FREE ESSAY ON GLOBAL CAPITALIZATION

GLOBAL CAPITALIZATION

Subsequent to the signing of the Peace of Westphalia in 1648, a strong theory of a modern
state emerged. The concept relied deeply upon the establishment of three principals
explained by James Lee Ray. Obtaining a modern state depended on, first and foremost,
territory. The image of a territory with fixed borders having an apparent national
identity with in them (Class notes 10/23). A vast campus that in comparison to another
holds unique characteristics and shows diversity. Principal two is the demanding need for
nationalistic loyalty. In other words it was found a necessity to obtain and practice
faithfulness for your encompassed land. Modern States relied upon the people as
nationalistic motivators to uphold it as a nation. Devotedness of the people is
characteristic of a modern state (Class notes 10/23). Nationalism is an inspiration to
fight and die, to take the risk for your territory. The third, and perhaps the most
definable element of a modern state, is respect for sovereignty. For an idealistic state,
admiration for the supreme law of the land is a necessity. The source of sovereignty lies
in the people and their confidence, dependence, recognition, loyalty, and respect for
their chosen government. Sovereignty gives a select people in a distinguished place the
ability to have the final say based on the needs and wants of the people with in. This
all creating a headquarters of decision making for the territory, with all its alleged
loyalty.
Due to the rise and expansion of importance of the consumer economy, all of the terms
defining a modern state and the ability to have one are threatened. The world has united
together economically. Challenging our defined borders, our motivational nationalistic
loyalty, and our admiration for sovereignty, the image of a powerful modern state has
been over looked and seemingly forgotten. All in the name of the global consumer economy
and the desirable need to be on the top economically.
The undisputed, definable, respectfully acknowledged fixed borders encompassing our
seemingly beloved territory have been maximally jeopardized. Borders that once required
passing through highly regulated customs and possession of a passport and several means
of identification around the world have become meaningless lines, previously sketched on
a map. To a significant extent, depreciation of the fixed borders is due to free trade
agreements (Class notes 10/23). Borders have all but disappeared in consequence to public
voting consent to form the European Union. The passing of the vote created a tremendous
economical market consisting of a vast number of consumers (Class notes 10/17).
Undoubtedly the step was successful to its proposed plan, but each nation consciously
lost its national identity, concluding in a continent of lost diversity. Strategically,
numerous nations around the world have accomplished resembling actions, blurring the
borders outlining their region. The North American Free Trade agreement, approved in
1993, caused the lines separating Canada, the United States, and Mexico to become far
less distinguishable (Greider, 270). Conclusively causing a breakdown of territorial
integrity. It has been pushed to the point of little to no recognizable difference in
cultural diversity. Standing inside an assembly plant on the south side of the Mexican
border would be like waking up having no clue where you are. In the sense that there is
nothing to distinguish it from the assembly plant north of the nearly non-existent line.
A forgotten border separating two countries whose people stressed the need to become
characteristically independent and self-sufficient.
Where has all that patriotism vanished? The urge to ensure a states success by pursuing
extremities in every aspect or direction seem lost within the demanding need to supply
the consumer. In the southern states of the U.S. the imperative urge to buy American has
previously been a vital standard of life. Unfortunately the ability to buy American has
become non-existent in the present. The fact that corporations, assembly plants, markets,
and investors are established in various locations around the globe has helped the true
and pure American companies to vanish. More and more often companies are re-establishing
bases in international areas. Reason lying behind this rests in the hands of the global
consumer economy. The companies, ambitiously trying to keep up with the rest of the
world, have sought to find a cheaper, more efficient way to maintain successful
production. Logically, they are more readily willing to manufacture or assemble their
products in places where employee pay is exceptionally inexpensive. However, we are not
alone in international corporate expansions. The emergence of the global consumer economy
has provoked a near chaotic frenzy within the leading companies if they wish to
contribute supplies to consumer demands. Thus, ability to remain devoted and support the
Made in the U.S.A. slogan has become a extinct possibility. So where now do we derive our
nationalistic loyalty from? The remnants of our sought after loyalty are scattered in the
wind due to a mistakable satisfaction found in keeping up and contributing as global
consumers. Unfortunately in this fast paced, economically united world, corporations
worldwide have lost their national identity, resulting in the incapability to remain
nationalistically loyal to a nation.
Ultimately, the toll taken by the birth of the global economy is sovereignty. It is made
apparent that respect for sovereignty is crucial as a primary part of establishing a
modern state. Aside from the discouraging little known fact that the American economy is
held up solely by credit sales and the realization that we are now attaining a negative
savings rate, we are struck by the loss of our regarded sovereignty (Class notes 10/17).
Although our governmental powers haven't yet revoked themselves entirely, we
unconsciously gave up its authority to have the final say. Sovereignty is a sacrifice
given when we share involvement in trade agreements (Class notes 10/23). Meanwhile our
clueless society is left in the air, unable to finalize governmental matters. Basically
just left out, defenseless and in an insuperior position while answering to the World
Trade Organization. Somewhere along the journey America took a wrong turn. Although
President Clinton promised Congress withdrawal from the WTO if our sovereignty was
threatened, a withdrawal is not one of our nations options (Greider 139). Among other
things, the prices for gas would triple. Basically America now exists, along with the
rest of the WTO members, under the rule of an international body consisting of 121
various governments. We find ourselves attempting unsuccessfully to hold on to an
admirable sovereignty just out of reach (Greider 139).
The accelerating growth of the global consumer economy greatly stresses and infringes
upon the ability to obtain a modern state defined by the three key elements previously
discussed. Sequentially, in a world united through product need our patriotism has
disappeared with the realization that there are no longer borders to defend. Governments
built by a nations people and believed in are finding themselves unequipped to decide.
However unnoticeable to the general public, people around the world are loosing the
sovereignty they hold in tremendous respect. The uncountable lives lost as each country
strived to fit the ideal image of a modern state, in the end just to have our national
principals abolished. Everything we have and will loose can all be accounted for by the
global societies greed for capital.