Globalism have on Human Rights
Globalization is the term used to describe the liberalization and interdependence between the world’s economies, cultures, and populations (Peterson Institute for International Economics). Globalization encompasses the growing cross-border trade of goods and services, foreign direct investment (FDI) and foreign portfolio investment (FPI), technology, and information between countries. Think of it as a “McDonaldization” of not just capital, labor, and commodities but of lifestyles, ideas, preferences, food, culture, and values–the interaction amongst people within states plays a vital role in transforming not just political institutions, but cultural standards (norms), and social connections (Swathi Hosamani and Shravani Hosamani 4).
Furthermore, globalization brings about economic growth, technological progress, and infrastructure development and has the promise to bring lower-developed countries into the 21st century; however, simultaneously, many difficulties still arise at the intersection of economic progress and safeguarding human rights (Swathi et al. 7).
First, what does it mean to safeguard human rights? “Human rights”, a term coined in the 20th century, nevertheless present since the beginning of civilization, are fundamental basic rights. Human Rights are natural or inherent within all of us by virtue of our existence. To safeguard human rights means to uphold the inherent worth and respect of every individual in the collective and in cultivating a cohesive society, protect against any attempt of infringement of one’s dignity, as a collective cannot triumph if even the inherent rights of one do not remain inviolable (Swathi et al. 7).
Economic globalization does not just have significant potential to impact human rights; it does. Although globalization has brought about substantial and rapid increases in trade, finance, and technology, the global economy is just not working for the less affluent countries and the people that populate them (Addison 2004). These countries just do not have the finance that is necessary for development or for investment in diversification (for example, a resource-rich country whose rents come only from one sector raises the value of their currency, therefore making their exports if they were to diversify more expensive and thereby less competitive in international markets), to access new technologies (trade is conducted by sea and if the country is landlocked and neighbors either have poor infrastructure for transportation to sea or are amid severe political instability it makes it hard for goods to make it to international markets), and achieve poverty reduction (Addison 2004).
Upholding human rights and recognizing human dignity in an era of increasingly intensifying globalization is hard. Despite efforts of non-governmental organizations and international entities such as the United Nations, wealthy elite and multinational corporations are becoming increasingly wealthy as the world becomes increasingly intertwined (Singh n.d.). Achieving social and economic rights, creating more jobs, and ending world hunger, in particular, becomes more of an ambitious goal every day (Singh n.d.).
Here are some effects of globalization on human rights. Globalization worsens poverty as it escalates instability, poverty, and social fragmentation, hindering the human rights and human dignity of those affected, usually the less affluent countries and their populace (Singh n.d.). The WTO allows countries that abuse human rights to join the organization, so, really, how effective can penalties be in deterring violations? Trade liberalization makes it ideal for manufacturers to want to go to countries with more relaxed environmental regulations, contributing to environmental degradation (Singh n.d.). Officials in these countries lose control over local regulatory structures as they want investment and job creation in their communities (Singh n.d.). This is similar to how free trade can lead to a “race to the bottom” concerning labor protection laws, environmental regulations, and social welfare standards (Singh n.d.). Globalization worsens income inequality as open commerce and globalization often exacerbate the disparities in income and wealth, and opportunities from globalization tend to be concentrated in industrialized states, alienating the developing world (Singh n.d.). There really wasn’t that much of a difference between developing countries and developed countries a few centuries ago, but now, the developed world cannot keep up as the gap between the two continues to widen (Singh n.d.). Globalization is seen as “providing good opportunities for their countries and their people” as it benefits the developed and fails to deliver the same opportunities to the developing world (Singh n.d.).
Globalization can be seen to promote international trade and prosperity, or it can be seen to exacerbate economic disparities between developed and developing countries; where you stand depends on where you sit (Singh n.d.). The growth of commerce, the market, and foreign investment create an evergrowing gap between the developed and the developing, creating winners and losers (Singh n.d.). Liberalization is followed by increasing disparities created by the reduction of the role of the state in society, privatization, unemployment, health cuts, education cuts, and cuts in food subsidies, which keeps people in abject poverty (Singh n.d.). Due to globalization, unemployment has reached numbers not seen in a while, and wealth inequality has reached levels not seen in over a century (Singh n.d.). According to a Human Development Report in 1997, “As a result of globalization, impoverished nations, and poor people are all too frequently denied opportunities to advance their interests” (Singh n.d.). Additionally, globalization results in human rights violations, whether it is companies actively violating rights by using forced labor or discriminating against minorities or corporate influence over a foreign government undermining human rights by making it difficult for a government to uphold their legislation by finding loopholes in their laws (Singh n.d.).
Human Rights conditions under globalization can both improve and face risks depending on how globalization is managed and how the international community moves forward (Singh n.d.). In short, a greater willingness to incorporate the interests of less affluent countries in trade negotiations, expand the flow of official development finance and private capital flows, and address global challenges like climate change can strengthen the economic and social rights of vulnerable populations and can facilitate meaningful participation of less affluent countries in the global economy leading to economic growth and the reduction of poverty and inequality (Singh n.d.). If the elite were to move away from their narrow perspective on trade and finance that is driven by short-term interests and focus more on long-term objectives and the benefits that come from a well-functioning global economy that works for the less affluent and the well-off, they would prioritize the reduction in violent conflict which would help reduce terrorism, forced migration, and asylum-seeking which in turn promotes helps promote a global economy that works for everyone (Singh n.d.). “The promotion of human rights cannot be seen in isolation from the wider economic situation of the developing world since this provides the soil in which human rights will either flourish or wither.” (Singh n.d.).
First draft, Dec. 16, 2024, Emma Anderson Edited, December 27, 2024