Introduction:
Globalization started a long time ago and slowly grew over time. From the 15th to the 17th centuries, during the Age of Exploration, countries like Spain and Portugal established sea trade routes around the world. These early global connections led to the exchange of goods, people, and cultures. Later, during the 18th and 19th centuries, the Industrial Revolution brought about significant changes like steam engines and telegraphs that sped up global communication and travel. Adam Smith was a proponent of free trade, and Karl Marx opposed global capitalism’s unfair treatment of workers. By the mid-19th century, trade, travel, and money were moving more freely between countries. Poorer countries like China and India later used trade to grow their economies, create jobs, and reduce poverty. New inventions in transport and communication helped businesses work in many countries at once. But globalization also caused problems like unfair wages, rich–poor gaps, and major financial crashes like in 2008. Today, globalization is still changing the world—it started long ago and continues to shape how countries work together, how people live, and how safe the world is.
Globalization make the world more connected through trade, technology, easy travel and communication. In today’s world people, products and information move across borders more easily and quickly than before. This process brought many good things and benefits like economic growth, cultural exchange and better access to information. but globalization also has serous effects on peace and security around the world. while it can help stop wars and make cooperation, it can also bring new dangers, risks and make conflicts more complex.
One important way globalization supports peace through more making countries more economically connected or dependent on each other. when countries do trade and more invest in each other’s economies and share markets so they are less likely to fight. Because war would hurt both sides financially. A study by Blanton and Apodaca (2007) found that countries with more foreign investment, trade, open market and open media had a lower chance of facing civil war or conflicts. Their research shows that stronger relation between countries help reduce wars or violence by giving leaders more reasons to avoid the wars.
At the same time globalization also create cooperation between countries like work together to solve common problems. International organizations like United Nations (UN) and World Health Organization (WHO) help countries work together on issues like terrorism, diseases and climate change. These efforts make the world safer and more connected. But globalization also have bad sides. Globalization made it easier for terrorist groups and criminals go across borders or operate easily around the world and they can use internet and modern technology to spread their messages, raise money and plan attacks in many countries at the same time. A study published in the journal PNAS by (Friedrich & Moehler, 2021) found that regions near strategic locations, like sea routes have a 25% higher risk of conflict during times of low global trade. But when global trade is strong that risk goes down and showing that global trade and businesses can help reduce conflicts.
Globalization can also create unfairness some countries and people get more benefits and some get less. In places where poverty increases and people feel left out of the global economy, anger and unrest can grow. This can lead to civil wars, conflicts and terrorism. Also, when big global companies or countries become powerful, they can make it harder for smaller countries to control their own resources and polices. So, the globalization has both good and bad effects on peace and security around the world. It helps reduce conflicts but it also brings new risks and problems. To keep the world peaceful leaders must need to work together to handle these problems of globalization and make sure its benefits are shared fairly.
Literature Review:
Historical background of globalization: Globalization means the mixing of culture and ideas through things like trade, travel and communication. Globalization started hundreds of years ago with trade routes like silk road connected people from different countries. In Middle Ages European countries traded goods like spices, gold and tea. Over time more items like music, movies and technology became part of global exchange. today globalization supported by the internet and fast communication, connecting people, businesses and governments worldwide. K. Yamamoto, and T. Rahschulte, (2019).
Impacts of Globalization on Global Peace: The impacts of globalization on world peace are complicated and have both good and bad sides, globalization helped many countries grow economically, increased trade between nations and improved the quality of life for many people around the world (Friedman, 2005). These improvements have helped countries become more connected and work together more, which can support global peace. However, globalization has also caused more inequality, poverty and left some people and communities behind (Stiglitz, 2003). These problems lead to anger and violence. Also, as countries compete more for resources and power especially for things like markets and natural resources globalization can sometimes leads to disagreements between nations.
Effects of Globalization on International Security:
Terrorism:
Extremism Terrorism is a major threat to international security today. Since second half of the twentieth century, the problem of terrorism has grown to be a global concern and it is directly interlinked to globalization. Zhadan (2016) claims that unlike other security threats that are caused by criminals with the intent to gain financially, terrorism is ideological in nature. People with divergent religious, social, and political ideologies use terrorism as a means to instill fear and propagate their dogmas by use of violence. In the sense, the different political, cultural, and religious groups in the world try to compete for attention and supremacy in the face of globalization and this contributes to the growth of terrorism.
The scourge of terrorism has taken the form of a direct conflict between western and eastern ideologies over the past few decades, or between the Christian-dominated west and Islamic states in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) regions. Hayes (2019) explains that with globalization, the United States and other western developed countries wanted to impose a common global political, economic, and social system. During the Cold War era, after the World War II, the United States worked closely with its allies to encourage countries to embrace democratic political system, a capitalist economic system, and liberal social system (Zhadan, 2016). They found covert ways to destabilize or overthrow governments that went against their recommended political and economic systems and supported democratic regimes. It is from that conflict that the problem of terrorism became a global concern as people such as Osama bin Laden his Al-Qaeda went out to harass the United States and its allies. The division between Arab nations that opposed the occupation of Israel in Gaza and western nations dominated by Christianity is the same. Terrorism has become even more complicated as a result of people moving around the world as tourists or permanent immigrants as a result of globalization. It may be difficult for nations to distinguish legitimate visitors from terrorists because some people who travel to other countries intend to carry out acts of terrorism. According to Baker and Carson (2020), many of the nations that have been directly impacted by the threat posed by terrorism have been compelled to impose excessively stringent restrictions on immigrants from particular parts of the world. While globalization encourages people to travel, work, and, live in any part of the world, the same pose a security threat to countries that are targeted by terrorists. For instance, the terrorists who carried out the attack on September 11, 2001, came to the United States as immigrants in search of work and education, but they also had other motivations. According to Szkurat (2019), the security threat forced the United States to restrict the entry of immigrants from high-risk nations at some point. Baker, D., & Carson, F. (2020).
Human trafficking:
Globalization is also aggravated the insecurity problem of human trafficking. The illegal movement of people across state and regional borders is known as human trafficking. Globalization made it easy for people to move across borders due to the integration of trade and improvement of road networks. Villacampa and Torres (2019) indicate that human traffickers take advantage of the elaborate global transport and communication networks to move people from far off countries in Asia, South America, and Africa to the developed countries in Europe and North America. Human trafficking is a direct threat to international security because a good number of the people trafficked are made to work as slaves or forced commercial sex workers in the major cities in the world. For example, in 2019 39 trafficked individuals were found dead inside a truck in Essex, England (Berger, 2019). The victims were trafficked from China and Vietnam and were expected to join the illegal immigrant market in Europe. The case points to the serious threat of human trafficking in the world.
Globalization, which facilitates trade and worker migration across national borders, is a major contributor to human trafficking. It is common to find immigrant workers from third world or developing countries working in the informal sectors in the large cities in Europe, Middle East, Asia, and North America. Stamper (2019) states that the human traffickers take advantage of the lucrative global labor market to provide cheap or forced workers from the poor countries. The illegal immigrants join the large populations of foreign workers in the developed countries and it is not easy for the authorities to distinguish the genuine from the smuggled workers.
Exposure to the developed countries lifestyle through the media and word of mouth motivates thousands of people to risk their lives as they try to get trafficked with the hope of getting a better life. Gębska (2020) explains that some human traffickers use social media to communicate to their targets and use videos and images to entice them on the good life beyond the borders. Human trafficking has increased as a result of the ease with which people from different parts of the world can communicate with one another thanks to globalization. The young people from poor countries get the opportunity to interact directly with trafficking agents who promise them high paying jobs or wealthy spouses when they get to their destination. According to Stamper (2019), many people who are smuggled into a country are shocked when they arrive at their destination to find themselves in illegal occupations like prostitution or criminal activity. As a result of their illegal entry, they are compelled to work for little or no pay. Gębska, M. H. (2020).
Theories:
Realist (conflict) theory: Realist theory argues that countries act mainly to protect their own interests and power. Globalization not change this basic rule it makes states more aware of their rivals and increase competition for creating more influence. Powerful nations use global economic connections or military force to ensure their survival or control others. They don’t trust others, so they often build up arms or form alliances to stay safe—a situation known as the security dilemma (Tang, 2009). For example, Russia has used gas supplies to pressure Europe. Realist thinkers believe that even if countries trade, they still don’t fully trust each other and will build up their power just in case a conflict happens. offensive realism argues that states aim to dominate their regions and prevent rivals from gaining too much influence (Mearsheimer, 2001).
Liberalism (Neoliberal Institutionalism): Liberal theory says that globalization promotes peace by creating connections through trade, institutions and shared norms. When countries depend on each other for money and resources they are less likely to fight. Keohane and nye (1977) called this complex interdependence meaning countries are linked in many ways like through trade, politics and businesses. Institutions like UN and WTO help solve problems peacefully by creating trust and cooperation. Empirical studies indicate that countries deeply engaged in global trade and diplomacy experience fewer conflicts as economic ties and collective governance act as stabilizing mechanism. Keohane, R. O, & Martin L, L (1995).
World-Systems Theory: This introduced by Immanuel Wallerstein, explains how globalization divides the world inti three categories core, semi periphery and periphery countries. Core countries like US or Germany are rich and powerful and control most of the world industries and technologies. Periphery countries like Africa, Asia or Latin America provide raw material and labor but remain dependent on core countries. Semi periphery countries are in between participating in both low- and high-level economic activities. The theory argues that globalization make the gap between rich and poor countries. Poor countries stay weak and unhappy because they don’t get same benefits as rich countries. This led to problems and protests. Wallerstein explain that global capitalist system gives money and power to a few countries but create instability for many others especially weaker ones.
Results and discussion:
Positive Impacts of Globalization on Global Peace and Security:
Economic Interdependence:
• Reduced Conflict: Through trade, globalization has encouraged economic interdependence, which can lower the likelihood of conflict. Conflict has a greater negative impact on economically connected nations than peace.
• Increased Commerce: Global trade increases the availability of goods and services, making it easier for countries to meet the needs of their citizens and reducing the incentive to resort to conflict for resource acquisition.
• Economic Growth: Economic growth is sparked by globalization, which can improve living standards, reduce poverty, and stabilize societies, reducing the likelihood of conflict.
Improved Collaboration:
• International Organizations: Peace and security-promoting international organizations and agreements have been established and strengthened as a result of globalization. These organizations facilitate dialogue, mediation, and conflict resolution.
• Global Challenges: Globalization has highlighted the need for international collaboration to address global challenges like climate change, terrorism, and pandemics.
• Solidarity in the World: The interconnected nature of the world has fostered a sense of global solidarity and collective action, making it easier for countries to work together on issues of mutual concern.
Cultural Exchange and Understanding:
• Mutual Recognition: Cultural exchange and integration are made easier by globalization, which makes it easier for people from different societies to understand and appreciate one another.
• Reduced Prejudice: Stereotypes and prejudice, which can be a root cause of conflict, can be reduced and stereotypes broken down through increased interaction and communication between cultures.
• Cultural Diplomacy: Globalization allows for cultural diplomacy, where countries can use their rich cultural heritage to promote positive relations and understanding with other nations.
Technological Advancements:
• Peacebuilding Technologies: New technologies can play a role in peacebuilding by facilitating communication, conflict resolution, and the delivery of humanitarian aid.
• Environmental Cooperation: The dissemination of technologies and knowledge that can be utilized to address environmental issues like climate change is made possible by globalization.
• Enhanced Awareness: Globalization makes it easier for people to learn about environmental and other global issues, raising awareness and promoting sustainable practices.
Negative impacts of globalization on global peace and security:
Rise of Extremism and Terrorism:
Globalization can facilitate the spread of extremist ideologies and provide platforms for terrorist groups to communicate and coordinate activities.
Economic Inequality and Social Unrest:
Social unrest, resentment, and a greater willingness to resort to violence can result from an increase in economic inequality—both within countries and between them.
Weakening of National Sovereignty and State Power:
Globalization can erode the power and legitimacy of national governments, leading to a sense of vulnerability and instability.
Degradation of the environment and a lack of resources:
Increased industrial activity and resource consumption associated with globalization can lead to environmental degradation and resource scarcity, which can exacerbate conflict and instability.
Pandemics and cyberattacks pose a greater threat:
Globalization has made the world more connected, making it easier for pandemics and cyberattacks to spread across borders.
Diversification and homogenization of cultures:
Globalization can lead to the homogenization of cultures, potentially undermining local identities and traditions, and contributing to social tensions.
Human trafficking and labor exploitation:
Globalization can also facilitate the exploitation of workers in developing countries, leading to unsafe working conditions and human trafficking.
Addressing the challenges:
It is essential to do the following in order to reduce the negative effects of globalization on global peace and security:
Address inequality and encourage economic growth that is open to all:
Ensure that the benefits of globalization are shared by all, and implement policies that reduce inequality and provide social safety nets.
Institutions at home and abroad should be strengthened:
Make governments and international organizations more adept at tackling global issues and fostering cooperation.
Protect the environment and encourage sustainable development:
Implement policies that promote sustainable development and address environmental degradation to ensure long-term peace and security.
Protect cultural diversity and identity:
In order to preserve cultural diversity and prevent homogenization, support local customs and cultures.
Combat extremism and terrorism:
Address the root causes of extremism, including economic inequality and social injustice, and strengthen efforts to counter terrorism.
Strengthen global health security:
To prevent and respond to pandemics, make investments in global health infrastructure and strengthen international cooperation.
Case Studies:
The Arab Spring (2011):
The Arab Spring was a wave of demonstrations that began in Tunisia and quickly spread to Egypt, Libya, Syria, and other countries in the Middle East and North Africa. The movement’s rapid spread was significantly influenced by globalization. Social media like Facebook and Twitter helped people in different countries share news, protest plans, and videos of government violence. People felt connected as a result, and others were motivated to speak up. Global TV channels like Al Jazeera and CNN showed the protests to the world, bringing international attention. While some nations backed the governments, others backed the protesters. In some places, like Tunisia, things improved. But in others, like Syria and Libya, the protests turned into violent civil wars.
This case demonstrates that while globalization can assist individuals in fighting for their rights, it can also result in conflict if there is insufficient leadership or support. Depending on how it is handled, the rapid dissemination of ideas and information can either bring people together or divide them.
COVID-19 Pandemic (2020–2022):
The COVID-19 pandemic demonstrated the benefits and drawbacks of globalization. Because the world is so connected through trade, travel, and communication, the virus spread very quickly from China to almost every country. Panic was caused by this global connection, which made it harder to control the virus. Countries rushed to close borders, protect their people, and fight for medical supplies. There were disagreements over vaccines and lockdowns, which caused tension between countries. At the same time, globalization helped scientists around the world work together to develop vaccines fast and share important health information.
Additionally, the pandemic impacted the economy, particularly in developing nations that rely on trade and tourism. Global supply chains broke down, and millions of people lost their jobs. Conflict and mistrust grew as a result of countries blaming one another for the virus’s spread. This case demonstrates that while globalization facilitates quick cooperation, it can also rapidly spread issues. It highlights the need for global systems that can handle crises fairly and peacefully.
Cyberattack on Estonia in (2007):
Estonia—one of the most internet-connected countries in the world—was hit by a massive cyberattack. The country was hit by weeks of online attacks that shut down government websites, banks, and media following a political decision to move a statue from the Soviet era. It was thought that Russian hackers were responsible for these attacks. Because Estonia was so globalized and digital, the damage was big. People couldn’t access money, public services, or reliable news. This case showed how new threats in a globalized world don’t always involve guns—they can be digital and still cause serious problems.
Estonia responded by enhancing its cyber defenses and receiving assistance from NATO. It rose to global prominence in cybersecurity. NATO even created a special center in Estonia to help countries prepare for cyber threats.
This case demonstrates that nations must safeguard not only their borders but also their digital infrastructure as the world becomes increasingly interconnected. Risks rise as a result of globalization, but it also enables nations to share information and collaborate to protect themselves.
Globalization and Afghanistan:
Afghanistan’s experience with globalization has had both helpful and harmful effects on its peace and security. After the 2001 U.S.-led invasion that removed the Taliban from power, Afghanistan became more connected to the world. Many international organizations and countries started giving aid, building schools, roads, and hospitals, and promoting democracy. Through the acquisition of foreign investment and the trading of goods, Afghanistan also joined the global economy. However, this connection also brought many challenges. Tension resulted from some foreign ideas and influences clashing with local customs and culture. Additionally, not everyone in the nation benefited equally from globalization. Corruption, poverty, and lack of jobs remained major problems, especially in rural areas. Many young people felt left behind, which made it easier for extremist groups like the Taliban to recruit them.
In 2021, when NATO and U.S. forces left, the Taliban quickly took control again. This showed that despite 20 years of globalization, peace and security were still fragile. One reason was that global aid focused less on building strong, just Afghan institutions and more on money and the military. This case shows that globalization alone cannot bring peace. To truly assist a nation like Afghanistan, it must be paired with fairness, good governance, and participation from the local community.
Conclusion:
Through trade, technology, communication, and cultural exchange, globalization has brought people from all over the world closer together. It has helped nations grow economically, improved living standards, and created opportunities for cooperation in solving global problems like pandemics and climate change. As shown in the literature and case studies, globalization plays a complex role in international peace and security. On one hand, it reduces the chances of war by creating economic interdependence among countries, encouraging dialogue through international institutions, and promoting cultural understanding. These aspects contribute to the development of trust and offer peaceful solutions to global problems. Globalization, on the other hand, carries significant risks. It has the potential to raise inequality both within and between nations, resulting in a lot of people feeling excluded or disadvantaged. Social unrest, civil wars, and terrorism are all possible outcomes of this frustration. The negative effects of globalization can be clearly seen in the rise of extremism, cybercrime, and the exploitation of vulnerable populations. Furthermore, imbalances that jeopardize sovereignty and long-term peace may result from corporations and powerful nations dominating weaker ones. Case studies like the Arab Spring, COVID-19, cyberattacks in Estonia, and the ongoing conflict in Afghanistan show both the strengths and weaknesses of globalization in real-life situations. These instances demonstrate that unless it is guided by fairness, inclusion, and strong institutions, globalization cannot guarantee peace. Therefore, to ensure that globalization supports global peace and security, world leaders must work together to reduce inequalities, strengthen democratic institutions, and promote ethical global governance. Only then can globalization truly become a force for peace, rather than a source of new conflicts. We must ensure that globalization’s benefits are shared and its risks are carefully addressed in order to ensure a peaceful future.
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