Globalization and Lower Living Standards for Americans

Kofi Annan, a UN diplomat, once said,“...that arguing against globalization is like arguing against the laws of gravity.” He is undoubtedly correct in this assessment. Indeed, globalization is no longer something to be skeptical of, it is very real and is changing our world exponentially. The affects of globalization, however, continue to be a heated topic for debate. Proponents praise the overall economic lift provided by free trade, the diffusion of cultures, and the spread of democracy and capitalism. Critics cry foul at the loss of national identity, the accelerated and uncontrolled use of natural resources, and the redistribution of wealth into the hands of a few very powerful people and corporations. Globalization is a polarizing topic and it has affected people in different and varying ways. I looked back over my life, looking for personal experiences that represent the affect of globalization upon my life. It is difficult to pinpoint exact experiences, but it is clear the broader affects globalization has had on my life such as in the spread of cultural practices such as yoga or foreign entertainment, or the rapid demise of the Midwestern manufacturing industry.

When looking at positive affect of globalization in my life I would look specifically to the increased prevalence of international cultures travel. A short time ago people in America would have almost no concept of other cultures outside of what they saw in movies. Today, with the prevalence of the internet and television, I think that I have a much better understanding of other cultures and have actually come to adopt some practices that I may not have if not for their influence. For example, I enjoy practicing Yoga in my exercise. Yoga simply did not e...

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... of the world together. It's positive effects may very well increase the overall well being of the world due to better cultural understanding and interconnectedness. Economically with the efficient delegation of natural resources globalization to greatly improve the average humans standard of living. However, the affect of globalization on individual countries could very well have a leveling effect that actually decreases the standard of living for those of us in developed countries. In my experience, I have seen both positive and negative effects of globalization. It is true that I gain a lot from learning about other cultures and sharing advances in technology, but at the same time I am concerned about the my economic future. In any case, globalization is going to continue to grow, whether we as American's profit from it or suffer from it is largely in our hands.