The Dangers of Business Globalisation and Technological Development in the 21st Century

In today’s society, business globalisation and technological development are sold to us as progress, as the future, as undisputedly good. Anyone who tries to argue against these notions is labelled “crazy”, “extremist”, or “eccentric”. Anyone with new or different ideas is often treated with irony and ridicule. However, we should not be so quick to assume that what is presented to us is undeniably the truth. In The Temple, I reconsider the effects of globalisation and technological advancements, and here—you may glimpse a little of that discussion.

What is business globalisation?

In business, globalisation refers to “companies operating across the globe to produce goods or services.” Although this process is driven by trade and investment, it is hugely enabled by technology and computers. Today, every human being as a unit of activity can produce far more in a much shorter amount of time than in the past due to revolutionary technology and computers.

In fact, the unit of activity has grown to such unprecedented levels that one person can do as much work in a day as would have required the cooperation of thousands of people in the past. As an example, there is more Tabasco sauce made in one day now for global consumption than its creator Edmund McIlhenny made in his entire life.^[i]

The result of business globalisation

Unfortunately for humankind, giant technological companies and the big industrial forces of the Western world have exploited this productivity by expanding into other areas of the world to gain cheap labour. In the process, such companies seize the technological power of these countries and harvest their productive resources, that is, anyone who may produce goods. Of course, this is for the good of the company, not for the good of the local inhabitants. Not for the good of that country either, since its inhabitants are lining the pockets of Western countries and not their own.

In poor countries across the globe, the local population rarely have the option to practice their talents, nor the country to offer their natural bounties. Their productive resources are often consumed by foreign giants. Thus, the local population live like slaves to foreign giants. With their pitifully low salaries as a result of business globalisation, they are forever poor, and their only dream —if they are young enough—is to move to a Western country for a potentially better chance at life. What a horrible reality we live in!

The birth of expendable humanity

The seizing of productive resources through technological forces is a dangerous practice that undermines peace and security, not only in developing countries but across the entire globe. This process turns people into expendable humanity. As you can see, there are especially vulnerable groups for expendability among the world’s population: the inhabitants of developing or emerging economies. But it is not only them who are at risk—you are also a candidate.

Even if you had the privilege of being born and raised in the West, your position is not set in stone, and you are not guaranteed freedom from expendability. Everyone in every country of the world, in every corner of the planet, is a possible candidate for the expendable humanity category. Nobody has the privilege of exemption, except those who hold the wealth and the power.

If you think you are safe from this danger, think again. It will not be long before the arrival of people from developing countries puts pressure on you too. Every day, crowds of smart and creative people arrive from developing areas with skills and adaptability that are infinitely more developed than yours. On the contrary, these people are much more experienced at fighting for their survival than you are. Because of this, business globalisation confronts you with facts of life that you had never even considered before. The system taught you that there was a standard of stability for you, that you were secure, and that there were enough jobs for everyone.

Now you realise that standard is disappearing. Now, you are not safe, and you are not guaranteed a job. Instability is universal, even if some regions of the world are able to maintain local stability for a while. If you do not believe that the race for survival has already begun, then you are in the dark, my friend.

Are you ready to win the race?

If you liked what you read here and resonate with these ideas, you may enjoy finding a new way of living in The Temple.

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[i] Tom Shingler, Hot stuff: talking Tabasco with Took Osborn (2016)