Globalization, Interdependence And Education

IFE 2020 Workshop Commission on Higher Education March 9-12, 2006

Globalization


What is the impact of globalization?


The wealth gap is narrowing

Gap between richest 20 percent and poorest 20 percent falls

- from 15 to 1 in 1970

- to 13 to 1 in 1997

- i.e. by 10 percent


Quality of life improving

1970 1990’s

People undernourished 920m 810m

Average life expectancy 58 66

Infant survival rates/1000 44 67

Global literacy 80% 67%bb


Incidence of poverty is falling

1987 1998

East Asia 26.6% 15.3%

(- China) 23.9% 11.3%

Europe/Central Asia

0.2% 5.1%

Sub-Saharan Africa

46.6% 46.3%

WORLD 28.3% 24%


The Drivers

Scarcity of Commodities

Trade liberalization/ Exploitation of 3rd World Labor

Information technology

Endless Markets and ways to Advertise


Countries open to trade grow faster

-1

0

1

2

3

4

56

7

63-73 86-92

Open Mod Open Mod Closed Closed





What Do We Mean By Globalization?

Definition: the intensification of worldwide social relations which link distant localities in such a way that local happenings are shaped by events occurring many miles away and vice versa (David Held Political Theory Today 91; Stanford U Press)


Three Theories of Globalization

Strong theory: global economy is dominated by uncontrollable global forces in which nation states are structurally dependent on global capital that is primarily determined by TNCs; a drastic shift in structural power and authority away from the nation state towards non-state agencies and from national political systems to global economic systems.Skeptics: oppose convergence theory think globalization is overstated and over-generalized. Nation states more heterogeneous and independent in action than given credit for; a variety of local and regional responses to globalization. Contemporary levels of economic interdependence not historically unprecedented. Compared with former world empires, global economy is less global in its geographical embrace.Transformationalists: believe globalization is unprecedented but there is no convergence; instead a kind of global stratification has taken place; international division of labor; so some nations succeed at the expense of others and even within nations there are winners and losers.


Some Globalization Effects Relevant to Education

Globalization is resulting in more permeable “boundaries” through which people, practices and goods may flow.

Globalization is creating vast amounts of new wealth, but also greater gaps between the rich and the poor.

Globalization has revolutionized communications—created a digitalized world that is rapidly changing human behavior.

Globalization is associated with increased migration (primarily induced by people moving to find jobs) and radically increased urbanization.

Globalization is associated with the spread of neo-liberal economic and political regimes with similar neo-liberal policies.


More EffectsGlobalization is associated with a rapid increase in the kinds of changes occurring in the world, and the rate at which they occur.The primary pressures for social change are as likely to come from external sources and forces (e.g. international commodity prices) as from pressures and structures within countries.Globalization is having stratified demographic effects; younger people are more likely to adopt “globalized” identities, personas and consumption patterns than other people. This signals the probability of a “globalization generation gap.”Globalization pressures to “reform education” are closely aligned with the economic and educational agendas promoted by major international donor and technical assistance agencies (WB; IMF; USAID, CIDA; JICA) Globalization is weakening the authority of the state as private power grows proportionately.

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Globalization, Interdependence And Education