Sen on Globalisation

[ravi <gadfly@xxxxxxxxxxxx>]

> Globalization is often seen as global Westernization. On this point,
> there is substantial agreement among many proponents and opponents.
> Those who take an upbeat view of globalization see it as a marvelous
> contribution of Western civilization to the world. There is a nicely
> stylized history in which the great developments happened in Europe:
> First came the Renaissance, then the Enlightenment and the Industrial
> Revolution, and these led to a massive increase in living standards
> in the West. And now the great achievements of the West are spreading
> to the world. In this view, globalization is not only good, it is
> also a gift from the West to the world. The champions of this reading
> of history tend to feel upset not just because this great benefaction
> is seen as a curse but also because it is undervalued and castigated
> by an ungrateful world.
>
> From the opposite perspective, Western dominance–sometimes seen as a
> continuation of Western imperialism–is the devil of the piece. In
> this view, contemporary capitalism, driven and led by greedy and
> grabby Western countries in Europe and North America, has established
> rules of trade and business relations that do not serve the interests
> of the poorer people in the world. The celebration of various
> non-Western identities–defined by religion (as in Islamic
> fundamentalism), region (as in the championing of Asian values), or
> culture (as in the glorification of Confucian ethics)–can add fuel to
> the fire of confrontation with the West.
>
> [...]


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