Government Restrictions on Globalization
- Imagine living in a world where your access to information is tightly controlled, and the products you use are limited by government policies.
- This is the reality in many countries where governments impose restrictions on globalization to protect their interests, maintain control, or preserve cultural identity.
- In some places governments do not control the entire territory of a country which creates favourable conditions for local militias to emerge.
- These militias, usually heavily armed and violent, gain the power to control and restrict different interactions. They operate on a local scale, but sometimes become more powerful.
- For example The Islamic State (IS), also known as the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS), the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) took advantage of weak governance in Iraq and civil war in Syria and self-declared a caliphate introducing extreme version of Islamic law and controlling fully economic, social, cultural, and political interactions within and between their quasi-state and the external world.
Personal Freedoms: Internet Censorship and Surveillance
The Great Firewall of China
- China's Great Firewall is one of the most well-known examples of internet censorship.
- It restricts access to global websites like Google, Facebook, and X (Twitter), replacing them with domestic alternatives such as Baidu and WeChat.
- It blocks information about topics related to human rights violations and political oppression in China.
- The Great Firewall is part of a broader strategy to control information and maintain political stability by limiting exposure to foreign ideas.
- The most profound example of a country strictly following this strategy is Democratic People's Republic of Korea (North Korea).
Why Do Governments Censor the Internet and Media?
- Political Control: Preventing the spread of dissenting opinions or organizing protests.
- Cultural Preservation: Protecting local values from foreign influence.
- Economic Protection: Supporting domestic tech and media companies by limiting competition.
Think about how internet censorship affects not just individuals but also businesses and the economy. Consider both the short-term and long-term impacts.
Example- Freedom House - an NGO - rates people’s access to political rights and civil liberties in 210 countries and territories.
- 68 places were identified as “not free”.
- These places include LICs (e.g. South Sudan) and HICs (e.g. Saudi Arabia); powerful countries (Russia), occupied territories (Donbas), autonomous territories (Gaza Strip) or regions claimed by different countries (Kashmir); countries in conflict (Yemen), as well as in peace (Rwanda).
Anti-Immigration Policies: Restricted Mobility and Border Walls
US Migration Policy
- In recent years US Migration Policy has become more strict introducing new policies, like "Remain in Mexico," to manage border traffic and deter unauthorized immigration.
- They include legal attempts to close the US borders entirely for citizens of selected countries, family separations and deportations of undocumented migrants.
Why Do Governments Impose Anti-Immigration Policies?
- Increased Security Measures: Anti-immigration policies often lead to the implementation of stricter border control measures, including physical barriers like walls, aimed at reducing unauthorized entry and enhancing national security.
- Economic Concerns: Governments advocate for restricted mobility as a response to perceived economic pressures from immigration, arguing that it protects local jobs and resources for citizens.
- Cultural Identity: Such policies are frequently framed around preserving national identity and culture, reflecting societal anxieties about the impacts of immigration on social cohesion and traditional values.
Trade Restrictions: Tariffs and Protectionism
The US–China Trade War
- The US–China Trade War is a prime example of how governments use tariffs to restrict globalization.
