Globalization is an all encompassing term or concept that can be defined in various ways

Name:

Course Name:

Institution:

Tutor:

Date:

Globalization is an all encompassing term or concept that can be defined in various ways. In a summary review article of developments in western Asia, The United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia defines globalization as the concept of reduction and gradual removal of barriers between sovereign nations to facilitate free flow of goods, capital, labor and services. The World Trade Organization (WTO) on the other hand defines globalization as a historical stage of accelerated expansion of market capitalism leading to a recombining of economic and social forces on a new territorial platform. The World Bank simplifies globalization as the growing integration of economies and societies around the world. Despite there being many definitions, there is an implied sense of a shrinking world marked by monumental changes in the spatial and temporal aspects of social existence. It operates on a platform of technological, economic, political, and cultural exchanges accelerated by advances in telecommunication, transportation, and infrastructure. The term ‘global village’ has come to denote the oneness created by this integration especially with the advent of the internet. Some features of globalization can be seen in Kenya which is a fast growing economy.

Kenya is considered an economic powerhouse within the east African region. There are trends in all spheres of life pointing to the rise of globalization. As a capitalist economy, the country embodies global tendencies including expansionism. The Kenyan government has encouraged foreign investments with mixed results. Internationally the flow of manufactured goods increased more than 100 times since 1955 rising from $95 billion to $12 trillion within the period, (BBC news). Kenya being a strong exporter definitely contributed to this increase in trade volumes. Companies like Coca-Cola, Unilever, and Nestle are pointers to the liberalization of the Kenyan economy another key feature of globalization. These companies bring in their technological expertise while exploiting labor from the market. They use the same production methods employed back home including marketing and branding. The presence of these subsidiaries shows the effect of a free market where Kenya has opened its border to foreign trade.

Globalization in Kenya is also evident in the internationalization of culture. Since the pre-colonial period, tremendous changes have happened in the social sphere of life in the country. The English language has been incorporated as the official language and other international languages are popular in most institutions. The internet has also spawned popular western lifestyles such as dressing, music, cuisines, especially among the younger generations. This has broken the frontiers of culture creating a global mass culture.

Another aspect that can help comprehend the concept regards international relations. Globalization in some instances has come to denote one large arm of governance where each country keeps check on the other. Kenya is a member of the United Nations among other international and regional bodies. During political crises, the powerful economies such as the US always intervene, ( HYPERLINK “http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leonid_Grinin” o “Leonid Grinin” Grinin L.E. pp. 190–224). The influence of international bodies such IMF and the World Bank is also evident in the fiscal and governance policies carried out by the leaders. The country has served as a mediator in regional crises such as in Sudan again indicating that it has fully incorporated the concept of political globalization.

The advancement in technology in Kenya can also be used to explain globalization. The activator of globalization is considered as science and technology. The most visible manifestations of globalization are in technology and communications fondly known as information technology (IT), (Mugabe, J. pp 2-4).The need to compete internationally has led to upgrade in the technology capability in the country. This is especially evident in information technology specifically the internet where the government has invested in fibre optic cables thus reducing internet charges. The easy flow of information has seen the realization of a global village and international colleges now offer distance learning through the internet. In addition plans are underway to build an ICT hub to further the gains made in information technology. There has also been an increase in the import of advanced production practices from international partners.

The above examples from Kenya clearly indicate the new direction the world is taking. There is the collapse of frontiers from all angles of the world to create one large economy. Geographical distance has completely been redefined and even rendered inconsequential. Since the first use of the word in 1930, much has changed in the interpretation but still, the underlying import still remains the integration at all spheres of life between all countries in the world. This is clearly seen in the case of Kenya which is considerably a small economy.

Works cited

“Globalization shakes the world”, BBC News, January, 21 2007

HYPERLINK “http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leonid_Grinin” o “Leonid Grinin” Grinin L.E. Transformation of Sovereignty and Globalization HYPERLINK “http://www.socionauki.ru/authors/grinin_l_e/publ_eng/” [1] In Grinin L. E., Beliaev D. D.,

and Korotayev, A. V. (eds.), Hierarchy and Power in the History of Civilisations:

Political Aspects of Modernity (pp. 191–224). Moscow: KD ‘Librocom’.

HYPERLINK “http://plato.stanford.edu/entries/globalization/” http://plato.stanford.edu/entries/globalization/

Lamy, Pascal. Humanising globalization. Geneva, Switzerland: The WTO; [updated 2006

Jan 30; cited 2006 June 1]. Available from:

HYPERLINK “http://www.wto.org/english/news_e/sppl_e/sppl16_e.htm” http://www.wto.org/english/news_e/sppl_e/sppl16_e.htm

Mugabe,J. The Impact of Globalization on Science and Technology in Sub-Saharan

African countries, african technology policy studies network, (ATPS), Nairobi,

(2002) pp 2-4

HYPERLINK “http://www.pastor-russell.com/volumes/V4/Study_07.html” ”The Battle of Armageddon”, October, 1897 pages 365–370″. Pastor- russell.com.

HYPERLINK “http://www.pastor-russell.com/volumes/V4/Study_07.html. Retrieved 2010-12-10” http://www.pastor-russell.com/volumes/V4/Study_07.html. Retrieved 2010-12-10.