Globalization

I feel like the negative components of globalization are being drowned out by the claims of growing economic prospertity. Yes, corporations can increase profits in a flattened world, and yes, this process has caused poverty levels to decrease around the globe. However, I still have several problems with globalization. For starters, outsourcing and offshoring often leads to the explotation of foreign workers. Western companies are able to hire overseas employees for a fraction of what Western employees would be paid. Foreign workers are then forced to endure poor working conditions, and extremely long hours due to lack of protective labor laws in other lands. Outsourcing and offshoring also creates a problem back home for many workers. Highly skilled workers (surgeons, dentists, trial lawyers, etc) will not have to fear for their jobs. Only low level positions that require little skill will be saught overseas. This will produce a larger gap between the rich and the poor in the United States, as lower and middle class citzens may lose their jobs, while wealthy individuals will remain safe behind their desks.

Globalization is wonderful for prospering nations. The lack of borders will allow them to share their products with countries around the world. It's unfortunate that this leaves poor, third world countries in the dust of lucrative, heavily industrialized nations. China, Japan, the United States, Germany, etc, will have video games, cars, computers, fancy clothing, and music to export. Whereas poorer nations like Chad do not have the capability to produce such products. Therefore they cannot export those prodcuts, and they cannot fully benefit from a global market.

Globalization also enforces the trend of Westernization. Other countries ARE capable of producing products and media, and sharing their culture with the world. However, it is still the West's music, clothing, and McDonald's that is slowly overtaking the identity of foreign nations.