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Contemporary Readings in Law and Social Justice Volume 4(2), 2012, pp. 1035–1040, ISSN 1948-9137

Views on the Process of Globalization

and its Effects on Human Beings

Oana GĂLĂŢEANU [email protected]

Dunărea de Jos University, Galatzi

ABSTRACT. Today we live in so-called “era of globalization.” More we talk about it, more concerned we become, but nevertheless, there is no universal definition assigned to this accepted phenomenon. This is due, perhaps, to the fact that global- ization comprises an extensive range of complex processes occurring in different areas of contemporary society. Specifically, globalization is the term currently used to describe those changes recorded in companies of world’s economy, changes arising from the large increase of international trade and exchanges taking place. However, globalization displays increasing trade and investment following the dis- appearance barriers and the interdependence between states. As a result of this globalization, the world in critical areas has turned into a unique social system, precisely through the development of those ties of interdependence between states, which each of us affects us. Referring to globalization is often used in economic and, almost exclusively, is considering trade, free trade and labor market liberal- ization. It is true that globalization is achieved by a real link between multi-national states on plans not only the economic, which include communication and exchange of information and activity in various fields research and no less true that the mastery of information is increasingly needed in the competition taking place to rule territories and possession and exploitation of raw materials and labor. But, we ask how real is the information we receive and how much it helps us evolve culturally and spiritually, if we really helps each one of us who are witnessing and without right of choice involved in this process of globalization, the globalization of society in which we live? The study presents the views of the author on the effects of globalization on men and women development as being endowed with intellect, views that give a negative answer to the question above mentioned, according to which, as a result of globalization, humans get to live only for the production and consumption in a state of constant manipulation by those who hold real information, and default, the power. Keywords: globalization, global knowledge, human resources

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Globalization represents the modern term used in order to describe the changes that take place within societies and in the world economy that results from the growing international trade and from the cultural exchanges that take place. This term describes trade’s and investments’ development following to the elimination of borders and to the interdependence between states. In the economic context, it is often used the reference to the trade’s effects, almost exclusively, and especially, to trade liberalization or free trade.

The decay that we currently face results from the fact that, starting from economic and technological development (which may not be possible without promoting intellectuals development), many human activities are positioned on a place so high, that they are beyond national borders, limits within which sovereign states exercise the right to government. Thus, at present, this tendency towards globalization can be seen through a series the everyday realities on international plan, such as:

The tendency is towards a global currency, intent manifested by several countries like Russia, China and United States of America. They are interested in creating a world auxiliary currency that would be recognized by the world community, designed to eliminate the eventual deficiencies caused by the use of national currencies.

The United States of America desire to create a world central bank, financed through mandatory contributions of each state able to pay and through premiums, like insurance premiums, from global financial companies; a bank that would include in its management central bankers from the United States of America, Great Britain, the euro area, Japan, China, Saudi Arabia and Brazil.

The intent to establish a global government The International Monetary Fund, which exists as a global institution, includes 184 member states. According to its statute, the Fund was established (in 1944) as an institution responsible for maintaining the good functioning of the International Monetary System (Article 1). Its purpose is to promote the economic security at world level.

Returning to the decay mentioned above, we mention that this phenom- enon of extra national expansion was named “globalization,” a term that conceals more than it can be comprehended. As human activities’ domains extend, exceeding the regulations of the national state, the rules and laws have become too narrow.

The new actors had to face the challenge determined by the monopoly type governance. Multinational corporations, global financial markets, Non- Governmental Organizations have appeared, but also international terrorist networks and criminal groups.

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The activity of these new actors is not subject to international laws that are based on formal agreements between national states, as they have not been able to find a common term for agreements which have as object the globalization issue.

As an effect of this globalization, the world, in important domains, turned into a unique social system, just through developing those interdependency connections between states that affects all of us. Each of us is dominated, involuntarily, by the society in which we live in and we cannot escape globalization -as individuals taken separately - as we are subject to the spirit of the majority, to the state’s organization in which we live in and whose members we are, and as long as at the States level, there is the marked ten- dency to globalization, we cannot oppose to the “wave.” The impossibility to avoid the globalization is highlighted by some also through evidencing the tendencies to introduce at global level and compulsorily, electronic ID cards, a problem estimated to negatively affect the individuals and not the govern- ments, because through them, it is considered that it could be performed a constant tracking and monitoring of each person’s life. This is due to the fact that such a card (actually a number) makes it possible to trace a person throughout his/her lifetime, during his/her numerous activities and everything he/she undertakes – work, health, taxes.

Programs to introduce the universal biometric identity cards were started in some countries and we give as example the case of India, Haiti, Somalia, Dominican Republic of the Congo, and possibly, countries like Mozambique and Zambia - where there are currently such cards but only for registering the voters, Canada – due to the proposals for issuing biometrically consolidated driving licenses, Australia - due to the access card.

The connections set up in the sphere of the social, economics and politics that go beyond interstate borders decisively influence the development of those who live in each of these states.

The life of each of us is increasingly influenced by events that take place far away from the society in which we live our daily activities.

As various experts expressed in the literature, globalization is a way of summarizing the “global space” and it can evolve both in the direction of freedom and in that of domination.

Domination and dependency, extended to international relations, partic- ularly apply also to the cultures and not only to economics and policies.

From here we raise the question whether the accelerated evolution of the society towards globalization truly has positive effects for individual’s devel- opment. It is true that through globalization, it is performed a real connection between national states on multiple plans, which include communication of information in numerous domains of activity and research and, not least true is that the government over information is more and more necessary within the competition for domination of territories and for possession and exploit-

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ation of raw materials and labor force. But, how true is the information that we receive and how it helps us – if it helps us indeed – to evolve as individuals?

There are numerous examples of cases of public opinion manipulation, through which it is aimed to create a false image on the reality for believing or adopting it, sometimes as the unique favorable solution for solving some important social problems, or for hiding the actual fact, by attracting attention to another direction, by presenting as true or important some aspects which are not vital to the members of the society. Thus, we can give as examples:

-trying and succeeding to gain control over food resources at global scale through:

-planting genetically modified seeds; -using some methods like false advertising (through which consumers

were misled on the benefits of consuming such products); -concentrating the pharmaceutical giants with large corporations from

food production domains and thus obtaining the control of the market by the food producers;

-destructing family farming and replacing it with an agro-industrial cooperative complex;

-forcing the farmers to use certain technologies, genetically modified seeds and more and more quantities of herbicides, under the threat of heavy penalties which may consist even in imprisonment.

- Hiding the truth regarding the actual global financial crisis, according to the statements of an American congressman in a TV show, as it was planned by the United States of America authorities since 2007 and, accord- ing to the same source, the next step in this crisis would be that the population will be deceived that its security will be protected by the “society’s elites,” while, in fact, it will become even more “enslaved” and controlled by more numerous police forces.

-manipulating the population as a weapon used to conceal the true purposes to control the large public by conspirators;

-manipulating the media in international conflicts; All these examples highlight another facet, not at all positive, of the

globalization phenomenon, of forming a world without frontiers. Reviewing all these issues exposed, one cannot avoid thinking also to

the possibility that all these politics and events that occur and affect each of us have as fundament international secret agreements between those which are in power at present (politicians, businesspersons, bankers’ groups that consider them suitable and “chosen” to lead our lives).

In conclusion, we believe that this economic globalization that is shaped and continues to emphasize, does not represent an alternative for the benefit of the individual, but on the contrary, it is adverse to him/her, depriving the individual from acquiring knowledge which is truly important and useful for

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his/her life and evolution and, unfortunately, transforming him/her in a mechanism created only for production and consumption.

Therefore, in our view, each national state should really concentrate for finding solutions necessary to the good and to the evolution of each of its citizens. This is because, we believe, every individual of the group is more important than the “group” itself. For the real good of any society, first it must be ensured the good of each member of the society. And this cannot be achieved but in the context in which individuals truly live in a state of freedom, not being restricted in any of their fundamental rights and free- doms, starting from the right to life, freedom and security and continuing with the right to freedom of expression, freedom of thought, opinion and communication. Human Spirit develops when the human being is free and has the opening which he/she needs in order to emancipate, to develop his/her intelligence, creativity and to train.

In our opinion, it is in the interest of any national state that its citizens are trained, spiritually evolved and satisfied with what the state which they live in guarantees and secures, as only through the persons evolved intel- lectually, a state can become strong and can flourish.

Therefore, we believe that in return for a globalization on economic plan, which it does not help, but on the contrary, it exploits human resources and also the natural and material resources, the states should be interested by consolidating their position and by creating an economical system funded on equality and equity for all states of the world, by creating a scale of values truly based on morality, education and intelligence.

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Guillermo, Dehesa (2008), Winners and Losers in Globalization. Historia. Jones, Andrew (2011), Globalization. CA Publishing House. Malita, Mircea (2007), Games on the World Stage. Bucharest: C. H. Beck. Soros, George, Warren Buffett, and Paul Volker (2010), The Economic Crisis

and its Prophets. Litera Publishing House. Smick, David M. (2009), The World Is Round. Hidden Dangers for the Global

Economy. Publica Publishing House. Voinea, Liviu (2007), Transnational Corporations and Global Capitalism. Iasi:

Polirom Publishing House. Marshall, Andrew G. (2010), “Research Centre for Research on Globalization

Montreal, Canada, New financial world order,” Nexus New Times Magazine 15: 30-41. Altemeyer, B. (1988), Enemies of Freedom. Understanding Right-Wing Authori-

tarianism, San Francisco: Jossey-Bass. Gollnisch, Bruno (2007), interview The World 11: 91-92. Gueguen, N. (2004), Psychologie de la manipulation et de la soumission. Paris :

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Wood, Patric (2007), “Global bank operations. International Monetary Fund,” The World, 11:18-29.

Rozoff, Rick (2010), “U.S.A. Plans for a Prompt Global Military Attack,” Nexus New Times Magazine, 16:11-17.

Ron, Paul (2009), interview The World, 2: 75-76. Lippmann, Walter (1992), Public Opinion, New York: Hacrourt, Brace and Co.

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