Has Globalization Benefited Developing Countries?

Has globalization benefited developing countries? 

Globalization is a concept that was introduced over 23 years ago and presented as a strategy that would enable all nations, rich and poor, to prosper from a more economically integrated world. However, today it is a topic which is widely debated amongst scholars from various disciplines, to the extent that some question whether it even exists. There is no doubt that globalization enables worldwide development, yet, some argue that it does not benefit developing countries since they cannot integrate into the world economy as fast as developed ones.  Therefore, the outcome of this is the exploitation of people in developing countries since they are viewed as ‘cheap workforce’ (find a reference for me). Some also argue that, due to the ill-use of globalization, Transnational corporation are getting far more powerful than the government in these developing countries, therefore leading to a disregard of rules and laws in that state. On the other hand, some see it as a tool, if used correctly, that could create the ideal world which poverty and social injustice are eradicated. Some believe that, as developing countries enter the one world economy for services, it enables residents in those countries to move from the vulnerability of grinding rural poverty to better jobs. As people move into these jobs, it requires them to pay attention to the laws that govern their state since their higher income is somewhat controlled by them, resulting in a more democratic country.   In order to tackle this essay question, there will be a specific focus on the positive and negative impacts of globalization, on citizens from developing countries, to commence with. Then sources such as articles, books and journals will be critically evaluated in order to make an informed conclusion on whether on balance globalization has benefited developing countries.

Rodrik, D. (2011). The globalization paradox.

In this book, Dani Rodrik professor of political economy at Harvard, argues that globalisation can only be effective if the benefits are distributed broadly amongst society and not only limited to the developed countries superpower.  throughout this book and particularly in chapter 7 the reader is led through the financial constraints of globalisation on developing countries and its citizens, in a clear an unbiased manner. Roddick reasons that he would rather be a ‘poor person in a rich country’ rather than vice-versa and states that the gap between the rich and poor nations had increased from ‘’2:1, prior industrialisation, to 20:1 today’’.  

Micklethwait, J. and Wooldridge, A. (2003). A future perfect. New York: Random House Trade Paperbacks

Award-winning authors John Micklethwait and Adrian Wooldridge supply an analytical view for the question in mind, raising an important question such whether globalisation is leading to ‘’a winner takes all societies’’. The usefulness of this book is in the analysis of events that occurred as well as industries that been created as a direct result of globalisation. It provides the reader with a clear and concise view of the issues with globalisation, linking it to real-world events that occurred/occurs in developing countries such as the San Fernando sex industry.

Fisher, S. (2016). Democratic Support and Globalization. In Globalization and Domestic Politics (p. Globalization and Domestic Politics, Chapter 11). Oxford University Press.

In this edited chapter, Stephen Fisher uses data and research from the study of Electoral systems to supply an analytical view of the question. The use of real data collected from citizens from both developed and undeveloped countries, enable the reader to develop a further understanding of the issues surrounding globalisation. He argued that ‘those that are on a low level of income or had a below average education level seem to be significantly less satisfied with democracy as globalisation increases in comparison with their counterpart’.