Globalisation in the Global South Social Policy
The recurrent issues on the real effects of globalization to the creation of social policies in Global South countries continue to fuel various debates in political, sociological and economic arena, as its influence in the social sector grows extensively. These issues provoke attacks claiming that globalisation only protects the welfare of Western countries and continue to take advantage of those in the Global South. It is almost always thought to be essential to a country’s progress and cooperation with international affairs. Contrary to this, is globalisation really beneficial to the “Third World” countries, as it brings them to modernization and liberalism, or it turned to be a destructive force that pulls down these countries? Its positive effects are obvious in developed nations, but the administrations of Global South countries remain incompatible and ineffective in imposing social policies to take advantage of this multilateral phenomenon. This paper aspires to tackle the positive and negative influences of globalisation in social policy making of Global South countries, and the reasons why after so much attempts, Global South countries are still too far from the standard of living that Global North countries enjoy.
Globalisation
Globalisation is a post-modern phenomenon caused by the transitional activities toward modernization via markets. As Professor Leslie Sklair defined it: “Globalisation in a generic sense, which is too often confused with its dominant actually existing type, capitalist globalization, is defined here in terms of (i) the electronic revolution; (ii) post colonialisms; (iii) the creation of transnational social spaces; and (iv) qualitatively new forms...
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...ts. It promotes liberalism and democracy, but it also creates disparity between the government and common citizens. It allows more infiltration of Western cultures in the Global South which is detrimental in preserving cultural norms and traditions in these countries.
In other social policy making procedures related to labour force, it provides more insights into benefits that labour groups must enjoy. At the end of the day, problems do not lie on globalisations, but on the incapacity of Global South countries to maintain its competitive edge in the market, as well as the post-colonialism attempts of those in the Global North. The standard of living of the people ought to elevate next to its booming economy. Nevertheless, the poverty rate of one country is not base only on economic factors, but more or less on the social policies imposed by the government.
Globalisation, in the simplest sense, is economic integration between countries and is represented by the fact that national resources are now becoming mobile in the international market. Globalisation sees: an increase in trade of goods & services through the reduction of trade barriers; an increase in financial flows through the deregulation of financial institutions and markets and floating of currency; an increase in labour
The term 'globalization' has been subjected to a variety of interpretations. Though at its simplest it can be seen as how the world has become integrated economically, politcally, socially and culturally through the advances of technology, communication and transport John Baylis et al. (2011).
John Baylis, Steve Smith and Patricia Owens define globalisation as “mostly simply [or simplistically!] defined as a process of increasing interconnectedness between societies such that events in one part of the world increasingly have effects on peoples and societies far away. A globalized world is one in which political, economic, cultural, and social events become more and more inter connected, and also one in which they have more impact” (John Baylis S. S., 2014, p. 9).
Due to the phenomenon of globalization, a substantial part of manufacturing has been moved overseas and goods are constantly being shipped all over the world. These processes are contributing to the advancement of international trade and economic improvement of many lesser developed countries. Unfortunately, globalization has also led to a significant growth of worldwide inequality. While the Western world has largely benefited from the changes, many countries in the developing world are facing great troubles adjusting to the new reality of global interconnectedness. Economic constrictions, unemployment, the weakening of government, corruption, and military conflicts are pushing people to leave their homes and seek better lives elsewhere.
Marfleet, Phil. "Globalisation and the Third World." International Socialism Journal 81 (1998). Socialist Review Contents. International Socialism, Winter 1998. Web. 13 Nov. 2011. .
When the term “Globalization” is discussed, most academics, scholars, professionals and intellectuals attempt to define and interpret it in a summarized fashion. My main concern with this approach is that one cannot and should not define a process that altered decades of history and continues to, in less than 30 words. Global Shift is a book with remarkable insight. Peter Dicken rather than attempting to define the commonly misused word, explains Globalization in a clear and logical fashion, which interconnects numerous views. Dicken takes full advantage of his position to write and identify the imperative changes of political, economic, social, and technological dimensions of globalization.
In this essay I will give a detailed explanation of what sociologists mean by the term ‘globalisation’ and how they have tried to explain it.
Globalization is a broad concept and the angle taken to define it can lead us to interpret the idea in many different ways. There is much controversy about what globalization actually means and many definitions fail to encompass social, cultural and technological exchanges between world systems. John Pilger suggests that "it is a jargon term which journalists and politicians have made fashionable which is often used in a positive sense to denote a 'Global village' of free trade, hi-tech marvels and all kinds of possibilities that transcend class, historical experience and ideology." (J.Pilger 1998:63). Taking a broader point of view, Bilton et al defines globalization as "The process whereby political, social, economic and cultural relations increasingly take on a global scale, and which has profound consequences for individuals, local experiences and everyday lives."
Globalisation is a broad term that is often defined in economic factors alone. The Dictionary at merriam-webster.com describes globalisation as “the process of enabling financial markets to operate internationally, largely as a result of deregulation and improved communication.” Also due to deregulation on the financial market, multi-national companies are free to trade and move their businesses to areas where a higher return or profit can be achieved. New technology also enables companies to relocate to areas where labour costs are lower, for instance movement of call centre jobs from the UK to India.
Globalization can briefly be defined as ‘something’ that affects and changes the traditional arrangements of the state system. It is a term that directly implies change and therefore is a continuos process over a long period of time as compared to quickly changing into a wanted or desir...
Globalization is the new notion that has come to rule the world since the nineties of the last century with the end of the cold war. The frontlines of the state with increased reliance on the market economy and renewed belief in the private capital and assets, a process of structural alteration encouraged by the studies and influences of the World Bank and other International organisations have started in many of countries. Also Globalisation has brought in new avenues to developing countries. Greater access to developed country markets and technology transfer hold out promise improved productivity and higher living standard.
Globalization is defined as “the historical process involving a fundamental shift or transformation in the spatial scale of human social organization that links distant communities and expands the reach of power relations across regions and continents (Baylis, 2014).”
Globalization, the acceleration and strengthening of worldwide interactions among people, companies and governments, has taken a huge toll on the world, both culturally and economically. It’s generating a fast-paced, increasingly tied world and also praising individualism. It has been a massive subject of matter amongst scientists, politicians, government bureaucrats and the normal, average human population. Globalization promoted the independence of nations and people, relying on organizations such as the World Bank and also regional organizations such as the BRICs that encourage “a world free of poverty” (World Bank). Despite the fact that critics can argue that globalization is an overall positive trend, globalization has had a rather negative cultural and economic effect such as the gigantic wealth gaps and the widespread of American culture, “Americanization”; globalization had good intentions but bad results.
The harmful impact of globalization on South Africa has been apparent , through the financial squeeze and through market- oriented policies that have silent economic and reorganization, in job losses, crisis in schooling, closing of hospitals, make wider loopholes in the social security net, water cut offs, the degeneration housing shortage, and unrelenting starvation and poverty in a perspective of deepening discrimination in what is already the second most disparate nation on the globe.
Globalisation is a very complex term with various definitions, in business terms, “globalization describes the increasingly global nature of markets, the tendency for transnational businesses to configure their business activities on a worldwide basis, and to co-ordinate and integrate their strategies and operations across national boundaries” (Stonehouse, Campbell, Hamill and Purdie, 2004, p. 5).