The forces of globalization
Originally uploaded by firfiris.
I chose this picture because this is a perfect example of what I associate with globalization. Impeccable modern architecture, a strict division between the walking and sitting area, young men and women sipping their Starbucks coffee.
Everything is clean and in order, the people seem to be very successful and happy.
Shenzen is one of the four original cities in the Special Economic Zones (SEZ) that the Chinese government opened to foreign investors with capital, technical know-how and the knowledge of management. These initial joint-ventures were supposed to be the starting point to integrate China into the global market and develop sales markets in the industrialized countries. Today the locations barely have any restrictions and the coastal areas have expanded – and are booming.
20 years ago nobody foresaw Chinese to be the language to learn. As a matter of fact, I think 20 years ago people thought of China as a rice producing, agricultural country and not a possible upcoming superpower. How is it possible that our image has changed so drastically? The truth is that while our image has changed drastically, the country as a whole has not. Capitalists will say the prospering coast will have a very positive economic influence on the whole country, which it surely has if you look at the jobs that have been created, the know-how that has been brought into the country and the infrastructure that has been improved. But for the farmers of the inland this barely has importance. They are losing the young qualified Chinese to the West while they are stuck to cultivate their land with backward machinery. Even worse, western industries heavily pollute the air and water and contaminate the soil which already is exhausted by the vast population growth. It makes living in the country very difficult, 90 % of the population lives below the poverty line while remote areas haven’t even recognized sexual equality. Let’s take another look at the picture I chose. Can this really be one country ? I accept the fact that large countries can have differences, if we compare U.S. East/West coast to the central regions or the urban parts of Russia with remote ones as Siberia. But China’s disparities are vast – and for me the best example of what globalization can cause.
It’s important to consider that poor areas, such as the one pictured, are largely not included in these Special Economic Zones. China has opened certain areas to foreign capital with very friendly policies, but the rest of the land has still not been able to feel the effects of a global market. Globalization has caused a disparity in the quality of life among Chinese, but it hasn’t actually reduced anyone’s. The poverty already existed, but it’s the Chinese government which won’t allow it yet to change.
I thought – if anyone – you’d be the first to comment on my blog
You’re absolutley right, the lower picture probably isn’t included in the SEZ. It would look different then. My title is a bit misleading. But it’s still China.
The government initiated these “friendly policies” so China can “feel things out” by partly participating in the global market. They hope this experiment will accelerate China’s agricultural status into a more modern one.
I am not saying globalization is the cause of poverty but an effort to work against it.
That was a good point.
Do you really think the rest of the country hasn’t felt the effects ? I know this is counteracting my point. China originally opened 4 SEZs and has expanded over 13 “open coastal cities” and an “open coastal territory”. So somehow it must be affecting the uninvolved regions as well, if it is spreading there.
I guess my question is whether it’s reasonable to impose such a system on a country that – from its initial stage of development – is not ready. Can this experiment help China to a developed, independent and prospering economy ? Or will this expansion come to a halt someday and leave the country divided into the modern coast and backward inland ?
Even if it is affecting uninvolved territories, they’re only being allowed the negative effects of being left behind. You do make an excellent point about a lot of China maybe not being ready. That’s true- can the underdeveloped areas handle a sudden free flow of capital and technology? Will they develop at the rate of Shanghai, or would it throw the whole economy out of whack? I certainly don’t know enough about it to say, but what I can guess is that the sooner they get on track, the better.
Shanghai’s not going to devolve, and the longer the rest of China stays behind, the harder it will be for them to keep up.
Excellent post, though. I’m glad you wrote about China, because I haven’t had the time I’d like to look into it. I’ve mostly been reading up on Africa, so I look forward to anything you or anyone else might have to say about China.
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Comments « Globalization in the classroom… said this on December 6, 2006 at 11:15 pm