Losers and Winners of Globalization

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'Despite the views of many optimists, there are clearly losers as well as winners from the process of globalization.'

The statement at the head of the page assumes that Globalization

creates both winners and losers. This is a view shared by many, but

not all, theorists and commentators. There are many trends of thought

regarding exactly who the winners and losers may be as well as what

may be considered a prize or a punishment (e.g. some may sight the

availability of McDonalds fast food throughout France an enrichment

and some may see it as an unwelcome and unsavoury invasion.)

Comparison between these opinions paints an interesting picture of

what Globalization is, what certain parties want it to be seen as and

what kind of world it could create. Anthony Giddens says

"Globalization, some argue, creates a world of winners and losers, a

few on the fast track to prosperity, the majority condemned to a life

of misery and despair." This is a view shared by many theorists,

however positive Globalists (perhaps naively) claim Globalization will

lead to winnings for all and extreme pessimists exist who see

'Globalization' as the path to mass ruin and exploitation and as a

vague buzzword umbrella from under which Governments may defend unjast

or unpopular policies.

The other query I would raise when initially evaluating the statement

is what exactly we mean by a 'process of Globalization' and does it

mean the same thing to different people? The statement assumes there I

a defined and universally accepted reading of the term and yet there

are many differing views as to what 'Globalization' entails.

'Globalization' is a process said to a...

... middle of paper ...

...e less developed world while maintaining the flow of their own

countries goods across the world. Economically these parties are

winners, however with less work being fielded towards the more

expensive workforce of their own countries these Government's and

companies could be accused of shooting themselves in the foot as the

economy of their own countries will suffer due to more unemployment.

Workers in less developed countries could be seen as winning as,

although mainly gutter-level, sweat shop jobs, the new employment

opportunities offered by Western companies are still 'better than

nothing' in the long run however, the long hours in terrible

conditions plays havoc on the workers health and keeps them in a

position of poor pay with no time to look for another job and no

opportunities outside of the sweat shops.

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