168. 3. Globalization

168 3. Globalization defines the post-Cold War world. It is the process by which national economies, politics, and cultures become integrated with those of other nations. One effect of globalization is economic interdependence. This means that countries depend on one another for goods, resources, knowledge, and labor.

Improvements in transportation and communication, the spread of democracy, and the rise of free trade have made the world more interdependent. Developed nations control much of the world's capital, trade, and technology. Yet they rely on workers in developing countries, to which they outsource jobs to save money or increase efficiency. GLOBALIZATION HAS ALSO ENCOURAGED THE RISE OF MULTINATIONAL CORPORATIONS THAT HAVE BRANCHES AND ASSETS IN MANY COUNTRIES.

One effect of interdependence is that an economic crisis in one region can have a worldwide impact. For example, any change to the global oil supply affects economies all around the world. Another example is debt. Poor nations need to borrow capital from rich nations in order to modernize. When poor nations cannot repay their debts, both poor nations and rich nations are hurt.

Many international organizations and treaties make global trade possible. The United Nations deals with a broad range of issues. The World Bank gives loans and advice to developing nations. The International Monetary Fund promotes global economic growth. The World Trade Organization (WTO) tries to ensure that trade flows smoothly and freely. It opposes protectionism--the use of tariffs to protect a country's industries from competition. Regional trade blocs, such as the EU in Europe, NAFTA in North America, and APEC in Asia, promote trade within regions.

Global trade has many benefits. It brings consumers a greater variety of goods and services. It generally keeps prices lower. It also exposes people to new ideas and technology. Nations involved in free trade often become more democratic. However, some people oppose globalization of trade. They claim that rich countries exploit poor countries. Some believe that globalization hurts indigenous peoples by taking away their lands and disrupting their cultures. Others say that the emphasis on profits encourages too-rapid development. This endangers sustainability, thereby threatening future generations.

Question

3. What is globalization?