Globalisation - What’s missing?

Equality. Something that will never be achieved, ever. Why? Greed. Putting this bluntly but the simple fact of the matter it’s all about money. In this rat race there are consequences, not necessarily for those that are chasing cheques but for those that get stepped on along the way. 

Let’s look at it like this –

You are reading this through the use of the internet which obviously someone is paying for. Obviously someone’s paying for every service or item you are provided (you, parents, etc.) For the sake of argument let’s say right now you’re sporting a Sean-John tee, Tommy Hilfiger jeans and some Nike high-tops (not exactly fashionable), three relatively notable brands. To produce these, there was a youth in a Honduran garment factory, a child in Siapan and a little boy in Pakistan respectively slaving away at those for an average of US .24 cents a day. How much would you have had to pay for any of these items of clothing roughly? Take .24 cents off of that, plus the cheap cost of materials and you’ve got the profit.

Now imagine being one of those boys who can’t afford things like the internet. How would you know about world issues? The media ‘has played a crucial role in the acceleration of globalisation’ (Hardenbergh, 2005). But how is it global when not everyone has access to the internet (media)? This is just one example of many that a large majority lack access to.

Hardenbergh, M 2005, The Media and Globalisation, Journal of Broadcasting & Electronic Media, vol. 49, issue 4, p519-520 

Globalisation

Globalisation - What is it?

Globalisation is a term that carries several different definitions depending on the way in which it is utilised. In my own opinion I find that globalisation is a process of economic and international integration. It is a link between worldwide social relations such as putting into contact two or more cultures.

To try and explain, I believe it is a mutual understanding which results in the connectivity through political and economic issues and processes. However it has largely become a term related to the economy. Although most people tend to view globalisation as a marketing strategy or a tool of trade, there is also the globalisation of such matters as traditions and culture. It is not always an economic term but can also be translated to a sociological context as well. This leads to different beliefs, practices and influences that can become present in places where they had not existed before.

Personally, I think that the term however has become so overloaded with meaning and has become that riddling that there is now a widespread confusion as to what the simple definition of globalisation is. Giddens and Held’s interpretation are both commonly used but if there was a gun to my temple and I was told to explain it in three not so simple words, I would go on to state that it basically refers to ‘intensified worldwide connectedness’ (Ampuja, 2011). 

Ampuja, M 2011, 'Globalisation theory, media-centrism and neoliberalism; a critique of recent intellectual trends', Critical Sociology, p. 281-301

A bit about myself

Hey there, my name is John Kim and I'm 19 years old. Currently reside in Wheelers Hill and I attend the local Burwood campus. This is my second year at Deakin and I'm currently completing an Arts degree. For my assessment of ALC215, I have created this blog to express and discuss the many issues regarding the idea of globalisation.