Globalisation is the acceleration and intensification of the movement of capital, goods, information across national boundaries. The onset of changes brought about by globalisation, contributes to achieving and fulfilling certain ideals that people have. Globalisation, has undoubtedly, taken the world by storm and from time to time the thinker wonders – Is globalisation a good or bad thing?
Countries across the globe have managed to achieve boundless economic growth and great progress in a short span of time. Open market ideals are widespread and several countries came together to set up Free Trade agreements. Social liberalism, a concept prevalent after World War II, reached the ears of those a million miles away. The removal of import and export tariffs selectively, attracted foreign investors and multi-national companies to developing countries. With that brings “foreign experience” and knowledge. All these are proof of globalisation at work.
Today’s children moving away from “traditional” ideals and embracing a “liberal and open” mindset is globalisation yet again. Everywhere we look, there are dozens of newspapers, magazines, billboards, television screenings and radio shows supporting the belief that happiness can be engendered by money and possessions. Materialistic spending habits has become increasingly prevalent and today’s society has adopted it as a way of life. Every day, a new must-have item that’s “in” and “cool” goes on screen. Every day, throngs of teenagers beg their parents for more money and go to ever increasing lengths to get their hands on those items – starving, scrimping and saving.
The Essay on Globalisation for a country’s economy
“The transformation of national segmented financial markets into integrated parts of the global financial market – the globalisation process – involves complex cross-border and cross-sectoral integration in which capital movements and financial services are key determinants.” (Oxelheim, 1996, p. 21) The large multi national corporations (MNC’s) play a major role in ...
The 3rd edition of the Heritage Dictionary defines “materialism” as the theory/doctrine that physical well-being and worldly possessions constitue the greatest good and highest value in life. Crudely speaking, it just means that materialism is an overt focus on tangible items over spiritual or intellectual values. I use this as an umbrella term to indicate the change in society’s perspectives of happiness from “peace”, “love”, “compassion” to tangible possessions. This concentration on things rather than people is a meaningless way to exist and I’m sure you agree with me.
Materialism has skyrocketed in recent years due to the reach of globalisation’s hands. Successful commercialisation by advertisers, and we are dumping our hard-earned money–or our parents’–into that black hole with each passing day. Should there be a modern day adaptation of our famous fairytale about a young girl and a Big Bad World, advertisers would aptly play the role of the Big Bad Wolf; and teens, Little Red Riding Hood–a very shallow and materialistic one.
Tangible possessions that are sleek, shiny and expensive give a falsified perception of wealth and prosperity but that appearance is a common, superficial depiction of reality. Consumers are instilled the “value” of needing all the things that the businesses are trying to sell. This one-dimensional perception defines people, motivates people, and moves tens of hundreds of economies more than any other custom. Even during tough financial struggles of a recession, many continue to purchase that which is bigger and better. The key to how America holds its economy out of a depression is its local (and global) buying obsession. The success of the American economy however, fails to consider the weakened financial stability of individuals that fall prey to materialistic desires. Though it may be true that this desire drives our economy, it has put us on the wrong path–the path to a selfish, unhappy society.
Advertisers have learnt the skill of fabricating and manipulating the world. Ask any teen if they have a Facebook or Livejournal account, and the answer would be, more often than not, “yes”. As of today, there are about 500 million active users on Facebook. In addition, Myspace and Bebo have 130million and 117million users respectively. These networking sites are all common spaces created to facilitate interaction of people from all parts of the world, allowing them to meet online and share information. And on these “globalised” platforms of networking lurks marketing strategies that appeal to emotions and stimulate wanton desire for a marketed product. This pervasiveness of new media (yet another “friend” of globalisation) has, in recent years, been exploited by businesses. An increased accessibility has allowed for greater marketing strategies that are cheaper alternatives to large billboards and newspaper clippings. You would think that the hyperbole of “slashed prices” would not work when marketing “brand-less” goods but you’re wrong again. An overkill and onslaught of self-proclaimed “great deal”, “cheap sale”, “summer sale”, “one-time off”, “last stock”–that are largely untruths–still play the market well.
The Essay on The Impact Of Globalisation On World
In the process of globalisation, the world has not only witnessed improved economic states and greater standards of living and quality of life, but also the coming together of a large world. Globalisation is not merely an economic phenomenon, but also extends to social and cultural aspects. In the past decade, where globalisation has been most prevalent, there has been growing contact and transfer ...
Globalisation has allowed ideologies such as materialism and consumerism to be enmeshed in the fabric of today’s social psyche. Is globalisation really a good thing since it has led to society valuing belongings more than family, friends, love, themselves?