What Are the Problems With Globalization?

Globalization poses many problems, including increased economic gains for already powerful countries at the expense of developing countries, a more homogeneous global culture overall and a host of negative environmental effects. Globalization is the process through which countries become increasingly connected through developments in technology, trade and cultural exchange.

One of the largest problems with globalization is that it operates mostly in the interest of economically developed countries that already control the global economy. Developing countries often serve merely as resources for Western nations such as the United States and the United Kingdom, offering cheap labor and raw materials. There is no certainty that a Western corporation’s presence in a developing country actually brings increased economic prosperity. Often these companies send profits back to the countries in which they are based. Additionally, the highly competitive prices these corporations offer can drive local companies out of business.

Globalization also contributes to a less diverse global culture, with many countries’ unique cultural traditions increasingly influenced by capitalist Western countries.

Globalization also has a major impact on the environment. Countries are consuming more finite resources, such as oil, and many corporations cut costs by taking advantage of lax pollution laws in developing countries.