Throughout history, nations like Bhutan, Japan, and China have taken positions that could be characterised as isolationist. North Korea has been attempting to achieve sustainability through agricultural independence and a lack of dependence on other nations for many years through its Juche ideology.
The victory of Donald Trump, the UK’s decision to leave the EU, and the rise of the European Right in nations like France, the Netherlands, and Germany have given momentum to the notion that globalization has outlived its usefulness. Is it reasonable to infer from these developments that globalization is creating more issues than it is resolving? If it appears that there is a general lack of enthusiasm with globalization, is isolationism the answer to that?
Isolationism and Globalization
The term “globalization” refers to the growing contact between nations, states, and individuals. This engagement is frequently made feasible by the expansion of the flow of goods, money, ideas, and cultures across international borders. Globalization is mostly an integrating process with social and cultural components.
Contrarily, isolationism is described as a policy or doctrine that aims to keep one’s country separate from the affairs of other countries. This is accomplished by aiming to make one’s economy self-sufficient and avoiding joining multilateral alliances, foreign economic commitments, or international accords.
No, Isolationism Is Not the Solution
Many nations have experienced far faster growth as a result of opening up to international trade. International trade helps economic development when a country’s exports drive its economic growth. The industrial policy that has benefited regions of Asia and Africa has been centered on export-led growth.
The world is undergoing profound changes brought about by globalization. All nations and areas now have new potential to flourish due to the scientific and technology advancements that are occurring quickly, the ongoing growth of international commerce and investment, and economic restructuring. These modifications do, however, also introduce some uncertainty. Instead of addressing those risks, rejecting globalization would be like burning one’s farmland to get rid of weeds or undesired grazing animals.
India has a serious socioeconomic issue before pursuing a path of economic reform and globalization. In India, the significant impact of globalization was the emancipation of hundreds of thousands of people from poverty. However as a result of technology and automation, many jobs were eliminated. This led some isolationists to claim that globalization was simply a form of colonization.
However, it is now generally accepted that this suffering was actually caused by developing nations’ inability to protect and skill their workers, such as India, rather than by globalization.
The advantages of globalization have given many nations food security, fiscal stability, and energy independence. Yet, it has also resulted in significant social changes like immigration.
Many people around the world believe that globalization is bad for their own and their country’s economic prosperity. Add to that the global financial slowdown. Isolationism is thought to be helpful in reducing societal issues. Isolationism’s proponents do not, however, explain how leaving the international community will make these issues go away. An isolationist posture is at best a mirage that hasn’t yet produced any solutions.
Governments are also driven by political or social goals to restrict and modify market outcomes. Governments are able to restrict some product price increases, but they are powerless to influence consumer demand or business willingness to sell. Still valid are the rules of supply and demand.
Moreover, isolationism might momentarily give domestic workers jobs. The protection of tariffs, quotas, or subsidies enables domestic businesses to employ locals, but once more, a business in a protectionist state won’t be able to expand. Trade protectionism undermines the sector over time. Companies in the industry would not need to innovate if there was no competition. The indigenous product’s quality will eventually deteriorate. It will cost more and be of worse quality than what its overseas rivals’ products are.
Yes, Isolationism is the Solution
The objection to globalization is driven by both the perceived injustices in the global commercial system as well as the harm that developed countries are thought to suffer as a result of global market pressures. Multilateral organizations have provided assistance to many developing nations, notably Venezuela, Zimbabwe, and Greece, to help them deal with crises and imbalances.
Regrettably, this produced a domino effect that increased hunger, unhappiness, and rioting in many nations. Even when outcomes were not as bad and there was temporary growth, as in the cases of Haiti, African nations, Sri Lanka, and Pakistan, all of which benefited with Chinese and American assistance, benefits frequently went disproportionately to the elite, with those at the bottom occasionally experiencing even greater poverty.
Multinational firms actively pursue offshoring as a strategy to erode domestic labour and increase profits. The discussion of “gains from trade” is altered by businesses’ capacity to distribute workers abroad. Even in the long run, there are no longer any “gains” assured to nations that export employment and technology. Trade with them will drive down Western wages if nations like China combine Western technology with cheaper labour. The cost of commodities will be lower for West Europeans, but saving 20% on groceries may not always offset salary losses.
China’s contribution to global manufacturing exports climbed from 2.3% to 18.8% between 1991 and 2013. The US lost several manufacturing production segments. “Eventually” the United States might benefit. Nevertheless, the benefits might not be distributed fairly and could take “decades” to materialise.
Conclusion
Isolationism and globalisation share a variety of traits. Although though they are significantly different from one another, both have had a significant impact on a number of societal issues, including trade, the employment rate, and economic diversification. To determine the ideal mix of policies that are good for their growth and development, each nation and its people must weigh the advantages and disadvantages.
Atulya Anand