Globalization is defined as a process of interaction and integration among people, companies,

and governments of different nations. One of the main aspects that has to be taken into
account when talking about this controversial topic is the fact that the word itself is composed
by other elements as complex as the whole, meaning that breaking into parts its definition
wont make it any easier to fully understand. Issues such as environment, culture, traditions,
equality and economics play an important role in the world and they are contained when we
talk about globalization. Two sides have surged from the division of the part of population that
is pro and against globalization. However what we want to achieve through this essay is the
analysis of globalization seen from several ethical postures. Is globalization as bad as the
people who are against it portray it? It is ethical to support the expansion of globalization
because it brings more pros than cons when we analyze it under different ethical approaches
such as virtue ethics, egalitarian ethics, narrative ethics and descriptive ethics.
When talking about globalization one of the main approaches that is analyzed is the
economical one, the author Mike Collins, who prior to becoming a writer was Vice President
and General Manager of two divisions of Columbia Machine in Vancouver Washington, wrote
an article about the pros and cons about globalization in the magazine Forbes. In this article
he mentions one economic pro that has a strong incidence in todays world; It also provides
poor countries, through infusions of foreign capital and technology, with the chance to develop
economically and by spreading prosperity, creates the conditions in which democracy and
respect for human rights may flourish. From an egalitarian ethics, we can analyze
globalization from the equality. What does equality means and what should we do to provide
this right? As developed in the argument globalization gives the power and allows poor and
underdeveloped countries the ability to grow economically speaking, if globalization was not
possible countries that are already developed wouldnt need certain countries, therefore the
only ones that would have the power to expand would be countries like United states, Canada,
UK and countries like Mexico, Columbia or Brazil wouldnt have access to technological
developments, a better income and would have certain limitations when comparing them to
these potencies. We can also remark a cultural goal achieved by globalization through this
same benefit of equality, with the development previously mentioned, ideology in a country
might change when exposed to this process but it doesnt mean it represents a threat or a
bad thing to happen because ideals such as independency and democracy were first
conceived in developed countries, with globalization we can achieve a world where there are
no such things as dictators and radical ideas that only lead to misunderstandings and violation
of human rights.
Communication and transportation is always in a constant change and we are always
looking for improvements, now we have a faster net, a faster transportation in order to make
easier the contact with other parts of the world. Dr. Sylvain Enherenfeld in his article talks
about globalization under the economical microscope said Think of it as a tidal wave of
change brought about by the impact of new technologies. Television, the internet and other
forms of rapid communication have increased mobility and commercialization of ideas. When
we talk about globalization we also have to take into account that in order to achieve
globalization we need the participation of a whole. So now we are pointing out the means by
which we accomplish this process of change. If we analyze globalization under the scope of
virtue ethics applied to objects, by carrying out the global process we are allowing our new
technologies to fulfill their end. Things such as technological improvements in different areas

like in telecommunication wouldnt have leading to a stagnation. These devices wouldnt have
a point therefore they would be useless. Under this perspective globalization can somehow
be justified and not only that, it would also fulfill the desire to improve every time and be able
to understand and control what is given to us, a normal feeling in human nature.
The lack of work is an issue that impacts todays world society, it doesnt matter where
you live this problem is a global reality, but lets imagine this unemployment situation in a
poor country. In the same article mentioned above Dr. Sylvain Ehrenfeld mentions: for
many people in the underdeveloped world factory work is far better than growing rice and
risking hunger. They also add that child labor is the only way a family may have as protection
from starvation. Under these terms it is ethical to support the development of globalization,
even though you have underpaid jobs and child labor it doesnt really matter because you
can obtain the a quality good for a lower price. Many people may think that this is inhuman
but once again this becomes a win- win situation you get the product and you help the family
with limited economical resources. The consideration of it being ethical or not only depends
on the side you want to tell the story, but it is very important to take into consideration that
even though or you it is exploitation for the worker might consider it a luxury the possibility
of being away from the agriculture a common sector in these countries and also considers it
a good payment under the conditions they live in. If globalization was not supported these
jobs would disappear forcing these workers to do what they dont want to so or even leaving
them without any economical income.
The ideal world for most of us consists on the acceptance between different cultures,
ideologies, religions, etc. So how can globalization help be closer to this ideal. Michael Lynton
wrote for the Wall Street Journal "Instead of creating a single, boring global village, the forces
of globalization are actually encouraging the proliferation of cultural diversity,. When we talk
about different aspects such as cultural diversity the fact of having a globalized world allow
us to be more tolerant with those who do not think like we do, people that have different
beliefs. Before this process of change started we lived enclosed in our own bubble, with a
society that was from the same town or country that we were, everything was somehow
monotonous without any surprise culturally speaking. Nowadays we still have prejudices for
example thinking that all the Muslims are going to commit a terrorist act, nevertheless it is
important to mention and remark that we have done quite an improvement in this tagging
exercise. In the past, when globalization was still taking its firsts steps these stereotypes
where more recurrent and they were also harder. As mentioned before the society of a
determined country only imagined how people from other cultures would think and respond
to different situations present in our daily life providing them a narrow perspective of the world.
Nowadays with the expansion of globalization we are able to see beyond the culture, we are
able to open our eyes and mind to discover that not all Americans despise Mexicans, to know
that not all Mexicans are lazy or dishonest. The fact that we are able to talk with a Canadian
or to have a South African as a neighbor allow us to have a global and complete vision,
allowing us to challenge our own ideas and beliefs. This cultural exchange not only makes a
richer society it also provides peace and prevents conflicts between nations.
The identity of a country is based not only on its culture and its traditions, it is also
based on their products and the fact of exporting these goods represent gain for both the

importer and the exporter. As the article written by the Levin Institute states There are some
economically essential goods, such as tungsten and oil, which the United States either does
not produce at all or does not produce in sufficient quantities to serve domestic needs at a
reasonable price. The fact that globalization allows countries to export and import goods
represent an economical income and an expansion of the representation of a country.
Globalization allows the acquisition of elementary goods like mentioned in the example oil in
the United States and also it makes it accessible for population to buy it, if United Sates were
to produce these goods they would be expensive making them a failure in the market. So
economically speaking once again we can see the advantages that globalization brings to us.
On the other hand we have culture, whenever we say wine we think about Chile or Spain and
wine is a characteristic that describes these countries for us, even though we live in Mexico
we are able to think globally with the simple name of the product. Even though this may sound
as if we were reducing the country to a simple element this is not what actually happens it
only makes it more representative, however we also know about other traditions in these
countries. This way we can see how this product and the fact of its exportation take part as a
symbol of the country. Analyzing it this way globalization does not impoverish or fades the
culture of a country, instead it enhances it.
Globalization also has an incidence on different topics at the same time, for example
when we talk about technologies like internet we are also talking about information and when
we talk about information we are also taking into account education. As Mr Derrick L. Cogburn
mentioned in his article for UNESCO where education is analyzed in different points of history:
In the past, academic practitioners often saw themselves as wise delivering data,
information, knowledge and . Globalization allows a range of new technologies that allow
for the production of new knowledge As mentioned at the beginning of the paragraph we
cannot separate one concept from the other, so when we talk about globalization we have to
think of it as a synonym of information and education. When we ask to our parents or
grandparents how they feel for being able to presence most of the important happenings in
our world like the Great Wars or the lading of the man in the moon they simply answer that
they didnt even notice those things were happening or that didnt have enough information
therefore they never pay the required attention to those events. However when we ask to a
child what is happening right now in Syria o France they can answer somewhat accurate.
These new and complete information they have is given by different medium allowing them
to be informed, educated and be able to create their own opinion about different topics, they
are becoming more and more critical. Now there is less error margin when getting the
information, back in the past children attended to school and believed everything the teacher
said creating a thought based on the professors beliefs, now with the help of globalization
those cases are less frequent. So when we talk about these acquisition of knowledge
globalization is not holding it back, instead it is helping it be more accessible to anyone that
wants to learn.
Globalization is a controversial topic more than ever, there are both postures the ones
that are pro and the ones that are against, however it is important to make an analysis of the
different impacts it has. When we analyze globalization under the ethics presented in this
essay we can say that it is a totally ethical process and it should be encouraged to continue.
It is also important to mention that even though it has its faults we can acquire more benefits,

the key is to think of globalization as a contract between countries and not as the imposition
of powerful countries towards limited countries.

Lynton, Michael. Globalization and Cultural Diversity. Wall Street Journal, September 4 2007, sec.
Opinion. http://www.wsj.com/articles/SB118885657159716199.
GLOBALIZATION, KNOWLEDGE, EDUCATION AND TRAINING. Consulted November 18 2015.
http://www.unesco.org/webworld/infoethics_2/eng/papers/paper_23.htm.
Boundless. Benefits of Globalization. Boundless, July 21 2015.
https://www.boundless.com/management/textbooks/boundless-management-textbook/globalizationand-business-14/globalization-101/benefits-of-globalization-470-3958/.
Dr. Sylvain Ehrenfeld. International Humanist and Ethical Union Representative to the United Nations
Member of the Ethical Culture Society of Bergen County.