Globalization and its Discontents (Essay Sample)

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Globalization and Its Discontents
Neo-liberalists ideas are issues that are argued in the world today as very vital for economic development in every country. These ideas promote globalization in various aspects to be the factor of economic growth in a country. Moreover, these ideas include, free markets, reduced government involvement businesses, government deregulations, and privatization (Everett, Jana, & Sue 136). A Neo-liberal argument argues that every individual should be responsible for his/her wellbeing. Consequently, this eliminates the aspect of providing community goods in the society (Everett, Jana, & Sue 147). It is the individual responsibility to stay healthy and acquire daily needs in the community. In regards to this, Neo-liberalists believe that globalization works for the economic development of nations.
The fact that there should be free markets for goods with no regulations, promotes business in every region of the world. The increased market availability promotes specialization, thus leads to quality goods in the market (Stiglitz & Joseph 635). For instance, one region may be very specialized in producing a given product, e.g., rice, thus the country will invest more in rice production to serve the world market. In addition, privatization enables perfect and effective handling of infrastructure (Veltmeyer & Henry 276). This reduces the losses that characterize government owned properties due to embezzlements or improper use. Therefore, globalization works for the neo-liberalists as a strategy to enhance economic growth in the world.
One critique leveled against globalization by the environmentalists is that globalization leads to environmental degradation. Globalization encourages exploitation of natural resources to enable profit maximization. Coupling this with capitalism approach of globalization, the environment is greatly degraded. Moreover, the maximum exploitation of the natural resources leads to carbon dioxide emissions in the atmosphere (Stiglitz & Joseph 635). Consequently, this leads to global warming. The issue of privatization of various production structures leads to reduction of regulations that protect the environment against these structures. Furthermore, the reduced government protection and regulation in the production activities of the country provides a leeway for the selfish ambitions of the producers to thrive. The producers will exploit the environment to the fullest without minding about the impacts their actions will have on the environment in future.
Due to this, several world leaders have made statements on this issue. They claim that despite the fact that we are living in the globalization error, we need to take care of the environment. For instance, the United Nations secretary general, Ban Ki Moon, says that it is the responsibility of humanity to protect the environment. Besides, the president United States, Barrack Obama, mentions that his country being the leading economy in the world takes responsibility to reduce the carbon gas emissions in the world (Everett, Jana, & Sue 136). Further, he states that the world governments should put measures in place to ensure activities that lead to global warming reduces in future. This critique on globalization provides a solution that will enable sustainable environment. This will enable the producers to have specific long-term objectives on the environment as they develop their policies on production activities. Thus, this solves the problem of climate change through the mediums tha...