Is Globalization bad for the third world?

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Introduction to International Relations

Is Globalization bad for the third world?

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Word Count: 1493

Globalization is defined as the increasing interdependence, integration and interaction between people and corporations in different locations around the globe. In political terms it can be defined as the spread of political sphere of interests to regions and countries outside the area of the political actors. (Wikipedia 2006) The term ‘Third world’ is a lot more vague, it comes from the cold war when the third world was taken to be the area outside either of the two opposing camps. Now, however, the meaning of the term has changed and has come to represent the Less Economically Developed Countries (LEDC’s) of the world, but even this is not a fully accurate term. There is a huge difference between a Sub-Saharan state (for example Ethiopia) and a South East Asian state (for example Thailand) yet they would both be classed as LEDC’s, therefore it is very hard to determine if globalization is good or bad for the third world in general.

        To form a fair critic of globalization it is important to look at the positive as well as the negative affects, and globalization has had many major benefits for the third world. In its broadest terms globalization encapsulates the free flow of ideas across the globe and there is very little argument for this being bad for anyone. It can be seen that in authoritarian third world states today there are liberal, humanist protest groups rising up to demand better human rights and a more equal democratic society. Although social democracy is not necessarily the best ideology to follow, and its pursuit has led to some bloody conflicts, globalization and the spread of ideas has allowed people in poorer areas to make a choice between different political options in a way they never could in the past.

        Another reason why globalization should not be harmful to the third world is through its theoretical economic effects. Globalization should lead to increased importation and exportation of goods between countries worldwide, and because of outsourcing and comparative advantage it should cost companies less to produce their products. This combined with increased competition from global competitors should increase productivity while also working to drive down consumer prices, which should in turn lead to increased consumer spending and through various economic theories which I won’t go into, higher GDP and richer nations. (Grant 2003) If this occurred it would allow governments to focus their attention on increasing standards of living and reducing negative factors like corruption and so should really benefit most third world countries. Combined with this is the more simplistic idea that the reduction in the price of goods globally, especially food prices helps third world countries as they can purchase more, for example subsidized US farming produce, for lower prices. Although this may well not be beneficial for the farming industries in the countries that chose this option, most third world countries believe that industrialization and a move a way from an agricultural based society is needed to increase prosperity. This means being able to purchase cheap food gives them large benefits as they need less people to farm and so will see the migration of people from the countryside to he cities that is needed for industrialization.

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        One of the major negative affects of globalization in the third world stems from the way international trade organizations like the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) go about trying to help impoverished states. The IMF tells third world states that in order for them to help (by loaning money) the country in question must firstly remove all barriers to free trade and open up their markets, allowing them to become attractive to investors from the west. This very often means that the state must massively re-structure its economy to come in line with the IMF’s regulations and ...

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