confront its disadvantages.

b) Declining employment growth: while the idea of promoting technological progress and
productivity improvement has become the cornerstone of globalization, in the past few years
much progress has led to the reduction of employment growth in some developing economies.
This can also be attributed to the fact that when workers in a country begin to demand better
wages, companies move production facilities from one place to another to find cheaper labour.

c)Small-scale industries face extinction: Small-scale industries in a particular locality are

endangered because they do not have the resources and the power of multinationals. As a
result, these small industries cannot compete with big companies or operate them. One
example is the bamboo furniture industry in India. Manufacturers went out of their homes,
working hard, making furniture out of bamboo. These workers cannot compete with large
companies that sell cheap plastic furniture, so their industries are facing extinction.

2. Political Globalisation vs Declining State Sovereignty

Arguments for Political Globalisation:

a) Fostering international peace: Political globalisation has led to the growth of various
supranational organisations like the United Nations who are committed to promoting
international peace ​Arrangements which bind countries together (e.g. UN, NATO etc.) may 
help increase the chance of peace. ​ Due to the advent of globalisation policymakers have
agreed to enshrine certain universal values as a responsibility of the government. The values of
equality, fraternity and liberty are examples of the values adopted by governments.
Fundamental rights also hold universal acceptance.
b) Promoting Economic development - Creating international political structures can reduce 
the economic inequalities between the nation-states. Nation-states and corporations often 
abuse economic power to advantage the rich and disadvantage the poor (e.g. tariffs on 
agricultural goods imposed by the US and EU ). So organisations like WTO can try and 
encourage countries to reduce the level of exploitation. 
 
c) Dealing with global issues such as Environmental Crisis and Climate Change - We live on 
a small planet with finite natural resources and ecology which is changing because of 
man’s actions. Hence the Paris Accords on climate change and the sense of international 
outrage that the USA has withdrawn from international cooperation on these issues. 
 
Arguments for Declining State Sovereignty : 
a) Diminishing state sovereignty- There has been a dilution state sovereignty as states are 
now affected by a large number of factors than. The factors affecting a state are way 
beyond the direct control of national governments. The amount of economic, social, cultural 
exchange has led to the virtual elimination of borders. The exchange between countries, 
people, societies had led to an increase in flexibility of borders. 
 
b ) Non-state actors: Non-sate actors include internal non-governmental organizations, 
media, multi-national companies. These non-state actors put pressure on the government 
for suitable actions that benefit them. These non-state actors play a major role in reflecting 
the image of governments across the world. 
 
3. Cultural Heterogeneity vs Cultural Homogeneity

Arguments for Cultural Heterogeneity:

a) Reduction of cultural barriers: as people move from one country to another, barriers between
cultures tend to diminish. This has led to tolerance and openness to other cultures. This has
also facilitated communication between different cultures, thus facilitating communications
among nations. This has also led to the reduction of war, as we live today in one of the most
peaceful periods in human history.

b)Diversity of international shows and news channels: The people around the world often watch
the same movies and TV shows, and listen to the same music. This has increased with
improvements in technology such as the internet and cable TV. The US is responsible for many
aspects of entertainment and control lies with many TNCs such as Disney and Warner Bros.
The internet allows people to be involved in entertainment through YouTube, streaming of TV
shows and movies, online news, websites, blogs and social media.

Arguments for Cultural Homogeneity :

a) Loss of cultural diversity and standardisation of culture: Cultural homogeneity refers to the
reduction of cultural diversity. It leads to the creation of popular trends and diffusion of cultural
symbols all across the world. There emerges a single culture as there is a breakdown of cultural
barriers. The term McDonaldisation relates to the idea of standardization- making everything the
same. Various outlets such as Subway, McDonald’s, almost look everywhere the same
everywhere you go. People like this predictability. McDonaldisation relates to more than
McDonald and food. It refers to the way that people in other countries take on aspects of
Western culture. Many TNCs are involved in McDonaldisation. Eg Nike, Coca Cola, Apple.

b) Diminishing national/local languages: There are 7000 languages across the globe and many
of them are getting diminished as people start speaking English. As languages are lost, so are
those traditions. English has taken over many languages.

CONCLUSION
 
Globalisation is a multi-faceted phenomenon that has various dimensions such as political,
economic, technological, cultural. These aspects of globalisation make up the world we live in
today. Deciding whether globalisation is good or bad it's a complex issue. There are many
positive as well as negative factors in evaluating globalisation, and should not be thought of as a
solution to everything. It provides opportunities to those who take advantage and they ourish,
while others may not. Globalisation is not supposed to produce equality of outcome but
produces equality of opportunity for those with a suited mindset. What in fact is needed is
international assistance and a support mechanism so as to facilitate their participation in
globalisation. The challenge of the hour is to make globalisation work towards global prosperity
through disaggregate development.