Globalization Is Superior to Localization

In today’s world, it seems that more and more countries are beginning to integrate with one another. This "integration" is usually referred to as "globalization." According to James Rosenau (1997), globalization is "a label that is presently in vogue to account for peoples, activities, norms, ideas, goods, services, and currencies that are decreasingly confined to a particular geographic space and its local and established practices" (p.15). Even though it seems that the majority of countries are integrating, the rest of the countries believe in the opposite, that is "localization." Rosenau (1997) defines localization as "a process designed to inhibit or prevent the movement of people, goods, information, norms, practices, and institutions"(p.16) within established boundaries. The purpose of this paper is to illustrate both processes and the benefits and costs of each.

The benefits of globalization seem to out weigh the costs. In order to thoroughly analyze globalization, it’s best to divide it into three categories: political, economic, and cultural. An example of political globalization is several countries are converting to democracies. Time has shown that over the years, democracies will not fight wars against one another. A continued emergence of democracies should bring about World peace (or at least a strong sense of it.) Dictators previously ruled many African countries, but several have become or are trying to become democracies. South Africa is a great example. In other countries where there is not a division between church and state, the creation of a democratic government might help reduce the wars fought within countries between opposing religious groups. Another possible advantage of globalization would be if mor...

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...y for some, but others seem blind to it. In some ways, cultural localization is a way to keep loyalty. If people feel a part of something, they tend to stand up for it. The French are a good example of cultural localization. They want the country to be separate and unique. The French government wants their people to have as little exposure to American trends and culture as possible. One way they limit this exposure, is to limit the number of foreign shows allowed on television. The down side of this of course is ignorance to other cultures, but the French seem very ethnocentric anyway.

I think that overall globalization has a more significant effect on people’s lives than localization. It seems to be more of a utilitarian approach, that is, the greatest good for the greatest number of people. Globalization may be an answer to World peace and civil rights for all.