Globalization and Development: Impact on World Population
Globalization’s Impact on the World
The Process of Globalization
Globalization envisions a world without borders, characterized by the worldwide spread of cultural and social patterns and a growing interdependence among countries. However, this does not significantly affect legal population movements on a planetary level. The mechanisms of globalization often favor the richest countries while harming poor and developing nations. Factors driving this ongoing globalization include:
- Progress in communications and transport
- High growth in world trade
- Greater freedom for the establishment of large foreign companies (multinational or transnational)
- The generalization of the capitalist system and liberal-bourgeois ideology
- The influence of global economic organizations like the World Bank and the World Trade Organization (WTO), which recently welcomed China
Inequalities in Development
Inequities and Their Indicators
One indicator that measures development inequality is the predominant economic sector. For example, the primary sector is most prevalent in the poorest countries. In contrast, the tertiary sector is widely prevalent in First World or rich countries. In intermediate or Second World countries, the secondary sector dominates, although the primary sector remains important.
Inequality between countries is measured by:
- Daily calorie consumption
- Life expectancy (77 years for men in Japan versus 37 in Zambia, Africa)
- Gross National Product (GNP), or a country’s wealth produced within or outside its borders
- The Human Development Index (HDI) developed by the United Nations, based on indicators such as life expectancy, educational attainment, family income, and Gross Domestic Product (GDP)
These indicators reveal that the geography of wealth encompasses an increasingly smaller percentage of the world’s population, while the geography of poverty (Third World) includes a much larger and growing percentage. Some countries, like China, experience high economic growth but are still developing, with a relatively low economic level for their population. Typical examples of Second World countries include Brazil, the Philippines, Indonesia, and Thailand. The world’s poorest countries are located in sub-Saharan Africa, South and Southeast Asia, Central America, and the Andean region.
Rich Countries
Since the late 20th century, political and economic power has been concentrated in three areas:
- The USA is the leading global power in political, economic, and military terms. Its influence extends to Canada and Mexico, representing one-sixth of the landmass.
- The European Union (EU) is an increasingly unified area and the world’s leading commercial zone.
- Japan has become the third-largest contemporary power, with a catchment area covering the western Pacific and East Asia. It plays a significant role in new technology companies.
These systems exert global influence. Other countries, however, hold regional power in specific areas. In Asia, China and India are the two most populous countries, though much of their population is rural and poor. In the southern hemisphere, major regional powers include Brazil, South Africa, and Australia:
- Brazil leads Latin America due to its vast territory and natural resources.
- South Africa possesses significant mining resources, such as gold and diamonds.
- Australia stands out for its influence in the South Pacific and its agricultural and mineral resources.
In the Middle East, Saudi Arabia (largest oil reserves) and Israel (direct U.S. aid and nuclear program) are notable.
The population of rich countries is growing slowly and is prone to stagnation due to low birth rates. The tertiary sector dominates the economy, per capita income is high, and the dominant political system is representative democracy.
Poor Countries
Poor, underdeveloped, or developing countries represent three-quarters of humanity. Their populations are growing rapidly, illiteracy rates are high, and health services are inaccessible to most. Per capita income is low, and social inequality is prevalent. Totalitarian political regimes are common, and fundamental individual rights are not guaranteed. Globalization’s harmful effects are widening the gap between rich and poor.
The Causes of Inequality
External causes include the hoarding of capital, technology, research, and information by rich countries. The colonization of large territories by foreign powers, current dependency, and neo-colonialism or globalization—conceived and executed in favor of rich, developed countries—have significantly influenced this inequality.
Internal causes include wars and internal conflicts (often promoted from abroad), corruption, the looting of wealth by foreign companies, and a lack of natural resources.
Population Displacement in the Modern World
The causes of migration and population movements lie in the North-South imbalance—the vast difference in lifestyles between rich and poor countries. These movements are global, with millions of people traveling long distances only to be rejected at borders. Population movements are even greater between neighboring countries with significant differences in living standards, such as the migration of Mexicans to the U.S. and Moroccans and Algerians to Spain.
Migration has positive consequences, such as increasing the birth rate in countries with very low rates, as is the case in Spain. There are also positive economic impacts through tax payments from new employment or the establishment of small businesses, which may even provide jobs for natives. This contributes to a better balance of the Treasury and social security in the host country.
Migration in Europe and Spain
The 19th and first half of the 20th centuries saw significant European migration, with millions moving to the U.S., Latin America, Australia, and parts of Africa. However, since the mid-20th century, this trend has reversed, with large populations arriving from Africa, Asia, and America. In Spain, this shift occurred around 1973-1975, resulting in increased birth rates, population growth, and cultural diversity.
Solutions to Development Inequalities
Aid to underdeveloped countries has been criticized as inadequate. It primarily comes from states or international institutions and is supplemented by NGOs. The focus is on improving children’s conditions, medical care, and education, especially for children. The UN has established agencies to promote and coordinate development assistance and has convened international conferences for this purpose, such as the Millennium Summit (2000) and the Monterrey Conference (2002).
- The Millennium Summit focused on peace, human rights, and development.
- The Monterrey Conference aimed to ensure that globalization’s positive effects reach all countries.
In 2005, another conference assessed the progress of these objectives, concluding that it has been slow and uneven. Many countries are not meeting the goals, and there is a lack of genuine will to solve them among the leaders of the most powerful nations.