Globalization, friend or foe, is all around us whether or not we notice it. So much of what we do on a daily basis has some sort of global component to it: the car we drive, the food we eat, the clothes we wear. And depending upon the context of all of this globalization can be a good thing. The best example of this is Social Media. How else can millions of people connect with millions of other people that they normally would never know existed? Families are reunited, friendships and business partnerships are made, and important causes given attention.

There’s so much that can be said about Globalization and whether or not it’s a good thing. A simple online search yields a myriad of sources from quick opinion/comment posts to scholarly works. While many sites say similar messages, the consensus includes the following:

Globalization: Friend

• It’s easy to reach out to people around the world for little or no cost.
• Vendors can “look at the big picture” and not just the clients who are local or regional.
• The internet makes the world seem “right around the corner”.
• People’s lives can be more diverse due to exposure to other religions, cultures, and lifestyles.
• Businesspeople can collaborate efficiently and effectively on a global scale which greatly increases the resources available to them.
• Countries can assist each other economically, academically, socially, politically, and technologically.

Globalization: Foe

• Diseases can be spread easily due to events such as global travel.
• A local or regional culture can be compromised because of the blending of cultures.
• Further inequalities between 3rd world countries and the rest of the world.
• An increase in pollution and other negative environmental issues.
• Loss of local and regional businesses and employment opportunities.
• Imbalances of trade surpluses and trade deficits.

Of course there’s more to be discussed regarding Globalization. There are entire university courses dedicated to the subject.

The best and worst thing about something such as Social Media is that it can educate a global populous and perpetuate the problem simultaneously. Regardless, it seems as though Globalization is here to stay for a very long time, if not permanently.

As always, your thoughts are appreciated and encouraged. Best wishes to all of you.

This is a re-post of the original article on the Community Marketing Blog. It is re-posted with the permission of Andrew Ballenthin, Founder of the Community Marketing Blog and President of Sol Solutions, an integrated marketing consultancy. Please visit my Portfolio page for the links to the original post.