Globalisation has, without a doubt, changed the way that our society functions as a whole. [The Washington Post] (https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/reconsidering-the-value-of-globalization/2015/04/24/7b5425c2-e82e-11e4-aae1-d642717d8afa_story.html) state that two decades ago, globalization was pitched as 'the strategic imperative du jour' that was supposed to 'act like a rising tide, lifting all boats in poor and rich countries alike'. However, there is much debate in the economic and environmental spheres whether globalisation is entirely positive - therefore it is important to weigh the pros and cons. _The Pros of Globalisation_ • Free trade reduces tariffs, subsidies, and trade barriers between nations, making trading easier in theory. However [The Washington Post] (https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/reconsidering-the-value-of-globalization/2015/04/24/7b5425c2-e82e-11e4-aae1-d642717d8afa_story.html) reported that many G-20 countries have added more than 1200 trading barriers since 2008, despite a 'standstill agreement'. • Globalisation provides poor countries with a chance to develop economically through providing jobs due to increased consumer demand overseas. • Globalisation creates a [worldwide market] (https://www.forbes.com/sites/mikecollins/2015/05/06/the-pros-and-cons-of-globalization/?sh=38e39a15ccce) for companies and consumers alike. _The Cons of Globalisation_ • Whilst it is true that globalisation has created jobs in a lot of countries overseas, it has also led to the exploitation of workers and child labour. [Erica G. Polakoff] (https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/pdf/10.1177/0169796X0602300215) reports that the free trade policies of globalisation have 'created unprecedented levels of poverty worldwide', which in effect, 'has made children more vulnerable to exploitation'. • Globalisation has led to de-industrialisation across much of the UK and America. [Forbes] (https://www.forbes.com/sites/mikecollins/2015/05/06/the-pros-and-cons-of-globalization/?sh=38e39a15ccce) reported that workers in developed countries 'face pay-cut demands from employers who threaten to export jobs'. Globalisation has effectively changed the way in which we trade forever. Considering this, is it a feasible idea to try and stop it? Perhaps instead, we should be looking to enforce regulations that make it a more equal transaction - ensuring that workers face protection from exploitation and are paid fairly.

**TL;DR - Globalisation has given us a lot of great things, but it doesn’t mean that it is entirely a good thing** Globalisation has allowed us to expand our horizons and see humanity as a large organism rather than a more self-centred view. However I think it is easy to only see the good in Globalisation, but this COVID-19 pandemic has allowed us to take a step back and analyse it with a different perspective. **Pros** **People** - It has allowed cultures to mix and learn from one another. This melting pot of societies we exist in now allows us to see the world through different perspectives which would not have been possible otherwise. Globalisation has allowed people to communicate with others all over the world! **Travel** - Look no further than Instagram to see how much people love to travel. Globalisation has allowed countries to develop great tourism industries, like Iceland for example. Iceland's biggest economic driver is tourism. It not only is great for people to travel and explore but also benefits counties who may not have excelled in the same way without globalisation. **Improvements** - The UN, EU and other [large organisations] (https://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/guides/zxpn2p3/revision/4) aim to improve human rights and other problems facing the world, rather than individual countries. This has meant the world has become less poverty stricken, there are fewer people dying from hunger and life expectancy has gone up! Globalisation has its benefits in allowing more affluent countries the ability to help and send aid to other developing countries. It also means we can tackle global warming as a collective rather than individually! **Cons** **Interfering** - Some argue that globalisation has meant larger countries now interfere with smaller countries when they shouldn’t. An example of this may be the U.S involvement in Vietnam. This was a war where the U.S. need not have fought and lost so many lives. A more connected world means now national problems are international problems. **Richer have become richer** - This means that globalisation has meant now big businesses can be more international = more profit. Or move their workforce to more tax efficient places or places with cheaper labour. This is all whilst the more normal worker now loses work as businesses move their work places or factories. This then how’s how globalisation may have caused a deeper class divide. **Exploiting tax havens** - Again, echoing my previous point, now more [rich people are avoiding paying as much tax in their own countries] (https://www.forbes.com/sites/mikecollins/2015/05/06/the-pros-and-cons-of-globalization/). **COVID-19** - In these crazy times we have also seen a more national approach to the vaccine rollout as well as travel.