Against Globalization

Modern-day critics are against globalization of economies since they believe this does not effectively negate the problems of the poor people of the world. They are against globalization because they believe that the definition and the process of globalization is not satisfactorily explained and implemented.

Ambiguity arises from the very definition of globalization. Today, the business fraternity believes that globalization is the main equity that any modern day industry can have. The developed world industry has already equipped themselves with the relevant technology and techniques required to practice globalization along with sustainable development. The developing countries like India and Brazil are finding it hard to equate these 2 terms at a practical level. The reason being the term 'globalization' and 'sustainable development' finds different expressions for these developing countries and also in the developed countries. Further, globalization represents an agglomeration of developmental terms like poverty, inequality, hunger and environmental degradation.

The poverty level and inequality index of each of these countries are well defined according to the economical conditions of the respective country. Further, the level of environmental degradation and its acceptability factor varies from country to country. Although, WHO, world Bank and UNDP clearly and categorically defines the level and acceptable range of different environmental pollutants but again these scale varies according to technical up gradation capabilities of individual country. Furthermore, the term 'inequality' and 'hunger' are also well-defined according to WHO but these factors too are very ambiguous when it comes to application with respect to individual country. Globalization has increased integration of countries, increased the growth in world trade, number of multinational companies. Further, it also affected large quantities of money moving in and out of economies. Smooth dissemination of information and money are no more a constrain for the business fraternity. Goods and services produced in one corner of the world are transported easily to all parts of the world.

The modern-day furore against globalization is largely due to the two basic factors - poverty and inequality. The protest against globalization is increasing rapidly. In reality, the protest against globalization is an agglomeration of different important issues that are being held separately. The anti-globalization protest is being organized to champion causes like environmentalism, third world debt, animal rights, child labor, anarchism, anti-capitalism, and opposition to multinationals. The main wrath of the protesting fraternity is being faced by the international institutions like World Trade Organization (WTO), International Monetary Fund (IMF), and World Bank. Further, these international institutions like the World Trade Organization, the World Bank, and the International Monetary Fund are seen as the main facilitators for establishing, monitoring, and rendering judgments on global trade practices, and are viewed as servants of big multinational companies. These protesters are becoming more vocal and intense in their protesting process. Multinational companies are being accused of social injustice, unfair working conditions, low labor wages, living standards, and working conditions. Further, lack of concern for environment, overuse of natural resources, and ecological damage are other important areas of concern for these activists. These anti-globalization activists argue that the overall economic growth of the world economy does not effectively make people content and happy but on the contrary it makes them miserable. Furthermore, they opine that these multinationals invest in developing countries only to meet their profit projections at the cost of poor and the under-privileged population of developing nations.

The main crux of conflict lies in the very concept and definition of globalization, in which the balance is more tilted towards the developed nations.