Globalization

Globalisation is a good thing. Discuss.

Define globalisation
Globalization can be defined as the increased interconnection of networks, economies, cultures, politics and communications. Although globalization has been increasing for a millenia, for definition purposes, the relevant stages began in 1944 with the Bretton Woods and the formation of the UN in 1945.

Globalization emcompases global concerns, such as conflicts, education, health and access to clean water (millenium goals). Global institutions include the United Nations 1, The World Trade Organisation, the World Bank, the World Health Organisation, etc.

Global treaties, protocols and agreements cover a range of issues including those concerning trade, e.g. the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade2 (GATT which resulted from failed negotiations for an International Trade Organisation), environmental polution (the Kyoto Protocol, the Montreal Protocol to name but a few.

The history of globalisation
Travel and trade are ancient human traits, but recently the world has become connected in a global sense. Global awareness really began in the 1960's as the space race began and pollution due to pesticides entered the mainstream media.

Present global issues
Today we are all affected by globalization and global issues. Never before have we been as interdependent as we are now. Today it is possible to trade goods around the planet, for wealthy people to travel almost anywhere they like. Communications systems such as mobile telephony and the internet enable us to talk to each other and share information, while the GPS system, along with the interconnection of applications such as Google Maps allows us to view ourselves as never before.

Today corporations are larger than many nations and wield more power. People have become consumers and the global population is increasing as never before. Migration is also increasing, although restrictions exist to prevent mass immigration into richer nations.

The challenges we now face are greater in nature than ever before. Energy consumption, often from sources, which are on the other side of the planet is increasing, and with it, the issues of peak oil, an increasing reliance on unstable states and climate change resulting from their use are all challenging our ability to develop into a sustainable globalized world.

The future.

To be decided.