European Union and Globalization

European Union

European Union (EU) is a unique economic and political partnership between 27 European countries. It has delivered half a century of peace, stability, and prosperity, helped raise living standards, launched a single European currency (Euro), and is progressively building a single Europe-wide market in which people, goods, services, and capital move among Member States as freely as within one country. The EU was created in the aftermath of the Second World War. The first steps were to foster economic cooperation. This regionalism organization began as a purely economic union and has evolved into an organization spanning all areas, from development aid to environmental policy. It actively promotes human rights and democracy and has the most ambitious emission reduction targets for fighting climate change in the world. 

European Union and Globalization

Globalization unifies the world’s economic order by reducing the barriers of economic factors just like what EU has done to its member countries. In treaties that the EU has, free movement of trade and workers allows each member state to expand its capabilities and resources. Also, the means of EU in giving financial aid is a way of expanding and stabilizing the economies of its member states. It also serves as the center where countries under it get in touch with one another, moving and developing as one. One good thing about EU is that they consider each member state's opinion and stand in formulating and implementing policies and rules, this shows that there is respect and belief in one another. This strengthens the relationship of the member states which actually leads to them helping out each other and developing together; a key concept of Globalization.

Reflections


European Union is an organization wherein its member states help one another in developing in all aspects especially in economics. Its member states work together as one towards development and growth. Through this EU, wherein market and law is one and applicable to all, the gap between the member states was gone and people can travel and have their jobs in another EU country. Relationships between member states improved and became stronger than before. The EU is what binds these member states together. Globalization has been illustrated in this association because it is through their decision to have one body and one work that they will develop together as one even if they are many and different member states. This work of unity in the European Union will then change each country into something more than what it can be if it were to stand and work alone. Because of globalization, development happens to everyone without someone having to stand alone in reaching the goal. - K.N.


The European Union is an organization which is an indirect result of globalization. The need to be more cooperative with one another, the EU was established to pull its member European countries closer to one another and effectively implement policies within its circle. The EU is a political organization; and globalization is represented in the way the leaders of each country socialize with its neigboring nations. The actions of the world leaders determine whether EU's goals will be pushed for action or not. This is also important since some of these programs are aimed for the good and welfare of the general citizens of Europe. However it also becomes a problem for all when there is a hit in the economy and a change in policy. When there is the current trend for unemployment or inflation, all member countries experience the effect. Globalization connects the nations and the world trends, so there appears to be an interdependence among each other and to their environment. - R.S.


Like any other regional organizations, the European Union sees to it that all the countries united under the organization are focused on one goal --- to become a more developed country inspite of the fluctuating and unpredictable economic factors.  Globalization is also made possible by EU. Countries move forward hand in hand to be on a stable state. Even if EU is currently experiencing a deepening crisis at the moment, this would not hinder the member countries to strive in competing around the international trade. Thus, this crisis somewhat serves as challenge for member countries to prove their worth internationally. Each of them could not do it individually, so the union should take advantage of their alliances to resist the deepening depression for this unified organization.  - E.T.




Globalization has always been associated with the relationship of each state to other states. It was defined that actions connected with globalization aim to portray a living world that encourages free movement of natural resources, human resources, and all the other products that are manufactured through trade facilities. Just like what the European Union has in their setup. Through the report, it was mentioned that EU has rules posted in their organization that encourages the free movement of resources within the boundaries of each member state. With that, we can see that the goal of EU in having a free resources movement across its member nations is achieved. - D.S.

Territories and Globalization

Territories and Globalization

Some may understand Globalization as something that is simple and yet should be ignored but reality wise, it is as intricate and subtle as the human brain for it not only affects some, but all human beings on Earth. Simply said, globalization is a process wherein different groups of people may it be in the business industry, politics, and individuals from different nations interact with each other. It is through international trade, investments among countries, and communications through different networks aided by Information Technology that makes these relations possible. As broad as it may seem, Globalization affects numerous important aspects that directly influence us. Some of these important aspects are the environment, culture, political systems, development of the economy, opulence of all nations, and most especially the interests of all human beings in societies around the world. 

In a political perspective, a territory is described as a region belonging

to the jurisdiction of a state or a sovereign authority. A territory can be a means for securing the welfare of people and its culture. It gives measurement of up to where a certain authority can be executed. It also serves as the borders of the state to which the people living within it should follow the given laws and rules.

Globalization has its ways of closing the gaps between different countries. These countries have territories that they maintain and protect. With the emergence of globalization, territories seemed to be more open with each other, sharing their culture, resources, and information while still trying to compete with the rest of the world. They seemed to be more reliant with each other that along with the goal of globalization to increase the competitive advantage of each nation, they begin to unify as one to achieve their common goal even with the presence of borders such as territories. Territories have their positive and negative sides but the way they are used in order to bring the best in each nation depends on the rulers that govern the said nation. In line with this, they can use the presence of territories to maximize the effects of globalization in different fields.

Given the fact that Globalization is not that easy to comprehend, different understandings of what it really is and how it is related to imperative facets of different nations arise. Example points of views of students are as follows: 

It is important to any sovereign to have a clear indication of up to what range their territory is. Just like our personal space as an individual, it is for us to secure. We always see to it that our territories are protected and only the ones we really trust could be the ones who could enter. Just like the immigrants during the game, they would still need to ask permission from the head of the state in order for them to enter. They still needed to pass some qualifications or come up with a treaty. The fun part of the game was establishing the treaties. Being the group with the highest number of members, it was so fun seeing other countries trying to think of the best treaty to offer. - E.T.

Tracing back to the Greco-Roman concept of territory where it all began, we can actually see that the establishment of territories really made a big change in the lives of all people and in every place there is. It actually caused for power, sovereignty and privacy to happen even more. Every country, city or municipality developed relationships with one another where they help each other progresswithout having having to sacrifice their own interests. With the concept of territory, people can also be distinguished from one another based on where they belong or where they came from. This affected the freedom of the people to move from one place to another subject to a lot of conditions. Globalization has helped the concept of territory in such a way that it connects every one territory to another through networking and communication. - K.C.

Territorial boundaries are just one of the representations of globalization. In the world today, globalization enables us to communicate and socialize with everybody faster and more efficient. Globalization has been a bridge for connecting us with the rest, making the world a smaller place. However, the relationship of globalization and territory has its own benefits and disadvantages. One example is the freedom of movement of people from one place to another. Before, it wasn't easy to cross borders from one country to another, due to threats of attack and colonization. Certain landmarks clearly indicate the line separating a state from its neighbor. But now, the rise of tourism, development, diplomacy and education, pushed countries to open its territorial boundaries to visitors, so the state can reap benefits from such exchange of activities. It is ironic though, that the freedom a person can attain from having his or her own passport can freely move around the globe, while the person who bears no such document feels the limiting effect of traveling to other nations for the prospect of a better life. They are the minorities that globalization alienated, for the benefit of open territories can only be attained by those who have a valid passport. - R.S.

Sources:

http://www.globalization101.org/What_is_Globalization.html

http://www.world-governance.org/spip.php?article227

http://www.globalization101.org/

http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/territory

http://www.mapsofworld.com/world-map-2008.jpg

http://www.globalsherpa.org/wp-content/uploads/2011/06/globalization-hands-pic.jpg