Globalisation Inequality and Environmental Degradation - Assignment Example

Lecture 3 Globalization, Inequality & Environmental Degradation The rationale for Economic growth has been touted as the ability of the economic growth to translate into global development. However, the past trends have shown that the rapid economic growth has been skewed in favor of the rich nations. Not only has it resulted in more in-equality in terms of standards of living, but also brought about the curse of pollution, mostly on the poorer nations that are inept to combat it. The pattern of economic growth has been in favor of the minority rich, while at the same time increasing poverty in the third world countries. This bane is further coupled by the environmental degradation that has resulted as a bi-product of this economic growth. The past centuries have seen the emergence of categorization of the nations as the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd world countries. While the first and second (which are now adequately termed as Economies in Transition’) nations have profited from this rampant industrialization under the guise of economic growth, the third world countries (or the newly industrializing countries) have been further plunged into debt and liquidity problems. Powerful blocs like the G7 (US, Canada, UK, Japan, Germany, France, Italy) and the OECD ( group of Developed countries with Mexico, Turkey and S Korea), are now capable of dictating the terms of the world market. Similarly, the Triad of Global Capitalism (US, E U and Japan) is extending their influence over the world resources. With their ideology of economic liberalization & market competition, these powerful groups have the facility to control the economic growth of world in ways that benefit them – thus, further adding to poverty and inequality. The International trade has increased from $ 1.6 Trillion in 1985 to $ 5.4 Trillion in 1998, but most of the moolah was gathered by the already rich MNCs and TNCs. Also, in 2000, 85% of the world income was controlled by the just 20% of the world population dwelling in the rich countries. The environment and our natural resources take up the brunt of this development. Not only the planet is running out of its supply of oil, gas, and trees, but also the past 50 years have seen an unprecedented rate of extinction among the diverse species. There has been enormous pollution, and our soil, air and waters are slowly getting poisoned. The rationale for the economic growth, that it leads to global development is therefore unjustified – in fact, if anything, there has been adverse effects on the majority (2/3 of people who live in poor nations) of human beings, and also on our environment. Lecture 4: Globalization, Sovereignty & Environment The past half-century has seen the emergence of Globalization – a process by which goods and services produced at one part of the world are made available at other parts. While bringing about a revolution in terms of world economy, Globalization has to confront issues of Sovereignty – the local politics, resources, environment and culture. Globalization has resulted in transforming the world into a “global village” providing instantaneous communication links and a sense of all-at-once-ness in international trade. There are now 24 hour global financial markets, global intermediaries and regulatory authorities, and new civil societies and concerns. While Globalization creates new political and economic regions that traverse national borders, it also has to face some resistance from the advocates of Sovereign economic policies – as it imposes new parameters and rules on trade. The environment too, is affected by the globalization, as now the location of natural resources, their conversion into useful products and the disposal of wastes and effluents, is done in different parts of the part as per the cost-benefit considerations. This way, a minority of the population is able to enjoy the benefits of the trade, while a majority is burdened with pollutants and toxic wastes. But at times, Sovereignty too becomes a driver for environmental destruction - as can be seen in the case of the Democratic Republic of Congo. After its independence from Belgium in 1960, Congo has seen cruel civil wars and regime changes – all aimed towards capturing control of its rich sources of diamonds, cassiterite, tin, copper but especially coltan (columbite-tantalite) essential for power-storing components of mobiles, PCs & Play Stations Backed by neighbors Uganda Rwanda, the rebels are making millions by trading in Coltan, and destroying the ecological balance by killing the native elephants and gorillas for bush meat. This sovereign or internal matter of this country has resulted in an estimated 3 million deaths, while infesting another 3 million with HIV/AIDS and pushing 50 million towards malnutrition. In the absence of external monitoring of its economy, Congo’s trade is pushing its population on the brink of hunger and desperation, while enriching a handful few. The military regime and arms-power security has done only damage to the nation. It is therefore required that Congo should streamline its economic policy with that of the rest of the world, and look for security in terms of better standard of living, education and environment protection. Lecture 5 Sovereignty, Security & the Environment The world has been through two World Wars that had wiped out millions. This was followed by the Cold War, where the nations again were engaged in hoarding weapons and remaining in a state of constant alertness. Now, when the world is moving towards destructive uni-polarity, we are faced with the curse of terrorism, weapons of mass destruction, holy wars, international drug trade and organized crime. It is not surprising that majority of the nations think of security in military terms. Today, however, the planet faces another form of threat – the threat created by environmental insecurity. There rapid depletion of resources, and the pollution of atmosphere, soil and water-bodies has resulted in ‘environmental refugees’. Global Warming, energy crises, and rampant of exploitation of natural vegetation and habitat of indigenous people has all added greatly to this insecurity. Many economists predict that future wars will be triggered by the need to own more and more resources – they’ll be about who gets the more right to manufacture and dump waste, and who gets to live in the worst part of the pollution infested areas. A case study of the Democratic Republic of Congo, brings the fact to light that it is not in the future, but already in the present that such conflicts are happening. Goaded by interested neighbors, the rebels in this erstwhile Belgian colony are murdering their own people in order to hold sovereignty over the natural resources, especially the coltan deposits. The trade of these essential components of power-storing devices for PCs and mobiles, and other minerals like cassiterite, tin, copper, and diamonds, is further aiding the military coffers for purchasing weapons. The security that the players in the drama played at the Democratic Republic of Congo seek is primarily military supremacy. If their definition of security had been providing food, shelter, education, and health to the population, and caring for the rich natural resources that the country is bestowed with, perhaps 3 million death would not have occurred. Nor would 50 million be malnourished and 2 million be suffering from HIV/AIDS. As in Congo, so in other nations, there is an urgent need to redefine security in terms of Human and Environmental benefits. This is the only way the future challenges of a growing population, and depleting natural resources can be met with, thus alleviating poverty and inequality. Read More