Benefits Of Present-Day Globalization

Over Colonization

BY

Varun Saketharam

Tommy 1109
Benefits of Present-Day Globalization over Colonization Varun Saketharam(Tommy)
1109

Benefits of Present-day Globalization over Colonization

Introduction

Globalization started around 1400 to 1500s, it is an act of a country extending their power

and influence into another country to gain benefits, by diplomacy, military forces, or other

means. Although, the ultimate goal of all the countries who want to expand their power is to gain

benefits, but the ways through which the process of overtaking another country or agreeing on

terms between one another is different from time to time and place to place. Different ways in

which one country take actions and decisions on ruling another country also have different

outcomes. Thus, as we have observed from world history, we can categorize globalization into

two types based on the type of interaction between countries and the time at which each type was

used: Colonialism and present-day globalization. There have been various unpleasant events,

violence, and inequality in many regions in the past during the period of colonization, between

1800-1900s, which contrasted sharply with the present-day globalization that not only is mostly

nonviolent but also focuses more on equal welfare for everyone. Nowadays, people are less

bothered about how their own countries are being governed, not realizing that the government

system of their countries plays a big role in their jobs, education, living conditions etc. Thus, It is

important for us to understand the ruling system, interactions involved, and the possible

outcomes of it, to be able to evaluate them reasonably. Most importantly, to learn from the

mistakes and its severity in the past and prevent it from happening again. Therefore, present-day

globalization has shown more overall success in terms of international benefits and fewer

conflicts as compared to the old-style colonialism.

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Effects of globalization and colonization on violence and conflict

Present-day Globalization has managed to allow different countries in the world to

cooperate with one another without causing a serious conflict and violence, like in the period of

imperialism. Todays Globalization involves peaceful and non-violent interaction between

multiple countries, usually done through the use of advanced technology. On the other hand,

colonialism usually involves the use of military forces and powerful advanced weapons to

enforce the colony countries to give them whatever the colonizer ask for because the colonizer

usually has the mindset of only reaping out benefits from the colonies without caring about the

colonys conditions whatsoever. These can be resources, raw materials for industries, people as

slaves, lands, and government. Furthermore, these actions usually involve violence which then

leads to a massacre, wars and other unpleasant conflicts. According to Richard Cavendish (2009)

writing for a common and well-known history related websites, Historytoday, stating about the

records of the number of deaths in the Amritsar massacre; 379 were killed and some 1,200

wounded, though other estimates suggest much higher casualties. Many died when they leaped

into a deep well to escape the gunfire. This is known as the Amritsar massacre. This happened

due to the passing of Rowlatt act, the law that disallowed people to go against the government if

they think they are treated unfairly. This act triggered Indians and people from Punjab, a

northwestern state of India, gathered at a park as a sign of protest against the act. This is a

situation of a serious conflict where British side tries to gain an unfair advantage out of the

Indians while they are opposing, which is why colonization usually involves violence because

many people were killed in this event. Additionally, As stated by an Asian history expert, Kallie

Szczepanski (n.d.), mentioning about the magnitude of casualties during the opium war; There

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were over 18,000 casualties of Chinese soldiers and a few of British soldiers during the Opium

war, an event occurred as a result of Chinese blockading the trade of Opium from the British of

which the British responded with force. This is another violent event that is caused by the

British mentality of only gaining out of the other country by importing Opium, making the

Chinese people addicted to it. This increased drastically the demand for Opium in China,

generating huge profits for the British and loss for China, plus a terrible living condition for the

people. When China decided to block the trade, British responded with military forces, giving

rise to a large violent war. Based on the statistics, Colonization usually leads to a massacre of a

large number of people and other kinds of violent acts. Therefore, this ruling system does not

lead to a successful development of a country because the colonizer tries to only gain benefit for

themselves without bothering about the welfare of the colony, unlike the present-day

colonization where records of conflict can rarely be found.

Effects of globalization and colonization on economy

Present-day globalization allow large and fair trades of commodities, greater economy

improvements, and many more benefits, some of which do not exist in the period of colonization.

In present-day globalization, international trades of goods such as agricultural products,

industrial products and other necessities between countries are very common, giving rise to

increase in the Gross domestic product and so the overall economic improvement of a country.

Contrasting sharply with the present-day globalization, during the period of colonization, the

economic conditions of many colonies are worsened as an effect of being overtaken and ruled by

the colonizer because the trade between the countries provide benefits mostly to the conquerer.

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As a result, only the economy of the colonizer grows but that of the colonies deteriorate.

According to Dr. Mesut Savrul and Prof. Dr. Ahmet Incekara (n.d.) from anakkale Onsekiz

Mart University and Istanbul University in turkey respectively, stating about the benefits of

present-day globalization on international trade and so on economy of a country; A radical

transformation of economic life is presented with the process of globalization which resulted in

the generalization of market economy, increase in production, circulation of information,

products, people and capital, implementation of technical systems becomes more efficient.

From this, it can be seen that present-day globalization encourages and focuses on generalization

of market economy and increase in production because of which the economy of the country

participating in the trade improves. Because of this, globalization in general is more beneficial to

all countries economy. Additionally, in accord to Globalization101, a website specialized to give

information about globalization, it states that The tremendous growth of international trade over

the past several decades has been both a primary cause and effect of globalization. The volume

of world trade increased twenty-seven fold from $296 billion in 1950 to $8 trillion in

2005(Trade and Globalization, n.d.). The volume of trade represents the amount of trade the

country has with another country. Having high amount of trade with another country shows that

a country has a High GDP(Gross domestic product), indicating that that particular countrys

economy is improving.This increase in volume of world trade shows how well the present-day

globalization have made an impact on the overall world economy. Furthermore, according to

Peter C. Perdue (n.d.) at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology on the losses that China had

after the Opium war with the British; Under the Treaty of Nanking, signed on August 29, 1842,

China agreed to open the five ports requested (Canton, Amoy, Foochow, Ningpo, and Shanghai),

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pay an indemnity of 20 million silver dollars, abolish the Cohong monopoly that hitherto had

controlled trade in and through Canton, and adhere to a fixed schedule of customs duties. This

is an example of an event from the period of colonization that shows how The British, the

colonizer took advantages of the China. The British demanded indemnities of over 20 millions

silver dollars and opening five ports in China, as a compensation for the war expenses. As a

result, China is in a state of extreme economic downfall, which is why tradings in the period of

colonization usually cause economic crises in the colonies. On the whole, Present-day

globalization has resulted in more successful improvement in the international trade and thus the

economy of the all countries, as contrast to the period of colonization when no records of large

economic improvements can be found because the colonizers, in general, focuses the economic

improvement of their own country only, leaving behind the well-being of the colony.

Effects of globalization and colonization on cultural diversity

Present-day globalization results in a better understanding of each others culture and

exchange of culture between countries which leads to a better chance of preserving it, as contrast

to the period of colonization which has resulted in a loss of the colonys culture. In present-day

globalization, since all nations are treated or are cooperating with each other without causing a

conflict with one another, it allows people to raise the awareness and provide public knowledge

and understanding about their culture and history without triggering hatred towards one another.

As a result, nations interacting with one another are likely to be more open minded and accepting

in the diversity of cultures and thus, the cultures remained preserved. In the period of

colonization, on the contrary, the colonizers dominate the colonies, spreading its cultural

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influence to turn things into their favor such as changing the political systems, changing native

peoples lifestyle and interfering with religious practices. The colonizers not force the practice of

their culture but also attempt to diminish the existing culture of the local people to expand their

cultural influence. As stated by Svetlana Gibson (2007) about the positive influences of

globalization on the culture of countries that interact with one another; Global media centres

allow cultures a distinctive voice to promote awareness and provide public knowledge and

understanding of their stories and identities. It also allows for the communication of their

relevant accounts and commentaries on issues that are important in preserving the culture and

knowledge acquisition of cultural ways - allowing them to retain their diversity. Clearly,

present-day globalization allows people to freely spread and raise the awareness of the

importance and knowledge of their own culture to people of different culture to increase an

understanding of the significance of diversity of culture and keeping them preserved. As a result

of people becoming aware and more open minded, distinct cultures from different nations are at

a higher chance of being preserved and also practiced more in other nations. Therefore,

survivability of culture is an important benefits of today's globalization. Furthermore, in accord

to Anand (n.d.), the author who wrote about British colonial rule in India and Indian history,

mentioning about the negative effects that British colonial rule had on the Indian culture; The

British inflicted a huge damage on Indian culture. They developed a ruling system that ultimately

led to India and Pakistan Partition. The different types of western food and clothes brought to

India by the British greatly buried that of the Indians. Western technologies and values interfered

greatly with Indian culture. This is an example in the time of the British colonial rule in India

about how the British was expanding its cultural influence, slowly leading to a loss of Indian

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traditional culture. Technologies, food, clothing styles and ruling system brought by the British

to India and the suppression of practices of Indian traditions by the British government caused a

rapid decline and finally a loss of Indian culture. As a result, the sudden changes of styles of

living that Indian people are confronted with caused a conflict among the people themselves, the

Hindus and Muslims Partition. Thus, colonization may lead to a loss of culture which may also

cause turmoil among the people due to unfavorable practices in daily life that was introduced by

the colonizer. Conclusively speaking, all people in their respective country want to retain their

culture because they have been practicing it and knowing its importance since long time.

Replacing it with culture from another nation may severely disrupt the condition of people who

usually follow native culture and thus, may potentially cause a conflict among people, which is

something brought by colonization naturally because of the colonizers desire to expand its

cultural influence. Present-day globalization, on the other hand, allows people to raise the

awareness of the importance of their own culture and so more chance of preserving it. Moreover,

people of certain nations may willingly practice the cultures of different nation, which further

increases its level of existence. This shows the cost of the old-style colonization on culture,

which is why Present-day globalization is more successful.

Conclusion

In conclusion, present-day globalization shows more success in terms of international

benefits, as compared to the to the old-style colonization. Present-day globalization allows

different countries to work together without causing a conflict and violence, unlike the period of

colonization. It also permits fair and quick trades of commodities between countries whereas, in

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colonization, Colonizers usually take unfair advantages. Furthermore, Present-day globalization

allows the preservation of cultural diversity in all nations, while colonization generally leads to a

loss of the colonys culture. My arguments are backed up by Doctors and official figure in

History, who agree on the benefits of globalization on trade and economy, Asian history expert

and author specialized in writing about history who gave statistics on the violence and conflicts

as well as an explanation for the cause of the loss of cultural diversity due to colonization. People

nowadays are less aware of how their country is really being governed, not realizing that the

government system of their countries plays a big role in their life. Therefore, it is important for

us to understand the ruling system, interactions involved and the possible results of it in the in

colonization and present-day globalization. Perhaps, we may potentially be allowed to take

actions against something that we feel may not be correct in the way that we are governed, using

the information and events learned from the past to make a better future.

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References

Anand. (n.d.). Impact of British on Indian Society and Culture. Retrieved February 16, 2017,

from

http://www.yourarticlelibrary.com/society/indian-society/impact-of-british-on-indian-soci

ety-and-culture/47607/

Cavendish, R. (2009, April). The Amritsar massacre. Retrieved January 30, 2017, from

http://www.historytoday.com/richard-cavendish/amritsar-massacre

Gibson, S. (2007). Globalization and its Effect on Cultural Diversity. Retrieved February 16,

2017, from

http://etec.ctlt.ubc.ca/510wiki/Globalization_and_its_Effect_on_Cultural_Diversity

Perdue, P. C. (n.d.). The First Opium War. Retrieved February 11, 2017, from

https://ocw.mit.edu/ans7870/21f/21f.027/opium_wars_01/ow1_essay04.html

Savrul, M., Incekara, A. (n.d.). The Effect of Globalization on International Trade: The Black

Sea Economic Cooperation Case. Retrieved February 9, 2017, from

http://www.avekon.org/papers/1374.pdf

Szczepanski, K. (n.d.). The First and Second Opium wars. Retrieved January 31,2017, from

http://asianhistory.about.com/od/colonialisminasia/ss/China-Opium-Wars.htm

"Trade and Globalization". (n.d.). Trade and Globalization. Retrieved February 11, 2017, from
http://www.globalization101.org/trade-introduction/

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