Globalization and Colonialism as They

¶ … globalization and colonialism as they relate to the economy. The writer examines similarities and differences in the two concepts and argues that society continues to live in a neocolonial world. There were five sources used to complete this paper.

The word globalization has become a popular buzz term especially in the economic market. Whether one is discussing how to shop online, how to convert currency or where to invest funds the word globalization seems to surface. Many who have studied history believe that globalization is little more than a new word to describe colonialization. While there are differences between the two concepts there are enough similarities that it appears society is now living in a neocolonialism world.

The word neocolonialism applies to the act of governments attempting to control other entities through the use of economic and other means without using military force. This is something that has been used successfully throughout the world for many years, however, with the recent explosion of globalization efforts, it has become more prevalent for civilized societies to attempt.

COLONIALISM

For one to be able to compare globalization with colonialism in the world of economic issues it is important that one be able to understand the history and concept behind colonialism

For one to understand colonialism in its most basic sense it simply means to gain control or power over another geographic area. The history of colonialism can be traced as far back as the 1500's when powers in Europe moved toward imperialism using commonly employed colonizing methods (the question of colonialism (http://www.infed.org/biblio/colonialism.htm).

It is done by gaining political or economic control over another geographic area in the world and has grown in popularity throughout history.

Colonialism commonly involves the settlement of the controlling (often western) population in a territory; and the exploitation of local economic resources for metropolitan use. It has taken many forms ranging from models of assimilation e.g. France and Portugal where the occupying power has sought make the colony more formally part of their system and culture; to more segregational approaches such as that adopted by Britain (the question of colonialism (http://www.infed.org/biblio/colonialism.htm)."

Neocolonialism is a term used to describe post colonialism eras in which the power is still in the hands of the geographic area that mastered the take over.

GLOBALIZATION

Recently a new buzz word was developed. Globalization is a term that loosely refers to the blending of cultures and societies throughout the world. The dismantling of the former Soviet Union, the coming down of the Berlin Wall and other major markers in world history all kicked off the movement that is now commonly referred to as the globalization process. Within the content of that term is the economic area. Economically the world is moving toward globalization in many areas. The Euro was a major development in the attempt to globalize as it provided a method for all of Europe to work with the same currency and thereby remove the individuality of each nation's former money structure.

Globalization can be seen as an evolution which is systematically restructuring interactive phases among nations by breaking down barriers in the areas of culture, commerce, communication and several other fields of endeavor. This is evident from its push of free-market economics, liberal democracy, good governance, gender equality and environmental sustainability among other holistic values for the people of the member states (the Concept of Globalization, Its Implications and Consequences for Africa (http://www.postcolonialweb.org/africa/akindele1b.html)."

SIMILARITIES

The main similarity between globalization and colonialism is the fact that it is economically driven and nonmilitary by nature (Massey, 2004). The underlying economic power in the globalization process is similar by nature to what happens in a colonialism effort between two geographic areas. In addition the effort to globalize is in some ways dovetailing with the colonialism efforts of history as it provides the weakening of the former financial structuring and places a stronger unified system in its place.

While this is an important component of the two systems it is where the similarities end. The differences are much more obvious and evident.

DIFFERENCES

One of the main differences between colonialism and globalization in the world of economics is the fact that globalization for the most part is a voluntary decision.

Though some experts argue that refugees and societies from underdeveloped cultures do not have much of a choice or any power in the world economic decisions, because they do not have email, fax machines and boardrooms (Massey, 2004), they are not actually being forced by economic sanction for the purpose of take over as can happen in the use of colonialism. This does create differential mobility however, and tends to make the already weak more weak (Massey, 2004).

The process of globalization is impelled by the series of cumulative and conjectural crises in the international division of labor and the global distribution of economic and political power; in global finance, in the functioning of national states (the Concept of Globalization, Its Implications and Consequences for Africa (http://www.postcolonialweb.org/africa/akindele1b.html)."

Colonialism is often driven by the conscious and decided efforts of one area to "sweat out" the other area by financial pressure (Massey, 2004). This can mean boycotts, refusal to do trade or other means that will generally weaken the overall economy of the less strong geographic area and crate a breeding ground for take over.