Introduction The process of the intensification of economic, political, social and cultural relations across international boundaries is what

is today referred to as globalisation. Some scholars see it as the transcendental homogeneity of political and socio-economic theory across the globe. This process can be seen as an evolution which is systematically restructuring interactive phases among nations by breaking down barriers in the areas of commerce, communication, technology, transportation, culture and several other fields of endeavour. It is characterized by the push for free-market economics, liberal democracy, good governance, gender equality and environmental sustainability among other holistic values for the global populace. Globalisation seeks to remove all national barriers to the free movement of international capital and this process is accelerated and facilitated by the supersonic transformation in information technology. The origins of globalisation have been traced to the demise of the Eastern bloc in the late 80s and early 90s and the rise to global prominence of capitalism as an economic system which has come to dominate the world today than at any other time in history. However, its pace of growth has led to the expansion of trade over the oceans and airspace, beyond traditional alliances which were restricted by old political spheres of influence. It is driven by dramatic improvements in telecommunications, exponential increases in computing power coupled with lower costs and the development of electronic communications and information networks which are helping to overcome the barriers of physical distance. However, globalization comes with its costs and benefits. Hence, even with all the advantages above, there are consequences. This paper juxtaposes these positive and negative sides of the phenomenon and looks at its attendant effects on international security.

Positive aspects There has been significant and faster growth recorded by economies of countries that have engaged well with the international economy. Such countries have had an average of 2.5% higher growth rate than the rates recorded in countries not so opened or with lesser engagement with the forces of globalization. With faster recorded economic growth, standards of living in these countries have been largely improved accompanied by a considerable reduction in poverty indices.
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Popular examples include India and China who have more than halved the rates of poverty. Cheaper imports have aided this process due to the availability of a wider range of products for more people with competition helping to promote efficiency and productivity. Life expectancy has also been increased as access to health has been enhanced with the economic gains of globalisation. With clean and clear water and modern medi-care, more than 85% of the worlds population can live twice as long (at least 60 years) as the average life expectancy 100 years ago. There is increased foreign direct investment due to reduction of investment barriers across the globe and an increase in global income. An improvement in awareness of environmental issues has also resulted in positive outcomes with the encouragement of the use of more efficient, less-polluting technologies and the facilitation of importation of renewable substitutes especially in areas where domestic natural resources are scarce. There is also the increasing global interdependence across national barriers and rise in prominence of global institutions like the World Trade Organisation and the World Bank tasked with the responsibility of managing disputes between member nations. This has lessened international political and economic tensions on the basis of fidelity to rules governing members rather than on economic or political disparity and thus has reinforced peace with countries less likely to go to war with trading partners and on the fact that poverty reduction everywhere would significantly reduce terrorism. Advances in technology have also resulted in the reduction of production costs and prices of goods and services changing modes of communication, education, business and healthcare. Modern communications and the almost-instantaneous global spread of information have played different roles in the toppling of undemocratic regimes and the growth of liberal democracies the world over. The adoption of the workplace standards especially in developing countries has contributed immensely to the respect for international labour standards and the move for fairness in relationship between employee and employer within the international community. Migration across global borders has resulted in a greater recognition of diversity and respect for the wealth of cultural identities that everywhere abound. That has improved

the practice of democracy especially in developing countries and has concretized access to fundamental human rights.

Negative aspects There are social and economic costs to globalization as well. Liberalisation of trade performs an unfair function of rewarding competitive industries and punishing the uncompetitive requiring participating countries to carry out economic restructuring and reforms. These may be benefitting in the long term but effects an inchoate economic dislocation in the interim with very high fiscal consequences for the economy. Standards of living in countries whose economies have not properly engaged into the global framework and who are yet to take advantage of this global phenomenon take a drastic plunge behind the richest countries. The gap between the richest and the poorest is on a steady increase. The open borders have encouraged increase in trade and travel thereby facilitating the spread of human, animal and plant diseases like HIV/AIDS, SARS and bird flu across boundaries. These diseases have further reduced life expectancy in developing economies especially in Africa (less than 33 years) where they are exacerbating the worsening economic realities. Increasing interdependence the world over makes the struggling economies more susceptible to economic woes as the current world situation exemplifies. In spite of the large-scale awareness about environmental degradation, a lot of harm is still being done to the environment as agricultural, forest, mining and fishing industries exploit inadequate environmental policing in developing nations. The destruction of biodiversity in the environment is causing disequilibrium in nature and the consequences are dire for the planet and food security. The institutions of globalisation such as the World Trade Organisation and World Bank are influenced by some of the major powers and often work against the interests of the developing economies in a system that is largely fuelled by inequality. The liberalisation of trade and technological advancements have combined tenaciously to destroy local agricultural communities with the onslaught of manufactured cheap imports. This has resulted in massive unemployment rates with the collapsing of

traditional sectors of the economy and the lack of basic skills for the jobs which may be created. The differences between countries have become starkly obvious due to the efficiency of modern communications and have led to increase in the demand for migration to greener pastures. However, the rich countries have tightened their borders, xenophobic fears have increased and people smugglers have seized the situation to prey on the vulnerable. Globalised competition has encouraged brain drain of skilled workers in less developed economies as they lose their highly educated and qualified professionals to countries with higher wages and greater career and lifestyle prospects creating severe skills shortage in developing countries. The gradual erosion of indigenous and national culture and languages by the modern globalised culture has been copiously highlighted as a drastic consequence of the globalisation and a loss for posterity.

These

aspects

of

globalisation

considered

here

using

its

significant

features

(interconnectedness, technological advancement, transnational global economy, better living standards, increased life expectancy, foreign direct investment, environmental issues, global interdependence, international standards and global migration) constitute in themselves threats to international security. Whether in the guise of terrorism, national and religious crises, drug and human trafficking, organised crime, regional conflicts, proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, financial and economic crises, ecological disasters and epidemics.

International Insecurity The interconnectedness and interdependence of the global community magnifies the impact on security that any individual negative event can cause irrespective of where it is perpetuated. This is a fact that 21st century terrorists have understood and applied to maximum effect. The events of 9/11 still resonate a decade after. This brings the inherent contradiction of globalisation to the fore. In as much as it has contributed to the accelerated growth of global communication, transport and production in ways that spur the potential for improved international security, it still compounds the problems of security with ease of

movements across international borders engendering new risks and challenges. The inequalities birthed by this global phenomenon, as noted in the negative aspects, only serve to worsen this security concern. The Third World countries have become strategic bases for many a crime syndicate with enough "power" and influence to keep their identities anonymous. And applying every tool of globalisation, they wreck untold havoc on the system.

Conclusion There is much to gain and a lot to lose. Globalisation has become a reality and there are opportunities for growth and development. When viewed against its negative aspects and the concern of security, the stark reality of the situation hits home. Appropriate adoption and effective management are therefore significant to a nations decision in its engagement with the global village.

Sources (as accessed on the 23 October, 2011) S. T. Akindele et al. Globalization and Its Implications and Consequences for Africa. Retrieved October 20, 2011, from http://globalization.icaap.org/content/v2.1/01_akindele_etal.html Global Issues. Globalisation. Global Education Org. Retrieved October 20, 2011 from http://www.globaleducation.edna.edu.au/globaled/go/pid/178 Igor Ivanov. International Security in the Era of Globalization. Retrieved October 20, 2011 from http://www.globalpolicy.org/component/content/article/162/27662.html Jekwu Ikeme. Sustainable Development, Globalization and Africa: Plugging the Holes. Retrieved October 20, 2011 from http://www.afbis.com/analysis/Jekwu.html