Early civilisations gave us rich culture and heritage to be proud of. Works of literature, science and art improved human race and helped us in many ways. But as time progressed, thin lines of differences increased and greed took over. The hunger to earn more money and be powerful has created a huge gap between a handful of people and the rest of the society. For them to keep being rich and in power, the society has to work and suffer. Our present society is an outcome of years of slavery and sacrifice, to improve the lives of a few.
Governments want to maximise the full potential and productivity of human resource. For this, it is important that the working class are provided with safe and healthy living conditions with good civic amenities. Slowly we are noticing a change in the dwelling system of society. Before big cities existed, there were small towns and villages, which had economic independence and contributed to the overall economic growth. As corporations started spreading their business, financial hubs and bigger cities began forming. In search for jobs, more money and better lifestyle, people started moving to these cities.
In any economy, it is important that development takes place at all levels, be it cities or towns or even villages. Education, health, transport and security must be provided to everyone equally. However, the present trend is contradictory. Big cities have better hospitals, public transport systems and provide all other facilities, which make work easier and more productive. Urban colonies keep increasing in number. Internal migration and immigration are two main reasons for this. Towns and villages have to modify themselves in order to exist and keep the human resource. This need for change is leading to formation of newer cities and financial hubs.
Urbanisation helps the economy in several ways. It ensures that human resource is fully utilised and economy keep growing steadily. It provides good working conditions for the people and also improves their living conditions and lifestyle. Urbanisation also shows that a country is progressing and the people are progressive and ready for more business. This attracts more corporations to come and provide more jobs and contribute to the economy.
However, it does have its flaws. In present society, urbanisation is encouraging people to pursue money and materialistic possessions. Urban areas lay more stress on productivity and money, than values and beliefs. People are considered commodities and potential resources, instead of equal members of the society. On a broader view, urbanisation is slowly decaying the society. Since everyone is in search of money and power, actions of a few can cause harm to others. This occurs at all levels. Since not everyone can find a job, some are left poor and dwell in slums .In their desperation, they can commit acts of violence and crime. Also, since everyone wants to maximise their working hours in order to earn more, there is less emphasis on personal health and family. Eating fast foods, consuming alcohol, smoking and lack of exercise and diet decays the human body and leads to several health problems later in their life. Urbanisation also harms the smaller towns and villages. Human resource is shifted to the cities and the rest of the country has to either transform itself or cease to exist. Finally, despite the fact that everyone is educated and well-read, emphasis lays more on money, than on self.
Present society needs a wake-up call. Even if urbanisation helps the economy, it is slowly decaying the basic human values and ethics. There is no urgent need to chase money; it is only leading to more problems which keep growing. Earlier civilisations and cities also existed, but with a balance between the urban and rural areas. Governments must ensure there is less emphasis on creating an urbanised country and more on the well being and development of the people who form the society.
Sunday, October 12, 2008
Sunday, October 5, 2008
Globalised Identity
Humans are generally the most insecure living beings on the planet. The need to belong and the need to be able to relate to similar people are high. Hence, we tend to exist in groups with other people who have the same beliefs, values and thoughts as us. This mentality has led to the creation of many different civilisations all over the world, where societies were mere tribes with a similar set of rules and norms. Cast, religion, colour and creed led to formation of further tribes. This division kept increasing till the beginning of the 18th Century. New religions and beliefs came into existence and the number of followers kept increasing. With the Industrial Revolution, British Colonisation and World Wars, people started to become exposed to other cultures and societies.
In this day and age, where Globalisation is the key to any successful business venture, interdependence between nations has become important. This has helped several countries to acknowledge and accept the free-thinking attitude of other countries and add the values which can help improve the society. Many countries have also made economical and industrial advancements to help the people and make progress. However, it has also led to several problems in other countries.
Many believe that over-exposure to the lifestyle and standard of living in developed countries encourages people in lesser developed countries to act or do things which can be against common values and norms. The blame of such behaviour is then put on western countries and the belief that they are trying to influence the youth in other countries to forget their native culture and adopt the western way of living. Although this kind of thinking can be considered backward and intolerant, we must respect it. Culture plays a pivotal role in the way the society behaves. If the lesser developed countries cannot enjoy the same economic benefits as other countries, they take pleasure in the fact that they still have their culture and that it will be passed on and followed by the children. When western thinking threatens this hope, many react aggressively and protest to the changes.
In present set-up, we can see that there are organisations all over the world, which are against the social behaviour of other societies. Even in developed countries, many organisations exist which are against liberal thinking and way of life. For any society to progress, each and every member must participate and be active in the decision making process. If some people decide not to do so, the country fails to progress as a unit and power gets concentrated in a few hands, while others get left behind.
Regarding the global scenario, international governing bodies must work with governments of different countries so that globalisation doesn’t alienate people of one country from each other. This will only lead to further social problems. Social change is a very slow process. It will only take place after an economic change. Any sudden social change will lead to resistance and intolerance of people in other countries. Finally, regarding local scenario, the state must make sure that any differences which divide the people of the same country must be removed. All problems of inequality and discrimination must be solved, before the government can think of making progress. Only if everyone is united and ready to participate, will the country make economic and social advancements.
In this day and age, where Globalisation is the key to any successful business venture, interdependence between nations has become important. This has helped several countries to acknowledge and accept the free-thinking attitude of other countries and add the values which can help improve the society. Many countries have also made economical and industrial advancements to help the people and make progress. However, it has also led to several problems in other countries.
Many believe that over-exposure to the lifestyle and standard of living in developed countries encourages people in lesser developed countries to act or do things which can be against common values and norms. The blame of such behaviour is then put on western countries and the belief that they are trying to influence the youth in other countries to forget their native culture and adopt the western way of living. Although this kind of thinking can be considered backward and intolerant, we must respect it. Culture plays a pivotal role in the way the society behaves. If the lesser developed countries cannot enjoy the same economic benefits as other countries, they take pleasure in the fact that they still have their culture and that it will be passed on and followed by the children. When western thinking threatens this hope, many react aggressively and protest to the changes.
In present set-up, we can see that there are organisations all over the world, which are against the social behaviour of other societies. Even in developed countries, many organisations exist which are against liberal thinking and way of life. For any society to progress, each and every member must participate and be active in the decision making process. If some people decide not to do so, the country fails to progress as a unit and power gets concentrated in a few hands, while others get left behind.
Regarding the global scenario, international governing bodies must work with governments of different countries so that globalisation doesn’t alienate people of one country from each other. This will only lead to further social problems. Social change is a very slow process. It will only take place after an economic change. Any sudden social change will lead to resistance and intolerance of people in other countries. Finally, regarding local scenario, the state must make sure that any differences which divide the people of the same country must be removed. All problems of inequality and discrimination must be solved, before the government can think of making progress. Only if everyone is united and ready to participate, will the country make economic and social advancements.
Democracy and Human Rights
Human society evolution has been remarkable. In early times, a leader was chosen to reign over a group of people who had a common set of beliefs and values. This person was made responsible for maintaining justice and development in the society. As time progressed, Gods and many superstitions came into existence. People had fear of the unknown. This fear led to power being concentrated in a few hands, while the others had little or no say in the decision-making process. However, their frustration and anger against this injustice grew. With free thinking, came the need for change. Industrial revolution and ideals of freedom encouraged people to fight the existing system. Democracy had taken birth and the people had the power to choose their own leaders and administrators.
Democracy in true meaning should exist at every level and in each form of society. However, we see nowadays that many governments make decisions and policies, which are not liked by majority of the public. Many decisions involving tax, finance, defence, infrastructure, etc which the government enforces, are to the general dislike of the people. Yet, they go through without much protest or resistance. Somewhere, democracy lost its true path. Blame can be put on several factors. But the fact remains that, those that have more money are considered to be more important and have a greater say in the decision making process. Their influence leads to many changes in the society which help them, instead of benefiting the entire society. This situation is no different than earlier times, when priests had to be consulted every time by the kings and queens, before taking a major decision. The only difference is that now, the harm caused by selfish motives and indecision is much more and effects more people.
There are many countries in the world which poor in every sense, their standard of living, their economy and their governance. These countries have not experienced many of the changes and developments which have already taken place in other counties. Hence, democracy is not the major issue for them. Most often, it is basic survival, shelter and food. The declining democratic system in many countries is a smaller issue than human rights. In many countries in Africa and Asia, the people are exploited and their rights are ignored. Many big corporations set up factories and workshops in these countries, where they can find cheap labour and many resources. There have been delegations held and laws made, by the international governing bodies, but the implementation has been very poor.
Human rights issue is not only prevalent in third-world counties, but also in many of the developed countries. As discussed earlier, the democratic system with a capitalist set up is failing to provide for all and be just. Many people are losing their jobs and several others are not able to sustain. Human rights come into play in this case, as people are unable to change such a situation and cannot beat the established system. In any event, the major decisions are left with the governing body, while trivial and unimportant issues left to be decided by the general public.
In conclusion, we can see that both democracy in its true meaning and human rights, are on a slow decline. Western nations are not different many of the less developed countries, with dictatorship and state governance. There is a need for change, which can be only brought by education and spreading awareness to the public, regarding their rights and duties as citizens. At the same time, democracy and human rights should be brought to other countries, which have been exploited till now for their resources.
Democracy in true meaning should exist at every level and in each form of society. However, we see nowadays that many governments make decisions and policies, which are not liked by majority of the public. Many decisions involving tax, finance, defence, infrastructure, etc which the government enforces, are to the general dislike of the people. Yet, they go through without much protest or resistance. Somewhere, democracy lost its true path. Blame can be put on several factors. But the fact remains that, those that have more money are considered to be more important and have a greater say in the decision making process. Their influence leads to many changes in the society which help them, instead of benefiting the entire society. This situation is no different than earlier times, when priests had to be consulted every time by the kings and queens, before taking a major decision. The only difference is that now, the harm caused by selfish motives and indecision is much more and effects more people.
There are many countries in the world which poor in every sense, their standard of living, their economy and their governance. These countries have not experienced many of the changes and developments which have already taken place in other counties. Hence, democracy is not the major issue for them. Most often, it is basic survival, shelter and food. The declining democratic system in many countries is a smaller issue than human rights. In many countries in Africa and Asia, the people are exploited and their rights are ignored. Many big corporations set up factories and workshops in these countries, where they can find cheap labour and many resources. There have been delegations held and laws made, by the international governing bodies, but the implementation has been very poor.
Human rights issue is not only prevalent in third-world counties, but also in many of the developed countries. As discussed earlier, the democratic system with a capitalist set up is failing to provide for all and be just. Many people are losing their jobs and several others are not able to sustain. Human rights come into play in this case, as people are unable to change such a situation and cannot beat the established system. In any event, the major decisions are left with the governing body, while trivial and unimportant issues left to be decided by the general public.
In conclusion, we can see that both democracy in its true meaning and human rights, are on a slow decline. Western nations are not different many of the less developed countries, with dictatorship and state governance. There is a need for change, which can be only brought by education and spreading awareness to the public, regarding their rights and duties as citizens. At the same time, democracy and human rights should be brought to other countries, which have been exploited till now for their resources.
Wednesday, September 17, 2008
War and Violence
The early civilisations were formed based on different geographical locations. Each civilisation had something unique to offer. Some were rich in natural resources, while the others had made technological and scientific advancement. There existed trade and economic interdependence. There were always certain people who could affect the decision-making process of the society as a whole. Sometimes, their wants exceeded their needs and they desired to be richer and gain more power. Since they could not take more from their own land, they would look elsewhere. This greed inspired battles, wars and invasions. This was the world we knew till about 19th Century. But Industrial Revolution, British Colonisation, World Wars and The Cold War have re-shaped our society and changed the way things are done. The standard of living has improved, technology and education are reaching all parts of the world and humans are moving towards a socio-economic harmony era.
The above is what we are made to believe and forced to accept. The reality is much worse. We are living in a world where in one part, a sea of men in black and white uniforms carrying laptops and PDAs are walking fast towards their nine-to-five jobs, worried about their health insurance. On the other hand, barely clothed men are mining for oil, gold or diamonds with only four hours of sleep, worried about surviving the night and seeing tomorrow through. How did we get so wrong as a society? When did the misery of one man and progress of another start becoming a routine? When will this injustice stop? These are some of the questions which need to be answered. Unfortunately, their answers are with a handful of individuals who have a greater motive in life than the enhancement and safety of mankind.
The only difference between now and then societies is that, we are becoming aware of the hidden intentions of men in power and how they manipulate people into believing that invasion and destruction of one community or society will benefit theirs. With mass media and communication, the world is shrinking. Politicians, administrators, company executives and traders are being exposed daily for fraud, corruption and ill-methods. Their hunger for money and power leads to many innocent people losing their lives and many homes destroyed. Although some are prosecuted and punished, most are either still in control or their position is being taken by others.
War and violence which exist in present society, have taken such a shape that whenever they occur, the number of causalities and economic toll keeps rising. Every year we hear of conflicts, blasts and terrorist threats. But when we hear of these things, we blame a certain society or community. People have stopped going to the root of the problems and trying to find the real culprits. The real men guilty here are those who profit every time the governments spend a huge part of their budget on defence weapons; and those who expand their business when one country attacks or invades the other.
The last thing these men behind the curtain want is a conscious, informed and educated public; capable of critical thinking and making decisions. They feed us lies of religion, race, creed, colour and class; so we are always living in paranoia and blindly accept what is being told to us.
Every human life has value and potential. Men are not evil by nature. Circumstances or greed, push a man to a limit, where he starts blaming others for his condition and desires to acquire everything. We are trying to live in a system where the greed of one man causes poverty, unemployment, inequality and pollution. The frustration, hunger and jealousy of other man cause him to blindly be involved in crime and inhumane activities. To show his vent, he attacks innocent people instead of the real men behind his condition. This existence of difference leads to conflicts, wars and terrorism.
The only solution for this problem is for countries to spend less money on weapons and arms, and focus on health, education and safety of people in developing and under-developed countries. Although the statement may sound cliché, what is surprising is the fact that such has not happened till now. Implementation and change are more important than words, which can and are being broken every time by our ‘leaders’.
The above is what we are made to believe and forced to accept. The reality is much worse. We are living in a world where in one part, a sea of men in black and white uniforms carrying laptops and PDAs are walking fast towards their nine-to-five jobs, worried about their health insurance. On the other hand, barely clothed men are mining for oil, gold or diamonds with only four hours of sleep, worried about surviving the night and seeing tomorrow through. How did we get so wrong as a society? When did the misery of one man and progress of another start becoming a routine? When will this injustice stop? These are some of the questions which need to be answered. Unfortunately, their answers are with a handful of individuals who have a greater motive in life than the enhancement and safety of mankind.
The only difference between now and then societies is that, we are becoming aware of the hidden intentions of men in power and how they manipulate people into believing that invasion and destruction of one community or society will benefit theirs. With mass media and communication, the world is shrinking. Politicians, administrators, company executives and traders are being exposed daily for fraud, corruption and ill-methods. Their hunger for money and power leads to many innocent people losing their lives and many homes destroyed. Although some are prosecuted and punished, most are either still in control or their position is being taken by others.
War and violence which exist in present society, have taken such a shape that whenever they occur, the number of causalities and economic toll keeps rising. Every year we hear of conflicts, blasts and terrorist threats. But when we hear of these things, we blame a certain society or community. People have stopped going to the root of the problems and trying to find the real culprits. The real men guilty here are those who profit every time the governments spend a huge part of their budget on defence weapons; and those who expand their business when one country attacks or invades the other.
The last thing these men behind the curtain want is a conscious, informed and educated public; capable of critical thinking and making decisions. They feed us lies of religion, race, creed, colour and class; so we are always living in paranoia and blindly accept what is being told to us.
Every human life has value and potential. Men are not evil by nature. Circumstances or greed, push a man to a limit, where he starts blaming others for his condition and desires to acquire everything. We are trying to live in a system where the greed of one man causes poverty, unemployment, inequality and pollution. The frustration, hunger and jealousy of other man cause him to blindly be involved in crime and inhumane activities. To show his vent, he attacks innocent people instead of the real men behind his condition. This existence of difference leads to conflicts, wars and terrorism.
The only solution for this problem is for countries to spend less money on weapons and arms, and focus on health, education and safety of people in developing and under-developed countries. Although the statement may sound cliché, what is surprising is the fact that such has not happened till now. Implementation and change are more important than words, which can and are being broken every time by our ‘leaders’.
Sunday, September 7, 2008
Crime
When there is an itch, there are two ways to deal with it. First, you scratch it and keep scratching it, till it bleeds and then agonisingly wait for a week for it to heal. Second, is to apply ointment on it and suffer minor discomfort for a day or two and get rid of it. Both the ways have their own ‘charm’. To be very honest, the latter does sound better. The same is the relation of crime and society. Society is our body and crime is an itch, which keeps disturbing and irritating everyone.
Although the above example is very frivolous, it is important to note that there lays a deeper meaning to it. For years now, crime has plagued our society taking several lives and destroying many homes. Drugs, guns, alcohol, cigarettes, etc are all a part of this plague. They tend to destroy everything society holds dear. Crime has a very vast market and it keeps growing annually with the population. The only thing worse than crime is organised crime. It engulfs not only the citizens, but also manages to infiltrate politics, administration, economy and law. Organised crime is very hard to break as it involves many people who have the power to make decisions and influence them. It is sometimes wondered whether the governments own crime or the crime owns them. Either way, it is very harmful to the society.
The history and evolution of crime is not important. It is not something that we should be proud of. The gangs, wars, drugs and murders are glorified on television and media. Many people work hard through their entire lives to earn and save money. They are part of a system that is corrupt and broken. Still, they work in order to provide for themselves and their family. It is not surprising to see then, that this system fails to protect and serve them.
This brings us to our next question: what is crime? Crime is any activity or set of activities which break the laws and rules of society. People commit crime because they look for alternative sources of income, rather than being a part of the system. Many countries are economically backward and have many unemployed and poor people. Every human has an aspiration to grow and better his/her life. If the country or established system can’t help them in achieving so, they aim to achieve it at the expense of others.
Crime is not only to be blamed on the poor and those who are seen or read about. According to me, it is a greater crime that our present system is failing to curb it. We should re-examine our present setup and alter it in a way that people are not driven by alternate motives which may cause harm to others. Crime is also committed by big corporations and industrialists who are driven solely on maximising profits and cutting costs. They can leave many people unemployed. In the hour of desperation, these unemployed people commit crime and cause harm to the economy. This is a vicious cycle and international governing bodies must check it.
Lastly, let us return to my original point regarding the itch and the ointment. Every society needs to wake up and realise that crime will not go away by police brutality, putting people in jail or hanging them. Violence breeds violence. If we come too hard on them, it will end up harming our time, money and energy. Crime requires patience and effort. We need a method, whereby the government and society work together to educate the young and at the same time, create jobs for them. It is a very slow process, but it is one which guarantees results.
In conclusion, crime is prevalent in almost every society. The most effective and perfect governments face crime in their country. Rather than incarcerating the guilty and further harming the society, the stress should be on education and social development. No society is perfect and neither it should be. But there must be constant effort to try to make it one. Effort itself will result in the citizens wanting a change and demanding safer environment for living.
Although the above example is very frivolous, it is important to note that there lays a deeper meaning to it. For years now, crime has plagued our society taking several lives and destroying many homes. Drugs, guns, alcohol, cigarettes, etc are all a part of this plague. They tend to destroy everything society holds dear. Crime has a very vast market and it keeps growing annually with the population. The only thing worse than crime is organised crime. It engulfs not only the citizens, but also manages to infiltrate politics, administration, economy and law. Organised crime is very hard to break as it involves many people who have the power to make decisions and influence them. It is sometimes wondered whether the governments own crime or the crime owns them. Either way, it is very harmful to the society.
The history and evolution of crime is not important. It is not something that we should be proud of. The gangs, wars, drugs and murders are glorified on television and media. Many people work hard through their entire lives to earn and save money. They are part of a system that is corrupt and broken. Still, they work in order to provide for themselves and their family. It is not surprising to see then, that this system fails to protect and serve them.
This brings us to our next question: what is crime? Crime is any activity or set of activities which break the laws and rules of society. People commit crime because they look for alternative sources of income, rather than being a part of the system. Many countries are economically backward and have many unemployed and poor people. Every human has an aspiration to grow and better his/her life. If the country or established system can’t help them in achieving so, they aim to achieve it at the expense of others.
Crime is not only to be blamed on the poor and those who are seen or read about. According to me, it is a greater crime that our present system is failing to curb it. We should re-examine our present setup and alter it in a way that people are not driven by alternate motives which may cause harm to others. Crime is also committed by big corporations and industrialists who are driven solely on maximising profits and cutting costs. They can leave many people unemployed. In the hour of desperation, these unemployed people commit crime and cause harm to the economy. This is a vicious cycle and international governing bodies must check it.
Lastly, let us return to my original point regarding the itch and the ointment. Every society needs to wake up and realise that crime will not go away by police brutality, putting people in jail or hanging them. Violence breeds violence. If we come too hard on them, it will end up harming our time, money and energy. Crime requires patience and effort. We need a method, whereby the government and society work together to educate the young and at the same time, create jobs for them. It is a very slow process, but it is one which guarantees results.
In conclusion, crime is prevalent in almost every society. The most effective and perfect governments face crime in their country. Rather than incarcerating the guilty and further harming the society, the stress should be on education and social development. No society is perfect and neither it should be. But there must be constant effort to try to make it one. Effort itself will result in the citizens wanting a change and demanding safer environment for living.
Women and Family
The issue of gender has often been a subject of debate and argument in society. Some are of the opinion that if the economy progresses, women will eventually become a part of it and their contribution to the decision making process will increase. On the other hand, some feel years of prejudice and discrimination against women has to be made up by making laws and rules which guarantee their involvement in society. However, it is of my opinion that we need a balance of both the views, wherein women are guaranteed an important role in society and at the same time, economic progress benefits the women and they are a part of it.
A successful society, according to me, is one which involves everyone residing in it while it makes progress; regardless of class, creed, colour, race, sex or age. It is difficult to include everyone, but even if a society makes an honest effort to do so, it will result in more positive development. Any balanced society consists of different kinds of people with different views. If only a certain part of the society is affecting the decision making process, it may alienate the others and this causes unhealthy, irregular development.
When we consider the case of women in society and history, it can be observed that their role has been fluctuating. They have been adored and worshipped as Goddesses, queens, administrators, freedom fighters and artists. They have also being discriminated against as witches, prostitutes and seen as a burden to society. The hunger of men to dominate and control society has often resulted in some of the most shocking prejudice against women. Religion and social norms often forced women to lead a life which was derogatory and more like a commodity, than a part of the society. They were subjected to minimal social life and were chained to their houses, made servants to their families. The status of women has not changed much in many African and Asian countries, but it is only due to lack of education, international exposure and economic development. Even if the western world has made progress in recent past, they were the ones who discriminated the most against women. We hear even to this day, how women are being kept as slaves and exposed to domestic violence in many developed economies.
The solution of this problem involves a systematic procedure, whereby each member of society is educated fairly and without discrimination. Laws are made to ensure that any decision making process involves an equal participation by women. These laws should be strictly implemented. This process may take decades, but once we have reached a balance and harmony in gender-equality, we will be able to develop and function better. Many organisations are working hard to attain gender equality in society. Unless the citizens themselves do not make an effort in bringing out a change, there will be no improvement in present condition. The mentality that women are supposed to be in houses and take care of family must be changed. Women should choose for themselves which life they prefer and the interests they want to pursue.
Women have an equal right to study, think, work and contribute to the society, as men do. It is a very surprising that even though we have made technological advancement and invented many things, an issue like gender equality still haunts us. If the present system is not working, it is essential that changes be made to include women. It has to start at lowest level like schools and households and end at the highest levels like Parliaments and important political offices.
A successful society, according to me, is one which involves everyone residing in it while it makes progress; regardless of class, creed, colour, race, sex or age. It is difficult to include everyone, but even if a society makes an honest effort to do so, it will result in more positive development. Any balanced society consists of different kinds of people with different views. If only a certain part of the society is affecting the decision making process, it may alienate the others and this causes unhealthy, irregular development.
When we consider the case of women in society and history, it can be observed that their role has been fluctuating. They have been adored and worshipped as Goddesses, queens, administrators, freedom fighters and artists. They have also being discriminated against as witches, prostitutes and seen as a burden to society. The hunger of men to dominate and control society has often resulted in some of the most shocking prejudice against women. Religion and social norms often forced women to lead a life which was derogatory and more like a commodity, than a part of the society. They were subjected to minimal social life and were chained to their houses, made servants to their families. The status of women has not changed much in many African and Asian countries, but it is only due to lack of education, international exposure and economic development. Even if the western world has made progress in recent past, they were the ones who discriminated the most against women. We hear even to this day, how women are being kept as slaves and exposed to domestic violence in many developed economies.
The solution of this problem involves a systematic procedure, whereby each member of society is educated fairly and without discrimination. Laws are made to ensure that any decision making process involves an equal participation by women. These laws should be strictly implemented. This process may take decades, but once we have reached a balance and harmony in gender-equality, we will be able to develop and function better. Many organisations are working hard to attain gender equality in society. Unless the citizens themselves do not make an effort in bringing out a change, there will be no improvement in present condition. The mentality that women are supposed to be in houses and take care of family must be changed. Women should choose for themselves which life they prefer and the interests they want to pursue.
Women have an equal right to study, think, work and contribute to the society, as men do. It is a very surprising that even though we have made technological advancement and invented many things, an issue like gender equality still haunts us. If the present system is not working, it is essential that changes be made to include women. It has to start at lowest level like schools and households and end at the highest levels like Parliaments and important political offices.
Work and Trade
The current global economy is positioned in a way, where almost all the countries are having trade relations with each other. This import and export between economies has become the spine of any successful society. Trade and work can only stopped, if there is a war or natural calamity. There are millions of transactions occurring all over the world, which help sustain each and every country. One late arrival or submission can lead to major crisis in any nation. Hence, in order to maintain economic peace and continuity, trade has to occur continuously and be balanced.
In this constant struggle to maintain a delicate balance, ethics and humanity is somehow being put to test. The three pillars of a modern economy (Liberalisation, Privatisation and Globalisation) have helped global economies to progress. But many big corporations, whose business expands all across the globe, are concentrated on maximising their profits and minimising their costs. This cut-throat competition has encouraged them to hire cheaper labour or outsource production to countries which have highly available and cheaper labour force. This action has the following effects:
- The human resource in developed countries is not being optimally utilised. Many people in these countries are losing jobs and this in turn is harming their economy.
- The labour laws and their implementation in developing or under-developed countries are poor. This makes it easier for the companies to exploit them. The governments are not very concerned about the utilisation of human resource; their actions are mainly driven by the corporations who offer a high foreign direct investment.
- The established corporations bring huge scale of money and tend to utilise other resources of country, apart from the man power. This tends to de-moralise the small business houses and entrepreneurs. Hence, the local industry is unable to grow and contribute to the economy.
The above are only the macro-effects which are noticed in case of foreign investment. There are several other issues like cultural differences, laws, child labour, etc which can harm any developing or under-developed economy. The more serious agenda is how sensitive a company is towards the country’s economic and social interests. Sometimes, corporations will make huge investments and provide jobs, but in the longer run they tend to think of only minimising their costs. So when they reduce their interest in the country, the economy suffers a great setback. Hence, corporations have to make sure that when they venture abroad; first, they respect the culture and rules of the society so that business can run without any protests or social issues. Second, they do not disturb or harm the economy of the nation. Often, profit-driven companies think more about their own wealth, rather than that of the nation.
Regarding the Trade in global prospect, there are a few observations which can be noted. First, almost all countries are trading with each other. There is a sense of mutual inter-dependence and understanding. Second, trade is greatly being affected by the ever-fluctuating oil prices. The oil-producing countries are able to manipulate and control the trade relations with other countries. There has to be a balance in terms of oil-trading. Oil-rich countries should make sure that a fair trade is maintained and that poor countries are not over-exploited. Since oil is an exhaustible resource, the global governing bodies should try to preserve it and at the same time, look for alternate resources of energy. Lastly, trade has become a major influence in how countries behave with each other. Hence, a sound and balanced trade should be maintained with other countries to ensure there is no international rivalry or hatred, which only leads to more problems.
In conclusion, the world governing bodies should be on a strict look for labour movement, foreign investment, labour laws, trade laws and trade regulations. It is very hard for citizens to be involved and change things. Governments and international bodies should work for the best interest of all.
In this constant struggle to maintain a delicate balance, ethics and humanity is somehow being put to test. The three pillars of a modern economy (Liberalisation, Privatisation and Globalisation) have helped global economies to progress. But many big corporations, whose business expands all across the globe, are concentrated on maximising their profits and minimising their costs. This cut-throat competition has encouraged them to hire cheaper labour or outsource production to countries which have highly available and cheaper labour force. This action has the following effects:
- The human resource in developed countries is not being optimally utilised. Many people in these countries are losing jobs and this in turn is harming their economy.
- The labour laws and their implementation in developing or under-developed countries are poor. This makes it easier for the companies to exploit them. The governments are not very concerned about the utilisation of human resource; their actions are mainly driven by the corporations who offer a high foreign direct investment.
- The established corporations bring huge scale of money and tend to utilise other resources of country, apart from the man power. This tends to de-moralise the small business houses and entrepreneurs. Hence, the local industry is unable to grow and contribute to the economy.
The above are only the macro-effects which are noticed in case of foreign investment. There are several other issues like cultural differences, laws, child labour, etc which can harm any developing or under-developed economy. The more serious agenda is how sensitive a company is towards the country’s economic and social interests. Sometimes, corporations will make huge investments and provide jobs, but in the longer run they tend to think of only minimising their costs. So when they reduce their interest in the country, the economy suffers a great setback. Hence, corporations have to make sure that when they venture abroad; first, they respect the culture and rules of the society so that business can run without any protests or social issues. Second, they do not disturb or harm the economy of the nation. Often, profit-driven companies think more about their own wealth, rather than that of the nation.
Regarding the Trade in global prospect, there are a few observations which can be noted. First, almost all countries are trading with each other. There is a sense of mutual inter-dependence and understanding. Second, trade is greatly being affected by the ever-fluctuating oil prices. The oil-producing countries are able to manipulate and control the trade relations with other countries. There has to be a balance in terms of oil-trading. Oil-rich countries should make sure that a fair trade is maintained and that poor countries are not over-exploited. Since oil is an exhaustible resource, the global governing bodies should try to preserve it and at the same time, look for alternate resources of energy. Lastly, trade has become a major influence in how countries behave with each other. Hence, a sound and balanced trade should be maintained with other countries to ensure there is no international rivalry or hatred, which only leads to more problems.
In conclusion, the world governing bodies should be on a strict look for labour movement, foreign investment, labour laws, trade laws and trade regulations. It is very hard for citizens to be involved and change things. Governments and international bodies should work for the best interest of all.
Class and Inequalities
Since the beginning of civilisation, society has always had methods to distinguish between the people residing in it. These classes were clearly defined in some countries, example in India there were the Brahmins (teachers, scholars and priests), the Kshatriyas (kings and warriors), the Vaishyas (traders), and Shudras (agriculturists, service providers, and some artisan groups). In other countries, the classes were formed on the basis of occupation of a person and their contribution towards society. These systems were broken over a period of time, as people in the higher classes started contributing lesser and the lower classes realised that more work was being done by them and they had very little contribution to the decision-making process.
With British colonisation, Industrial Revolution and the World Wars; society has re-shaped itself in the past two centuries, so as to ensure that everyone contributes and people are not defined by their family tree, but by their contribution to society. It allows scope for personal growth and improvement in societal status for everyone. This system sounds just and perfect. But one major flaw with the system is that it fails to consider the dynamic nature of man. Once people become rich and attain higher class in society, they prefer to stay there or grow. This leads the rich to over-exploit human resource for their own benefit. This is neither illegal nor opposed. Everyone seems to be fine with being a part of this system, instead of breaking the lines of inequality and prejudice. Society as a whole fails to commit to a change and people tend to be over protective of their current state. They have a fear that any retaliation against the system may lead to a shrink of their class and status in society.
When it comes to inequality, we see it in various forms and levels. These inequalities are a result of the some people or nations progressing faster in the current established system and others lagging behind and not being able to cope with the rapid growth. Inequalities in a society lead to insecurity in minds of many people. The rich are insecure that if they do not continue to earn more every year, their social status will fall. The middle class is insecure, that if they do not earn more, they will never experience the richer tastes in life or might even become poor. And the poor are insecure, because they feel they are easiest targets of crime and other ills of society. These insecurities make invisible lines in society, whereby humans are distinguished on the clothes they wear, the cars they drive, the houses they live in, etc.
When we consider global economics and its present state, we realise that there exists a gap between nations in terms of exchange rate, the per capita income, the GDP and other economic indicators. These indicators are helpful, as they rank countries and give a rough estimate as to how well are they performing. They also help governments to form policies and strategies in order to improve the standard of living and quality of life of the residents. However, these indicators also make countries insecure of each other. Therefore, we see economically driven strategies by one country which may be harmful for the other. Hence, we see some countries being respected and feared more, as compared to the others.
In conclusion, it is safe to say that class and inequalities prevalent in our society, are having a local as well as global affect. The best way to improve the present condition is to implement changes which are not in favour of any one of the present classes or countries; but changes which help all sections of society and country. Change is a part of human evolution. It is good for us, as we can learn and continue living. However, once we stop accepting and implementing change, certain people profit and improve their lives, while others get stranded behind. It is important that there is a change in economic policies, laws, trade, work, etc. Only once the changes are introduced, will the society push for a fairer and just balance, rather than widen gap between people and countries we see today.
With British colonisation, Industrial Revolution and the World Wars; society has re-shaped itself in the past two centuries, so as to ensure that everyone contributes and people are not defined by their family tree, but by their contribution to society. It allows scope for personal growth and improvement in societal status for everyone. This system sounds just and perfect. But one major flaw with the system is that it fails to consider the dynamic nature of man. Once people become rich and attain higher class in society, they prefer to stay there or grow. This leads the rich to over-exploit human resource for their own benefit. This is neither illegal nor opposed. Everyone seems to be fine with being a part of this system, instead of breaking the lines of inequality and prejudice. Society as a whole fails to commit to a change and people tend to be over protective of their current state. They have a fear that any retaliation against the system may lead to a shrink of their class and status in society.
When it comes to inequality, we see it in various forms and levels. These inequalities are a result of the some people or nations progressing faster in the current established system and others lagging behind and not being able to cope with the rapid growth. Inequalities in a society lead to insecurity in minds of many people. The rich are insecure that if they do not continue to earn more every year, their social status will fall. The middle class is insecure, that if they do not earn more, they will never experience the richer tastes in life or might even become poor. And the poor are insecure, because they feel they are easiest targets of crime and other ills of society. These insecurities make invisible lines in society, whereby humans are distinguished on the clothes they wear, the cars they drive, the houses they live in, etc.
When we consider global economics and its present state, we realise that there exists a gap between nations in terms of exchange rate, the per capita income, the GDP and other economic indicators. These indicators are helpful, as they rank countries and give a rough estimate as to how well are they performing. They also help governments to form policies and strategies in order to improve the standard of living and quality of life of the residents. However, these indicators also make countries insecure of each other. Therefore, we see economically driven strategies by one country which may be harmful for the other. Hence, we see some countries being respected and feared more, as compared to the others.
In conclusion, it is safe to say that class and inequalities prevalent in our society, are having a local as well as global affect. The best way to improve the present condition is to implement changes which are not in favour of any one of the present classes or countries; but changes which help all sections of society and country. Change is a part of human evolution. It is good for us, as we can learn and continue living. However, once we stop accepting and implementing change, certain people profit and improve their lives, while others get stranded behind. It is important that there is a change in economic policies, laws, trade, work, etc. Only once the changes are introduced, will the society push for a fairer and just balance, rather than widen gap between people and countries we see today.
Social Problems and Globalisation
The world has been under continuous evolution ever since the beginning. However, it is only of late that the speed of changes has increased drastically. The past century had several events that have led to change in the way normal society behaves. These changes have improved the standard of living and the quality of life for many, however they have also led to deep and strong divide been different societies and communities.
According to me, some major events that have shaped our society are:
- The World War II: The fragile tension between different cultures broke and although several innocent people lost their lives, it paved the way for many big companies to explore abroad and become global players. The United States and Soviet Union became two big leaders in global politics and economics.
- The Cold War: Till 1990, countries were divided into two major sections. First, the ones who supported the capitalist and democratic system of the USA and second, the countries who followed and believed in the communist and state governance of USSR.
- Berlin Wall: 1989, marked as a very special year for human history. The removal of the Berlin Wall signalled a win for the United States and paved way for the disintegration of USSR. This encouraged several countries to review their economic policies and make amendments. Globalisation has taken birth. It marked more free market and trade policies. Countries like India, China, Philippines and Vietnam slowly started making changes to become part of this global revolution.
The above are main three events that changed the way society functioned and dealt with other societies. Labour migration and technological advancement helped many countries and at the same time, reduction in human-resource in many.
We can now see that Globalisation is a major factor in the evolution of society. There are several social problems which are there in even present day and age which affect the way we behave and conduct ourselves as a society.
According to me, two main social problems that we face today are:
- Racism and Racial-Profiling: Many western countries had made advancement in labour reforms and labour laws over the years. So, when globalisation actually started taking place, it led to a change in the established balance. Labour movement, increase in volume of trade between countries and outsourcing; gave big corporations a cheaper alternative to manufacture and provide goods and services. They could hire labour at less than half the cost of those in their own countries. This is leading to a rise in unemployment and lack of proper utilisation of human resource in already developed countries. Because of these problems, the tension between people from different countries is rising and the issue is being politically driven. Hence, we see that rate of racial discrimination is on the rise and the tolerance level is falling.
The solution to this problem is for international governing bodies to ensure that work not only reaches the less developed and developing countries; but also stays and grows in developed economies. Only if there is regulated and controlled labour movement and outsourcing, will the problems of racism and social intolerance reduce.
- Poverty and Unemployment: Over the last 50 years, some countries have taken advantage of globalisation and their development has been phenomenal. However, several countries in Africa and Asia are lacking behind and the standard of living is very poor. The main cause of this problem is that many of these countries had to face problems of civil war, social unrest and international disharmony for several years running. This has also lead to dissatisfaction amongst the citizens of these countries, which in turn leads to global issues of crime, drug and human trafficking, terrorism and piracy.
The solution for this problem is for different political leaders to try and work out methods and help re-build the fragile economies. This will lead to steady growth and change the mindset of the citizens of under-developed nations.
There are several other socio-economic problems which are caused directly or indirectly by globalisation. However, unless we find a cure for racial discrimination and poverty; all the other problems will continue to grow. In conclusion, the global scenario is expected to change at an even faster rate by the year 2020 and if the current problems are not solved, they will continue to exist or even grow. It is important that in the coming decade, world leaders and global corporations find a way to solve the issues pertaining in our present society; so our economic growth can co-exist with social development in harmony.
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