Is globalization good or bad?

If not for globalization I don't think I will be studying in DLSU and taking up International Studies. Globalization is a big part of our everday lives, from the clothes we wear, the food we consume, the public transportation we take, and the modes of communication we use. People nowadays could not dream a world where globalization does not exist. Globalization is a big chapter of the history of the world, it changes how the world turn. Globalization taught us how to be multi-cultural and this was achieve through, first, by loosening the economy and trade policies of states. Export products are much appreciated by states for they come in abundantly, readily and most of the times cheaply. Yes, globalization enable us to have cheap products and resources that we do not have. Globalization opens us to many possibilities and eventually towards "development".

On the other hand, many do accuse globalization for just being a new word for imperialism, capitalism, or even colonialism. Is it? I do not think so. It because states have that inate sovereignty thus ideas like imperialism and colonialism cannot exist because states cannot subject to this ideas without giving up their sovereignty. Globalization is very different. It is a choice given to a state. It is also being said that globalization is really an American phenomenon. I do not think so, given its name, I think globalization is a global phenomenon. It would not exist and continue this long if it is only limited to the West and its idea cannot be even embrace by the East. Its presence is proof enough that it is a phenomenon that is all over the world.

There was a talk a year before about the twilight of globalization and we also discussed that talk in our class. Most of us agreed that is not the twilight of globalization anymore because most of us believe that globalization is if not its highest point then nearly its highest point. Nowadays, I see that we are wrong. With the production of new technology and the rate of consumption that we do it is not hard to believe that it is just the dawn of globalization.

The biggest question with regard to globalization is if it is a good or bad thing? Who are the winners and lossers? Someone who is pro-globalization will probably say that everyone is a winner. Jobs for everyone and products for everyone. Economies go up and will go up. Third world states can use it for their advantages. Then someone who is anti-globalization might ask, at what cost? It is a question worth pondering upon. At what cost? These days we heavily feel the cost of globalization and it is the degradation of the environment. It is sad that for us to be wealthy we are willing to sacrifice our home. Maybe, movies like Avatar still have a point in saying that giving up everything for development is not worth it afterall.

So, is globalization good or bad? For me it is good but with the rate we are going, spoiling globalization like a brat rich kid, we need to set up limitations.