Ethical Issues in Economic Globalization
Philosopy 108
December 15, 2011
Ethical Issues in Economic Globalization
Abstract
This paper applies a comparative approach to the ethical issues surrounding economic globalization. An analysis of the commonly debated issues and claims is represented by two arguments. Proponents of economic globalization believe that it advances the economic, technical, cultural, and intellectual interests of the global community. Anti-economic globalization proponents believe that it is harmful to global economic welfare across the same dimensions and that it tends to inequitably victimize the global community.
I. Introduction Globalization is not a new concept. It is a historical phenomenon that has been going on since ancient civilizations began to expand their territories. Globalization can be defined as the growing integration of national boundaries in favor of a shared economy, culture, and worldwide political and economic integration. Economic globalization is a specific type of globalization that focuses on the process of increasing economic integration, which leads to a global, or single, world market. While this appears to be unstoppable, the debate about the positive and negative consequences of economic globalization is not. There are, and there will continue to be, plusses and minuses and costs and benefits related to economic globalization. However, the impact and consequences on human beings lives, and on their nations, is extremely important to them. Economic globalization has shown signs of increased and more intense interconnections, that affect more people than ever before, in the last two decades. The underlying assumption of economic globalization is that the, “primacy of economic growth...is thought to be benefiting the whole planet” (Passas 4). Country after country, through choice or force, has promoted free-trade and consumerism, and has de-regulated governmental control of business. Countries have adopted similar economic models, even in the
December 15, 2011
Ethical Issues in Economic Globalization
Abstract
This paper applies a comparative approach to the ethical issues surrounding economic globalization. An analysis of the commonly debated issues and claims is represented by two arguments. Proponents of economic globalization believe that it advances the economic, technical, cultural, and intellectual interests of the global community. Anti-economic globalization proponents believe that it is harmful to global economic welfare across the same dimensions and that it tends to inequitably victimize the global community.
I. Introduction Globalization is not a new concept. It is a historical phenomenon that has been going on since ancient civilizations began to expand their territories. Globalization can be defined as the growing integration of national boundaries in favor of a shared economy, culture, and worldwide political and economic integration. Economic globalization is a specific type of globalization that focuses on the process of increasing economic integration, which leads to a global, or single, world market. While this appears to be unstoppable, the debate about the positive and negative consequences of economic globalization is not. There are, and there will continue to be, plusses and minuses and costs and benefits related to economic globalization. However, the impact and consequences on human beings lives, and on their nations, is extremely important to them. Economic globalization has shown signs of increased and more intense interconnections, that affect more people than ever before, in the last two decades. The underlying assumption of economic globalization is that the, “primacy of economic growth...is thought to be benefiting the whole planet” (Passas 4). Country after country, through choice or force, has promoted free-trade and consumerism, and has de-regulated governmental control of business. Countries have adopted similar economic models, even in the
Cited: Gardner, Steve. “A Perspective: Which Way Globalization?” Baylor Business Review 18.2 (2000). Questia. Web. 3 Dec 2011. Griffith, Winston H. “Winners and Losers in Globalization”. Journal of Economic Issues 41.1 (2007): 283+. Questia. Web. 3 Dec. 2011. Keenan, Patrick J. “Do Norms Still Matter? The Corrosive Effects of Globalization on the Vitality of Norms”. Vanderbilt Journal of Transnational Law 41.2 (2008): 327+. Questia. Web. 3 Dec. 2011. Merson, Michael. International Public Health. Maryland: Aspen Publishers, Inc., 2001, 431-433. Print. The Purdue OWL. Purdue U MLA Writing Lab, 2010. Web. 4 Dec. 2011.