Unseen Comprehension-48 Alim (Globalization)

Globalization.

বিশ্বায়ন।

Globalization is generally defined as the free movement of goods, services, people and information across national boundaries. The idea of globalization is not new. But globalization, the term, has come into vogue only in the last decade or so. The funny thing is that the term globalization means "Different things to different people". In business school literature, it refers mainly to company-specific strategies, likewise, it has its own interpretations and connoatation in terms of economy, politics and culture and so on. Globalization creates an integrated global economy which influences both economic and social relations within and across the countries. As the theory goes, the opening up of an economy increases competition internally as well as externally, leads to structural changes in the economy, alters consumer's preferences lifestyles and demands of citizens. According to a critic globalization is " an irreversible force" and that the developing nation will get hit by its various currents and cross current if thy fail to manage themselves in their own interest. We should know the fact that human development, good governance and investment in infrastructure are the key to progress. If globalization is superimposed on a poorly-educated and poorly trained labour force with poor systems of governance and infrastructre, it will not lead to growth nor reduce poverty. The globalization process in South Asia was initiated to accelarate economic growth through enhanced internal and external competition, privatisation and trade liberalisation. But has it happened in real terms...? That is the key question, but the answer is not encouraging for instance, during the period of globalization attempts in South Asia. "The absolute number of people in poverty has increased". This, indeed, is a contradiction significant enough to worry thinking souls and give further momentum to the anti-globalization movement.