Globalization can be loosely defined as the exchange of ideas, culture, values and even trade between countries and region. It has been in existence ever since mankind learned that the world (or at least theirs) was much bigger than what they can see until the horizon. With their incessant thirst for knowledge, they travelled far and wide, bring their own values and even goods with them in that fruitful hope of exchange for something new.
Such idea about globalization has not changed much since then. The only significant difference was in the way it was being carried out. Technology is one of the main culprits that significantly improved globalization over time. The ease of such act is so apparent that it is normal for us to have friends from the other side of the world that we would visit as often as how we would our neighbors. Technology too had significantly increase the rate of change that globalization had brought about. Today, we more than willing to readily accept ideas, values and trade from foreigners and at the same time exchange them for ours. Everyone else who viewed it as alien nature were ostracized greatly and deemed to be backward or undeveloped. Since the founding of modern Singapore, this seems to be the status quo.
Why is Raffles founding of Singapore much more popularly known as the founding of modern Singapore? In its own rights, it was the civilization of a much backward country (according to the British) by inculcating modern British values and technology. It was in this era where The Enlightenment was rampant in the European states where reasoning is much more powerful than simply accepting events and occurrences as a state of nature. With this, the British set out on a noble expedition to civilize countries by colonizing them.
At the very same time, they also had hoped to benefit from trade from all things like spices (India), Silk and tea (China). The founding of ‘modern’ Singapore was simply to benefit them even further as the country was smack right in the middle of the trade route in between those two countries. So, the colonization of Singapore was simple a means for the British to profit even further by making the country a hub of trade. No doubt we too benefitted from this especially in the modern times. With this, we benefitted not only from trade but also from the aspect of education, multiculturalism, technology (one that is constantly changing at a brutally fast pace but yet we are still able to be on top of things) and many other vast improvements that was brought about by this noble act of the British.
Would we have been able to survive the times if we were still going about things on our own ways? Would we be what we are today without the (or any) help of western powers? How would we likely turn out to be if we continued to be what we are? These questions can be answered by the history of Japan. For many years, Japan had closed its doors to any foreign influences. For centuries, they practiced their cultural tradition without any interference. However, upon the arrival of a US warship and its expedition, the technological superiority that the fleet had was simply too great for them to ignore that they decided to accept the foreign influences from a foreign power in order for them to gain technological superiority over that foreign influence itself.
Such impact that globalization has brought about is indeed far greater that any problems that it could have caused. Everyone benefits from this in the big picture. Even though social problems like poverty and low birth rates tend to creep up as a result, the benefits outweigh any social problem that it has brought about.
