Globalisation; Is There Any Good?

This article was written during my undergraduate study at a local private institution in KL. I was deeply inspired to write about the topic of discussion and regretted not voicing it out during the session. This article was also published in 2005 in our in-house Department of Economics' newsletter, Ceteris Peribus. Hence, I do not intend to edit a single word as it reflects the true essence of my point of view then. Please bear in mind, it reflects my learning about this topic when I was first exposed to it and of course, I must say, globalisation is a fact and my point of view has evolved since I begin indulging in more readings.


- Recently, the Economics Department hosted a timely and much-awaited talk on globalisation. Some had voiced their insights openly while others like Stephanie Lim (UEL senior) left the room with discontentment… -


Mr. Globalisation Expert, who obviously came from a nation who supports anything that can satisfy its people’s consumption appetite and who can justify its free-will action as ‘world-saving’, came in time just as everyone had settled down. Of course, who wouldn’t; as his team of men walked in - and their ‘formal’ attire, commanded nothing but a sense of inequality and one-upmanship for the non-wearers.

Does he really know anything about globalisation? Perhaps. And perhaps not, judging from his views expressed - purely on where his nation stands in this issue, ignoring the very basis of the ill effects of globalisation elsewhere. His method of delivery was focused on ‘clarifying myths’, as if the myths were something deliberately created for defamation purposes by the critics, who are clearly more enlightened than to jump onto the bandwagon of this one-sided affair. Globalisation is a dirty word indeed, worse still, an evil process that is justifiable according to Mr. Expert’s stand, as long as the rich gain a lot and the poor (well, who cares about the poor?) as his belief is that his version of globalisation has benefited us so much especially the FDIs that has flourished the developing economies.

Globalisation, like many other issues in the world today, has generated many heated arguments focusing on its processes and its effects on nations. Preachers of globalisation can be grouped into people who either see or are reaping its benefits; and of course, there are the critics, the ones who are constantly questioning the process of globalisation as it seems more harm than good. According to Green Left Weekly, globalisation has marginalised the Third World countries, typically by viewing these countries purely as the suppliers of cheap labour. Countries like El Salvador, Nicaragua, Indonesia and China are targets of big corporations like Nike and Wal-Mart. In the name of providing employment to the people, these corporations are actually running a sweatshop where workers are forced to work on a 14-hour shift, seven days a week and 30 days a month! In El Salvador, workers are paid 60cent per hour and companies claimed that this wage is sufficient to raise a family there. But in reality, it is indeed a starvation rate!
When globalisation and its capitalism can justify such effects, I wonder what’s more big corporations wouldn’t do.


The effects of globalisation that we are experiencing today are not inevitable totally but a great degree of effort is needed here. The argument is that: - can the effects be curbed or prevented, or minimised beforehand? Have the preachers weighed the costs and benefits and in whose point of view is it? If the process is deliberately designed to suit the taste of a certain group of people or nations and not focusing on humanity’s good around the world, what good is globalisation? In fact, when the 200 biggest corporations which control 28% of the world economy, employs only 0.25% of total global workforce and that 84 richest people who can have the wealth more than of China’s GDP, are just some indications of this lop-sided affair. Furthermore, as many politicians would believe that globalisation is the victory of democracy, it is actually a political passivity. This is nicely captured in Margaret Thatcher’s famous phrase, “ there is no alternative”. The proponents of globalisation will be even guiltier if they foresee the ill effects yet still continue their conquests, since the costs are not borne by them but by the weak and poor who have no better means to defend themselves against such great forces. Therefore, the preachers and their context of globalisation should be the ones most in doubt, not the people who claim to resist it. Is it fair to ignore the voices of other people and nations that may not be the ‘predominates’? It is time to re-think why the powerful is getting more powerful and has created a ‘reality’ so biased towards them (false class consciousness? – Editor).


Consider this scenario, to be ‘globalised’; nations need to open up in terms of trading. This is where the WTO comes in to ‘liberalise’ world trade. Little did the victim countries realise, they have opened up to foreign imports, so much cheaper than their domestic industry can produce. The effect on this can be clearly traced in the Philippines where imported crops can be priced so low that Filipino farmers no longer could sustain. More vulnerable are the developing nations which will one day, no longer have the luxury to protect its own industries. Competition is argued capable of improving performance; however, is it fair to compete when both parties are not on the same par? This renders the developing nations at the mercy of the great nations as the great nations can make or break their economies. Typical example are South Korea, Thailand and other Asian countries when their economies went to recession in 1997/8. Therefore, it is quite fair to say that globalisation and its instruments is another form of colonisation, since weaker nations have to live according to the whims and fancies of the great nations. Warfare was used back then; now, economic dependency is the weapon. So discreet and deeply disguised is globalisation, facilitated by the spread of its goodness in the name of economic prosperity as the measure of one’s modernity.

Like any other word, globalisation is just a neutral word, which does not take sides. It is the people and their deliberate or unconscious ways of interpreting it that has transformed this word into a device to support a certain ideology. How to interpret the word so that it can qualify as a ‘correct’ word then? Well, unfortunately, we humans have not detached from our biasness to remain as neutral as we all ought to and this applies to globalisation as well. However, to help a little, do start questioning our thoughts and what influences our thoughts. Can our thoughts ever be independent?



“I’ve learnt that what matters most isn’t the material comforts or the political ambitions we successfully realize, but the people who create situations that give us the courage, ability and strength to excel. I think of husbands, parents, siblings and friends; I think of writers, Nobel laureates and artistes who inspire. I think of children who are war victims; and women who are still disallowed the freedom I consider commonplace. Those people are my greatest inspirations, rousing me to make the most of what I have- because to waste the freedom, the ability and the opportunities I have, would be to do these people a great disservice.”

- Evelyn (of Crabtree & Evelyn)

Istanbul

The myriad religious views that are explicitly displayed were my very impression of Istanbul. Her-story that stretches from the Roman era to the Ataturk has given Istanbul a flavour that exudes mystery, contrast, Euro-Asia fusion, past glories and gloominess.

It’s an old city I would say, with too many buildings in too little hilly land. I don’t deny that, the tourist literatures played a role in influencing my opinion with standard vocabulary such as “Constantinople”, “Byzantine” and “religiously-tolerant society”.

In our river cruise along the Bosphorus, the guide drew our attentions to the popular palaces, destroyed castles, used-to-be significant buildings and some worth-mentioning ones. One particular narration that came on the PA, that caught my attention, was when she mentioned that there was exactly a spot where all three major religious buildings located side-by-side. The mosque, the church and the synagogue, are somewhat a grateful co-incident that could be utilised as evidence of how different religions can exist harmoniously. Well, I began to question, was that her standard text or she thought that we are too ignorant to know about the synagogue bombing recently.

Another building alongside the Bosphorus that made an impression is a white building that were utilised as a wartime hospital. Florence Nightingale is believed to have worked in the hospital and founded modern medicine. I wonder, if the story worth believing.

Istanbul is a city with the flag of Turkey hoisted almost everywhere. When queried whether it was due to some Independence Day Celebration like how our part of world usually does, the reply was simply, Turkish are proud of their country. Istanbul did not hit me as a great place to venture, but I certainly count the visits to the Blue Mosque, St Sophia, Spice Bazaar and Grand Bazaar as somewhere really different from where I used to see and be.

A Letter Written Then

To Whom It May Concern,

Attn : Miss/Mdm Nimala, if I remember correctly


Thank you for returning my queries on the 10th May 2005 (Tuesday) when I called on the 9th May 2005 (Monday). Your prompt reply (phone call) impresses me. However, I wasn't in the right frame of mind to forward my real queries then. Therefore, based on my call on the 10th, a lady suggested that I write to this e-mail address.

Here are some of my questions to you;

1) What seat will I be allocated if I purchase my ticket now?

2) Who are the target audiences of The Global Leadership
Forum 2005?

3) What happen if the current price I pay ( RM 4250) will be
brought lower due to unexpected lower response? Will I
be compensated?

4) If "Corporate Rates" exist in your pricing scheme, for
example you quoted 5 tickets for RM 17,000, why isn't
there a student discount so that, even some students who are genuinely interested can have a chance to participate? Isn't F3 Strategies' part of moving forward is to "maintain these extensive networking with university, research institutes, think-tanks and renowned Asia and Europe, and with regional and international organizations in all parts of the world. " ( Source : http://www.f3strategies.org/subAbout/nonprofit.html) and one of your goals states "The think tank will strengthen and help to mobilize the indigenous research capacity of Malaysia and other developing countries, especially directed at achieving greater social and economic equity, better management of the environment and natural resources, and more equitable access to information" ( Source : http://www.f3strategies.org/subAbout/objmission.html)

5) What justified the pricing of RM 4250 / RM 4750?

6) and lastly, what is the response rate so far?


Thank you very much for taking the time to consider my questions. I hope you and your party understand that RM 4250 / 4750 is not a friendly sum to students but it may also be "considered cheap" or "reasonable" to some parties (if they are your target audiences only). However, to be fair to your party, as a non-profit organisation, I should have faith in your judgements and discretions. But also, please do consider my above questions again, as I strongly believe that, to implement your organisation's goal of making information and knowledge accessible equally to all, some of the 3000 seats should be made "accessible" to students also.


Yours sincerely,

Stephanie Lim

Holiday in Dubai

Last year’s Christmas and this year’s new year are when some of my best encounters I could never demand more. Danny spent the entire stay in Dubai and Istanbul with me. It is his first trip Dubai and ours to Istanbul.

Dubai was fun with Wild Wadi Water Park, predominantly and of course, the Chicken Tikka restaurant with the most authentic Indian cuisine I have ever tasted. Dubai is never complete without a visit to Burj Al-Arab, but to our disappointment, we could not secure a reservation for the afternoon tea, where we could savour a great view of Dubai skyline. It was full for the entire month of December.

However, we managed to find out that, the best view of Burj Al-Arab is definitely not being in there, but when you climb the 27 meter high tower for the fastest water slide outside North America. Or is it the longest or highest? I am not too sure. But it was fast, when we slide down at 80km per hour (as assured by the Wild Wadi brochure)!

The view of Burj was magnificent and almost surreal from midway and to the top of the tower. The Burj (not to be confused with Burj Dubai, which is making its way to be the world’s tallest building), will never look that perfect if you don’t see the foundation where it lays on. It looks like a mighty sailing yacht with the pristine blue sky and ocean as its backdrop.

I can never imagine that anything man-made can be as beautiful as the Burj. It must have taken a genius architect to create it, I’m sure. It seems, these days, architecture has never been so alive with post-modern designs. Take a look at Beijing, the famous Bird’s Nest stadium and the Egg-like opera house, it’s a playground for architects to erect what their mind can conceive.

The Jumeirah beach, not forgetting to mention, is another good spot for sun tanning, relaxing and wanting to feel like you are in a Western country. Well, for a Muslim nation, we find the atmosphere here, very liberal and open. Not uptight at all. Well, bear in mind that we could be bias as we would always remained as the outsiders with an outsider’s lens.

We also ventured to Ski Dubai at Mall of Emirates. It is interesting looking at how Arabs dressed in their traditional costumes and with winter jackets on. It reminded me of some ski resorts I always watched on telly. Everyone in there looked just like penguins.

Mall of Emirates and Deira City Centre are some of the shopping malls we paid homage to. What is life in the 21st century without shopping malls?

Danny and I also tried riding on a camel during our Desert Safari Tour. Poor animal having to endure the weight of over 120kg! Camels are lovely animals but I could never forget what an Egyptian friend had told me about them. Once again, we are capable of stereotyping animals too!

Oh yeah, another thing to mention about this tour. Well, Danny managed to find out from interviewing our 4x4 dune bashing driver-cum-tour guide, that all the drivers and guides who appeared to be clad in traditional Arabian clothing, are mostly Pakistanis, Bangladeshis, Iranians and probably Indians. The most common language spoken besides Arabic, is Hindi. In the tourists’ eyes, this desert safari tour seemed like operated by Arabs, offering a truly Arabian experience.

After knowing the truth behind, we were amazed at how difficult it is to differentiate the locals and foreigners. Everyone looks like an Arab here to an untrained pair of eyes. I conclude that, the locals are the ones in the posh-est cars on the road and it is an unwritten rule that other cars must give way to them when they are accelerating. That’s a true Arab living in the land they believe to be theirs and the rest are merely subjects working for them.

The Start of My New Year

It is indeed tiring if you carry an emotional baggage that cannot be let go easily. It changes you a little and you are not sure whether you will get back to your normal self again, whatever normal means. Will life ever be the same again? I often wonder… I am certainly not the Stephanie I used to be. I felt there is something very fundamental in me that has changed, whether I like it or not.

I still occasionally think of my Dad and I am not sure why I still do, looking at how detached I thought I am. For the past few months, I still cried occasionally or woke up crying, thinking of him. How bizarre for Stephanie!

Looking at my relationship with him, I would never dare admit that I was a filial child. I could only afford to spare my breakfast time with him whenever I come back to KL. A dinner would be out of ordinary but I would say, the breakfast moments were some of the best moments I ever had with him. In his normal self, he seldom talks or queries much in depth, but we could always sense that he understood and trusted our own judgement. Dad had never interfered with any of our lives' decisions but sometimes, we faulted him for not being a more "hands on" father like other fathers whom we knew.

Well, for the next few postings, I think I will still talk about him as he is indeed still lingering in my mind…

This is my new year, with a touch of gloominess in mood, with a mountaining hope to gain back my "normal" self, with a sense of welcoming the possibility of the impossible, with some cherishing moments, always embedded in my mind.