Impact of
Globalization on Human Relations
By Nasim Hassan
Delaware, USA
Globalization
is a term used for a number of economic, social,
technological and political changes on a world
scale. These changes have impacted human relations
in the Third World countries in an unprecedented
way.
Not long ago, human society was settled and people
were living for generations in small villages,
towns and cities. Very few left their familiar
surroundings. They stayed in ancestral homes even
when faced with financial hardships. Humanity
was tied to various tribes, clans and extended
family.
Beginning with the early twentieth century when
the huge colonial empires emerged, people began
to move. The imperial powers sent out representatives
all across the world to rule far away places and
control the colonies. At the same time, the colonial
powers sent labor force to places where there
was a shortage of human resources. Many people
from South Asia went to Africa and West Indies.
Soon a small nucleus of South Asian population
was formed to attract other immigrants.
This phenomenon laid the foundation of massive
human migration that started in the second half
of the twentieth century. After the world wars,
the imperial powers became weak and the colonies
gradually gained independence. These ex-imperial
powers needed labor to rebuild their countries
and run their factories. So the first wave of
immigrants was low-skilled work force that settled
in major cities of Europe.
In South Asia and other British colonies, English
was the official language. The people in these
colonies learned English in their schools. Major
advantage was the language skills of these immigrants.
In certain areas of South Asia, almost half of
the village people went overseas. Now many families
have relatives living in Europe, USA, Africa and
Australia.
Gradually, the economic, social and political
ties between former colonies and past empires
gave way to globalization. There are a number
of positive developments resulting from globalization
but it also had a great impact on human relationships
that could be felt in countries that were former
colonies.
The second large migration took place towards
Middle East. The oil rich countries started a
building boom and needed all kinds of work force
to build their countries. The Europeans and Americans
never had any problems in oil rich countries.
They were provided family housing, recreation
facilities and good salaries.
However, people from South Asia and Far East were
always treated like bonded labor. These migrant
workers could not move their families due to high
cost of living and strict immigration laws. They
stayed in workers housing exposed to the excessive
heat an high temperatures in the Middle East.
If anyone complained, he was quickly packed off
or sent to jail. Most of these people were economic
refugees who had very little opportunities back
home.
I personally know many people whose spouses are
living in Pakistan while they are serving in the
Middle East. Some people have suffered a lifetime
of separation from their families.
The globalization has great social consequences.
The era when people lived in certain areas for
centuries has gone forever. With their off springs
scattered all over the globe there is nobody to
take care of parents in old age. I know many families
where the husband is working overseas and his
family is living in India or Pakistan. It is very
difficult for common folks living in Third World
countries to make a decent living while working
in the home country. The kids growing up without
a father lack discipline and get involved in a
number of problems.
Human relationships are complex and require continuous
nurturing. It is very difficult to sustain these
relations over long distances. Even with modern
travel facilities, it is very difficult to gather
a family when people have to come from long off
places. I personally know families where one son
is in Europe, the other is in Australia and the
parents are living in India.
In the process of globalization, many happy family
ties are lost forever. Majority of people living
overseas are unable to attend the last rites of
their loved ones living in South Asia. This leaves
everlasting regrets in the mind of sons and daughters
living far away from their parents.
The young generation that moves away also faces
different kinds of challenges. In a new country,
they do not have a social support system. As long
as they are young and single there is nothing
to worry about. After marriage, various issues
begin to surface.
The people from South Asia in particular boast
about family ties and good relations with extended
family members. The reality dawns on them when
their own children start to grow up. In the competitive
Western world, husband and wife have to work to
maintain a certain standard of living. The kids
are neglected. Domestic servants are expensive
and not easily available. Parents or extended
family members are not available to extend help
when required.
Globalization has generated massive internal migration
in South Asia. The people have moved from small
villages to big cities. Looking at major cities
like Karachi, Bombay, Lahore and Delhi gives us
an idea of this great internal migration. All
of these cities cannot even provide safe drinking
water to the public. Public transportation infrastructure
is not good at all and pollution is high. Crime
has increased in all major cities of the Third
World.
In big cities the people have very small space
to live. Many people leave their families back
in villages while working in these big cities.
These young people simply cannot afford to rent
a house to bring parents from small towns. The
families living in big cities have to make many
adjustments.
The cramped spaces in big cities seem to impact
the human mind. In very crowded homes, buses and
trains the people appear tensed and build up internal
anger. Tolerance is stretched to the limits. Many
a time even a small insignificant event causes
big ethnic violence. Whenever there is a public
demonstration in South Asia, there is always a
possibility of damage to public and private property.
Looking at the root cause of such violence it
is difficult to rationalize the burning of buses,
homes and businesses. In my opinion the stress
of everyday living in crowded places without privacy
makes people very impatient.
During 19th and early 20th century, migration
took place from Europe to North America. Europe
at that time may have gone through similar circumstances
as South Asia. After the peaks of immigration
and two wars, Europe has stabilized. Population
growth in certain countries is negative. So the
European countries are able to provide good public
transportation, affordable health care and good
education to the majority of their citizens.
It is heartening to see people living in small
European villages while still enjoying most of
the benefits of cities. Due to controlled population
growth, people do not need to move. In southern
France, Italy, Greece and Spain people are happy
living in small villages and historical towns.
Unlike America, public transportation goes to
all parts of Europe. This has provided relative
social stability. This is evident when we compare
the crime and homicide statistics of Europe and
North America.
Globalization has stressed all relationships.
It is imperative to understand this phenomenon
and to take steps to adjust to the changing environment.
Many times people simply cannot understand what
has hit them when their jobs have been outsourced.
I know an instance when Saudi Arabia cancelled
few projects due to a conflict in the Middle East.
The engineering companies working on these projects
laid off hundreds of engineers and technical people
in the USA.
One bright spot on the horizon is the revolution
in communication. It is possible now to live even
in a remote area like Timbuktu and work on a project
in Houston. The advances in technology have made
it possible to work at home on a project anywhere
in the world.
Another area is the investment in poor countries.
In my opinion if common people can get jobs in
their own countries even at 1/4th of the pay,
they will not move. The disparity in wages between
developed and underdeveloped countries is so large
that people even risk their lives to migrate.
Globalization is expected to impact countries
in an unprecedented way. If it is handled properly,
it will promote understanding between people and
nations. The impact on human relations should
be minimized wherever possible. It is in the interest
of developed countries to invest in poor countries.
As the poor countries begin to develop they will
need more goods and services from advanced countries
and all humanity will benefit without dislocation
from the mother countries.
This world belongs to the whole human race and
all living beings. The political and business
leaders in all countries should make decisions
that benefit all of us and not just a few powerful
nations. The challenges of today should be turned
into opportunities of tomorrow. Only then can
we proudly welcome expanding globalization in
this interconnected world.
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