2008-01-28
Globalisation is often regarded as a new concept, a development continuing ever faster. As something which can be neither slowed nor influenced. In my view, globalisation began back in the days of Columbus and other explorers, when they travelled to unknown lands and started doing business with people and cultures foreign to them.
That was the beginning of the movement of capital (goods), services (travel), labour (slaves) and information across national boundaries. This is what we now know as “globalisation”.
However, since the days of Columbus the exchange of goods, services, capital and labour has taken on a different form, although the objective is much the same – to search for new challenges and economic growth.
The next step in the globalisation process has already been taken; when Man began venturing beyond the Earth’s atmosphere and into space. Do you think we could call this step “astralisation”? Let’s keep our feet on the ground.
You often hear globalisation being discussed in negative terms, linking it with issues such as political conflict, unfair distribution of economic growth between industrial countries and underprivileged countries, climate change with all its impact on the environment, and so forth. These are by no means insignificant elements in this context, and of course they must be taken into account in the debate on the benefits and pitfalls of the development of globalisation.
Governments, companies, organisations and individuals all have a responsibility to reverse the adverse consequences of globalisation and turn them into opportunities and advantages so that freer movement of goods, capital, culture, etc. can benefit everyone in the world.
To permit fair development to take place at all in this context, we have to ensure that peaceful, unselfish interaction takes place between industrial countries and underprivileged countries. We have to get to know and learn to understand each other’s social structures, cultures, requirements, and so on. People need to be able to move freely across borders and take on board fresh inspiration. There has to be a political and economic consensus for globalisation to be fair.
Ethical rules and CSR (Corporate Social Responsibility) have become ever more important elements of companies’ profiles in respect of consumers, owners, authorities and the media. Organisations creating prosperity for their employees in developing countries forms the basis of fair, sustainable development. It is vital to adopt the long-term view when investing in the country, its infrastructure and people in an impoverished society. There is also a self-controlling mechanism which checks the extent to which a country can move production to a low-cost country without jeopardising its own industrial structure. Striking a balance here is quite a challenge for the industrialised world.
There is a great deal of concern about the effects of globalisation on the environment. I agree that current development is not sustainable. Increased production requires more energy. Nature’s energy supplies are not able to keep up with the demands of production and the global economy, or indeed with the ever-increasing demands for energy. Emissions affect the ecosystem, and often impoverished countries where energy supplies can be found are affected first.
Unfortunately, though, issues relating to emissions and the environment have become a more populist concern rather than a factual issue, not least in the Nordic Region. The environment is being used by certain elements of society as a weapon for them to pursue their own agendas. In this respect, airlines have been named the most evil villains with regard to the environment, as have other industries. But surely, travel is all part of the interaction which enhances understanding and knowledge of foreign cultures and peoples? Being able to move across national, cultural and political boundaries is a crucial element of peace and good international relations. Moreover, we often forget that everyone is able to make active choices to aid the environment in their everyday lives. For instance, just imagine what would happen if we stopped drinking French mineral water which has been transported hundreds of kilometres through Europe and to Sweden on trucks that pollute our atmosphere…
Travel, freedom of movement, opportunities to freely establish contacts and companies in other countries – these are perhaps the most positive elements of globalisation, elements which we have to support and promote. Globalisation is making people, national economies and markets ever more dependent on one another. I would in fact dare to state that physical contact between people is required in order to develop fair, sustainable cooperation between countries. Communicating and maintaining relationships by telephone and over the Internet is not enough. Humans need to meet up with one another, talk face to face, get to know one another. This enhances our understanding of each other’s needs and reduces the risk of political conflict.
Globalisation is here to stay, whether we like it or not. It cannot be slowed or halted. But we can influence its effects, control and check its development, ensure that everyone benefits from it. Globalisation has to be viewed as an opportunity – not as a threat. It is an asset which, managed correctly, offers enormous potential for economic, political, cultural and intellectual exchange between people.