Globalization: Nothing New?
Students: I wonder what else this new system will bring?
Me: No. It’s nothing that we haven't read in our history books before.
S Didn't the article say that it was a new system that evolved from the Post-Cold War world?
M: It did, but didn't they teach you that not everything you read is true?
S: Ok, I'll bite. If we've seen it before then what is it?
M: Simple, Colonialism. But faster, much faster.
S: Colonialism? It's nothing like colonialism.
M: The subjugation of one culture by another for profit? Sounds like colonialism to me.
S: This isn't colonialism; countries aren't being invaded for profit, governments overthrown to subjugate a people.
M: Ok, fair enough. This Global Colonialism isn't being led by generals capturing less developed nations, nor are new flags flying. Its quiet, this Global Colonialism isn't being reported on the front page, but rather as mundane blurbs in the business section.
S: Sorry, I still don't believe that globalization is just a faster form of colonialism.
M: Fair enough, let’s move away from the notion of a colony being owned by a country. Let’s take the example of India in the 19th century. India, though technically a colony of the Crown of England, was run by a company. The East India Trading Company controlled the lives of the people be controlling the jobs.
S: So, countries aren't colonizing each other?
M: Right, Companies are. Large multinational companies are beginning to buy the world little by little, and taking control of people’s lives. Instead of using armies to take over the land from the people, they companies are using their American Dollars to talk for them.
S: Why?
M: Profit, new markets, investors wanting bigger returns. The companies don't care about the cultures that they're buying away from people, just that their investors are happy.
S: Why do people let them do it?
M: Again, money. Coca-Cola is polluting on of the main water ways with a bottling plant in India. People can't fight back though. By being one of the largest providers of jobs, people have to submit to the company to be able to feed their families.
S: Wow, that sounds bad.
M: Gets worse. Languages are being steadily erased too. Take computer tech support. If you call now you're technician is in India, guess who has to learn another language. In order to do business now, you have to know English.
S: So then, if this is simply colonialism on a faster scale, and not a new system at all, then what's next?
M: Simple, but it depends on what the people choose. Either it will end with revolution like the last time, or if no one thinks to stop it then we get a different outcome.
One Nation, One Language, One Religion, One People.
Comments
I like your style of writing.
Posted by: a fan of socrates too | September 8, 2006 07:51 AM
"S: This isn't colonialism; countries aren't being invaded for profit, governments overthrown to subjugate a people."
Actually, you could easily have simply responded "yes they are" to that responce. Just look at the U.S. and the Middle East (and for those who think I'm speaking from an un-informed teenager without a good idea of what's going on perspective can refer to the Project for the New American Century: www.newamericancentury.org)
Posted by: John Luckovich | September 10, 2006 10:37 PM
Great style of writing. It kept me interested the entire time. One thing though, isn't colonialism usually good for the controlling country? I read the article "From the Great Transformation to the Global Free Market" according to their claims, the traditional free market economies are driving themselves towards destruction faster than ever. The author goes into details of how our system is tearing apart our social structure. So how can this be colonization being as it might be ruining our country and forming different super powers?
Posted by: Dain Haukos | September 12, 2006 07:35 PM
First off, I didn't really want to bring up such a deep political issue when we're already dealing with one as the main topic. I do understand your point though. However, do you think that we've profited any while we've been there? In the cost of life, we haven't profited, and certainly not monitarily.
Second, As far as collonialism being good for a country goes. Parts of England weren't made better by the ablilty to import rum and, opium in high quantities, and low prices. As to your point about Globalization pulling the world apart you have to remember the Colonial Era. America was a product of the Era which managed to defeat one of the most powerfull nations in the world. I will also cite the Algerian Civil War starting the 1950s and continuing today. That didn't exactly go well for its colonial master, France.
Posted by: Matthew Graffunder | September 14, 2006 11:53 PM