Globalization

Globalization

 Globalization is a complex and controversial concept which has b stirring the entire world for the last two or more decades. Basically it was a process of expanding trade and commerce all over the world by creating a borderless market. Its purpose was to increase the connectivity and interdependence of the world's markets and businesses. Actually, globalization is the other name internationalization of the idea of global trade, which was inherent in capitalism. The process has both positive and negative impact. Obviously, some countries are enjoying the benefit of globalization while others are becoming victims of global exploitation. As a result, the world is now divided into two lobbies one is the pro. Globalization lobby and the other is the anti-globalization lobby However, the on-going march of globalization has not stopped. The process has rather speeded up dramatically in the last two decades as technological advances make it , easier for people to travel communicate and do business internationally.

In its narrower conception, globalization signifies a process of intensification of economic, political and cultural interconnectedness among the various nations in the globe. Proponents of globalization emphasize its positive aspects only. It is true that in the globalization process and with the development of hi-tech communication media and rapid world-wide transportation facilities, the world has come closer. We can now learn in an instant what is happening in the farthest corner of the world and travel to any country in the shortest possible time. All countries of the world are now like families in a village and the supporters of globalization have always used the term 'global village' in an ameliorative sense. The people of one country now can share the joys and sorrows of the people of another country like next-door neighbors. If one country is in distress, other countries can immediately come to its assistance. The globalizing tendency would not be bad if such an atmosphere of Mutual Corporation could be ensured. Proponents of globalization assert that the global interconnectedness of different economies has increased opportunity for every country to increase their productivity by

Inculcating into them a spirit of competition. Thus the wave of globalization can bring about industrial development and socioeconomic transformation in every state. But this is only one side of the coin of globalization. Its other side is not critics bright often and promising attribute to like globalization this. It is rather a long bleak list and of gloomy.

Socioeconomic ills including rising inequality and poverty. The anti-globalization lobby views it as a means of imperialist domination and exploitation of the developing world. Taking advantage of the  idea of globalization, the body of capitalism is becoming healthier and healthier day by day. As a matter of fact, globalization is   creating more opportunities for capitalist countries than for the poor and developing countries. In the name of help and mutual cooperation, the industrially developed capitalist countries are exploiting the cheap labour available in poor countries of the world. There is no denying the fact that globalization is creating employment opportunities for the people of poor countries but it is contributing more to capitalism. The exploited and impoverished workers of the developing countries are no match for a globalizing powerful capitalism. As a result, the gap between the rich and the poor is ever widening. Metaphorically speaking, globalization has put the people of the world on the same ship but in different cabins. Only small minorities are travelling in luxurious cabins enjoying all amenities. They have access to good food, pure water, advanced medical facilities and all commodities of luxury. But the overwhelming majority are travelling in the over-crowded third-class decks and they are all suffering from hunger and disease. So globalization has both merits and demerits. It presents some countries with gains and opportunities but others with losses and challenges. Generally, the rich countrieS that have the ability to compete in open markets enjoy opportunities, while those who are less able or unable to compete face challenges.

Not only in economic and commercial sectors but we can see the implications of globalization in the cultural arena. It is observed that with the rise of economic interconnectedness the world is also experiencing a sort of global culturial interconnectedness. As a result Of globalization, there have been mutual cultural influences. Some people claim that the east and the west are being increasingly influenced by each other. But. the anti-globalization groups opine that cultural interconnectedness is actually promoting the cause of western cultural imperialism.

divided As globalization into pro-globalization is a controversial and anti-globalization concept, the world lobbies. is now the morning till evening are unsafe. They may lose their lives on the hartal-torn road.

Political parties and their activists become particularly active  during hartal. They organise rallies at different places and make speech in favour or disfavour of hartal. The hartal callers vehemently criticise the government actions while the government party leaders blame the strikers for creating anarchy in the country. The loud voices of mike make the air hot and the allegiant audience exited. From the rallies they bring out processions, carrying banners and chanting slogans. The strikers move from street to street and picket. 

A hartal day is full of violence. There are encounters between the supporters of the government party and those of the opposition party. They come upon each other with sticks, stones, guns and bombs. They show no mercy to each other and hit the opponents as fiercely as they can. The thoroughfare becomes the battle field. Many are injured and even killed. That is not the end. If somebody is dead, the party activists bring out procession carrying the dead body. The police may intervene in the mean time. But their efforts are fruitless. The protesters face the police and pelt stones at them. In return the police lob teargas canisters to disperse the mob. The casualties are  broadcast in media, to-make all worried about the future of the nation. 

The garment sector, a major foreign exchange earner for Bangladesh, is severely hit by hartal. As production and transport are stopped, the garment houses cannot fulfil the orders of foreign buyers. Once foreign buyers are disappointed, they go to other countries. Foreign exchange earning declines. The loss in business may lead to the closure of factories. It makes thousands of workers  jobless, distressing their lives. As majority of the garment workers are women, their economic freedom is curtailed and their empowerment process is hampered. Thus it affects the society as well as economy.

Export and import are also affected by hartal. Customs offices cannot perform their duties. Goods-laden trucks are stuck on both sides of border. Goods from wholesale markets cannot reach the retail markets. This creates a scarcity of essential commodities in the market, causing price rise.

Bangladesh is the breeding ground of hartal culture, which is acting like a pollutant in politics. As a political weapon, hartal has been old and overused. It has lost its effectiveness. Hartal culture should be stopped in the country with the consensus of all political parties. For this, good will of the political leaders is necessary. If hartal culture vanishes, politics here will be healthy. It will then ensure welfare of the common people in real sense of the term.