Although the process of globalisation has aroused many
positive and negative perspectives, the increasing clarity of the global
hegemony that is emerging is undeniable. We can look at hegemony as being the
power and influence transnational companies are developing through the process
of globalisation. (Agnew, J., 2004) In
demonstration of sheer size, many of these transnational companies such as
Apple hold more wealth and influence than some countries, in fact Ford is
currently bigger than New Zealand (Global Trends, 2011).
However, while these massive developments
have been coined as globalisation how much of the world actually sees these
changes, let alone any benefit. It is important to stop and think about the
ever growing gap of equality, and the effects that this hegemony has. Instead
of globalisation would it be fair to rename it westernisation? Even if this is the case while much of the
third world feels either zero or negative effect, the countries which are most
affected by the developments also are affected by the oligopolies that are
sprouting like weeds. Is it ok that the
CEOs of these companies sit in their ivory towers rolling around in piles of
cash while the green grocer down the street has to close his doors because of
the enormous price cutting supermarket that has opened across the street? It is for this reason that the ‘buy local’
idea has recently been adopted. While I
am all for a healthy capitalist economy, I don’t believe that in a globalised
world it is ok for the big fish to eat the smaller fish.
References
Agnew, J., 2004, ‘The
New Shape of Global Power’, Temple University Press, Philadelphia, 2004.
Keys, T. &Malnight, T., 2011, ‘corporate clout: The influence of the world’s largest 100
EconomicEntities’, Global Trends, retrieved on the 26th July
2012, http://www.globaltrends.com/knowledge-center/features/shapers-and-influencers/66-corporate-clout-the-influence-of-the-worlds-largest-100-economic-entities
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