The Positive and Negative Consequences of Globalisation, Social Issues, and Public Policy - Literature review Example

Running Head: Community Issues Community Issues Name Course Lecturer Date Introduction According to Delanty (2003), a community is a collection of individuals residing in a specific geographical location and who share similar values. The group also includes those people who are united by common religious beliefs, lifestyles, interests and hobbies. Community groups normally pursue common purposes or interests on a completely charitable basis. Several issues like effects of globalization, social equality and environmental matters have drawn the attention of community groups. These groups have reacted differently to the issues while succeeding in some of the issues and others overcoming them. This paper will look into the above issues, the reactions of community groups towards the matters and the extent of success in handling them with reference especially to the practice of community leadership. Impacts of globalisation Dreher, Gaston, & Martens (2008) defines globalisation as the mounting worldwide associations of people, culture and economic activity. It is one of the key issues affecting the community and it has had both positive as well as negative impacts on the community. On the positive side, globalisation has led to internal investment by multinational corporations. This has highly benefited the community through the creation of job opportunities as well as expertise for the members of the community. More so, these corporations augment wealth along with foreign currency in the home economies. This is made possible through their purchase of local merchandise and services. In addition, a portion of the profits that are made by the multinational corporations is used to fund health care services, education and infrastructure in the community around where the businesses operate as part of their corporate social responsibility. As a result, the healthiness of the community is enhanced and the spread of communal infections is checked. Funding of education helps reduce the level of illiteracy in the community by making education accessible and affordable by members of the community who are disadvantaged. Improved infrastructure leads to the opening up of remote areas which in turn result in improved rural development (Pere, 2012). Furthermore, globalisation leads to the diversity of ideas, lifestyles, cultures and experiences since people from different communities get to interact. From the diversity, members of the community are able to access products that were not formerly accessible in their home country giving them new experience. In addition, globalisation can increase community awareness in relation to international issues like global warming and deforestation and be in a position to inform them on the essence for sustainable growth. Consequently, the members of the community get to learn on how to live responsibly so as to control the effects of these issues. Moreover, globalisation has resulted in mounting competition around the world. Competition and escalating market space bring about specialisation and a better division of labour in the workplace (Wijen, 2012). On the contrary, globalisation has had negative impacts on the community. In the first place, it has led to cultural degradation. Local communities fear that, globalisation may drown out existing customs, languages and local economies and basically re-cast the entire world to suit cultures in the West and North. Once people from different communities interact and exchange ideas and experiences, many a times, local communities get alienated and tend to adopt western culture and lifestyles that are not considered as morally upright. As a result, people forget their cultures and traditions some of which end up becoming extinct. In addition, globalisation has led to the exploitation of local communities especially those from less developed countries. Developed countries dominate the world market hence benefit from cheap labour as well as raw materials from the developing economies. When the multinational corporations invest in certain countries, they offer very low wages to the local people than they could have offered to their own people who cannot refuse the wages since they are their source of living. More so, the corporations buy raw materials from the local community at exploitative prices (Blanpain, Lansbury, & Pak, 2002). According to Prasad (2003), a lack of strictly imposed international laws as a result of globalisation implies that, transnational corporations may function in developing states in a manner that may not be permitted in a developed country. Their business activities may pollute the surroundings or enforce poor working circumstances for local workers. In case of environmental pollution, it is the community around where these corporations operate that suffers most. Some even contract pollution-related diseases like cholera and respiratory infections. Moreover, chances of the local community benefiting from inward investment of multinational organizations are low since the proceeds of these companies are taken back to their home countries. Besides, due to their large economies of scale, they sometimes drive local companies out business thus making the local community redundant. Reactions to globalisation and the degree of success A number of community groups have had different reactions towards the impacts of globalisation. By investing locally, the transnational corporations have provided market for local artefacts and services. In response, the local community members have formed groups and associations in order to increase the production of artefacts such as curios, farm products and building materials. There are also some community groups that provide services especially professional services to these corporations. The community groups have been successful to a certain extent since they are able to get a market for their products and services. On the contrary, in their operations, community groups have not fully succeeded due to barriers such as low prices being offered for their products (Tehranian & Lum, 2006). Payne & Askeland (2008) argue that, community groups have responded positively to the corporate social responsibilities of global companies in form of funding education, healthcare and infrastructure. Many people have enrolled for educational courses and have resulted into business ventures due to improved infrastructure. They have been very successful in their undertakings since educational institutions are easily accessible. The cost of production for businesses that are owned by the local people is low due to easy access of raw materials and transportation of finished goods to the markets as a result of good roads. In response to drowning out of local culture, community initiatives have been formed to advocate against and inform the community about alienation and abandonment of culture to adopt Western culture. These initiatives have not been very effective since cultural diversity is growing at very fast rate and also globalisation has made the movement around the globe so easy. New employment laws which set up minimum wage levels have been imposed to fight against exploitation of local people through low wages. However, establishment of trade zones have reduced the success of these laws since they advocate for liberalisation of labour markets (Payne & Askeland, 2008). Social equality issues Drawing from Hurst (2012), social inequality has been a pressing issue in majority of the communities. The grounds for social disparity can differ, but are regularly wide and influential. Social inequalities are present among races, social classes and even countries. The consequences of such inequalities may be viewed all over the world in the accounts of all nations. The manner in which people conduct themselves socially, by racism as well as other kinds of discrimination, have likelihood of trickling down and influencing the openings and wealth that people can create. Major social equity matters in the community are racial inequality and gender disparity. Racial inequality Kennedy-Dubourdieu (2006) alleges that, racial inequality comes as a consequence of hierarchical communal distinctions among races of individuals within a community. The distinctions are typically designated on the basis of such aspects as a person’s skin color, culture, place of birth and other physical features. Uneven treatment and allocation of opportunities among racial groups are habitually the outcome of a number of races being believed to be superior to others. The issue of racial inequality among communities has existed for so many years. As a result, it has led to discrimination in education, employment, health care services as well as in housing. Racism has introduced big gaps among community members leading to lack of cooperation in carrying out communal activities. As a result, majority of community-based initiatives fail. The majority group in the community always gets the best education and health services and lives in the best neighbourhood while minority groups school in poor institutions, get poor health services and live in low-class neighbourhoods. More so, in the allocation of jobs and promotions, majority groups are given the first priority and have high wage levels while minority races come last with low salaries (Neckerman, 2004). Community groups especially those from minority group, have responded to racial inequality in efforts to bring out parity among all races. Anti-racism foundations and associations have been formed to fight against the practice which is considered a social evil. Though the degree of racism has gone down, community groups have not been very successful due to globalisation which has been a key driving force of racial inequality. Another factor that has hindered the success of the groups is the lack of adequate finances to expand their campaigns to reach many people (Neckerman, 2004). Gender disparity This is another major type of social inequality. The emphasis on the issue is driven by the intensifying separation in the responsibility given to a man and a woman in all fields of human undertakings, mainly in the fiscal, political and academic fields. Men are more dynamic compared to women in political endeavours as well as in making of decisions. Gender bias and women’s progress is a seriously discussed issue in the community, although awareness concerning this matter is time and again disregarded (Lorber, 2011). According to Kakuru (2006), global issues such as HIV/AIDS, poverty and illiteracy are more prevalent in women as compared to men. Girls encounter challenges in getting good education, a case which restricts their chances to prosper. Though women’s involvement in job has been rising globally, they experience wage discrepancies and distinctions relative to the wages earned by men. This is also true worldwide in the farming and informal sectors in industrialized as well as developing nations. Glass ceiling effect is a significant concept that is allied to gender inequality. It prevents minority groups and women from going up the corporate hierarchy, in spite of their competences or accomplishments, which lessens the opportunities of women to succeed. It also bars them from exploiting their potential, which is at the expense of women along with the community’s development. In reaction to gender inequality, reservations for parliamentary seats and other government positions for women are being made so as to boost gender equality in the political arena. In the academic field, enrolment of female students in schools at lower grades than male students is being encouraged. Priority is also being given to women in job opportunities to ensure there is a gender balance in the employment sector. These moves have been successful to a big extent but still a gender balance in all the economic fields has not been achieved yet (Kakuru, 2006). Environmental issues At the present, there are several environmental issues which are of great concern to the community but the main ones are global warming and pollution. Global warming It is the intensifying average heat of atmosphere and water bodies from the end of the 19th century along with its anticipated continuation. The effects of global warming are evident in natural, ecological and social systems. On natural systems, global warming has led to alterations in climate which entails greater heating over land especially in the Northern latitudes. It has also led to a decrease in snow cover and an increase in the incidence of heat waves, hot extremes and heavy precipitation. In ecosystems, global warming has resulted in the disappearance of several animal as well as plant species and a lesser diversity of the ecological systems. With reference to the social systems, climate change has adversely affected the lives of many communities through a decrease in water supply, enhanced malnutrition, coastal flooding and high rate of diseases. The high temperatures lead to a reduction in food production which in turn leads to food insecurity since population keeps on growing regardless of a reduction in food supply (Arnell & Reynard, 1996, p. 397). In response to climate change, community leaders are introducing policies that aim at reducing emission of harmful gases through the use of renewable energy sources like fossil fuels and augmented energy efficiency. Efforts by community groups to mitigate the impacts of climate change have been less successful due to the rising rate of industrialization (Arnell & Reynard, 1996, p.421). Pollution Hill (2010) defines pollution as the introduction of impurities into the environment which causes unsteadiness, anarchy of brain, damage or distress to physical structures and living organisms. It may be in the form of energy like noise, or light or chemical elements. There are numerous types of pollution which include air pollution, water, noise, soil contamination and thermal pollution. Different forms of pollution affects the health of the community. Air pollution causes respiratory ailments, cardiovascular infection, throat soreness as well as chest ache and jamming. Water pollution mostly causes deaths of millions of people because of contagion of drinking water through untreated sewage especially in the urban areas. Oil spillage in the water bodies lead to skin irritations and itchiness. According to Koenig (2000), chemical elements like mercury have been associated with developmental dysfunctions in children as well as neurologic signs. Older members of the community are more vulnerable to infections that are caused by air pollution with those suffering from lung or heart diseases being at a higher risk. Children along with infants are too at a solemn risk. In addition, noise pollution encourages hearing impairment, hypertension, stress, and deprivation of sleep. Besides, Lead along with other heavy compounds has been proved to result in neurological disorders while chemical and radioactive elements cause cancer and birth defects. To guard the surroundings from the unfavourable impacts of pollution, numerous community groups have endorsed legislation to control different forms of pollution in addition to the mitigation of the unfavourable outcomes of pollution. Some of the pollution control policies that have been adopted are recycling of waste materials and the introduction of dust collection systems, scrubbers, sewage treatment, vapour recovery structures and industrial wastewater treatment. Though a lot of efforts and policies have been pursued in order to control pollution, new forms of pollutants keep on emerging and thus the control has been fairly successful (Harrison, 2001). Conclusion Members of a community share similar interests, values and experiences and come together to pursue common aims. Globalisation results in improved inward investment, foreign currency and funding of social amenities like schools and health centres. However, it results in cultural degradation, environmental pollution and collapse of domestic companies. Community groups have not been able to effectively handle impacts of globalisation due to the changing nature of international market. On social equity issues, racial inequality and gender disparity have been the main topics. Response to social equity issues has been successful to a moderate extent. The environmental concerns facing the community currently are pollution and global warming. The increasing rate of industrialisation and new forms of pollutants has prevented the effectual reaction to pollution and global warming. References Arnell, N., & Reynard, N. (1996). The effects of climate change due to globalwarming. Journal of Hydrology , 183 (3), 397–424. Blanpain, R., Lansbury, R. D., & Pak, Y.-b. (2002). 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(2011). Gender Inequality: Feminist Theories and Politics. Oxford: Oxford University Press. Neckerman, K. M. (2004). Social inequality. New York: Russell Sage. Payne, M., & Askeland, G. A. (2008). Globalization and international social work : postmodern change and challenge. Aldershot : Ashgate. Pere, G. l. (2012). The Positive and Negative Consequences of Globalisation. Retrieved May 9, 2012, from http://www.regjeringen.no/nb/dep/ud/kampanjer/refleks/innspill/engasjement/pere1.html?id=492843 Prasad, E. (2003). Effects of financial globalization on developing countries : some empirical evidence. Washington,D.C : Internationl Monetary Fund. Tehranian, M., & Lum, J. B. (2006). Globalization & identity : cultural diversity, religion, and citizenship. New Brunswick: USA Transaction Publishers . Wijen, F. (2012). A handbook of globalisation and environmental policy : national government interventions in a global arena. Cheltenham : Elgar. Read More