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Globalisation

Globalisation! You’re going to hear that word a lot and you’ll probably use it a lot. So much waffle has been written about it that some use the word ‘Globaloney’. Others use the term ‘Glocalisation’; they’re probably just trying to be clever but it’s worth thinking about what they might mean. Other people (Americans I believe they call themselves) use the term ‘Globalization’ but I have always thought that if you invent a language you should be able to insist upon ‘centre’ and ‘harbour’ if you wish...now where was I?

Ah yes! Globalisation. Some talk of it as a kindly thing, bringing prosperity to the world. Of course it’s normally those Americans who say this and by ‘bringing prosperity to the world’ they usually mean to ‘Americans’...sorry I’m off again, and let me just stress that some of my favourite food, drink, music and television programmes are American. Ah the wonders of globalisation! So, globalisation can be seen as a creator of wealth and a way of spreading ideas and culture. But on the other hand it can be seen as a concentrator of wealth; that is, globalisation implies winners and losers. It can also be seen as a destroyer of cultures; allowing dominant ideas to spread and crushing local traditions. Perhaps, it is an amalgam of these? Well, you will have plenty of time to discuss where globalisation is heading...

The point here is simply to suggest that global processes have changed the world of employment. It is considered normal to change jobs and even careers. It is considered normal to work abroad, or for a foreign company, or to travel regularly, or to work closely with someone 1000s of miles away who you may never have met. You may make a decision to isolate yourself from this world and go and live (according to a phrase I remember from the Young Ones) with the "Brothers of the Soil Commune, Wales, England"...but if you do not want to, or cannot, isolate yourself to this kind of ‘good life’ then knowing something about globalisation may very well help you in your career (or failing that allow you to sound terribly educated at dinner parties).

Summary of the Above: Evil creatures calling themselves capitalists (many of whom are American) have taken over the world. Forewarned is forearmed. Phasers ready!