Justifiable Risk or headless Fear? The Difference between experienced and factual Disadvantages of a Process called Globalisation

Introduction: My Initial Thoughts on Globalisation

Globalisation is a concept nowadays every single one of us has heard of. However, not many people deal with the subject of globalisation. Hence, misunderstandings and information of dubious origin lead to hasty conclusions. Therefore it seems to be of the utmost importance to clear the meaning and definition of certain terms before starting to analyse the content matters. First of all, a clear determination is necessary between chances and risks and hopes and concerns in regards to the issues of globalisation. The Oxford Dictionary claims quite plainly that concern is “a feeling of worry, especially one that is shared by many people“ (Oxford Advanced Learner‘s Dictionary, 2000, p. 253), while hope is “a belief that something you want will happen“ (Oxford Advanced Learner‘s Dictionary, 2000, p. 627). Chance on the other hand is defined as “a possibility of something happening“ (Oxford Advanced Learner‘s Dictionary, 2000, p. 193), while risk means “the possibility of something bad happening at sometime in the future“ or “a situation that could be bad or have a dangerous result“ (Oxford Advanced Learner‘s Dictionary, 2000, p. 1105). As a result of the definition the difference between potential and realistic prognoses, especially in regards to the globalisation process, becomes evident. In addition, another important difference between the terms hopes and concerns and accordingly chances and risks is, that the latter is rather characterised by the opportunity of active shaping, while hope and concerns are if anything passive attributes. There are two more aspect in regards to the discussion of globalisation which often tend to be forgotten. First of all, people often seem to search for a reset-button to stop this so anonymous appearing and therefore frightening process. However, this process which we experience and its consequences we feel right now, is dialectic but not in the least reversible. One reason for this irreversibility is the necessary awareness, that globalisation is not a phenomenon of this new century but of a long history. While some literature refers to globalisation as “a fundamental change of human institutions in the contemporary era“ (Does Globalization affect Human Well-Being?, 2006, p. 104), we actually have to define the start of this process with the very beginning of human civilisation and trade ([1], last visit: 8th November, 2009). Naturally, our today‘s world implicates increasing complexity, there are analogies existing, though. In the following, this article will deal with these terms as to the development of globalisation and as to the societies it is affecting.

2 Oxford Advanced Learner‘s Dictionary, p. 627, l. 35, Oxford University Press, London 2000