Global issues affect us on a daily basis even though we may not realize the issues have great importance. The dawning of civilization has brought humans into contact with each other. It is in our nature to interact. Sometimes these interactions were not peaceful or helpful. But regardless of the outcome of that interaction, globalization occurred each time.
The world community, as it has developed greater technology, has expanded its borders incredibly. Where once it may have taken years to conduct trade or foreign affairs, it can now be done almost instantly. The global issues and debates are many and in this article we will discuss some of the key components that make up globalization.
What is globalization?
Globalization is the actual interaction and exchange that occurs between people. Since the first person traded his stone for a piece of fur, globalization was occurring. As technology allowed more people to come into contact with others, global issues began to arise. These issues influenced how interactions were handled. Some interactions were not friendly and had devastating consequences for everyone involved. Other issues have brought the spotlight onto hardship and suffering due to famine or abject poverty. Global issues are essentially the same thing as globalization and are often interchanged. But you need to be aware that one is the issue and the other is the actual interaction, action or result.
Why are some people for globalization?
In theory globalization would allow free trade among all nations. There would be no tariffs or taxes levied against incoming or outgoing products. This would lead to an increase in commerce and economic standings for some countries. Other theories believe that it could lead to monopolization by countries that use sweat shops and underpaid workers and can give lower prices on consumer goods.
As you can guess, the economy plays a huge part in every part of any global issue. When a natural disaster strikes, countries of wealth donate goods, services and money to the victims. Immigration laws are based around social issues such as welfare, labor and housing. Some people feel that immigrants take the available jobs that would typically go to citizens. Other people have the opinion that immigrants should be allowed to live the best life possible and be free to live in any country of their choice.
How will globalization take care of many of the issues that face humanity all over the world?
Globalization primarily effects trade and interaction. Most global issues have their roots in trade of one sort or another. If all countries participated in a Free-Market economy there could be repercussions but there would also be tremendous benefits. Tariffs and taxes can bite into a nation's income it draws through exports and imports. If countries had more money, it might mean more food, shelter and healthcare for citizens. There would be more aid in times of need and disaster without relying on other countries for economic assistance.
What organizations are in charge of the various laws?
Every country has their own set of laws where globalization and global issues are concerned. The United Nations is involved in many of the issues that are prevalent in the world. It does not always have the power or funds to enforce certain issues but it can try to bring nations to their side in the arguments. The U.N. can also bring the public spotlight on issues that private contributions can help with such as poverty or hunger.
Where does the United States stand on these issues?
As is evident by our constitution, the United States tries to spread the idea of democracy. This is a noble idea but does not always work out as is evident by the war in Iraq. Other issues such as immigration have come into the frontlines of debate and politics. Some people believe that the United States has an obligation to help immigrants find their way to our shores. Others believe that the open door policy has helped our economy enter a downward spiral. If there is a natural disaster in the world, the United States is often one of the first to lend a hand to help rebuild the area and supply residents with resources. One of the great aspects of the United States is that global awareness has entered into most living rooms. A great majority of citizens contribute in one way or another to a larger issue than their own.
