Chapter One 1.1 Background of The Study
Chapter One 1.1 Background of The Study
Chapter One 1.1 Background of The Study
INTRODUCTION
The events in the last decade in the global economy suggest a challenge; the
utilization of the opportunity engineered by globalization while at the same time
managing the problem and tension it poses, for developing countries particularly
Nigeria. While some individuals such as Dani (1999) David (1997) and Salimono
(1999) opine that globalization opens opportunities, others such as Awake (2002)
and Garry (1998) express fear about globalization. Probably it is fear anticipated
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by the people of the world that in December 1999, a meeting of the World Treaty
Organization, held in Seattle, U.S.A was interrupted by riot. The demonstrators
feared the effects of globalization on the people and on the planet. Since that time,
anti-globalization movements have spread across the globe. It is however observed
that advocates of globalization hail it has the panacea for the most world problems.
Globalisation is also seen as the process of international integration arising from
the interchange of worldviews, products, ideas, and other aspects of culture.
Advances in transportation and telecommunications infrastructure, including the
rise of the telegraph and its posterity the Internet, are major factors in
globalization, generating further interdependence of economic and cultural
activities.
Though several scholars place the origins of globalization in modern times, others
trace its history long before the European age of discovery and voyages to the New
World. Some even trace the origins to the third millennium BCE. In the late 19th
century and early 20th century, the connectedness of the world's economies and
cultures grew very quickly. The phenomenon of globalization is a multi-
dimensional and multifaceted process that encompasses political, economic, social
and cultural dimensions that have been variously explained in different terms and
contexts. Viewed from a general perspective, the notion of globalization is broad
and diverse. Our analysis in this paper is focused on its challenge for Nigeria’s
development in the 21st century. It is considered germane however to consider first
the multi- dimensionality of its conceptual usages.
Due to its multivariate nature, globalization does not lend itself to easy
conceptualization; and like other concepts in social sciences, it is not amenable to a
single, simple and straightjacket definition, which perhaps explains its various
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connotations by scholars of different persuasions as internalization,
universalization, liberalization, westernization etc. As Jibrin Ibrahim, drawing
from James Mittleman, insists, globalization is not a single unified phenomenon
but rather “a syndrome of processes and activities, which embody a set of ideas
and a policy framework organized around the global division of labour and power”
(Ibrahim, 2002:3). In a similar vein Tade Aina forcefully submits that: any
meaningful and relevant understanding of globalization in Africa must go beyond
the myths and ideologies of globalization to the confrontation with the diverse but
actual processes, how they unfold, their relationships with themselves and other
social and economic relations and dynamics. Such an understanding must also
recognize not only the complex but varied history of the processes being studied
but it must reject a monolithic or homogenized under- standing such as that found
in the currently neo-liberal confrontation of the subject. (Quoted in Dauda
Abubakar, 2001: 16).
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Dauda Abubakar pungently argues that globalization “entails universalization
whereby the object, practices or even values transcends geo-political boundaries,
penetrating the hitherto sovereign nation state and impacting the orientation and
value system of the people” (Abubakar, Op.cit). In a broader perspective, Tade
Aina posits that globalization depicts “ the transformation of the relations between
states, institutions, groups and individuals, the universalization of certain practices,
identities and structures, and perhaps more significantly, the expression of the
global restructuring that has occurred in recent decades in the structure of modern
capitalist relations (Aina, 1996).
In its most generic and broadest sense, Mike Kwanashie sees globalization as a
part of the movement of history as evident in certain forces that appear to push for
increasing integration of human activities with emphasis in contemporary world
focused more on the economic aspect of the process. It is a process of increased
integration of national economies of states with the rest of the international system
in order to create a more coherent global economy (Kwanashie, 1999:17). The
process has been increasingly propelled by the revolutionary trend in information
technology that combines advancement in computing, electronics, and
telecommunications which has brought up “a highly dynamic process of storing,
processing, transmitting and presenting information” (Ibid:20). As Nuhu Yaqub
copiously observes, globalization “refers to the tremendous revolutionary changes
that have affected our planet as a result of changes that have also taken place in
information and communication technologies - processes that have, cumulatively,
led to the villagization of the globe” (Yaqub, 2003:45).
Broadly speaking and from the perspective of the UNDP National Human
Development: Globalization can be defined as a multidimensional process of
4
unprecedented rapid and revolutionary growth in the extensiveness and intensity of
interconnections on a truly global scale” (UNDP: National Human Development
Report, 2000/2001).
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developed the concept of globalization to tie the aprons of the developing countries
to themselves. This is true as the concept discredit indigenous cultures, values,
knowledge and experience. It undermines national economic and political
independence and creates worse international disparities.
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this ICP is computer. Computer has brought about operation efficiency and
effectiveness of company especially Globacom Nigeria Ltd.
1.6 SCOPE OF THE STUDY
This study is centered around globalization and its intending positive and negative
effects, the roles it plays in Nigeria business organization with special emphasis on
Glo Nigeria Ltd.
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CHAPTER TWO
LITERATURE REVIEW
New World Order and indeed globalisation as it has been observed earlier is not
only economic and political, but socio-cultural in the sense that the pursuit of its
goals is a comprehensive endeavour. The manifestation of the present globalisation
agenda started with the Gulf War of 1991as there was no Soviet union to counter
the spread of western values and beliefs as spearheaded by the united state of
America. Other countries that joined the United States of America to form the
industrial capitalist race include Russia, Japan, Belgium, Italy, France and
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Germany. For the third world countries, Adejoh (2003) has charged that western
capitalist penetration was not designed to benefit the third World countries but to
disrupt the indigenous order and to guarantee external Prim-mover to take charge
of the entire society, although the action began with a popular slogan ‘‘developing
the underdeveloped countries’
2.2 CONCEPT OF GLOBALIZATION
Conceptually, globalization could be seen as internationalization, which means the
intensification of cross – border links between nations, liberalization (a process by
which government imposed restrictions and barriers are removed to create an open
international economy). Universalization which means spreading of various
cultural values and
experiences around the different corners of the world (Baylis and Smith 2001).
Adejo (2003) also defines globalization as “the integration of economies
worldwide through trade, finance flows and widespread adoption of information
technologies and inter-networking. Globalisation is an increasing interconnected
and inter dependent world in international trade management, administration,
communication, investment and finance
(Wolfensohn 2001).
This can also be seen as the process of international integration arising from the
interchange of world views, products, ideas, and other aspects of culture. Advances
in transportation and telecommunications infrastructure, including the rise of the
telegraph and its posterity the Internet, are major factors in globalization,
generating further interdependence of economic and cultural activities.
Though several scholars place the origins of globalization in modern times, others
trace its history long before the European age of discovery and voyages to the New
World. Some even trace the origins to the third millennium BCE. In the late 19th
9
century and early 20th century, the connectedness of the world's economies and
cultures grew very quickly.
10
There is therefore no unanimity of opinion on what constitutes globalization;
neither is there a consensus concerning the extent of its advancement as a concept.
For a thorough understanding of the concept however, there is the need to reflect
briefly on the thrust of the discourse which in literature has been classified into
three main clusters – globalization as implying global culture; globalization as the
expression of the global political order; and globalization as depicting global
economy. Hence, as Symonides perceptively submits, globalization is generally
“the process of growing interconnection and interdependence in the modern world.
It is generated by growing economic, cultural and political cooperation and links,
as well as by the need to respond together to global problems which can be solved
only on a planetary scale” (Symonides, 1998:28).
In its most generic and broadest sense, Mike Kwanashie sees globalization as a
part of the movement of history as evident in certain forces that appear to push for
increasing integration of human activities with emphasis in contemporary world
focused more on the economic aspect of the process. It is a process of increased
integration of national economies of states with the rest of the international system
11
in order to create a more coherent global economy (Kwanashie, 1999:17). The
process has been increasingly propelled by the revolutionary trend in information
technology that combines advancement in computing, electronics, and
telecommunications which has brought up “a highly dynamic process of storing,
processing, transmitting and presenting information” (Ibid:20). As Nuhu Yaqub
copiously observes, globalization “refers to the tremendous revolutionary changes
that have affected our planet as a result of changes that have also taken place in
information and communication technologies - processes that have, cumulatively,
led to the villagization of the globe” (Yaqub, 2003:45).
Broadly speaking and from the perspective of the UNDP National Human
Development:
Globalization can be defined as a multidimensional process of unprecedented rapid
and revolutionary growth in the extensiveness and intensity of interconnections on
a truly global scale” (UNDP: National Human Development Report, 2000/2001).
12
2.3 EFFECTS OF GLOBALIZATION ON THE NIGERIA ECONOMY
It can also be refers to a number of elements as the broadening and depending
linkages of national economies into a worldwide market for goods and services and
especially, capital due to developments in media technology and communication.
Globalization brings with it a growing tendency towards the universal
homogenization of ideas, cultures, values and even lifestyles. Globalization
connotes the liking of the world to become a single entity through the development
of strategies /systems to turn the whole world into one global village. It indicates
the modernization of the world through trade, banking, communication etc. The
North and South see globalization as the process whereby commercial enterprises
increase their activities across national boundaries, utilizing the opportunities for
the international trade and simultaneously spreading their cultural and societal
values. The new communication technologies and media are spreading the existing
structures and values which are dominant globally and emphasize the free market
economy and a capitalist liberal democracy thus the climate of privatization,
deregulation and communication which exist in United States in actively being
replicated across the world, Nigeria inclusive, in order to facilitate international
commercial ventures. This process is being further augmented by the development
of direct broadcasting satellite technology that virtually undermines national
boundaries and other barriers to international radio and Television broadcasting
organization like British Broadcasting cooperation (BBC), Cable News Network
(CNN) that are prominent examples of these services.
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CHAPTER THREE
METHODOLOGY OF THE STUDY
3.1 RESEARCH DESIGN
The methodology use in this study is descriptive analysis. Since no hypothesis is
formulated or tested, it is best to adopt descriptive analysis. The focus of this
research is the recognition of the existence of a global environment that is deeply
embedded in interdependency and the necessity for Nigeria to minimize the
adverse effects of globalization while harnessing whatever its benefits for national
development. Following the introduction, the research examines the phenomenon
of globalization and the multidimensionality of its conceptual usages. It then
provides an overview of the two major contrasting paradigms that underpin
discussions on globalization. This is followed by the analysis of the powerful
forces that propel globalization in contemporary world environment. It also
discusses the challenges that the current globalization poses for Nigeria.
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CHAPTER FOUR
4.1 SUMMARY
The main feature of the current economic situations in the contemporary world
system is globalisation which is lead by a new age of information technology that
is contrary to the History of human kind. Countries have continually intensified
various efforts towards engaging in business across country’s borders and
distributing networks and production on a global scale. Therefore, with these
trends of political, economic, social and technological forces the world is
becoming a ‘global village’. Based on the above the paper recognizes the existence
of a global environment that is deeply embedded in interdependency and the
necessity for Nigeria to minimize the negative effects of globalization. In this study
work globalization was extensively looked at with various views of many
authorities a and scholars. This study also looked at the impact of globalization on
Nigeria business with special emphasis on Glo Nigeria Ltd also the positive and
negative impact of globalization.
4.2 CONCLUSION
In conclusion, despite the rosy picture that has been painted of a globalizing world
of converging economies and the growth of internet communication technology
(ICT) Nigeria remains at best on the periphery. In economic and trade terms
Nigeria economies can hardly compete international due to infrastructural,
technological and managerial inadequacy. There is also the logic of international
market which has largely been historically shaped and virtually consolidated
between the haves and the have not. This situation will not change as long as the
land lacks electricity and other basic infrastructures. From communication
perspective, there is a correlation between wealth, information and awareness.
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Western domination of the media, long established has been reinforced in the era
of globalization. Africa – Nigeria needs to have a view in the global media.
Globalization was supposed to present opportunities to less well off countries such
as those in Africa – Nigeria inclusive, but rather than openings are being made for
more media organization a few multinational companies have become more
dominant in the media business. They have spread their wings to almost every
corner of the world.
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iv. Ecological sustainability i.e. exploiting natural resources for present
generation without damaging, the environment thereby preserving resources
for future generation.
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REFERENCES
Adejo, A. (2003) “Roots of Globalization: A historical Review” Journal of
Globalization and International Studies. Vol. 1 Makurdi, Aboki Publishers.
https://www.google.com.ng/#q=globalization+and+its+effects+on+nigeria+busines
Obadan, M and Odusola, A (2001): The Economy and Poverty in Nigeria A Paper
Presented at National Conference Law and Poverty, NIALS, Kaduna.
Ubah, Sand Atakpu, E (2009) Management and Huma Capital in Nigeria, Lagos,
Doughlas and Diana Publishing.
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