Is Globalization Dependant More on Technological Advancements or Political Decisions

Is globalisation dependent more on technological advancement or political decisions?

Globalisation is a process intertwined throughout historic events and is currently referenced in business, economics, politics, technology, and other international factors. The world is working together on a global scale at a much more rapid pace than historically due to technological advancements which is causing the process of globalisation to constantly change. The course of globalisation is dependent on political decisions of independent governments of state and global governance. This can be evaluated by reviewing the political policies involving electronic banking, intellectual property, technological communication, boarder control, free-trade, and global warming.

Globalisation can be defined as “the spread of free-market capitalism to virtually every country in the world” (Conley, 2008, p142). Technology advancements, such as the iPod, contribute to globalisation as it creates the opportunity to redistribute money and jobs around the world (Freeland, 2011). For example in 2006, Apple employed 13,920 in the United States who earned nearly $750 million and 27,250 employees abroad who earned less than $320 million (Freeland, 2011). Governments allow businesses like Apple to offshore their work and employ people from other countries because it generates economic wealth for their state. Currently there is a lack of global governance as people and businesses can transfer money instantly to another country or currency with electronic banking. Globalisation is dependent on individual governments to create and participate in global governance.

Globalisation has progressed due to technological advancement which is a type of intellectual property. Governments fund research and intellectual institutions such as universities who develop most technological advancements and intellectual property. Governments’ of rich counties are able to control and possess technological advancements easier than poor countries because they are able to afford research which leads to protection of intellectual rights such as patents and copyrights. American businesses own most patents and copyrights of technological advancements. The United States government has control over these business’s trade policies which effects supply and demand (Mortished, 2008) therefore the government would have the power to restrict access of patented technological information to the rest of the world. Globalisation is dependent on government policies because they determine if a business can globally share technological advancements of intellectual property.

The intellectual property of the internet has led to instant access to global communication which people can participate with through email, social media and other websites. Facebook and Twitter are examples of social media that have been used to help activists organise. The government