3.8B - Controlling the Spread of Globalisation
Attempts have been made in some locations to control the spread of globalisation by censorship (China or North Korea), limiting immigration (UK or Japan) and trade protectionism. (P: role of government) (A: attitudes of pro- and anti-immigration groups)
Some countries have attempted to limit the impact of globalisation using government policy:
- The internet is banned in North Korea, because the Supreme Leader Kim Jong-Un does not want his people to have access to 'western' ideas.
- In China, the internet was very widely used by 52% of the population in 2016, but it is censored; some searches for politically sensitive topics like the Tiananmen Square protests get no results because the Chinese Communist Party seeks to prevent 'unhelpful' discussion.
- Since 2010 the UK has sought to reduce immigration using a points system, but with only limited results because EU immigration cannot be controlled.
- Other countries like Australia also use a points based immigration system to match immigrants to actual economic needs and job vacancies.
- This awards points to potential immigrants based on education, skills, language proficiency and other criteria so that migrants are matched to a country's needs.
- Trade protectionism is still common: oil exports are banned in the USA so all domestically produced oil must be used in the USA; India restricts foreign companies investing in its retail sector to protect Indian small shopkeepers from competition.
These restrictions are generally the exception rather than the norm, as most countries operate within a system of global free trade and open access to information , and broadly welcome the economic advantages of globalisation.