According to Dr. Kola during globalization the boundaries between countries are disappearing and everything is becoming more interdependent and interconnected. He mentions that this is a social process where the geographical restraints recede as the cultural values recede and society does not even realize they are receding. Before we go any further I would like to say that besides the “vanishing” of local cultures values these societies gain, benefit, and adapt different positive values from other cultures.
I can say that globalization is a very important factor in modern society. I believe it is a good thing, whereas some believe that nothing good can come out of it. Many sociologists believe that globalization is having a positive effect on society. They would say that it is bringing people together, and becoming standardization throughout the world.
However, some sociologists would strongly disagree with this theory. The writer of that article, as a sociologist, had a “negative” view of globalization, believing that it is just another way for the rich west to exploit the third world countries. Under these circumstances there is a dominant class, which consists of the most powerful people in society. There are multinational companies all around the world called some time as the “Superpower Capitalist Companies”. They have the power and the wealth to exploit these countries as much as they want. So it is easy to believe that globalization is helping to make the poorer countries even more dependent on the west.
In these moments I would like to recall the “Dependency Theory”. Based in this theory many communist leaders and sociologists of that time (eighties) believe that third world countries were not undeveloped but underdeveloped. They argue that this is an even worse situation to be in because they will never develop. They would argue that the rich west countries are exploiting the third world countries.
As a supporter of this theory Dr. Kola emphasized the idea that globalization will not have many benefits for the third world countries and the only way the third world countries will have chance of developing is if they cut all ties with the west. To my opinion, we all depend on each other, and to isolate a society from other civilizations will have catastrophic results for that society. (Recall the communist countries in Eastern Europe, Soviet Union, Cuba etc).
The positive effect of the globalization is supported by the “Modernization theory”. According to this “progressive” theory due to globalization undeveloped countries would have more of a chance to develop. With more multi-national companies there will be a greater chance for these countries to evolve into developed ones. Due to globalization, undeveloped countries will be able to accelerate the developing process, by adopting the “correct” cultures and values. Globalization is their main chance of developing.
“Sociologists and other social scientists typically have used a cross-cultural perspective to study different societies”. (The essentials: Sociology, pg51) Comparing and contrasting societies across different cultures is valuable. It helps us see patterns in our own society that we might otherwise take for granted and it enriches our appreciation of the diverse patterns of culture that mark human society and human history.
In conclusion, globalization is not only about individual multinationals that exploit and use people and countries as they choose. Globalization is also about world society as a whole, as one family, and one entity. “No society can be understood apart from the global context that now influences the development of all societies”. (The essentials: Sociology, pg51). Globalization has its own characteristics and values, either positive or negative. It is very important and necessary to be aware of the circumstances linked with globalization. Only this way we are going to be able to enjoy the benefits coming out of it.
