Political Science Paper on Global Interdependence
A common and renowned system of interdependence is globalization, which has been criticized on the one hand for causing today’s financial collapse, growing inequality, unfair trade, and insecurity while being praised on the other hand for its solution to the mentioned problems (Griswold 1). Interdependence systems such as globalization are advantageous and disadvantageous at the same time especially to nations that embrace it.
An advantage of interdependence is that it enables countries, in most cases, less developed countries (LDCs) to gain access to much larger markets for exportation and importation purposes. Without systems of interdependence such as globalization, the relationships among countries would be jeopardized and the access to larger markets would be close to impossible (Naim 1). Also, interdependence enhances the relationship between LDCs and the developed nations enabling the former to gain access to a much higher level of technology. Fundamentally, interdependence allows countries to engage in the global economy which influences the provision of capital to fuel economic growth. Moreover, systems of interdependence such as globalization facilitate openness to the global economy, which paves the way for the provision of infrastructure needed by developing countries for growth purposes (Griswold 1).
Interdependence is disadvantageous in various ways, one of them being that it undermines labor and environmental standards within countries. As a result of systems of interdependence such as globalization, advanced or developed countries have been forced to weaken labor and environmental standards so as to compete with less-regulated producers in developing countries. Also, interdependence is accompanied by economic liberation that exacerbates the gap between rich and poor countries and that between the rich and poor within liberalized countries (Watson 1). It is true that interdependence sees rich countries benefit more through exporting their goods to while importing less from poor countries.
Works Cited
Griswold, Daniel. The Blessing and Challenges of Globalization. Cato Institute, September 1, 2000. Retrieved online on November 19, 2016, from https://www.cato.org/publications/commentary/blessings-challenges-globalization
Naim, Moses. Think Again: Globalization. FP, September 30, 2009. Retrieved online on November 19, 2016, from http://foreignpolicy.com/2009/09/30/think-again-globalization/
Watson, Williamson K. Import-bashing Candidates Miss Value of Globalization. Cato Institute. Retrieved online on November 19, 2016, from https://www.cato.org/publications/commentary/import-bashing-candidates-miss-value-globalization