Globalization could be the answer to many of the world's hard problems.
But cent increase in the demand for energy. Some regions also increase their role in
this requires strong democratic foundations based on a political will to ensure
equality and justice.The real question is how can we humanize globalization,
how can we shape it in such a way that it can benefit all instead of some.
Globalization is a fact of life. Globalization could be the answer to many of
the world's hard problems. But this requires strong democratic foundations
based on a political will to ensure equality and justice. Globalization could be
the answer to many of the world's hard problems. But this requires strong
democratic foundations based on a political will to ensure equality and justice.
But we have to be careful not to underestimate the fragility of globalization.
As polarization rather than progressive globalization is what is in the future
unless corrective actions are taken in time.
Women are playing a central role in contributing to the growth of the global
economy. This is increasingly true in business and in politics two realms
traditionally dominated by men. There is no development strategy more
beneficial to society than the one which involves women as central players.
More countries have understood that women's equality is a prerequisite for
development.
Two major trends in the movement of people will characterize the next 15
years urbanization and cross-border migration. The international system will
be shaped by the globalization of labor markets.
Food
World food production should be adequate to meet the needs of a growing
world population. Despite the overall adequacy of food, problems of
distribution and availability will remain. The potential for famine will still exist
where the combination of repressive government or internal conflict and natural
disasters prevents or limits relief efforts. The use of genetically modified crops
has great potential for meeting the nutrition needs of the poor in developing
countries. Developed countries, however, has clouded the prospects for
applying this technology.
Water
Nearly one-half of the world's land surface consists of river basins shared by
more than one country. Water shortages occurring in combination with other
sources of tension will be the most worrisome.
Energy
The global economy will continue to become more energy efficient. Global
economic growth, along with population increases, will drive a nearly 50 per
global energy markets
Environment
Current environmental problems will persist and in many cases grow. With
intensive land use, significant degradation of farming land will continue as will
the loss of tropical forests. Environmental issues will become major issues in
several countries, particularly in the developed world. The consensus on the
need to deal with environmental issues will strengthen; however, progress in
dealing with them will be uneven. The pressures on the environment as a result
of economic growth will decrease as a result of less energy-intensive economic
development and technological advances. For example, increases in the
utilization of solar and wind power, advances in the efficiency of energy use,
and a shift towards less polluting fuels, such as natural gas, will contribute to
this trend.
In fact, globalization has three forms, each with its own problems.
First, is economic globalization, which results from recent revolution in
technology, information, trade, foreign investment, and international business.
The main actors are companies, investors, banks and private services industries.
Economic globalization has thus become a formidable cause of inequality
among and within states.
Next comes cultural globalization. It stems from the technological
revolution and economic globalization, which together foster the flow of
cultural goods. We can witness the ongoing westernization MacDonalds
everywhere. The result is both a disenchantment of the world and a reaction
against uniformity.
Finally, there is political globalization, a product of the other two. It is
characterized by the preponderance of the United States and its institutions and
by a vast array of international and regional organizations. It is also marked by
private institutions that are neither governmental nor purely national say,
Doctors Without Borders or Amnesty International.
For one thing, globalization is neither inevitable nor irresistible. Rather, it is
largely an American creation, rooted in the period after World War II and based
on US economic might. Second, globalization's reach remains limited because it
excludes many poor countries. Third, the attractive idea of improving the
human condition through the abolition of barriers is dubious. Globalization is in
fact only a sum of techniques (audio and videocassettes, the Internet) that are in
use of states or private actors. Self-interest and ideology, not humanitarian
reasons, are what drive these actors.