Globalization is often thought of in terms of economy and trade across the world. David Held views globalization in a wider sense “as the widening, deepening, and speeding up of worldwide interconnectedness in all aspects of contemporary social life, from the cultural to the criminal, the financial to the spiritual”[1]. Dr. Victor Cha explains globalization as a “spatial phenomenon”, interaction among and between people and states that take place outside of traditional sovereign spaces[2] This definition of globalization points to every facet of social life being involved in globalization. The involvement occurs whether the subject is a Wal-Mart cashier in Omaha, Nebraska or a farmer in the middle of Kenya. As a process, globalization has substantively changed the life of a large portion of the planet. The Internet has enabled near instantaneous communication from one side of the earth to the other, and transportation advances have brought about inexpensive safe travel and transport for people and goods. All the changes that globalization has brought about, however, are not positive. Three areas of concern to both developed nations, and developing nations, are terrorism, human trafficking, and agri-food inequalities.
Though terrorism was not born on September 11,2001, the events in New York and Washington DC catapulted terrorists and their actions into the primary spot in the global consciousness. When US President Bush declared war on terrorism, a global battle was begun with not only Al Qaeda but with any person or group or country that used terror in furtherance of their goals. As globalization has increased the ease of communication and dismantled many of the barriers to travel that previous generations had experienced terrorism was enabled to be more easily exported and practiced. One of the main effects of globalization on global security, according to Dr. Victor Cha, is the way that the concept of threat has been complicated in the international arena[3]. Terrorists, and those they target, have transformed from state actors to include states, groups, corporations, and even individuals. Terrorist groups such as Al Qaeda, ISIS, HAMAS, and countless others have been enabled by the ease of communication provided by a global Internet. Stephen Brooks points out that the globalization of the worlds finances has made it much easier for terrorist groups to move and hide funds required for their continued operation[4]
Global Terrorism Index 2014 — Copyright 2014 www.zmescience.com
The second key area to address in a globalized world is the problem of human trafficking. Globalization has opened the flow of goods and services into most countries of the world, and with the ease of transportation and movement it has also resulted in an unprecedented migration of people. A report from San Diego State University examines the rising problem of this $32 billion dollar industry resulting from several aspects of globalization[5]. The victims of human trafficking are used for everything from prostitution to sweatshop labor, armed conflicts, and domestic work.[6]
Globalization has put in place some of the dynamics that have contributed to the problem. The process of globalization, especially in developing countries, has lead to increasing wage inequality. India is experiencing growth in many areas, yet the average wage is not keeping price with the rising cost of living for most workers[7]. The wage gap in developing countries is especially onerous, with a large segment of the population already living below the poverty level. The conditions that the majority of people in many of the developing world live in provide the impetus for workers who are trying to attain a better standard of living for themselves or their family to migrate to countries with the promise of better living conditions and more money. People often fall prey to unscrupulous traffickers who promise money and instead deliver modern slavery[8]. The map below illustrates the country of origin for trafficking victims, and shows clearly that the majority of trafficked victims come from developing countries with high wage inequality. The International Labor Organization estimates there are currently over 20 million men, women, and children taking part in forced labor[9].
The third major problem with globalization is seen mostly in developing countries where there are inequalities in agri-business. The problem is widespread in places like Africa and India, where a high rural population continues to subsist on farming. Vandana Shiva with the Global Policy Forum hinted at such problems when he wrote of the public distribution system of food in India being dismantled for agribusiness to come in[10]. In a study out of Nepal, the effect of globalization on Indian farmers is highlighted. Globalization has brought in multinational corporations which has changed the way that the farmers have grown food for generations. Among these problems, s transportation has encouraged the multi-national food corporations to invest in India, they brought in genetically modified seeds which cost much more than the seeds which had been provided by the local seed banks. In addition, the regulations governing the seed markets were let go, seed prices went up, and fake seeds began to make an appearance[11].
Farmers were also encouraged, due to globalization of the food business and the desire of the conglomerates to maximize their financial gain, to begin growing cash crops like cotton and tobacco instead of the diversified traditional crops that they have been use to. Many of these crops require more fertilization and water, incurring higher costs to the farmers[12].
Globalization has not delivered on its promises of benefits for the majority of India’s population. Schmitt and Shiva both point out that, while globalization has been a boon for India’s technology sector, the workers in IT make up a only small percent of the population of India[13]. The rest of the population of India, including the rural farmers, are not seeing the benefits that have exploded in the IT market, and indeed in some areas this has resulted in farmers taking their own lives in suicide rather than continue to face the ever spiraling debt and troubles[14].
Solutions to these three international problems do not come easily, and will require a multi-national effort to make significant difference. In a globalized world, it will require the global community of nations to decide in unity that actions must be taken if a difference is going to be made.
Globalization has coincided with, and in many ways enabled, the growth of international terrorism. Engaging in a running fight against terrorism, however, will not be enough to make a difference, as terrorist groups continue to proliferate and gain new members. Former director of the CIA George Tenet testified before the Senate Select Intelligence Committee when he said “…we must look beyond the immediate danger of terrorist attacks to the conditions that allow terrorism to take root around the world[15]. After fifteen years of the Global War on Terrorism, the citizens of the West are growing increasingly tired of constant war, and the militaries are no nearer a substantive win against the terrorist groups.
Changing the status quo will require a long-term effort on the part of both the United States and partner nations. Targeting and eliminating or diminishing the conditions that foster terrorism will do more to lessen the terrorist threat than an entire corps of Special Forces soldiers. The economic and social inequality so often seen in developing countries provides a fertile breeding ground for disaffection of those in poverty[16].
The National War College report proposes for the US and the international community to develop new programs of assistance to help these developing countries and areas, targeting the sections that are the worst off in an effort to meet the needs of the populace. The goal is to enable those currently in poverty, making it more attractive to be a productive member of the society that to seek terrorism as a way to strike back[17].
This proposal is a long-term project, and thus would take time to begin seeing results. While the end would be worth pursuing, promises of aid and programs have been given to many of the developing countries by the industrial nations of the world, including the United States, and the follow through has been extremely lacking. Many in the Global South would benefit from the programs, as long as they were carried out correctly. However, it would be understandable if there was great skepticism from representatives that this time would turn out differently from others (remember the farce of the 1980’s food programs).
Those in the industrialized nations that are predominantly in the North would be the ones paying the price necessary to put these programs in action. Though there might be opposition to funding more programs for nations of the world that “just can’t get it right”, a substantial impact on global terrorism would be a goal worth working for. After fifteen years of warfare, the price would be a small one to pay.
Addressing human trafficking will also require an international effort. As globalization is the flow of goods, money and people across national boundaries, human trafficking is part of the globalization process itself. People are transported or migrate across national and international boundaries and, in the process, many find themselves in situations where they are being taken and forced into modern slavery to fulfill the myriad of roles that trafficked persons are forced into.
It will require international law in concert with national law working together to combat the practice of trafficking in human beings. International institutions such as the UN, as well as a multitude of non-government agencies like the Polaris Project are taking notice of the vast numbers of human trafficking victims and taking action to educate people as to the vast problem. For example, in the last few years the US Army has mandated training in human trafficking for everyone in uniform, pointing out what human trafficking is and how to identify individuals who may be victims. While there are many organizations actively working against this international crime, education of the population as to the horrible atrocities being committed against millions of innocents could prove to be the most effective way of fighting against the traffickers. Other solutions such as more effective border control and media attention to the problem have been proposed as methods to help fight trafficking[18]. All of these solutions will have to work together to fight this crime.
In addition, as with terrorism, efforts would need to be made to address some of the causes of migration. Abject poverty means that people are more vulnerable to the traffickers. They are willing to take any chance they can get at better pay and a more secure life for them and their families. American and the international community’s help in alleviating some of the poverty and hardship would not only assist in combatting terrorism, it would also go a long way in ending the reason that traffickers are able to lure people into their clutches.
Though those from the Global North and the Global South may have different views about many things, both would agree that human trafficking is disruptive and fuels anger and horror. For those in the Global South, a dramatic lessening of human trafficking due to law enforcement and education would naturally mean future victims would be safe from these practices.
As for the vast inequalities in the agri-business in developing countries, many processes must be put into place. Muralidhar lists several steps to establish ‘safety nets’ for the disaffected poor and the rural farmers. As has been seen in the last 30 years throughout America’s heartland, the small farms are often unable to compete with the food corporations who have the money and the clout to enforce their views. Incentives and subsidies should be provided for the local farmers are able to continue planting the crops required by the local communities. Food grain and seeds should be provided at subsidized prices to enable the farmer to plant. And, education must be undertaken for the poor and uneducated, globally, to allow them to compete for the skilled jobs with higher wages[19].
America has seen first hand what happens when the local farmer no longer can compete in a market geared towards multi-national corporations. The US and international partners should learn from this lesson and help to ensure the same problems are not perpetuated through corporate greed. Education and a willingness to help will be necessary to alleviate this particular problem.
The Global South will be the region most affected by these programs. As mentioned above, the primary push-back would be due to previous promises being broken and not effectively carried out. However, these ‘safety-nets’, or programs of assistance, would be the first step in not only helping with the inequality in wage and agribusiness, but toward easing the problems of poverty and addressing the other two problems. If tackled efficiently and effectively, many regions in the Global South would see great benefit. The Global North contains the larger portion of food conglomerates. The downside of these changes would mean that these corporations would lose a large portion of cheap labor, and lose access to some of the crops they count on. While this would have to be addressed, the benefits in all three areas of problem would make it worth the time and money spent to see those at risk in the developing countries of the world raised up in standard of living, education, and abilities.
Globalization has enabled vast improvements in society. Communication, transportation, global finance and goods markets have all brought about a level of living for those in the industrialized nations of the world that has never been realized before. However, as can be seen in these three trouble areas, for the developing countries of the world globalization proves, at best, a mixed blessing. There are many concerns going forward. Globalization, or the interconnectedness of the nations of the world, will not end barring an unforeseen global catastrophe. It is incumbent upon the industrialized nations of the world with the ability to do so to make sure that those nations still developing be nurtured, mentored, and cared for so that everyone can enjoy the benefits of a globalized world.
Bibliography
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International Labor Organization. New ILO Global Estimate of Forced Labour: 20.9 million victims. June 01, 2012. http://www.ilo.org/global/about-the-ilo/newsroom/news/WCMS_182109/lang--en/index.htm (accessed January 15, 2016).
Jones, Loring, David W. Engstrom, Tricia Hilliard and Mariel Diaz. “Globalization and Human Trafficking.” Journal of Sociology & Social Welfare (Western Michigar University) XXXIV, no. 2 (June 2007): 107–122.
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[1] David Held et al., “Global Transformations”, (Stanford University Press: 1999), 2.
[2] Victor D. Cha, “Globalization and the Study of International Security”, Journal of Peace Research, Vol. 37, №3 (May 2000), 392.
[3] Victor D. Cha, “Globalization and the Study of International Security”, 393.
[4] Stephen G. Brooks, “Producing Security” (Princeton: Princeton University Press: 2005), 261.
[5] Loring Jones et al., “Globalization and Human Trafficking”, Journal of Sociology & Social Welfare, Vol XXXIV, Number 2 (June 2007) 107.
[6] Ibid, 108.
[7] Thomas Schmitt, “Forgotten in Bangalore: Meet the Losers of Globalization”, Spiegel Online, (March 8, 2006) accessed from APUS Security and Global Studies archives January 8, 2016. (Schmitt 2006)
[8] Loring Jones, “Globalization and Human Trafficking” 113.
[9] International Labor Organization, “New ILO Global Estimate of Forced Labour: 20.9 million victims”, (1 June 2012), accessed from http://www.ilo.org/global/about-the-ilo/newsroom/news/WCMS_182109/lang--en/index.htm on January 15, 2016.
[10] Vandana Shiva, “The Polarised World of Globalsation” Global Policy Forum (May 10, 2005), accessed from the APUS Security and Global Studies archives January 8, 2016) (Shiva 2005)
[11] B. V. Muralidhar et al., “Globalization and Its Impact on Indian Agriculture: A Study of Farmers’ Suicides in the State of Andhra Pradesh”, Nepalese Journal of Public Policy and Governance, Vol. XXIX, No 2 (December 2011), accessed from http://pactu.edu.np/downloads/njpg/dec-2011/2__b_v_muralidhar_d_m_mamatha_g_stanley_jayakumar_roseline_mary__globalization_and_its_impact_on_indian_agricu.pdf on January 15, 2012, 19. (Muralidhar 2011)
[12] Ibid, 20.
[13] Shiva, “The Polarised World of Globalisation”; Schmitt, “Forgotten in Bangalore”.
[14] Muralidhar, “Globalization and its Impact”.
[15] George Tenet, “Worldwide Threat — Converging Dangers in a Post 9/11 World”, Testimony before Senate Select Intelligence Committee (Washington DC: 2002) accessed from https://www.cia.gov/news-information/speeches-testimony/2002/senate_select_hearing_03192002.html on January 16, 2016.
[16] National War College, “Combatting Terrorism in a Globalized World” (National War College: 2003) 53. Accessed from http://www.au.af.mil/au/awc/awcgate/ndu/n02combating_terrorism.pdf on January 16, 2016. (Student Task Force on Combating Terrorism 2003)
[17] Ibid, 54.
[18] Karie Kabance, “The Globalization of Sex Trafficking” Research Paper (April 29, 2014), accessed from https://ucollege.wustl.edu/files/ucollege/imce/iap.kabance.drp_.pdf on January 16, 2016.
[19] Muralidhar, “Globalization and its Impact”, 21.
