ETVT globalisation has had more advantages than disadvantages Flashcards
structure
economic
political
cultural
LOA
marginally more advantages
- for economic
📈 Expanded international trade → more economic output & job creation.
💸 Global GDP nearly tripled: $33T (2000) ➡️ $104T (2023).
🇨🇳 China used cheap labour 💪 to become a global manufacturing hub — 800M+ people lifted out of poverty 🏠.
🧠 Supports modernisation theory: globalisation spreads capitalism 💼 & free-market principles.
⚙️ Encourages deregulation, privatisation, liberalisation → attracts FDI 💰 & sparks innovation 💡.
🏭 Developing nations shift from agriculture 🌾 to industry & services 💻.
🚀 Spread of advanced tech helps developing countries leapfrog stages of industrialisation.
🇮🇳 India’s 1990s market reforms = 6-7% growth 📊 & extreme poverty fell: 45% (1993) ➡️ ~6% (2024).
🌞🔋 Global spread of climate tech (solar panels, EVs) helps reduce fossil fuel reliance.
🛒 Increased consumer choice, 💲 lower prices & 💡 improved global living standards.
- against
💰 Deepened global inequality: rich nations & MNCs benefit most, poorer nations stay reliant on raw materials & cheap labour.
🏭 “Race to the bottom”: global supply chains push countries to lower wages & weaken worker protections.
🇧🇩 Bangladesh’s garment industry: millions work for as little as $95/month in unsafe conditions.
⚠️ Rana Plaza collapse (2013): 1,100+ workers killed — highlights the human cost of poor labour standards.
🏢 MNC dominance: companies pressure weak states to change laws or risk losing jobs, eroding state sovereignty.
💸 Wealth gap: by 2021, the richest 1% controlled 38% of global wealth, while the poorest half held <2%.
🍏 Apple example: used its influence to push Ireland for low corporate tax rates, creating conflict with EU over tax fairness.
💣 Vulnerability to global market crashes: 2008 financial crisis hit small economies (Ukraine, Jamaica) hardest.
🌲🌡️ Environmental harm: globalisation drives deforestation, resource exploitation, higher carbon emissions & accelerates climate change.
- for political
🤝 Facilitates global cooperation through IGOs like the UN and WHO to address global challenges.
🌍 Climate action: The Paris Agreement (2015) united 196 countries in committing to limit global warming to well below 2°C.
📜 Human rights promotion: The Universal Declaration of Human Rights (1948) established foundational international human rights standards.
⚖️ International legal protections: Courts like the ECHR and ICC hold violators accountable and standardise human rights protections.
🇪🇺 Recent ECHR ruling: In 2023, the ECHR ruled that Romania violated the rights of 21 same-sex couples by failing to legally recognise their relationships, reinforcing protections for LGBTQ+ rights across Europe.
🌱 Poverty reduction initiatives: UN-led programs like the MDGs (2000–2015) halved global poverty ahead of schedule; the SDGs (2015–2030) aim to eliminate extreme poverty and address inequality, education, healthcare, and climate change.
- against political
💼 IGOs (UN, IMF) often reflect the interests of powerful nations 🌍, leaving weaker states with limited influence.
💸 IMF & World Bank imposed Structural Adjustment Programs (SAPs) on Sub-Saharan Africa — deepened poverty & dependency.
🇿🇲 In Zambia, SAPs led to mass layoffs & poverty rising from 49% (1989) to 80%+ by mid-1990s; the economy stayed over-dependent on copper exports.
🏛️ IGOs can erode state sovereignty by forcing nations to comply with external rules against national interests.
🇬🇷 Greece was fined €425M by the EU in 2015 for breaching CAP rules — shows supranational interference in domestic decisions.
💣 UN interventions (e.g. Libya, 2011, UNSC Resolution 1973) show IGOs can authorise military action, challenging national sovereignty.
⚔️ Realist critique: IGOs lack real power to enforce peace or law — shown by Russia’s invasion of 🇺🇦 Ukraine and Israel’s war in Gaza despite international law violations.
3 for cultural
🎵 Promotes cultural diversity: global spread of music, fashion, art & cuisine breaks down cultural barriers.
💃 K-pop connects global audiences 🌐; Hollywood & Bollywood stars enjoy worldwide fame.
📱 Social media (Instagram, YouTube) accelerates the spread of global social & political movements.
🌱 Fridays for Future: launched by Greta Thunberg, united young people worldwide for climate action.
✊ #MeToo movement: sparked global conversations about gender equality & sexual harassment.
🗣️ Spread of English as a global language: boosts global communication, education & business links.
🎓 Cross-cultural exchanges (e.g. Erasmus): allow students to study abroad & experience new cultures firsthand.
🌏 Global values: promotes democracy, human rights & sustainability (e.g. UN SDGs).
- against cultural
🏪 Erodes local cultures: global brands (e.g. McDonald’s 🍔) & Hollywood dominate, diluting local food & entertainment traditions.
🎬 Misrepresentation by global media: Disney films like Pocahontas & Moana criticised for commercialising & oversimplifying indigenous cultures.
🎭 Cultural commodification: African art & symbols sold globally by non-African companies, stripping cultural meaning.
🇺🇸 Americanisation: Western, especially American, music, films & consumer culture dominate global norms, marginalising indigenous traditions.
🗣️ Language loss: global languages like English threaten indigenous languages.
🇳🇿 Example: Maori language struggles to survive in New Zealand due to English dominance in media, schools & public life.
What is one argument in favor of globalisation’s advantages?
Globalisation has driven the expansion of international trade, allowing countries to access larger markets and increase economic output, job creation, and poverty reduction.
How much has the global economy grown between 2000 and 2024?
The global economy has nearly tripled in size, with nominal global GDP increasing from about $33 trillion in 2000 to approximately $104 trillion by 2023.
How did globalisation benefit China?
China used its competitive advantage of cheap labor to become a global hub of manufacturing, which drove rapid economic growth and lifted over 800 million people out of poverty in less than 40 years.
What does modernisation theory suggest about globalisation?
Modernisation theory suggests that globalisation has advanced the global economy and reduced poverty by spreading capitalism and free market principles.
How did India benefit from globalisation in the 1990s?
After opening up its economy, India experienced rapid growth, especially in sectors like IT and services, reducing extreme poverty from 45% in 1993 to around 6% by 2024.
What role did globalisation play in reducing reliance on fossil fuels?
Globalisation helped spread technologies like solar panels and electric cars across borders, assisting countries in reducing their reliance on fossil fuels.
What is a major disadvantage of globalisation regarding inequality?
Globalisation has deepened global inequality, with wealthier nations and multinational corporations benefiting disproportionately while poorer countries remain dependent on exporting raw materials and low-wage labor.
What is the ‘race to the bottom’ in global supply chains?
The ‘race to the bottom’ refers to countries competing by offering cheap labor, leading to poor working conditions and limited worker protections, particularly in industries like textiles and electronics.
What was the impact of the Rana Plaza collapse in 2013?
The collapse killed over 1,100 workers and highlighted the dangers of poor labor standards in the global supply chain, particularly in countries like Bangladesh.
How did globalisation contribute to the dominance of multinational corporations (MNCs)?
Economic globalisation has allowed MNCs to exert influence over weaker states, pressuring governments to enact favorable regulations or face the threat of moving jobs away.
What is a downside of the interconnectedness of global markets?
Economic globalisation leaves countries vulnerable to global market fluctuations, as seen during the 2008 financial crisis, which triggered economic downturns worldwide, disproportionately affecting smaller economies like Ukraine and Jamaica.
How has globalisation impacted the environment?
The rapid industrialisation and expansion of global trade have increased carbon emissions, deforestation, and resource exploitation, contributing to climate change and environmental degradation.
How has political globalisation benefited global cooperation?
Political globalisation has facilitated collaboration through IGOs like the UN and WHO, promoting global norms and initiatives to tackle challenges like climate change and human rights.
What role has the Paris Agreement played in political globalisation?
The Paris Agreement, adopted in 2015, commits countries to keep global temperature rise below 2°C, promoting global cooperation to address climate change. 196 countries have signed the agreement.
What human rights initiative has political globalisation fostered?
Political globalisation has contributed to the development of international human rights law, including the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) and institutions like the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR).
What is a criticism of IGOs like the UN and IMF?
Wealthier nations often wield disproportionate power in IGOs, shaping policies that benefit them while forcing weaker states to accept reforms that may not align with their national interests.
