Globalization On Africa

The Impact of Globalization: Why the Benefits Outweigh the Risks

The following paper looks at the extraordinary impact of globalization upon our modern world and argues that, while certainly not perfect, the permeable borders globalization makes possible is a key ingredient in making the global South and the entire developing world more prosperous than ever before. More than that, the technologies associated with globalization – and their dispersal – will surely go a very long way towards reducing environmental degradation in developing lands. With these items, and others, in mind, it is to a discussion of this important topic that this paper turns.

For one thing, John A. Charles reports that the technology which has made globalization possible has also made it possible for American society to cut down on air pollution – by a remarkable 31 percent between 1970 and 1997 (para.3). Suffice it to say, globalization offers the hope that such technology can spread to distant parts of the world, thereby making it possible for all nations to enjoy not only material prosperity but also a cleaner environment. As if that is not encouraging enough, Charles writes that pollution levels in all of the five Great Lakes have been dropping steadily since at least the middle 1970s and “atmosphere emissions per constant $1000” have been dropping since about the time of the Second World War; simply put, in Charles’ view, the wealth created by globalization has allowed America (and presumably other countries, as well) to put much-needed monies towards the abatement of excessive pollution (para.3-8). Furthermore, he informs his readers that the state interventionist model ostensibly preferred by some critics of globalization has never succeeded in curbing environmental degradation; indeed, in many respects it has made the matter worse (Charles, para.9).

On the other hand, John A. Powell and S.P. Udayakumar claim that globalization has benefited the global north extravagantly while...