Globalization: an introduction

Arthur Hall

Nümbrecht

September 2011

thematic overview

integration of economies

A company is formed in Germany to build an industrial plant

It tenders for and gets a job in Turkey for a Turkish client

Part of the plant is built by Czechs; another part is built by Slovaks

The materials used are selected in quality and price balance from all around the world

Is this a healthy globalization system?

equality and inequality

Inside all of these companies there is a workforce comprised of top European engineers

Managers from Turkey and Germany

Supervisors from Czech and Slovakia

Workers from Eastern Turkey (Anatolia)

What sort of equality / inequality in payments and conditions do you expect?

communication

Mobile phones

from Samsung in South Korea

Lenovo computers from China

Siemens telecoms system from Germany

Java from Sun Systems in America

brand recognition

McDonalds (hamburger – America)

McDonald‘s regional variations to suit local tastes – worldwide)

McDonald‘s symbols recognizable everywhere

trade versus aid

Which brings a country more:

when we trade with them? when we give them aid money?

What does the country need to do to turn trade or aid into a successful economy?

outsourcing

I phone up to complain or just get information – it‘s a hotline number – I am in Gummersbach – the person I speak to could be in China, India, Singapore – anywhere…

Why do companies do this and how does it make economic sense – or does it?

brands

Some brand names have established themselves worldwide: Mercedes the dollar McDonalds Apple

Which advantages and problems does this bring with it?

exploitation I am Indian and live in Mumbai I work a 14 hour day for a few dollars per day But I produce shoes or clothes for a world-wide

brand My fellow workers in America and Europe get

very much higher wages

Is this fair – if not how can it be stopped?

growth

Some countries are growing their economy very fast: India, China, Bangladesh and Vietnam are good examples

Who benefits from this? Is it the ordinary workers?

Why isn‘t our economy or America‘s growing like this?

poverty Poverty is the state of one who lacks a certain

amount of material possessions or money

Absolute poverty or destitution refers to being unable to afford basic human needs, which commonly includes clean and fresh water, nutrition, health care and education

About 1.7 billion people are estimated to live in absolute poverty today; how can we end this?

environment

Deforestation Water pollution Overpopulation Air pollution Global warming etc.

Any ideas what to do?

monopoly power

Examples like the Chinese state Large oil companies e.g. BP, Shell &

Standard Oil

What are the effects of monopolies?

How can this be prevented?

capitalism

Capitalism is the dominant method the world uses today. Is that acceptable?

Are the Euro, large banking corporations and casino banking in need of change?

How could we change that?

culture

In the past, when I went to Japan or China, I experienced totally different culture patterns

With globalization, cultural features are disappearing which helps communication

Is it also good for the survival of local cultural values - especially minority ones?

free trade?

Powerful blocks like Russia, China, America and the EU can determine who trades with whom and at which prices

Is that helpful for the free trade idea which globalisation is supposed to develop?

technology and the internet

Worldwide communication Speed Social networking Planned 9/11s

What are the advantages and disadvantages of technology and the web?

shrinking world

I can be in America in a few hours?

My money can be in Australia in seconds

Is this only positive or are there negative sides too?

terrorism

There are various kinds of terrorism:

State as in e.g. Libya, North Korea Interest group e.g. animal rights Political group e.g. Jihadists

They are partly a consequence of world-wide links?

What can we do to control or end them?

accountability

In a global world of multimedia connections, fast transport, multinational companies, national and international governments

Who is responsible, answerable and accountable for what?

Does the individual have any power nowadays or are we helpless?

These have been some of the themes raised by ‚globalization‘

In pairs In pairs select one of these themes,select one of these themes,or another approved by me.or another approved by me.

Discuss it now with your partner,Discuss it now with your partner,and start to prepareand start to prepare

a powerpoint presentation and handout a powerpoint presentation and handout together on that themetogether on that theme

The pairs should all contain one person The pairs should all contain one person who is good at English and one who is weakerwho is good at English and one who is weaker

Each theme can be handled only once.Each theme can be handled only once.

Thank you for listening and participating

Any more questions?