Opposing Viewpoints Of Globalization Essay

Today we see an ever-increasing reliance on foreign goods, which is a result of globalization. Globalization, according to the Merriam-Webster dictionary, is “the development of an increasingly integrated global economy marked especially by free trade, free flow of capital, and the tapping of cheaper foreign labor markets” (Merriam-Webster). With this increasing reliance, many people have started questioning whether the process of globalization is beneficial or if it is a damaging process. This paper presents the three main viewpoints associated with globalization; it is beneficial, it is detrimental, and it can be both detrimental and beneficial. The first of these views of globalization is that it is an advantageous process for all involved.

According to Steven Weber, there are many reasons that globalizing is detrimental. First he argues, “Above a certain threshold of power, the rate at which new global problems are generated will exceed the rate at which old problems are fixed” (Weber). Weber argues that because the United States is the world’s only superpower, it is forced to be the intervening source of all of the world’s problems despite its increasing debt. Because of the the United States’ increasing power and necessity for intervention, some of the world is left without its assistance. Weber states the only way to combat this is to increase the number of superpowers in the world in order to distribute an intervening force to provide assistance for problem areas with which the United States is unable to help (Weber). Additionally, he argues, “In an increasingly networked world, places that fall between the networks are very dangerous places — and there will be more ungoverned zones when there is only one network to join” (Weber). When there is only one power to protect all the interests of the world, there will be areas which are left behind because of more important issues somewhere else in the world. Once these areas are left behind, the people of these areas will begin to fight against the superpower through any means, similar to how Al Qaeda was started. However, with more than one superpower the world can monitor all parts of the world keeping all the interests of the world represented (Weber). Weber finally argues that, “Without a real chance to find useful allies to counter a superpower, opponents will try to neutralize power, by going underground, going nuclear, or going "bad"” (Weber). When unrepresented people feel threatened by a large superpower controlling the world, they will begin to try to gain some power for themselves to protect themselves from being overrun by this foreign power’s