As supported by the globalization theory, Globalization is neither uniform in its reach or impact,

nor does it address the in-equities in the international political economy. The debate on
globalization is broadly between those who see it as a transformative capitalist project that is dis-
solving international borders and rendering the nation-state and traditional concepts of
sovereignty obsolete, and those who insist that it is far from a linear, uniform or homogenizing
process.

The theory of globalization emerges from the global mechanisms of greater integration with
particular emphasis on the sphere of economic transactions. In this sense, this perspective is
similar to the world-systems approach. However, one of the most important characteristics of
the globalization position is its focus and emphasis on cultural aspects and their communication
worldwide. Rather than the economic, financial and political ties, globalization scholars argue
that the main modern elements for development interpretation are the cultural links among
nations. In this cultural communication, one of the most important factors is the increasing
flexibility of technology to connect people around the world. Globalization may be considered as
an accelerated process by which, in particular Western technologies, production methods,
institutions, consumption patterns and worldviews are spreading across the planet. More than just
an economic phenomenon, globalization is considered as a far-reaching socio-cultural process. It
is characterized by the diffusion not only of consumer products but also of political ideas and
principles, as well as socio-cultural symbols and images in new settings (Lundberg, 2000)

Globalization as a controversial concept has been given many different definitions. In his 1992
study, Globalization: Social Theory and Global Culture, Robertson provided perhaps the most
widely accepted definition of globalization among scholars: ‘Globalization as a concept refers
both to the compression of the world and the intensification of consciousness of the world as a
whole . . . both concrete global interdependence and consciousness of the global whole in the
twentieth century’ (Robertson 1992: 8). This difficult of not having a clear-cut definition has
extended to globalization as a theory of development which has result in many definitions being
forwarded .However, William i. Robinson argues that a bare-bones definition is derived from
aspects which have received consensus which are intensified interconnections and
interdependencies on a planetary scale and consciousness of them.

To commence with, globalization theory can be used to explain development of third world
countries as shown the transfer of technology. Globalization creates a model system along the
lines of the world system theory forwarded by Sociologist Immanuel Wallenstein in which the
world is divided into two parts the core countries which are comprised of developed countries
and peripheral countries comprised of the developing countries. Globalization is viewed as
bringing development to third world countries through the transferring of technologies from the
first world countries. The technology comes in many forms such as information technology,
mining and agricultural technics such as those brought after the green revolutions such as hybrid
seeds, artificial fertilizers, irrigation systems and green houses. These have in turn increased
productivity in all economic spheres causing development, in countries such as Brazil, Mexico
and Bangladesh.

However, Arrighi (2005: 33) argues if one uses the criteria of the world system theory to divide
the world into the core and periphery, this results in the spread of capitalism causing the
exploitation of third world countries by first world countries through the transfer of obsolete
technologies which is outdated and technologies mainly in the primary sectors such as mining
and agriculture as a means to integrate third world economies as appendages in the global
capitalist system. Thus using the globalization theory one can argue that it has caused the
underdevelopment of third world countries.

In line with the above, globalization theory can be used to explain development of third world
countries as shown by specialization resulting in development. Globalization entails the cutting
of space and time through innovations in transportation. This has the overall effect of
encouraging specialization causing development as a country focuses on what is best suited for
production in its borders such Uganda produces coffee, Zambia copper and Bolivia oil. This
specialization results in the increasing of the gross national product, which is gross national
income per annum from exports.

However this has caused third world countries to be underdeveloped as they are now forced to
focus on primary production of raw materials for export through colonialism and neocolonialism
which have been exported by globalization. Sklair (2002) argues that due to colonialism and neo-
colonialism exported by globalization third world countries specialize in providing raw materials
for western capitalist industries. This is further supported by W. Rodney (1972) who asserts that
most third world countries are agro-based or mineral based as a result of how they were
integrated into the global capitalist system. He goes to note example such as Zambia which
mainly depended on copper and South Africa gold and are at the mercy of first world pricing
through international organization such as the world trade organization with a fall in the global
price causing instability of the country. Specialization results in the underdevelopment through
the underpricing of the raw materials, while the finished goods from the developed nations fetch
high prices for low volumes, which result in trade deficit and exploitation. Hence one can argue
that globalization theory explains third world under development to a greater extent.

In furtherance of the discussion, globalization theory explains the development of the third world
countries through the introduction of democracy. Democracy as a concept comprises of
principals, such as good governance, transparency and accountability. Democracy has been
described by Abraham Lincoln as the government of the people, by the people, for the people. It
has been transferred from the western countries to third world countries through the concept of
globalization. Due to the presents of democracy and good governance countries such as China,
Japan and also Botswana have experienced development and are now global economic power
houses through practicing principals of democracy such as being against corruption resulting in
finances being directed towards their intended use and employment according to merit
eliminating nepotism.

However, globalization theory can explain underdevelopment of the third world countries as
democracy has been used to exploit third world countries. Since democracy is a western concept
exported by the core to the periphery, it has been used as an excuse to implement exploitive
measures as a means to benefit and protect the interest of the developed countries. The
imposition of democracy concept on third world countries have resulted in the instability in the
form of wars and interventions. For example, Libya before the imposition of democracy concept
by the first world countries was considered as one of the most economically developed country
in Africa, however after the intervention of core countries it is now ravaged in war with the
reports of core countries looting its oil, similar to Bolivia in Latin America which has viewed by
core countries as having a dictatorship and has been placed under sanctions resulting in
economic instability, inflation and poverty. Hence, one can argue that the globalization theory
can explain the underdevelopment of the third world countries.

Moreover, globalization theory explains third world development through capital flows. The
praxis of globalization has caught up with virtually all countries of the world today, which are
faced with the realities of increased integration of world trade and capital flows facilitated by the
rapid growth of information technology and the opening up of previously closed economies.
Kaji, S. G. (1995) argues that the trend of increased integration of national economies with the
rest of the world is gradually evolving into a coherent global economy that is hinged on free
markets, investment flows, trade and information. This has resulted in third world countries
development as they now have access to capital through international institutions such as the
Bretton woods institutions and also through the use of electronic means of payment and banking
which have emerged due to globalization. International capital markets are integrated as shown
by markets such as the stock markets of New York, London and Tokyo, for example, which are
linked to those of a large number of countries, among them Hong Kong, Mexico City, Sao Paolo
and Johannesburg. This has enabled third world countries such as Brazil to invest in capital
intensive projects such as mechanized poultry and irrigation and in Bolivia which has invested in
oil exploration. This has resulted in the economic development in the form of industries. Hence
one can argue that globalization theory is useful in the development of third world countries.

However the enhancement of capital flows due to globalization has resulted in development, the
access to capital flows has caused third world countries to fall into a debt trap and also to
conform to exploitive conditions in the form of structural adjustment programs (SAPs) which
were imposed by the Bretton woods institutions International Monetary Fund (IMF) and World
Bank. Globalization led to the rise of numerous problems in developing countries. For instance
the Structural Adjustment Programs (SAPs) designed by the IMF through globalization together
with discriminatory aid practices have also helped to make third world countries subservient and
poor. In this case SAPs has been responsible for creating unavoidable hardships through its
conditions in Africa (Philippe M ,1999). These include the retrenchment of workers, trade
liberalism. In addition countries in the global south, particularly Africa, has served the world as
an indispensable resource base and a supplier of cheap labour and raw material, but it has not
benefited from such contributions. Part of the reason why third world countries has been
exploited is because of the existing international law norms which do not obligate state and
global actors to promote the right to development globally (Philippe M, 1999). In such a
scenario, it is evident that globalization perpetuated problems in third world countries. West
African countries such as Senegal and Ivory Coast have severely suffered the effects of SAPS
through the increase in debts. Thus one may note that though the globalization theory explains
the third world development, it also hinders development to a greater magnitude as it serves the
interests of the core at the expense of the satellite.

The globalization theory also advocates for the expansion in global trade. Expanding global
trade is promoted as beneficial to all countries. The argument is that production specialization
according to each nation’s comparative advantage leads to a more efficient allocation of
resources, to higher levels of growth and will in turn promote national development and reduce
poverty. However, there is no convincing evidence that trade liberalization will lead to economic
growth. The only systematic relationship is that countries dismantle trade restrictions as they get
richer, which accounts for the fact that most of today’s rich countries (incl. European countries)
embarked on economic growth behind protective barriers, which they subsequently lowered.
European countries were shaping their own path, combining trade reliance with unorthodox
policies (ex-port subsidies, import-export linkages, restrictions on capital flows, directed credit)
that are largely precluded by today’s rules.

Globalization theorists advocated that access to markets through improved transportation modes
from industrialized countries carries an opportunity for developing countries to reap the benefits
of competition (through the necessity to become competitive, pressure to innovate ), gain access
to information, knowledge, re-sources, economies of scale etc. and hence, to fight poverty. For
example, in countries like China, India and japan have benefited from the access of global
markets through the improvement of their products which are required on the global market.

However, Economic globalization influences governance in a crucial way with trade and finance
as the key transmission belts of the globalization process. Again, risks and opportunities lure:
unplanned liberalization of trade and the financial sector in developing countries risks ruining
local enterprises and destabilizing economies. Pressure on Southern countries to reduce their
trade barriers and open up their markets is contrasted with continued protectionism in the North
(subsidies to agricultural producers; tariffs for imported manufactured goods. Across much of
Sub-Saharan Africa, the loss of protection, devaluation, demand restraint and real interest
increases have resulted in a process of de-industrialization. Also the need to follow global
standards or trends which are set by the first world countries which are transferred via
globalization to third world countries results in the hindering of innovation of third world
countries resulting in destruction of industries.

Globalization favors urban lifestyles, large-scale estates, market production and technocratic
solutions. It neglects small-scale farming, with its diversified and mainly subsistence-oriented
cultivation, its needs for better access to markets, its access to education and training, etc. The
dominant forms of globalization revive the earlier discriminative policies and reinforce poverty
and rural migration.

Globalization contributed to develop the health and education systems in the developing
countries. Education has increased in recent years because globalization has a catalyst to the jobs
that require higher skills set. This demand allowed people to gain higher education. Health and
education are basic objectives to improve any nations, and there are strong relationships between
economic growth and health and education systems. Through growth in economic, living
standards and life expectancy for the developing nations certainly get better. With more fortunes
poor nations are able to supply good health care services and sanitation to their people. In
addition, the government of developing countries can provide more money for health and
education to the poor which led to decrease the rates of illiteracy. This is seen in many
developing countries whose illiteracy rate fell down recently. It is truth that living standards and
life expectancy of developing countries increase through economic gains from globalization.
According to the World Bank (2004) “With globalization, more than 85% of the world
population can expect to live at least sixty years and this is actually twice as long as the average
life expectancy 100 years ago”. For example most of the third world countries particularly in
Africa have improved their health services specifically child mortality and maternal mortality.
In addition, globalization helped doctors and scientists to contribute to discover many diseases,
which spread by human, animals and birds, and it helped to created appropriate medicines to
fight these deadly diseases. For example, HIV|AIDS, swine flu whole world know about these
diseases and they know how to avoid it. By globalization there are many organizations such as
Non-Governmental Organizations, World Health Organization and UNESCO, trying to eliminate
illiteracy and deadly diseases in the world and save the life. Although, this have managed to
bring development in the form human capital, in most third world countries the development
have been impeded by a large population comprising of mainly dependence, that is children
between 1 to 15 years who are not economically active but active as a burden to the few
available resources hence underdevelopment.
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Robertson, R. 1992. Globalization: Social Theory and Global Culture. Thousand Oaks, CA:Sage.

Robinson, W.I. 2004. A Theory of Global Capitalism: Production, Class and State in a
Transnational World. Baltimore, MD: The Johns Hopkins University Press.

Kaji, S. G. (1995) “The ‘How’ of Development”, proceedings of the Annual World Bank
Conference on Development Economics.

Arrighi, G. 2005. ‘Globalization in world-systems perspective’. In R. Appelbaum and

Sklair, L. 2002. Globalization: Capitalism and Its Alternatives. New York: Oxford.

W. Rodney (1972) how Europe underdeveloped africa

Kotilainen M(2002:70)Economic Globalisation in Developing Countries,The Journal of