Globalization

The term globalization is used more often in the political, economic and social scene. Defined as "trends in social change in the economic, political and cultural relationships between people across the world", the term has been used to reference to the use of information technology that has made it possible for different people in various parts of the world to share a common platform (Askelamd & Payne, 2008, p. 9). One of the reasons that explain why the term has found increase in its usage rest on the debate that surrounds its impacts on the society. There are various arguments that have been raised in favor and against globalization which have generated a lot of debate on its effects and significance. While such debates have ensued, consumers have been left out to make their own choice regarding how they need to respond to the issue of globalization. While it may be argued by some opponents that globalization is harmful and should be condemned in the society, there is need for consumers to throw their support behind it. This is as a result of the positive benefits of globalization to the consumers. Through pressing for its continuance as members of civil society and purchasing goods or services of global origin, consumers will display their stand on increasing the globalization.

The articles a survey of globalization (2001) brings to light the fact that many critics have come out to depict globalization as harmful to all the spheres of the society. While this is just but one instance of the picture of how the some member of the society are fighting globalization, there are other critics who have come out to convince other members of the society to rise against it. Nevertheless, there are numerous benefits that come with the spread and growth of globalization. With globalization promising such great benefits, it is needful for consumers to be able to support it through their activities as members of the civil society and members of the community who have power to purchase goods and services.

Globalization and consumers

While it may seem prudent for an average citizen to resist globalization going by the arguments raised against the process, there are many benefits that such citizens can gain from being part of a globalized world. First, globalization has made it possible for new employments to be generated in areas that were once considered to be having few job opportunities. As Madslien (2003) confirms, the increase in globalization has led to the stimulating of jobs which have arisen on various parts of the world where global networks have been established to facilitate the movement of goods and exchange of services. To an average citizen, this effect of globalization is a relief particularly to those that have found it difficult to secure jobs due to the limited number of job openings.

With globalization, average citizens are in a better position to gain employment in industries with global networks that would otherwise be unavailable. For example, average citizens in nations like China and India can benefit from working in factories which may be focused on the production of various industrial goods. The effect of such jobs will be felt in the reduction on the number of unemployment rates in the named countries will further cause other spill over benefits. For this reason, it is important that the average citizen fully support the globalization process knowing that new work related opportunities will emerge. This will in turn improve their income and living standards (Madslien, 2003).

With globalization promising new jobs in areas like industries where goods are fabricated or service industry, an average citizen should fight to the development of global ties between their countries with other global partners. They aloes need to seize work opportunities being offered by globalized firms in order to encourage the entire process. In doing so, the globalization will be of great benefit in terms of providing employment to citizens.

Another reason that compels the average citizen to support globalization is one that is connected to the reduction of cost of goods or service. While globalization has been criticized for a number of reasons, it is evident that is benefits also touch on the net reduction of cost of consumer goods (Kumar, 2010). This reason means that the average citizen is a real winner being that they can make a lot of saving from purchasing goods or services. Through globalization, it is possible for a given firm to reduce the cost of production of goods or rendering of service to the consumers. This is often tied up to the low cost of production associated with the global networks of partners. As an example, a firm in the United States may find it cheap to produce goods in China. As this typifies how globalization takes place, the average citizen in the United States will enjoy the cheap goods or services. In return, the saving made can be channeled to other areas such as health and education.

As a result of cheap good or services emanating from the process of globalization, average citizens need to be in the forefront advocating for it rather than taking part in calling for its abolishment. Citizens can push for the continuance of the globalization process in a number of ways with advocacy and making of purchases being one of them. Since most of the firms will look unto their customers to purchase both goods and service, it is imperative that citizens become consumers of goods and services that will make the companies stay in business. The end effect of this is that more firms will expand into new global markets. This might even reduce cost of services and commodities even more.

At the same time, average citizens should also call for the establishment of global ties by working hand in hand with global firms in making purchases and even investing in them if possible. Such gestures will encourage growth of globalization with more firms supported by the civil society which will advocate for its continuance.

The average citizens should also voice their support towards the benefits of globalization in order to ensure that its worth to the society continues to be felt. Unknown to the many critics of the process, globalization is essential in ensuring that citizens of a given country not only receive quality goods but also a variety of them. This being one of the benefits to the citizens, consumption of both good and services with global origin needs to be motivated. This is due to the reasons attached to the availability of quality goods which comes in a variety.

The quality of goods sold by business firms is one of the critical factors that consumers look for. Unlike a country where monopoly thrives, globalization results in the establishment of positive competitive forces and actors who can make firms consider the amount of efforts placed towards quality improvement (Lane, 2006). With globalization connected to the influx of quality goods, it is necessary for citizen to ask or call for quality goods of foreign origin in stores. This will stimulate the stocking of such goods. Ultimately, those that engage in producing goods or services for global markets will feel encouraged to develop more. In so doing, globalization will be increased further leading to improvements of local firms particularly towards producing quality goods. As a way of promoting globalization, citizen can tailor their consumption culture so as to select goods or services sold by global films.

Citizens can also channel their support for globalization through unions that can be used as a tool to achieve increased global ties that will facilitate the development of global connections. With civil society calling for improvement of quality and varieties of goods, the only viable option will be to allow the growth of globalization as an answer to the needs of the society. Unlike other people, an average citizen should come out pressing for a global culture through their taste for quality and variety of goods which can only be met by having numerous global firms in their countries. Such support will flourish the global network.
Whereas some section of the society has voiced their concern over the dangers that are associated with globalization, it is necessary to realize that this process can lead to the change of people attitudes towards how they are perceive others (China Economist 2009).

For this reason, an average citizen needs to support globalization owing its potential of improving global ties between people of different origins. To achieve success in promoting ties between countries engaged in global exchange, citizens can advocate for trading activities and events hosted by civil society. Such event should show case the importance of global ties and thinking in the society especially in improving how people from different parts of the work view and regard others around them. In the end, a truly unified society will be achieved through globalization.

Contrary to the call of some people to curb globalization, an average citizen can achieve a lot from the globalization. As process, globalization has the potential of making goods to be cheap and of good quality, stimulating job opportunities and improving understanding of different citizenry. Nevertheless, these benefits can only be realized if citizens push for increased trade through advocacy as members of the civil society and by consuming goods or services from global vendors. This in the end will lead to a more unified society where business and social interaction will be made simple through the use of information technologies.