Globalism has become a buzzword. The term globalism has come to be associated, perhaps unfairly, with economic inequity, unethical business practices and environmental degradation. But globalism, in its most unfettered form, is simply the breaking down of national boundaries to allow for free flow of information, goods and services.
In his book, The Lexus and the Olive Tree, author Thomas Friedman describes globalism as “the inexorable integration of markets, nation-states and technologies to a degree never witnessed before – in a way that is enabling individuals, corporations and nation-states to reach around the world, farther, faster, deeper and cheaper than ever before.”
Advances in transportation and technology have allowed nations, companies and individuals to connect in unprecedented ways. We can now share news, information and scientific knowledge in real time. Distance between nations is not a barrier to trade. Our world is shrinking.
At the heart of globalism is the spread of free-market capitalism. Nations have opened their economies and removed barriers to trade. This economic interdependence creates interdependencies on a number of other levels, security, environmental, world health, human rights and social welfare. Advocates for and critics of globalism have very different opinions about the nature of its impact on these issues. These ‘pros and cons’ will be explored in a later post.
The expansion of globalism has created new opportunities and new challenges, as well as new organizations and new forms of governance. The International Monetary Fund White Paper, What is Globalism states, “Like a snowball rolling down a steep mountain, globalization seems to be gathering more and more momentum. And the question frequently asked about globalization is not whether it will continue, but at what pace.”
It seems then, that we can expect globalism to continue to drive interdependencies and shape how we view justice on a global scale. As such, it is critical that we, as citizens understand the basic principles of and issues related to globalism. The following posts will provide a discussion of these key points.
For further reading, visit the following websites:
The Levin Institute’s Globalism 101:
Emory University’s What is Globalism:
http://www.sociology.emory.edu/globalization/about.html
Stanford University’s Globalization Forum:
http://www.law.stanford.edu/experience/studentlife/organizations/global/
Yale Center for the Study of Globalism:
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