Globalization_“How_Valid_Is_the_View_That_Globalisation_Cannot_Be_Controlled_by_National_Government_”

INTRODUCTION       Globalization can be defined as the continuously increasing interconnectivity that exists among individuals, groups and nations of the world that makes them interdependent.   Globalization is the interconnectivity of one country to another.   It can also be defined as a network of relationship among nations of the world.    According to Wikipedia (2011) (online), “globalization is the transnational circulation of ideas, languages, or popular culture through acculturation”. Any part of the world which experiences this is said to be globalized.  Globalization is a “Process by which the experience of everyday life, marked by the diffusion of commodities and ideas, is becoming standardized around the world”. (Answers (2011)     Globalization is a current phenomenon that has turned the world into a global village.  Globalization is aided by some factors such as information technology, multinational companies/transnational companies’, global organizations and international trade between nations of the world.       Globalization has impacted the world in so many different ways socially, politically and economically.   Over the years, the political aspect is one which has been greatly impacted on by globalization.  The establishment of certain organizations such as the European Union, The United Nations, etc. that lead different countries has also questioned the impact of globalization on the world.  Member states work in accordance with the rules of the organization which brings them together.  These organizations have certain powers over the member states.  Due to these powers over the member states, controversies have been raised concerning the impact that globalization has on the sovereignty of states and the ability of national government to control the effects of globalization.     This controversy has lead to a debate by three schools of thought. They are the hyperglobalizers, the sceptics and the transformationalist.     Hyperglobalizers such as Kenichi Ohmae (1990-1995) believe that as a result of globalization the world has become borderless; That is, a world where the market forces have taken over national government.  The effect of globalization cannot be overemphasized.  Globalization has become a phenomenon that is felt in all aspect of our lives. (Giddens A. (2010).     Globalization has promoted global governance which works with the establishment of international organizations that control their member states.   This limits the powers that the internal government has over the increasing power of globalization as member states cannot have total power over these organizations.  This is because before they become members of the organizations, they sign documents which bind them to the rules of the organizations.  Therefore, states have to obey these rules in order not to attract sanctions from the organizations and states do not also have the powers to go against these sanctions.     In addition states they emphasis that the global market dictates the prices of commodities. For instance, states cannot control the prices of petroleum. The Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) controls the prices of petroleum.  This is because the global market controls the price and not the national government.     Globalization brought about global capitalism, states market has become one and states finance is no longer limited to its locally produced goods but to also its export and import.  Importing and exporting goods increased as a result of globalization and they are important to a state’s financial standing each year.  This shows that states do not have total control over things like the status of their currency in the international market.  This is because the status of their currency is determined in when comparing different currencies from other countries. (BBC, 2011, Online)       The growth of the internet has made it easy for information to be passed across nations of the world without hindrance.  This shows that the internal government has no power over globalization because it cannot hinder the growth of the internet or how information flows easily.         The sceptics oppose the position of the hyperglobalizers.  They however believe that the internal government has powers over the growth of globalization.  They believe that the influence of globalization is determined by the state.  That is the driving force of globalization is the internal government and the market.       The sceptics believe that the concept of globalization as a whole has been vulgar.  They further believe that and that globalization is not borderless nor is it exceptional.  (Giddens A. (2010). In addition, they believe that it is possible for the national government of a country to have control over globalization.      The national government has to agree before any arm of the government or the nation itself joins any organization or establishment.  They become part of these international organizations solely for the national interest of the state.  States who sign treaties to join an organization must have checked to know if they will gain or lose if they become part of the organization.  This shows that the national government has the ability to control globalization within its borders.       According to Thomas and Hirst, the main motive of globalization is to make every nation of the world interconnected.  The truthfulness of this can be seen in the issuance of license to multinational companies operating within the nation.  Every internal government reserves the right to issue and withdraw any license given to any company operating in a country.  This shows that the internal government can control globalization.       The national government also has the right to decline proposal to join organizations if they want to.  This shows that the national government can control globalization.  For instance, Britain did not want to be a part of the European Union because of the consequences of joining the union.  The union will be interfering in the national affairs of the state.   However, Britain finally joined the union on the 1st of November 1993 based on the result of a referendum because it was believed that joining the union will be of economical advantage for the state (states self interest).     The sceptics such as Thompson emphasize that the dominant feature of globalization is world less interdependent.  To them the world is divided into regionalized blocs.  That is regional global bodies whose influence on member nations is more than any global body.  Furthermore, these organizations such as the European Union (EU) and the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) were established for national interest as they only strengthen countries in the same region.       The sceptics also emphasis that according to the diplomatic law that every nation has their sovereignty which should not be interfered with and that any act of interference is seen as criminal in the law.  For instance, the United Nations peace keeping forces cannot interfere with states internal affairs unless they are invited. The sceptics believe that through this law powers of states are reinforced.     The national government also has powers over education.  For example, programs such as the International Foundation Year, SAT, etc. which are International programs, the government could stop the operation of such programs if they want to. This shows that nations have control over globalization.     These two schools of thought emphasize on the control of the national government over globalization from these two views, it can be concluded that globalization has really grown and has very great impact on national government.  However, the national government determines how far globalization goes in its territory.     Though these two schools have good arguments for their evidences, it can be concluded with the Transfomationalist School that globalization itself is a very good phenomenon which has improved so many things. They believe that globalization is not dominating the state but improving it. Globalization influenced the government by restructuring the power of the internal government.  However, the internal government still has its authority in its own arena.  The impact of globalization on the international arena in areas such as education, heath, trade, communication and much more have become of enormous worth.  However, the way globalization affects the sovereignty of nations can be limited by national government.                   BIBLOGRAPHY    BOOKS Giddens A. (20010) Sociology Sixth Edition Cambridge polity press   WEBSITES Answers (2011) (online) Globalization (available at) http://www.answers.com/topic/globalization (accessed 14th march 2011) BBC (2011) (Online) Globalization (available at) http://www.bbc.co.uk.com    (accessed 13th march 2011) Wikipedia (2011) (online) Globalization (available at) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Globalization  (accessed 14th march 2011)         ​SOCIETY AND POLITICS