Global Citizens

The Upsides and Downsides of Globalization

8 posts, including a reflection on how globalization has personally impacted my family

Jun 04, 2021

∙ Paid

Photo by Jim Buie, CNN Headquarters in Atlanta, 2016.

This week, I reflect on the impact of globalization personally, professionally, nationally, and globally.

Slender Threads

Age of Global Migration Disrupts, Stabilizes Politics and Cultures Worldwide

Of the world’s 7.7 billion people, half a billion, or more than 500 million people are either global migrants or are supported financially by them through remittances. Labor has shifted dramatically since year 2000 — the numbers moving from one country to another have doubled…

4 years ago · Jim Buie

Slender Threads

‘Ex-pats’ Vs. ‘Immigrants’ Vs. ‘Migrants’ Vs. ‘Labourers’ Vs. ‘Refugees’

“Why Are White People ‘Ex-pats’ and Others ‘Immigrants’?” asked a provocative piece in The (UK) Guardian. As someone who lived in a nation, the United Arab Emirates, with about 90 percent of the population from somewhere else, I don’t entirely agree. I think it’s more of a differentiation of social class rather than race. “Ex-pats” are educated and skill…

3 years ago · Jim Buie

Slender Threads

How Our Lives Would Be Different If We Were Born and Lived Elsewhere

When living abroad, I was acutely aware of the accident of birth, and how the countries or regions we are born into or live for most or all of our lives strongly influence who we are, or at least our places in society and the world. My grandson was born in Dubai in 2015. Unfortunately, that did not make him an Emirati entitled to all of the social benef…

3 years ago · Jim Buie

Slender Threads

Globalization: The Up-Side and the Down-Side

4 years ago · Jim Buie

Slender Threads

Globalization Created My Family, Jobs, Possessions, Pets, Food, Entertainment…and Backlash

If not for world-wide globalization trends since the 1990s, my family, and several of our job opportunities would not exist. Four out of seven members of my immediate family (including my two dogs) were born outside the United States. We are part of a global trend. The ways earthlings now travel, create families, work, consume, communicate, entertain, ea…

4 years ago · Jim Buie

Slender Threads

Dangers of Excessive Globalization Are Clear

The advocates of unrestricted globalization — world citizenship, trans-nationalism, open borders, mass migration, free trade, rampant outsourcing, unregulated media — and who eagerly brand as small-minded “bigots” anyone who opposes these things do not understand what is happening, argues John B. Judis. A common national identity is essential to democra…

4 years ago · Jim Buie

Slender Threads

29 Books on Globalization

Generally Positive: Globalization: A Very Short Introduction. The World Is Flat: A Brief History of the 21st Century Globalization and Diversity: Geography of a Changing World. Globalization of World Politics: An Introduction to International Relations…

4 years ago · Jim Buie

Slender Threads

35 Key Questions About Globalization for Students to Explore

Initial Assignments Reflect on the impact of globalization on your life and that of your family. Look in your kitchen cupboard and notice list the foods and jars come from. Where was your car made? Where were the appliances, furnishings, clothing and shoes you wear made…

4 years ago · Jim Buie

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