The deadly sins of globalisation

The mass availability of easy travel and communications technology has reduced the size of our world substantially. People and organisations thousands of miles apart in geographic terms, are now virtual neighbours and joint occupiers of the same electronic office. These are the results of that now commonly known factor called globalisation.

Globalisation describes the process by which regional economies, societies, and cultures have become integrated through a global network of political ideas through communication, transportation, and trade… (Wikipedia)

Many see this phenomenon as the life blood of international trade and a bonus to social integration whilst others, condemn globalisation as the reason for world economic melt down and further social decline. To many, it is actually the barrier to economic growth or any improvements for social welfare and health provisions. Referring to Globalisation in one of their special reports, the BBC say – “the increasing economic integration of the world – is having profound effects on rich and poor countries alike”…

…The accelerating pace of globalisation is having a profound effect on life in rich and poor countries alike, transforming regions such as Detroit or Bangalore from boom to bust – or vice versa – in a generation…(Read more).

Globalisation is the root cause of the decline in the manufacturing industry of the western world, the consequent industrial growth across asia and a great source of mirth, merriment and frustration for many because of the Indian call centre. The British TV show Mumbai Calling light-heartedly illustrates many of the issues surrounding the topic!

The rapid move towards globalisation has not happened simply because of advances in transport and communication. The main driver, as with many things in our society today has been money. That and the all too common business practices of self-interest and personal greed, be that the greed of a CEO or the organisational greed on behalf of share holders.

In many respects, the ethics of today’s business leaders often equate to the seven deadly sins. In every boardroom of every organisation you will find several examples of CEOs who rose to their affluent and powerful positions simply because of the application of a sin or two. Managers below them also poses many of those traits after all, if you aspire for a top table seat at the trough of financial greed, it’s usually the only way one can succeed or progress to the higher levels.

In my opinion, our predominant business ethics and general managerial traits which created globalisation are also damaging our society. They are having a negative impact upon the very framework of our democratic process. In a piece entitled ‘Britain: Incipient Fascist State’ a retired lecturer from Imperial College London, examines the UK system of democracy as it exists today. He argues that, there is a direct correlation between economics and politics which in turn, has a worrying impact upon our democracy…

… It is a set of value judgements with which we are heavily indoctrinated in our schools and colleges and in our places of work and leisure, it is a matter for heavy propaganda in the media, and it treats the wealthy, the eminent the noble and above all the economically significant as much more worthy of consideration than the rest. Indeed, ‘the rest’ come close to being treated with indifference… (Derek Martin)

Although I would expect not to have agreed with Martin, who is a lifelong and devoted socialist, I have to say much of what he says makes a great deal of sense.

Radix malorum est cupiditas!