As it is a blind fact that no state (country) can live independently or in isolation from other states: a nation, to fulfil the needs which it cannot fulfil on its own, is dependent on other nations. Thus, leading to the advent of the phenomenon of ‘globalization’. Though the word globalization has become profusely popular today, the phenomenon itself has been prevalent since the ancient times under the name of trade or under no name at all.
The development of an increasingly integrated global economy marked especially by free trade, free flow of capital and the tapping of cheaper foreign labour markets is the definition of globalization given by the Merrian Webster Dictionary. In other terms globalization is nothing but a phenomenon which involves the exchange of tangible commodities like goods, economy, labour, etc. and non- tangible things like culture, beliefs, thinking, etc. among all the countries/ nations of the world. It is the growing interconnectedness between political, social and economic systems beyond national and regional borders.
As on one hand we have globalization which represents and promotes the interdependence and closeness among the various countries, on the other hand we have nationalism which not only means the devotion to the interests or culture of one’s nation but also incorporates the belief that the nations will benefit from acting independently rather than collectively, emphasising national rather than international goals.
Both globalization and nationalism are ancient and co-existent concepts that have led to both positive and negative movements. They are the two sides of the same coin. For example, in the 1600s with the advent of the industrial revolution and with the help of rapidly advancing transport and communication mediums, the concept of globalization was extended by the Britishers who spread around the world for the purpose of trade and commerce. But gradually their trading centres turned into colonies and became the victims of imperialism which in turn resulted in the growth of nationalism by a way of revolutions and freedom struggles in these colonised countries. Similarly in the 1900s with further advancements in communication and transportation people and their cultures spread across the globe and an iota of this occurrence was also observed in Germany where the Jews were settled in an appreciable amount, which in turn led to fanatic nationalistic movement under the leadership of Hitler to promote the German clan.
These are negative examples of globalization-nationalism co-relation. But the good/ positive/ beneficial effects of the same are also vast numeral and gradual. For example, in the Ashokan period Buddhism was spread to the south-east Asian countries from India. Similarly, other religions with their respective traditions spread around the world gradually and every nation adopted these religions and such other foreign concepts and ideas after some modifications in accordance to their respective nationalistic principles. Similarly, the benefits of various inventions and discoveries made in one corner of the world were shared and promoted in the various nooks and corners of the globe.
In the present times globalization has become so eminent, rapid, spontaneous and ever –growing that the world has emerged as a small global village. Now globalization is not limited to the mere exchange of goods and services among countries. The big MNCs incorporating many companies of the third world, students being able to receive the best of education by studying abroad, inheritance and acquiring knowledge of others’ cultures and languages are only some of the recent results of globalization. Such globalization, if seen in the narrow minded way, seem a hindrance to nationalism in the sense that when MNCs take up/ inherit the local companies of developing countries, it may appear that the latter stand a risk of losing their individuality / uniqueness and also that of their respective countries. Secondly, students studying abroad may be considered as selfish people who refuse to take whatever their motherland has to offer. But such ideas are only a narrow-minded approach to globalization.
With changing times the meaning and scope of globalization as well as nationalism have changed and widened. Nationalism, now-a-days, no longer means a nation’s pride to survive on its own; it means to improve, develop and promote a nation’s ideals, principles and culture across the globe by participating in and contributing to movements like the Green Revolution, White Revolution, etc. and then by taking advantage and benefits from such movements for the nation and their citizens’ development. For example, the phenomenon/ practice of big MNCs taking over the local companies of the developing nations, in the broader sense means that the local companies by giving away a certain amount of control/ authority to a foreign firm, are in turn attaining a good experience and exposure at a global level and thus produce goods and services meeting the international standards of quality which in turn helps them to earn good revenue for themselves as well as the country. Likewise the students who study abroad, attaining the best of education in the world, can put their learning into practice to develop their own country’s standards and progress in a faster pace.
Moreover, it is not only the middle class but also the poorer sections of the society who are slowly benefiting from globalization. This is so because the government, NGOs, social workers etc. have a better access to the weaker people of the society and thus these organizations can understand their needs( like education, employment, proper income,etc.) and also fulfil them in a more smooth, efficient and faster way. And as such vulnerable and weaker sections form the bulk of India’s population, with their development, the nation’s backbone will be obviously further straightened. Apart from this, globalization has unified the nations to a large extent and unity is what is required to establish a peaceful, eco-friendly and meaningful world.
Hence,with the interconnected interactions and interdependence of various countries of the world,the basic essence of nationalism that is, to develop and uplift a nation, is not lost. At the same time globalization and complicated yet easily accessible technology is being misused for fulfilling negative goals. An example of such activities is the doings of the terrorist groups that use technology for destructive purpose, which not only creates fear among citizens but also lead to communal conflicts and disunity, dampens the spirit of nationalism. Secondly, with so much of transport and communication transactions not only the nation’s bit the whole world’s environmental conditions are worsening and also many new, complex, dangerous, communicable and incurable epidemics and diseases are evolving and spreading rapidly like HIV-AIDS, swine flu, bird flu, etc. And with a decline in the citizen’s health, naturally the nation’s progress becomes slow and difficult. Next, competition between companies for becoming a super power in the world market sometimes drives them to use harmful and vile methods in order to order to achieve their goals which eventually lessens a nation’s worth, name and pride. Many foreign countries investing in a nation can lead to the re-establishment of colonalization and imperialism – although this may be rare possibility in today’s time and age.as after bearing the tyrannical rule of the Britishers for 200 long years the people and the governments are now more vigilant and conscious of such manoeuvres. Finally, globalisation has made man hopelessly dependent on technology and gadgets and this has led to the deterioration of man’s physical, mental and emotional health rendering him unfocused and thus less productive as a citizen and a human being. All this results in higher crime rates and reduced nationalism among the people.
Thus globalization and nationalism are mere concepts that do not attain an independent nature to define themselves as good or bad. It is the way man uses them that determines their natures. Hence, globalization and nationalism need to be promoted with a positive spirit for constructive purposes and for the sake of humanity, for enabling the two to co-exist peacefully and fruitfully.
