The Hindu Business Line : The global citizen

In current parlance, what is `globalisation'? When one speaks of globalisation, what one is usually referring to is economic integration, that is, freer economic exchange among the nations of the globe. In other words, globalisation today means the lowering of import barriers across the gamut of economic relations, including the exchange of goods and services of every conceivable type.

Clearly, such unbounded exchange of economic goods and services may not always lead to `mutual development' of the partners concerned, whether under the umbrella of groups of nations or just a bilateral arrangement. This depends on the levels of development of the trading units concerned, the weaker of the partners clearly requiring assistance of some type or the other if the benefits flowing from the economic exchange are to be maximised (alternatively, if the adverse effects of trading with a stronger partner or partners is to be kept to a minimum).

Root of the problem

Indeed, it is this specific trait of globalisation today that has led to a lot of opposition being generated, the crux of the argument of the opponents being that unbridled entry of goods and services from trading partners could lead to economic and social problems which have their root in the higher levels of production and management efficiency obtaining in economically stronger trading partners.

There is no doubt much truth in this point of view, which has given `globalisation' a somewhat ambivalent reputation, there being ardent backers of the idea as also trenchant critics. While there can be no quarrel with this split in opinion, it would be rather unfortunate if globalisation per se were to be frowned upon because of this debate on its economic ramifications. If globalisation is to mean what it should mean, namely, a closer integration of the nations of the world in all its myriad aspects, there cannot but be the strongest support for it from the humanitarian point of view.

Seen in this larger perspective, it can be argued that one way in which true globalisation can be promoted is to increase the awareness of budding leaders of different national societies of how other peoples live and what they think and feel about the different issues which affect all of mankind, so to speak. In other words, if these leaders (or even average citizens) were to breathe the same air and eat the same food for some period of time, it is more likely than not that there will be a better understanding of how other societies live which, in a sense, can be described as the first building blocks of true globalisation.

Exchange of Students

One of the ways in which this can be achieved in practice is to promote and encourage the exchange of students, specially the flow of young people from the developed to the poor world. Seen in this context, the reported `latest fad' in the US — to come to India to pursue higher studies (a trickle that is just beginning to flow) — is a godsend, in that these young American minds would get a first-hand experience of a people who have been exploited (among others) by the rich and militarily powerful for nearly 200 years.

New Delhi must encourage this trend and, as a first step, heed what the US envoy said recently about the `unhelpful attitude' shown by the Indian authorities towards around 50 US Fulbright scholars who have been waiting to get their projects cleared. In the long run, there is little doubt that such globalisation will help the Indian people no end.

Ranabir Ray Choudhury