The Global Weave

As I close my eyes and drift away to a land where there is love, health, peace, and blessings. I wanted to take the time to think and reflect.

     The truth is that I was taking the time to think about the idea of Globalization. What is Globalization? Why do so many people fear this term? Does globalization even exist, and also to what extent? Globalization is defined as:

     The above definition is one definition, however there are many ways of thinking and defining the term. This will often depend upon the context of discussion. The questions that I mentioned above are the many that I have been thinking about for quite some time. I think that Globalization is happening, has happened, and will continue to happen, because of the inter-connectedness that we experience everyday. From the very acts of using a technological device to connect, to the leaders who are engaging in relationships to forge International partnerships. Globalization cannot be ignored, but it will be more visible in some parts of the world than others.

     This is a time when we have to think about developing nations who are interested in survival first. This thought is linked to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) as reduction of poverty is the number one goal. We can also connect these goals to that of larger institutions such as the World World Bank, Organization for Economic Co-Operation and Development, The World Trade Organization, and the United Nations, who are investing in Education as a tool to help eradicate or alleviate poverty. There is an emphasis upon education because, education is one of the indicators of a countries growth and development (GDP). 

     We also know that the eradication of poverty is not just about the importance of education. There is much more to this such as: having access to clean water for drinking and sufficient, or basic health care needs satisfied. Once needs of basic survival are satisfied can individuals begin to think about goals such as education. But I also think that access to clean water, health, and to education go hand in hand. When parents know that their children are in a school learning, it also provides them with a peace of mind to seek to fulfil economic goals such as working, having a job, career goals, or even to continue to learn for the purposes of life long learning, and self - improvement.

     So we can say that all needs including education go hand in hand. But then I also began to think about the larger institutions who want to use the Western Schooling model as a model for the developing countries that they are investing in. I became critical of the term "Western" model, because I think that there is much more to schooling or learning that to reduce it to a singular term of Western. Can we really say that the best schooling models are Western, when there is so much migration, immigration and a mixture of people that are living in Western society?

     We can also take this thought and introspect from a historical lens. The very pinnacle of thought, educating the mind, intellect, the exchange of ideas were promoted in Japan, China, Asia, and also from the Greek thinkers such as Plato and Aristotle. Additionally we can think of the birth of Islamic Intellect and the very first universities in Egypt Al - Azhar, and also The University of Bologna, one of the oldest universities to be operating from Italy. All these institutions may not be "Western" in nature, but I would argue that they have contributed tremendously to Western thought.

Al - Azhar University, Egypt.

Bologna University, Italy.

     We can say that thought was not just derived from the West, but also the East. So whilst we say that we don't want to engage with this group or that group, because of this idea of a clash between civilizations, we should actually take a look back historically and see how thought evolved, and can also be thought of today to link Eastern and Western civilizations. I do think that the term "Western" model could suggest that the West is powerful, maybe it is? But we have to remember that powerful nations do have an obligation to assist countries who are developing or rising.  

​   There is an obligation to help, but to also somewhat control, because developing and rising nations will eventually develop power or economic strength. We must make sure that this power is used in line to assist and develop global goals for peace and prosperity. Western nations do possess power and ultimately some control, but these nations can only begin to think to assist once again if their own nation and people are safe and secure. If we want to continue to move forward as a world united it will mean to move forward in a way where western nations are also seeking to develop, flourish and prosper, whilst assisting others as well. 

Dedication: The words of this human being are dedicated to all beings. My thoughts to share with love & kindness! :) 

​Notes: These thoughts were originally hand - written on October 4th 2017.
​Acknowledgement: This title was produced by my eldest daughter. Thank you for your help. 
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