The Effects of Globalization on Africa - Harnessing the Benefits

2518 Words11 Pages
THE EFFECTS OF GLOBALIZATION ON AFRICA - HARNESSING THE BENEFITS INTRODUCTION 1. Globalization is a process of advancement and increase in interaction among the world’s countries and peoples facilitated by progressive technological changes in movement, communication, political and military power, knowledge and skills, as well as interfacing of cultural and value systems and practices. It is an international socio-politico-economic and cultural permeation process facilitated by policies of governments, private corporations, international agencies and civil society organizations. It essentially seeks to enhance and deploy a country’s (society’s or organizations) economic, political, technological, ideological and military power and influence for competitive domination in the world. 2. It is indeed arguable that globalization has benefitted the larger and more prosperous economies than the less developed countries. The extreme optimists see globalization as a glass three quarters full of opportunities. The extreme pessimists see globalization as a calabash full of problems, especially exploitation, socio-economic injustice and international political domination. Mid-point strategists must see globalization as a change process full of opportunities and challenges that must be carefully and skillfully harnessed and managed for human development. The effect of globalization on Africa is not only of an economic nature. 3. The process and the outcome of globalization involve a lot more than economics. Globalization includes permeation of political ideas and practices across borders. It includes permeation of cultural and religious beliefs and practices, resulting in dilution of some cultures. It includes the permeation of administrative/managerial concepts and practices across boarders and organizations. It includes the domination by some super-powers
Open Document