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Copyrighted. Temasek Academy 2A/06 Hitchhikers.
Hitchhiker's Guide to Globalisation
Navigations at the right.
The Political Hopes and FEARS@
Sunday, May 13, 2007 - 11:52:00 PM
According to the article, "The Politics of Globalisation", written by Mark Penn and Thomas Freedman, there are two sides of the Globalisation coin for the people living in the United States of America (USA). Though Americans basically support globalisation, they have their fears about their own individual lives and hope for political leaders who will shape globalisation so that all of society can benefit from it.
Although many Americans support globalisation, few support it strongly. They would rather limit changes than to adapt to changes that globalisation brings. However, voters do see globalisation as having both positive and negative effects.
Many agree that "the Internet lets billions of people all over the world communicate, do business and learn about other cultures cheaply and conveniently". This shows that America has lost some of its state sovereignty as people here feel that the Internet helps them in their lives and the state cannot control what the Internet users do nor can they control what information goes out of or comes into their 'national borders'. But they also feel that the Internet can also "allow people to trade in child pornography internationally, and it is difficult to enforce the law across international borders." This shows that the state has not much control over what 'goes on' in the cyberspace and has not much control over what is exchanged in cyberspace internationally. Thus crimes can take place internationally via the use of the Internet through, for example, hacking, the trade of pornography or illegal downloading. International relations maybe strained due to these crimes and yet, if countries work amicably together to solve the crimes, international relations can be strengthened. As such, there are two sides to every problem.
At the individual level, many Americans felt that there would be "job creation, lower prices for consumers, and increases in investment and economic growth stemming from international trade" due to gloabalisation. This shows that the economy can and will grow but as the indiviual state's economy also depends on those of other countries, America's state sovereignty wil be compromised as they cannot control nor influence the prices of stocks for example. However, voters also felt that they did not like jobs which they would have to move overseas for and for the closure of factories. This shows that the national identity is strong and that America should not be afraid of losing its national identity as many peopel still care for the nation and are proud of it. But it may also show that Americans do not want to be taken out of their familiar surroundings and would still want to be protected by the borders. As such, Americas state soveriegnty can be strengthened.
Many feel that globalisation can increase the "interchange and exchange between the U.S. and other countries, which helps create new alliances and makes us more secure". This shows that international relationships can be strengthened due to globalisation as some positive effects of globalisation in the economy is the creation of jobs and more trade can be made and negotiated. However, Americans also feel that globalisation can have a negative impact on security as this might mean that "terrorists can use cheap travel, international finance, and the Internet to recruit and plan terrorist attacks thousands of miles away." This is not within the control of the state as they cannot really monitor around the clock who are the users of the Internet and what information is passed between IP addresses. As such, state sovereignty is compromised.
In conclusion, globalisation has many positive and negative political effects. But this also depends on how the people receive globalisation and whether they want to change or adapt to it. If the people are against globalisation, they tend to see more negative effects and refuse to adapt to changes or see changes. However, if they do not mind adapting to it or trying 'new' things, then political leaders would have an easier job of making globalisation work for everyone.
-mused by Chuang Ying Xuan, Political ExpertLabels: Globalisation and Politics
Hitchhikers*
US;
THE GLOBALISERS FIVE
of Temasek Academy.
Political Expert
Chuang Ying Xuan
Economic Expert
Lin Xiaowei
Technological Expert
Michelle Ng
Environmental & Health Expert
Ong Wei Xi Elysia
Cultural Expert
Tan Eelyn
2A/06, Group 5.
AWARDS;
7th April 2007:
Globalisation & the Environment
