TRANSNATIONAL LEARNING NETWORK COMENIUS PROGRAMME

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Four groups worked independently to come up with arguments both for and against the globalisation of the world. The results are all here together.

· + Due to such organisations as the UN, wars can be averted in favour of negotiations.
· + Different cultures working together can help to enrich the lifestyles of everybody . . .
· - but this may also lead to the dilution of cultures as they intermingle. This is a loss of cultural identity. In extreme cases we can imagine how visiting another country may not be so different from staying at home.
· + The poorer world can benefit from technologies of the more developed countries, helping to curb suffering and build economies. It may be argued that this is due to capitalism from multinational corporations, but such organisations often stretch an economy too far, promoting economic inequality.
· + As people live and travel they become more understanding, which helps international links. It is much easier and more interesting to understand another culture if we experience it.
· - Globalisation is a great idea in building countries to a more developed state, but the current route taken involves profit-making organisations. Such businesses inevitably exploit the peoples and resources they work with.
· + These multinational businesses do bring their products to a new market, often developed products. This means more people can benefit from products.
· - As these large-scale business' spread transnationally it becomes harder for small-scale shops to open or even exist in the competitive market . . .
· + but the large-scale companies may offer very competitive prices for goods.
· - As countries become "closer" it may become more difficult to distinguish or choose national figureheads.
· - Large corporations may become similar to ruling political parties, having a large sphere of influence on the political happenings of a country.
· - A stock market crash could mean disaster for many, many countries that may not otherwise be involved. Equally, an economic boom means many countries could find themselves prosperous.
· + Cultural diversity may become a barrier to a political system, with debate as to how to run a country or area (eg. Senate, monarchy, government, etc.)
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