Critics and proponents of globalization are waging a fierce debate over the effects of globalization on inequality. Are the world's rich and world's poor growing closer together or farther apart? Why should we care either way?
Proponents claim that globalization has brought the world together on a level playing field, while critics contend that globalization has created an unequal world. I think these statements are too general to be accurate.
It is very clear, however, that current global inequality levels, whether they have been moving up or down, stand very high. Inequality of income is as severe in global society as it is in any particular country in the world. If we envision the whole world as one society, which is precisely what globalization encourages us to do, we would see that economic inequality among the world population is greater than it is within these countries marked by economic disparity and social fractures.
The statistical debates about trends and causes of global inequality remain crucially important. We need to understand the changes in national and international economic systems that together comprise the process of globalization and their relationship to the widening or narrowing of global inequalities. The examinations of social scientists working on these issues must carefully break down the processes in order to isolate the various relevant factors, such as technological changes, population changes, climate changes, knowledge/educational changes, changes in tariffs and other barriers to trade, and movement in exchange rates.
The basic claim that humans are social beings brings us to theheart of how and why inequalities matter, morally especially. Dollars are an abstraction, albeit a fundamental one for survivial in today's economy. It is the impact of those dollars on one's everyday activities and perceptions of self and the world that really matter. We are more concerned with the intrinsic components of well-being than with dollars or automobiles. Are persons able to meet their basic and more complex human needs? Are they able to participate in their own society? Do they have the freedoms and capacities to express themselves culturally, politically, and religiously? These are questions of fundamental human well-being.
I really like the thoughtful approach to the problem. It is indeed to general to answer acuratly. We are looking at this matter globally and it does have more components to consider than just few. You are right, we are social beings and i guess that is what the actual problem is. We are social, can't survive without social contact to others (wither humans or animals) and that is the root of all issues.
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