Globalization: What Does It Really Mean?

Globalization affects everyone in many ways. It affects the food we eat, the cars we drive, and the devices we use. Even though we are aware of globalization, what is it really? Other than knowing that globalization is in effect, how does it affect you?
This is the point of our documentary. We went around Auburn University's campus asking different people of different age groups, races, and financial backgrounds about globalization. Our purpose was to see everyone's interpretation of globalization. We wanted to see the thread, if any, of similarity in everyone's answers.

[@travisglodt1868]

I hate it when they have kids who have not even had a basic economics course discuss an issue that impacts so many people in so many different ways.

[@nourights]

This is a great after school special! Proves the dumbing down of society in 5 minutes.

[@amandaprisarroyo11]

Had to watch this video for a sociology class, at least I got a good laugh.

[@garmarchelli]

I think globalization is more that a simple integration of a companies, means of comunication, or way of spread products in global market. Globalization is the union of differents habits, differents cultures, and a creation of a standard "way of life".

[@ZackGomez198035]

Globalization is awesome! From local as well as global cities, we are all affected. We have no fears.

[@xoMusicalFuzziesox]

Don't critisize these people who actually made the effort to try and explain globalization to us. I think they did a great job of explaining globalization, and now I understand it completely. Thanks, ctaje!

[@allankay12]

The first sentence is completely incorrect. Cell phones have been around for over 25 years when this video was made(2008). Personnal computers? What about Commodore 64, TRS-80? There was something called BBS's. Bulletin Board Systems. These were kinda like websites of today. Italian food was a novelty in the 70's? Was anyone else old enough to remember these things?

[@2leeshi]

I thought this video did a good job of getting people to ask the question and I thought they did a good job of highlighting some of the main issures surrounding globalization. I like that it personalizes the discussion.

[@TheDubVee]

@singlaprety12 U.K. had sweatshops after industrialization, U.S. has sweatshops after industrialization, Taiwan had sweatshops after industrialization and now all these countries have thriving economies. No one said globalization and industrialization was an easy transition, but the long run benefits are evident. You want to look at Kenya and see how they're doing? They've shut out globalization and they live in poverty.

[@swiftydfanno1]

While globalization offers a great potential of sharing and learning from each other, it also invites the exploitation of those who are offering and willing to share but don't have enough resources or influence on global economies / society to be secured and treated equally.

[@langox510x]

Here in the US we (the tax paying people) subsidize our farmers, which is currently of no benefit to most average American's. In doing so although our food might cost a lot, our taxes pay to help lower the cost of production. That includes food that will eventually be exported outside of our country. We may produce rice that would typically cost more to produce in the US than outside of the US, but because of these subsidies (in theory) it costs us less. (Continued in next post)

[@Koara77]

the internet was invented 1983 which was more than 20 years from 2008.

[@ericlongcrosser3980]

well done

[@Apmhflick]

Pt.2 The trick, as you pointed out, is that if we continue to support tariffs and trade restrictions, boycotts too; companies will not want to manufacture in the US and competition will also slowly die. That is the true crisis.

[@wizardmori]

I globalize self, internationalize oneself. Be the most cosmic global international cosmopolitan glomerate self. The one's globalization! Self-internationalization! cosmopolitanism. Self-cosmology! Self-cosmogony! 自身国際化世界化する。最も宇宙的広大無辺の世界的国際的塊状自身であれ。自身世界思想！自己国際化！自己宇宙論！自己宇宙進化生成！

[@TheDubVee]

@mana2432 Same here, I took my first econ class and I had a great professor and I love it now. Politics and economics should go hand in hand. So many policies are horrible when you think about them in an economic sense.

[@MrDeadInMyPocket]

@mana2432 You completely miss the point. The globalization debate is not about economic isolation vs. integration into the world economy by providing people in third world countries employment. It is about what policies would allow those developing economies to most successfully engage with the world economy and asserting the unambiguous right of equal self determination, instead of being pillaged.

[@TuhMartins]

I think globalization is for the country discover new cultures, and share your own culture. For example USA sharing your own sulture, and getting back others differents cultures.

[@lol101lol101lol10199]

The poor complain, they always do but that's just idle chatter. Our system brings rewards to all, at least to all who matter.

[@DeeDeeRich35]

A good try but just wanted to let you know that back in 1998 I had a computer and was surfing the web. Infact I learnt computer programming back in 1988 back in high school..... and I am from the Caribbean!!!

[@jamdrensefrenzy]

That was hard to watch for so many reasons 😞 hope the creator of this looks back and sees

[@halan777]

the guy in the brown shirt understood everything: everyone in the world being more happy with more coca-coca and macdonalds, while americans will appreciate cultural enrichment thru americanisation and "sharing" of culture.

[@mana2432]

@TheDubVee that is exactly what im saying. There are many policies the government has taken that hinder our true potential in the free market. Minimum wage, welfare, department of education, and more recently the epa.

[@Neoncritter]

Good video but the music is quite loud over the speaking

[@SilverNrGy985]

actually in July 08 on one of the australian channels they found a large number of cases involving forced labour in one of the biggest Nike factories. It happened in Malaysia and was shot by an undercover crew who found instances of horrible living conditions and forced labour, this is pure fact.

[@langox510x]

@simontimon2 I love biking, and do have my eyes set on biking from San Francisco to LA. I've backpacked a single trek of 120 miles in the mountains of New Mexico (around age 16), and about to recieve my BA in Poli Sci and History, and I now am currently building a rideshare website which I believe will be extremely useful to college students in the future.

[@JackR40]

I had a personal computer in 1988!

[@nightenigma]

This was a great video, great job to the ladies in this film. "Sorry we're not sorry" to all you non-greeks out there! We run the world!

[@StevenJones4187]

That's my good friend Boyd Tinsley on the violin!

[@relativ6192]

@AmericanBadass44 a revolution man. a revolution.

[@TheDubVee]

@Shnood ... Kenyans do not have rights over the land they work therefore they have no reason to make it more profitable for them. When starting a business in Kenya you not only have to pay for your necessary equipment for your business, but you also have to buy a license from the government which is expensive. Also high tariffs on Kenyan goods make it impossible for it to be a major player worldwide.

[@MegF142857]

I don't have to imagine. I was there! ;-)

[@HayleyVernon]

How do I cite this video as a source..?

[@rustymarquis3879]

Ugh, don't make the mistake of saying "globalization has improved everyone"! It has, indeed, improved the lives of hundreds of millions, but it has created many more problems for hundreds of millions more. Your take is very "American"; if you want to broaden your perspective, dig a little deeper to see the whole picture. Seeing the positive and negative results of globalization is really not that difficult.

[@elmoolmen3902]

1:28 he's so cute.

[@simontimon2]

@langox510x The 5 most common jobless degrees are Liberal Arts, Political Science, History, Comunication, and Engilsh Literature. The 5 most common employable degrees are Engineering, Mining, Surgery, Pharmaceutics, and Dentistry

[@simontimon2]

@langox510x What happends to the grocery store. Is that it is sold off at abankruptcy auction and reopened when walmart closes it's door.

[@302acr43]

Globalization to me means relying on imported products instead of buying products that is locally made. Many Asian/European activists is against this program but people around the world at the time this whole thing is new does'nt seem to care. I think globalization is one of the main factor why America and so many other countries is in a very bad situation nowadays.

[@Apmhflick]

Globalization=prosperity. Look at the regions where countries have embraced globalization: Chinese grandparents who were poor farmers and whose children were poor factory workers now have the pleasure of seeing their grandchildren working with computers in skyscrapers and sending their children to school as the second well-educated generation. In Vietnam, the Nike factories have given people jobs that pay three time what they earned previously and stimulate local commerce. End pt.1

[@EMAN360ELITE]

Let's distinguish: Globalization = efficiency = good. Slavery = bad. It's not globalization that we should fear, it's economic slavery.

[@KatBishh]

Lol! Thank you. Helped me on my hw ^___^

[@allankay12]

@JackR40 Yea I had my first PC in 1983

[@causinghavoc]

thats so awesome the chick reppin PHI KAPPA TAU!

[@TheDubVee]

@mana2432 I'm big into economics and politics so that kind of stuff is very interesting to me.

[@simontimon2]

@langox510x And what job do you think your gona get with a BA in Political Science and History.

[@Ryl3925]

Well that's a really cool way to put it but no. 😑Where did they find these people for this survey?

[@TheDubVee]

@mana2432 The guy from Sweden i think right? Good film I thought, did you like it?

[@tango6pl]

"just around the corner we have taco bell and pizza hut on the same street and chinese food and everything." Wow so insightful and intelligent. I know they're just kids, but they ought to think twice before posting a video like this that will poorly represent themselves and their school.

[@2ndprodigy]

@relativ6192 I dunno. I go to school with dozens of international students, some from Japan, China, India, and Africa, who couldn't have gotten here without globalization's historical effects...and I'd say my life is better for it. I plan to go to France to study abroad and master the language. Looks like globalization had a pretty beneficial impact on me :-/

[@UtopiaMinor666]

its inevitable really, the internet was the begining of all of this, but the downside is that the strongest countries (those who have already industrialized) are better off than others who have just started, or who havent at all. This is why the U.S. is able to affect every single economy in the world, based on the stability of its own. Its unstable becuase it isnt a joint venture, its marketing of companies being established worldwide. This is not necessarily good, companies can become TOO big.

[@simontimon2]

@langox510x There source of food is to export what they can produce to buy cheap food.

[@rashmanxd]

this was made before i was born

[@TheDubVee]

@mana2432 Minimum wage is basically a tax that raises prices. Welfare, Dept. of Ed, and EPA were all started for the right reasons but have been mismanaged. Welfare has 1000's of people sucking the life blood out of the system, Dept of Ed. makes it near impossible for a public school to fire a shitty teacher, and the EPA wastes, not only government money, but money when they advise a company do something 1 way and then tell them to re-do it after they've done what the EPA asked.

[@langox510x]

@simontimon2 These farmers don't have the income to reopen because the American businesses left them with nothing. I know that is hard for you to believe, but that's exactly what happens. If I open a grocery story, and Wal-Mart decides to move in next door odds are I will be put out of business, and be heavy in debt. If Wal-Mart decides to close it's doors I'll still be shit outa luck because I do not have the funds to reopen.

[@langox510x]

@simontimon2. Now with our already low production cost with rice we can flood other poor nations with cheap rice. This might seem like a good thing for these poorer nations, but it's far from it. Now because of this cheap rice we drive all of the native rice producers out of business, making these nations more dependent with less jobs to support themselves. In the short run they might have a bit more rice to eat, but in the long run they eventually starve, and the US only profits.

[@mana2432]

@TheDubVee yes I did like it very much, he made the film and wrote the book as a response to Naomi Klein's No Logo, and debunked many of the myths concerning globalization

[@knezoskin]

what downsides is there from globalization?

[@randy95023]

We shouldn't be too hard on these young people for not giving a perfect answer to "What is Globalization?" You could probably ask 10 Economists and get 10 different answers. A lot of PHD's would give contradictory, or even false answers to the questions about Globablization. Thomas Friedman knows more about Globalization than almost anyone, yet about 50% of people would strongly disagree with his views.

[@langox510x]

@jkirk1626 You mean paroting of the right. Globalization is a pretty conservative idea, and is an extension to such ideas as Manifest Destiny, and colonialism.

[@2leeshi]

@SouthernTexan2 Southern Texas should take English courses to improve English! When you have a good argument, I think it is best that you refrain from the "f" word. It simply weakens your argument. Even though it caught my attention, I was hoping their might be some logical reasoning behind the reason you disliked this video on "What is globalization?" Can you come up with a better definition of globalization? Is Southern Texas over-run by what?

[@chocotoxinconcoction]

The background music you picked was intolerable. It seemed interesting, but I had to turn it off.

[@langox510x]

@simontimon2 Actually scholarships paid for the bulk of my tuition, and I do have a nice job. Trust that my debt is minimal, and after college I think I will soon have it paid off completely.

[@2ndprodigy]

@Barch104 = *he says while typing on a website that is a prime example of how globalization brings the world together* I ain't saying globalization is perfect -- but its easy for a lot of people to blame westerners -- most often America -- for their own domestic issues.

[@simontimon2]

@langox510x The resources will be relocated to more productive forms of production. It's call progress, get used to it and nothings ever gona stoped it.

[@Cromper]

The world is not ready for globalisation! When I buy a Big Mac from a take away in Iraq without fear of being blown up, then I will declare the world ready for globalisation.

[@Almuby]

agreed

[@Cromper]

***** Yes.

[@joshramadge7806]

*Globalization not globalisation

[@751bklyn3]

im 31 and i used computers and laptop when i was a child it was ibm also had the huge mabell phones

[@mana2432]

@MrDeadInMyPocket corporations export jobs to cut costs thus maximizing their profit, the intended or unintended consequence is that they provide jobs to those people who are extremely poor who probably had it worse working all day on farms. so globalization is bad... ok, look how great Zimbabwe is doing under Mugabe who wanted the country to become a self sustainable country.

[@mana2432]

@TheDubVee Im big on history but just got into economics

[@TheDubVee]

@Shnood How do they get fucked? Taiwan went from receiving aid in the 50's and 60's to being a huge contributor to foreign aid and foreign investor. I'd say that's a pretty good case study. There are several others in progress like India, Vietnam, and China. In Vietnam the sweatshop factory workers in Nike still make $54 a month, which is about $30-$40 higher than the local and national minimum wage. Over-regulation and lack of property rights fuck people over....

[@Genis09]

wow, they reeeeeaaalllly, didn't think about getting anyone else other than white kids for this? definitely a lapse in judgement XP

[@langox510x]

@simontimon2 These nations don't have the means to export food because our nations have taken that away from them. Again, their rice might cost $5 to produce when ours cost $7 to produce. Our government then compensates our farmers with $3 in price reduction making it cost only $4 to produce. These farmers than go to Haiti and sell their cheaper (lower quality) rice to the poor Haitians driving Haitian rice producers out of work. We have decimated their jobs, now how are they going to buy rice?

[@langox510x]

@simontimon2 If you put their business out of business how would they even have money to buy the cheap food that floods their economies? The majority of these economies are agrarian economies with means of supporting the locals, and little means to compete through exports. This means that they have a high volume of imports, but very little exports. To add, even the US places sanctions on these nations if they try to place embargoes, siting lack of "free" trade, but this free trade ain't free.

[@langox510x]

@simontimon2 Then I think they should have privilege over certain niche markets to help expand their economy, as through cutthroat globalization we fucked up most of the niches they once might have held. And I think they should have the right to use any means fit to tariff imported goods into their nation, without suffering sanctions. You might think this is crazy, but if you knew anything about South Korea, you would know that's essentially what they got from the West after the Korean War.

[@simontimon2]

@langox510x Your theory has a hole in it that you haven't equated (Currencies) and the role they play. You see to buy US food, you have to first sell your currencie buy US dollars to make your transaction. That can be done for a while, but as time goes on, your currency looses value to the US dollar. To import food from the US becomes more expencive. Until it become cheaper produce food in your own country then to import it. At that point native farmer reopen and produce food again.

[@langox510x]

@simontimon2 . What exactly do you see as being humane when American businesses "provide" children in Indonesia with jobs making 8 cents an hour? An income as low as that does not pay the bills or put food on the table. The only thing it does provide is a few million in pocket change for some rich white executive in America who has hardly worked a day in his life.

[@langox510x]

@simontimon2 I understand that you probably were never well educated in such subjects as economics and political science as I have been, but this isn't some extremest viewpoint. What I have stated is completely based on the vary solid facts. You point out North Korea as your example? I bet you couldn't tell me jack without the existence of Wikipedia, but the truth is that they are a very self-reliant government, which secludes and is not so much affected by globalization by it's own choice.

[@talbotconniefan2335]

I want more freedom!

[@mana2432]

@MrDeadInMyPocket more democratic ways? what could be more democratic than free trade? gov. regulation, red tape, protectionism?

[@antman557]

it has done more good than bad guys, chill out

[@langox510x]

@simontimon2 Not that I am required to answer any personal questions, but I am an assistant buyer for a mid-sized clothing company, and I hope to get a position as a buyer once I finish my education. I've actually had this job for the past 6 years.

[@cossack9991]

@outnout1 true that my friend

[@langox510x]

@simontimon2 I don't think globalism is bad, i think many of the people involved in the exploitation of 3rd world nations is bad, and that globalization should be regulated to allow for these (post colonial) 3rd nations to have an opertunity to compete on a grand scale.

[@mana2432]

@Saromatae I disagree, but not completely, can you send me a list of some countries in africa that are under control of these agreements?... anyway, many of the countries in africa aren't even economically free to begin with, so it is not free trade when you have a corrupt dictatorship with protectionist laws, Just look at the dict... i mean president of equitorial guinea, he has a bank account in D.C. with all the people's money to "prevent" corruption.

[@sandradayestaran9287]

i like

[@langox510x]

@simontimon2 Read any current peer reviewed book on politics of the developed world and they will agree with me across the board. Yes, in fact here in America more people than ever are eating, and even so in excess, but that doesn't mean children in Burundi (a nation with an index in GNP of $90 per capita) is not sharing the joy of America's success. Globalization by nature redistributes resources globally befitting only those nations who have the wealth to monopolize and exploit the poor.

[@pepsiangel72]

@zetalore true that, im sorry

[@simontimon2]

@langox510x You have just confermed that you can't understand lojic. Famine ended in China when the chinese turned to globalization insted of maxist theory. The 6 million children per year that you refer to. Are from countries that have not yet globalized. North Korea is a perfect example of how a non globalized country is facing famines that killed million. While South Korea has globalized and is not facing famine.

[@aviefern]

No offense, but that's quite a narrow view of globalization. Globalization is the history of the world. If you think its only in the last 20 years that globalization has been occurring, you are severely mistaken. The cultural and food exchanges have been taking place since before human history can be recorded. Every tribe engaging in any contact with another tribe or family is a part of globalization. It is the very foundation on which our world exists.

[@crunch9876]

But it ha accelerated in a way never seen before

[@langox510x]

@simontimon2 I think we owe many of these countries a service because our countries have fucked them over pretty good. Honestly, I think many of these poor nations need to be completely let out of their billion dollar debts at least to the IMF, if not private organizations. (next posting)

[@simontimon2]

@langox510x If your saying that if it wheren't for minimum wage people would starving. Well guess what, the country of Norway has no minimum wage laws, yet I don't see people starving. Yet again I have given an example that disproves you arguement.

[@langox510x]

@simontimon2 You mean the resources of the 3rd world will relocate to more productive forms of production IE: US & Canada? If so you're in a sense correct, however being Canadian you might be aware of a New Democratic Party, which is based on the principles of social democracy. Many countries are in fact moving to chance the way they do business in a way that is more humane.

[@simontimon2]

@langox510x Give a man a fish and you have fed him for today. Teach a man how to fish and he will live the rest of his short life in poverty, bearly surving on sustenance living?" Give a Man mashinery and he will spend the rest of his long life, in wealth and prosperity.

[@HishamKshir]

12 years later i comment. i think I might be a little late

[@HishamKshir]

Yeah same thats why I was here lol

[@purelogic]

To some is profiteering and to many is enslavery.

[@langox510x]

@simontimon2 But as of now globalization is a main cause of the starvation that is going on within other nations.

[@relativ6192]

@wazfrmoz exactly

[@302acr43]

I am not a political person. But, I think it is unfair for a lot of people to blame President Bush for the mistakes of others. This program was implemented years before the Bush administration.

[@langox510x]

@simontimon2 You have just confirmed to me that you can't even spell logic, but that's aside from my point. I suggest you look up the definition of globalization, because unless you're living off on some remote island, or a tribe in the bush Globalization probably affects every aspect of your life. Any nation involved in modern trade is globalized. Have you never heard of the sweatshop? The problem is that as our nation gets richer the nations at the bottom only get poorer.

[@Avadore1]

the background music is so annoying

[@simontimon2]

@langox510x So your saying that too much food is causing stavation. Something must be wrong in your head.

[@relativ6192]

@AmericanBadass44 hehe wait, how much specific? sorry yeah i figured my comment was kind of unorganized