The Impact of the Internet on Globalization
Globalization, a growing phenomenon that can be described as a shift
toward a more integrated and interdependent world economy (Hill 7),
has been the subject of many books and discussions for the past
decade. Along with the development of microprocessors, the Internet is
perhaps the most significant technological innovation of our time,
playing a substantial role in the growth of globalization. The Internet
facilitated the expansion of the movement toward a global village
through the creation of cheaper, faster and easier means of
communication, the provision of a vast pool of information, and the
expansion of e-commerce.
The Internet provides a cheaper, faster and easier method of
communication, an alternative that has created a global audience, as
mentioned by Renato Ruggiero, director general of the World Trade
Organization. In assessing the cost of long distance phone calls versus
that of online voice chat sessions, the Internet is much more affordable
and also superior in quality. Many web users now possess web cameras,
microphones, and all the software necessary to support this hardware.
This allows users to speak, see, and be seen by the person they are
having a conversation with. People from Asia can carry conversations
with Europeans, Americans or Africans at the same time, at no extra
cost on Msn Messenger, Yahoo Messenger, or MIRC. Communication is
also faster online. An e-mail is sent and received by the other party in
seconds, as opposed to regular mail, which may take months to reach
its destination when sent over the ocean. Thus, people all over the
world can stay in touch on a regular basis, communicate online
everyday and even share #les. When factoring in the ease of use of the
Internet, it is easy to see why so many individuals prefer communicating
this way. All that is required is typing, a skill easily mastered through
repeated use of the keyboard. Also, the Internet provides an
entertaining interaction with another person, as plenty of visual effects
and emoticons accompany the software. The a*ordability, speed, and
convenience of the Internet are the factors that account for the creation
of this global audience. People all over the world are connected to the
same network at the same time with access to the same pool of
information.
This enormous amount of information being accessed by everyone
connected to the Internet is in itself a powerful tool in the development
of globalization.
