GLOBALIZATION| CIVICS FORM IV: TOPIC 1
GLOBALIZATION
THE
CONCEPT OF GLOBALIZATION
Globalization is defined as the increasing process of interdependence and interconnectedness between different political, social and economic components of the world.
It is
the way in which the world is seen as the global village. Globalization has
become a worldwide system because it integrates people across their the national
borders, making the world operates as a village and therefore making free
movement of people, goods, capital and information. The process of
globalization is largely facilitated by rapid advancement in technology growth
trade and competition.
Historical
background of globalization
The
world’s interconnectedness and interdependence between its different social,
political and economic components started as far back as during the European
mercantile period (15000- 1750) and has continued up today.
During
the mercantile period, European merchants crossed their borders and conducted
trade in other parts of the world like Africa, Asia and Latin America. The
event of slave trade and the exportation of Africans from their continent to
other continents, notably the America, linked with Africa more and more with
outside World. All these activities were demonstrations of globalization at
that time.
Driving forces of globalization
The
process of globalization is a result of various factors. Such factors include
the following
1.
Advancement
in science and Technology
The
development of science and technology has contributed greatly to the
development of global interconnectedness, interactions and integration of World
societies into the global village. The development of science and technology
has enabled (technologist) to design and make things like machines which
simplify human’s activities for example the development of information and
communication technology. (ICT) has contributed much on the globalization
process. The development of science and technology which marked the initial
stage of integration between Europe, American and other external World like
Africa had eventually changed the world in to a global village.
2.
Advancement in education
Education
has contributed greatly to the development of science and technology and
integration of people from distant places. Education process has marked the
point of no return towards the integration of different people from different
nations and culture in the world. From the 20th century,
revolutionized education marked intensive integration of people in
universities, colleges and international conferences. Through interactions and
integration, most people adopted culture from other people and thus beginning
of cultural liberalization.
3.
Social and political
liberalization
This
process has its root from the liberal democratic principle. Liberal believe
that freedom of an individual is the main principle of life that people are
supposed to have. The freedom of individual principle has thus fostered the
development of globalization in social and political aspects
Social
liberalization is widely spreading due to the advancement of information and
communication technologies like TV, e-mail, cellular phones and internet
technology.
Politically,
the integration of politics in the global scale has fostered the development of
globalization. Traditionally polities have been undertaken within national
political systems but due to globalization the national governments have
ultimately responsible for maintaining the security and economic welfare of
their citizens as well as protection of human right.
Information
technology an communication
Globalization is characterized by advancement of information and communication technology, this sector has expended drastically within the last few years especially by the last quarter of twentieth century.
In that period people witnessed global s distribution f media images through computer screen, radio, newspapers, televisions and mobile phones.
Development of information and communication technology went together with the rise of biggest information companies such as Microsoft, Intel, and Cisco.
The rise of these companies, indicate quick
advancement of technology.
Modern communication technologies brought by globalization
Fig. 5. Cellular phone
There
have been increasing movements of people from one country to another. These
people include tourists, immigrants refugees, business travelers, scholars and
diplomats, who move from one country or continent to another. Most migration
occurs between developing countries but there is also a flow of migrants to
economically advanced countries from poor countries hence making the world
interconnected
Spread of ideas and ideology
Spread
of knowledge ideas, information and ideologies have been integral aspect of
globalization. Direct foreign investment brings physical capital, technical,
managerial and marketing skills as well as global economic policies in the
production process. The spread of these technical knowhow go hand in hand with
diffusion of political ideologies, for instance multiparty democracy which have
become worldwide use.
Free market economy
Globalization
has brought about the international political economy through international
financial institution policies and international trade. Free market (neo
liberalism) has become a dominant economic ideology of the world. The main
emphasis of free market economy (economic liberalism) is to minimize the direct
involvement of government in economic production
Finance
There
is also a global flow of money often driven by interconnected currency. Stock
exchanges and commodity markets. The flow of money is also facilitated by
international financial institution such as IMF and the World Bank assisted by
multilateral banks which have branches almost in every part of the World thus
allows smooth money transaction all over the world.
The rise of intellectual property
The
rise of intellectual properties or items in this case includes patents,
copyrights of movies, computer software, compact discs, advertisements and
financial services.
However,
the policy started in 1980’s and gained significant public notice at the global
level during the same decade (1980’s) when Britain’s) Prime Minister Margaret
Thatcher took deliberate and extra efforts to advocate the necessity of
shifting public or government activities to private actors so as to increase
production and efficiency in the economic sectors and restructure the
prevailing conditions in countries like Tanzania.
Under
the conditional ties of the World Bank, governments of the developing countries
began experimenting various forms of market reforms including setting most of
the public assets to private sectors, deregulating and contracting their public
services to private providers.
Under
this situation, therefore privatization gained widespread interest and become
an acceptable policy, to government policy makers, services providers as well
as public planners
The objectives of privatization
i.
To create more market oriented economy where those privatized
firms will participate in the stock market.
ii.
To improve economy through increased productivity and efficiency
of the privatized parastatal
iii.
To secure and enhance access to foreign markets, capital and
technology through attracting managerial and technological resources from the
private sector
iv.
To broaden share and ownership through equal provision of public
services to all levels
v.
To reduce the over whelming and challenging increase of public
debt
vi.
To promote the spirit of self-reliance
Measures taken to enhance privatization
i.
To improve the operational efficiency of enterprises and their
contribution to the national economy by selling them to private investors
ii.
To reduce the burden of parastatal enterprises dependence on the
government budget by selling them to private investors
iii.
To expand the role of private sector in the economy and permit the
government to concentrate on the provision of social services like health, education
and infrastructures.
iv.
To encourage wider participation in the ownership of private
companies and management of business by selling and letting private investors
engage in production
Advantages of privatization
i. It has increased flexibility due to reduction of bureaucratic
complexity and procedures which have in turn lead to an improvement of the
national economy
ii. It has reduced costs resulting from improving and increase
efficiency in production through competitive process
iii. Privatization has led to the improvement and rise of competition
among the existing organization
iv. It has met the demands beyond the current government capacity. The
private sectors encourage competitions which increase the level of productivity
and efficiency
v. Privatization provides clients with more choice of options where
they can be more satisfied in terms of contract, salaries and working
conditions
Disadvantages of privatization
i. Privatization has led to an increase in
unemployment rate among the indigenous people. This has been the case, because
most of the private investors are the people from outside. When any public
enterprise is privatized it is accompanied with massive redundancy of the
previously local working personnel and employment of new workers from the
investors home country
ii. It has led to the fall in agricultural
sector due to the withdrawal of the government from providing agricultural
incentives to the peasant/farmers.
iii. It has increased temptation to reduce
quality of goods and services by some dishonest investors in order to reduce
costs and maximize profit
iv. Privatization has increased the rate of
moral erosion due to its policy of free trade. The private for example such
goods like pornography pictures and other related firms or VCD /DVD have
greatly affect the younger generation
v. Privatization policy has increase the rate
of poverty to people especially those living in rural areas due to the decline
in agriculture production. Rural people depend on agricultural production for
better to the decline in agricultural production. Rural people depend on
agricultural production for better quality of their life. But due to
privatization their standards of living has been deteriorating because of the
falling prices of their agricultural produce
Trade liberalization
Trade
liberalization refers to the reduction of tariffs and trade barriers to permit
more foreign competition and foreign investment in the economy. It is a term
which describes complete or partial elimination and reduction of trade barriers
such as quotas and tariffs. Trade liberalization sometimes refers to free
trade. Free trade is the unrestricted flow of goods and services between countries,
and is a name given to economic policies and parties supporting increases in
such trade. Tanzania introduced trade liberalization as from mid-1980,
following the IMF and World Bank. Conditional ties for giving aids to the needy
nations.
Democratization
process
Democratization is the process by which democracy expands within a
state or across the world
Globalization
is associated with global political reforms under the process called
democratization. The democratization process is looking at the following basic
principle.
Free
and fair political competition
There is a need for having peaceful, free and fair competition between different political parties that want to control the government in order to maintain such competition, there ought to be the following requirements
Firstly,
permanent party organization at the local and national levels. No opposition
party can exist without continuous and permanent struggle against the ruling
party. The goals of these parties should not be linked with personal interests
of particular party leaders
Secondly,
there ought to be continuous contact of leaders in all levels of a given political
party. Thirdly, there should be a determination of party leaders to hold
political offices. Fourthly, there should be a determination of the party to
gain popular acceptance for its programmes. Fifthly, there must be constant
search for more members. Such requirements can exist only in a multiparty
system. Therefore, a mono-party system cannot be democratic. It is a rejection
of democracy and leads to a dictatorship.
Tolerance
This
is the ability to bear with something unpleasant or annoying. Tanzania is
composed of different races, tribes and religious groups. In this society
Africans from the majority when compared with other racial groups. As the
rights of the small groups of persons does not depend on the number of people
in the group the majority group has a duty to respect convictions and ways of
life of the minorities
Citizen participation
Participation
is the major role of citizens in democracy. It is both their right and duty.
Citizenship participation includes standing for elections, debating issues,
voting on elections gathering for community meetings, joining parties and
organization, protesting and paying taxes. All these activities strengthen a
democracy
Equality
In
democracy all people are equal. This means people are valued equally. They have
equal opportunities. No one is discriminated against. Moreover; groups are free
to maintain their different cultures, personalities, languages and beliefs.
When the majority deny rights to or destroy their opposition, they are also
destroy democracy
Accountability
In
democracy, elected and appointed officials ought to be accountable to the
people. They must make decisions and perform their duties according to the
wishes of the people, but not for their own interests.
Smooth
transfer of power
In
democracy there is a well established and transparent system of transferring
power from one political party to another.
Control of the power abuse
In
democracy, elected and public officials are prevented from misusing their
powers. The most common form of power misuse is corruption. This occurs when
officials use public funds for their own benefit, accept bribes in order to
render services, or exercise power illegally. Protection against abuse of power
has been achieved through various methods. For example, having independent
courts. With power to take action against corrupt officials; allowing for
citizen participation in elections, and checking police abuse of power.
Incorporation
(inclusion) if a bill of rights in the constitution
A
bill of rights is a list of rights and freedom guaranteed to all citizens in a
country. Many democratic countries incorporate bill of rights in the
constitution. In those countries, the courts have the power to enforce these
rights. A bill of rights in the constitution. In those countries, the courts
have the power to enforce these rights. A bill of rights limits the power of
government and impose obligations on individuals and organizations.
The
rule of
law
In
a democracy no one is above the law; not even an elected president. This is
called the rule o law means everyone must obey the law. If the violate it they
must be held accountable. Similarly, the law must be equal, fair and
consistently enforced
Sovereignty
Only
a sovereign nation can practice democracy. Sovereignty means the freedom to
decide and execute domestic and foreign policies without interference from
another country. Therefore, a neo-colony cannot exercise democracy. Neo-colony
means the control of a weak country by a more powerful one. The subject country
loses control of its destiny. The master nation controls both domestic and
foreign policies of the neo- colony. In other words, the weak country loose
part of its sovereignty. It loose its power and freedom to make its own decisions.
It loose the ability to practice democracy too.
By
considering the above any country in the World is considered to be democratic
if it abides with all or most of the stated principles.
Effect of globalization in Tanzania
Effects
of globalization in Tanzania can be political, economic, social or cultural.
The effect are both positive and negative as analyzed below.
Economic
effects
On
economic point of view, globalization as a phenomenon has both positive and
negative effects on developing countries like Tanzania.
Positive
effects
Effective
utilization of natural resources
Through
trade liberalization and free market economy, globalization has stimulated much
utilization of natural resources. There are many companies which are investing
in natural resources such as mining like that at Mwadui. Bulyankulu, Geita and
Nzega. Presence of these foreign companies enables Tanzania to utilize her
resources for development of her people. This has been possible. This has been
possible due, to the technology brought in Tanzania by the investing foreign
companies.
Increase free trade
Globalization
has made production and transportation of goods easier and faster than ever
before. Therefore it enables Tanzania to get different varieties of goods of various
quality and quantity from any corner of the world. These goods include
electronic devices (computer, mobile phones etc) food, medicine, automobiles
and chemicals.
Opens doors for employment
opportunities
In
some instances, globalization creates employment opportunities to many people.
For example foreign companies like Vodacom, Celtel (currently Airtel) and Tigo
have created thousands or employment to Tanzanians.
It
helps to raise national income
Through
privatization of public sectors and investment by foreign investors the
national income has increased through taxes paid to the government
Improvement of quality of goods and
services
This
has been due to the competition created by the foreign investors who use new
technology from outside.
Negative effects
For
developing countries like Tanzania free trade causes the decline and under
development of industrial sector and local technology. The decline of
industrial sector and local technology is caused by influx of goods from
outside whose prices are low, yet with higher quality than local goods
Presence
of multinational companies in Tanzania if not well controlled may acquire super
profit through exploiting citizens and leaving them poor. Some companies tend
to exploit the citizens by paying low salaries to local employees as compared
to the foreigners. Also some companies evade paying tax to the government hence
deny it of revenue.
Globalization sometimes creates unemployment
With
growth of technology machines have greatly replaced human labor. For example,
the introduction of electronic devices like computer technology and its
programmes have led to eviction of many unskilled Tanzanians from their jobs
It leads to unequal exchange
Through
privatization and capital mobility, Northern countries (Europe, North America)
undermine Southern countries (Africa, Asia, South America) through unequal
exchange. Most of potential natural resources in developing countries are owned
by companies from developed countries hence undermining local communities
Increase in people’s expenditure
Globalization
has made Tanzanians spend much of their resources in recreation activities
instead of investing into productive programme. As an adaptation from western
many Tanzania spend their money for wedding, buying luxurious items such as
cars expensive clothes ect.
POLITICAL EFFECT OF GLOBALIZATION
Positive effects
Globalization
has brought important changes in the content of international law. Contemporary
states like Tanzania, makes laws which comply with international laws and
therefore it abides with them in such a way, that it can no longer mistreat her
citizens the way it wishes. Issues like human rights, social justice are part
of Tanzania’s constitution key laws and statutes
Under
globalization, Tanzania has integrated itself into global politics through
international agencies and organizations. New forms of multilateral and global
politics have been established involving various governments including the
government of Tanzania.
Globalization
has made it necessary for poor countries like Tanzania of form strong political
organization as a way of minimizing its negative impacts, the formation of
African Union (AU), and the continuing process of formation of East Africa.
Federation which Tanzania is a member are consequences of globalization
Globalization
has speed up the democratic process in Tanzania. In order to promote democracy,
Tanzania is adopting global democratic principles such as rule of law,
transparency, multiparty, accountability and it is trying to implement them.
Negative
effects
There
has been centralization of political power in biggest capitalist nations. This
situation has created an interstate condition whereby a political sovereignty
of poor countries like Tanzania has been reduce in such a way that they are
made more accountable to bigger like USA and UK than to their citizens.
Tanzania
has been affected by global political disorders and terrorism. Bombing of USA
embassy in Dar es Salaam in 1998 is a product of global political conflict
which involved USA and Al- Qaeda terrorist who are against USA imperialism
Globalization
has undermined the effort made by poor countries. Like Tanzania to form strong
political organizations such as African Union or East Community due to spread
of spheres of interests to the regions by biggest powers such as America and
Western Europe. AS a result countries like Tanzania have became more interested
in cooperating with such capitalist countries rather than her neighboring
countries like Malawi, Mozambique, Zambia etc wishing to get more profit
In
some cases, globalization with its related political propagandas such as
multipartism, transparency, accountability, rule of law and others create chaos
in the country. There are some politicians who have manipulated the above
agendas of democracy, hence, threatened peace and security, which have existed
since independence
Erosion
of national control over governance
Globalization
which has been facilitated by policies such as those of the world Bank, the IMF
and the world Trade of organizations(WTO) which insist on Structural Adjustment
Programmes (SAPs) is closely tied to fee trade and expansion of commerce
through the deregulation of markets. These policies are top-down and
authoritative, so that developing countries like Tanzania are being told what
to do and what not to due to these policies the economic structures and
orientations of developing countries have been greatly influenced
Globalization
has made diffusion of beliefs and values in international concern. Each
community is struggling to achieve those world cultural standards in respect of
human rights and better living standards.
Through
development of information and communication technology like internet, fax
machines, satellites and cable TV, globalization has managed to integrate all
cultural practices in the world and created common cultural vision for the
present and future generations. Those cultural practices are such as sports,
games, music etc
Globalization
has revealed out some bad cultural practices which have been performed by some communities.
For instance, the issue of female genital mutilation which is now globally
condemned with great emphasis by different international agencies
The
expansion of the great world religious institutions particularly in Africa and
Asia has transformed their socio-cultural values into modern and acceptable
ones. In Tanzania for example, the spread of Christianity and Islam almost in
every part of the country, has played a significant role in the eradication of
unacceptable cultural practices such as genital mutilation, forded marriages,
harassment of women, etc. Globalization has improved provision of social
services. Social services such as education, healthcare, communication have
been improved. For example education has been improved due to the presence of
such things like distance learning due to use of internet, video etc
Negative
effects on culture
Globalization
has swept away cultural. Boundaries which existed before by the use of advanced
information and communication technology such as TVs, radio, internet and
magazines.
This
situation has led to the destruction of inferior cultures of Africans including
Tanzania. Most Tanzanians particularly the youth have been influenced with
western ways of life.
Cultural
globalization ties have been responsible for increase immoral behavior such as
violence, prostitution, drug abuse, homosexuality and other related behaviors
which increased as one become more integrated into global system
African
native language including Kiswahili, have been undermined by foreign languages
such as English, French, German etc. English for example, has become a
globalization language such that it is viewed by many Tanzanian who can speak
it as a sign of civilization. By so doing our local languages including
Kiswahili are being abandoned or left to be used by less educated people who
also wish they knew English.
Spread
of religious fundamentalism
Globalization
of communication networks has facilitated the easy spread of various religions
across the world and strengthening of solidarity of the sects worldwide.
Through cable television believers in Tanzania are accessed by preachers from
Korea, Japan, USA, German etc
This
worldwide spread of fundamentalism has not only increased social tension and
insecurity, but also had adverse economic effects as now the solutions to
social and economic problems are sought in prayer rather than hard work.
In
Tanzania for example, some families have been torn apart by Christian
fundamentalists, who have cut links with their parents or spouses because they
are “saved” and therefore it is not proper for them to associate with the
“unsaved” child care has been affected because some parents do spend too much
time praying, including overnight wakes.
Also
some youth have dropped out of school and opted for employment in the name of
evangelism and the belief that once you are saved everything in life will work
smoothly
The
spread of materialist lifestyle attitudes
Materialist
lifestyle attitudes consider consumption as the path to prosperity. Today if
some one has enough material wealth he/she is considered as nothing. With this
loss of vision, the very foundation which a people‘s culture is constructed is
severely shaken. The foundation on which to construct behavioral patterns,
ideas beliefs, values and attitudes on which people’s economic, social and
political character can be based does no longer exist. In the traditional
society, hard working was one of the key factors for a good leader or citizen
but today the one who is rich even if he is a thief can be highly respected and
considered the smart guy.
Some
effects of globalization may be experienced in the assessment of pre existing
African traditional songs and ceremonies which have now being replaced by new
ones having western styles and contents. Examples of such things include the
kitchen parties and beauty pageants
Impacts
of globalization on environment
Positive
effects
It
has enable various countries to solve global environmental problems together
Negative
Globalization
cause pollution due to the constant emission of toxic gases from heavy
industries of the developed countries
Fig. 9 industries produce smoke
High
exploitation of natural resources due to advancement in science and technology
has led to serious environmental destruction such as deforestation, pollution f
air, water and land.
Hundred
of thousands of hectares of forests are destroyed through mining activities,
construction of infrastructures like roads and railways, establishment of
settlement ( house), preparation of fuel like charcoal firewood etc
Globalization
has increased global warming due to gradual increase on temperature caused by
emission of gases from industries and automobiles. These gases prevent the
escape of heat from the earth’s surface to the atmosphere.
Third
world countries including Tanzania have become dumping places for outdated
material from the first word countries
Challenges of globalization in Tanzania
The
following are challenges of globalization in Tanzania.
Low
level of use of communication systems. In Tanzania the use of global
communication system, such as internet, communication satellites and telephones
is still low and underdeveloped. Most communication systems are greatly
confined in urban areas while the rural population which is bigger is still un
connected with world communication system. This problem of uneven distribution
of communication systems makes the rural population become isolated
(marginalized) from a global village
Another
challenge which Tanzania faces is low production. Tanzania’s economic sectors
such as agriculture, industry, mining, fishing are not producing enough goods
for export. The increase in international trade as one of the fundamental
characteristic of globalization will make Tanzania a buyer of foreign goods
more than what is sold.
The
low level of education in Tanzania is posing a big challenge to Tanzania, under
this globalize world. The level of education among Tanzanians is very low
compared to other countries in the world.
This
level of education fails to meet intellectual demands of globalization such as
technological skills, managerial skills, entrepreneurial skills, marketing
skills, etc. Thus Tanzania will not be able to compete in employment
opportunities with other countries
Tanzania
faces a problem of low savings and investment. Low savings, caused by low
income may prolong the vicious cycle of poverty among Tanzanians
Moreover
Tanzania faces a problem of low savings and investment. Low savings, caused by
low income may prolong the vicious cycle of poverty among Tanzanians.
Tanzania
should create policies which focus on its own problems and lay strategies to
reduce poverty by focusing on provision of social services such as healthcare,
education and security to her citizens
Government
of Tanzania should prepare a conducive environment for investors so as to
stabilize the macro economy. Attractions to investors must go together with
conditions which will make Tanzanians benefit from foreign investments rather
than being the watchers.
Education
should be given a significant priority and made compulsory to all people.
Tanzanian government should make sure that most Tanzanians get quality
education which will enable them cope with challenges brought by globalization
There
should be proper utilization of both natural and human resources so as to boost
the economic growth. Tanzania has been experiencing shortage of personnel like
doctors from Tanzania who are working abroad. This is improper utilization of
human resources.
