The Impact of Globalization on the Society

Globalization refers to international integration of nations, societies, cultures and

financial markets to share and exchange ideas, beliefs and benefitting practices (Schaefer,
2013). The term became popular after Second World War in the mid-twentieth century and,
since then; it has become a buzzword in sociology, politics and international relations.
Modern communication has been the carrier of globalization since beginning of the
popularity of idea. Tourism, television, electronic and print media have played key roles in
growth and effectiveness of globalization as these communication modes made international
integration familiar and easier.
The impact of globalization on the society is multifaceted. On the one hand,
globalization has helped nations exchange their cultures and create harmony and reap
economic benefits of international integration with new markets. But, on the other hand,
globalization has served the powerful nations in the world to keep and strengthen their
influence upon weaker nation with modern communication and unbalanced trade.
Positive impacts are in the form of cultural integrations and movement of knowledge
and technology from developed to developing nations. World has seen unprecedented cultural
exchange. One can eat Italian pizza in India and watch Hollywood movies anywhere in the
world. This cultural exchange has narrowed the gap between peoples and they understand
each other better. Transfer of knowledge and technology has helped developing nations
create better products in abundance thus creating more jobs and uplifting their economies. In
fact, last 50 years of 20th century saw the greatest decline in poverty attributed to
globalization in the greater part (United Nations Development Programme, 1996).

The negative and overshadowing positive, impact of globalization is the difference in

quality of life and incomes around the world. Though many have been moved from poverty
line but wealth is more polarized than ever before. Same era, that saw record decline in
poverty, observed doubled share of wealth for the richest 20% and halved share of global
wealth for the poorest 20%. The difference in quality of life is more astonishing. Poor
countries are getting poorer and they cannot provide their people with good quality of life.
Hence the gap is ever widening.
Concluding the topic, globalization has served humanity. The service of globalization
has not been utilized in the best of humanity and sufferings of the human race are alleviated
less than the true potential of the phenomenon of globalization.
References
Schaefer, R. (2013). Sociology. Dubuque, Iowa: McGraw-Hill.
United Nations Development Programme,. (1996). Human Report, 1996. New York: Oxford
University Press.