Nadia Safitri
Simpatisan Muhammadiyah Tebet Timur
The most frequently mentioned word by people around the world over the past few years is globalization. Leaders would have less confidence if they did not include or address globalization in any of their speech, magazines or newspapers would have less pride if they did not donate globalization in their articles and most people prefer to be regarded as global society rather than as local. 21st century was more characterized by the greater interconnectedness of events on a global basis which is an era of globalization. Globalization itself is different in every place based on the ability of society and condition of region which its presence can’t be avoided.
However, globalization is a comprehensive term for the emergence of global society in which economy, political, environmental, and cultural events in one part of the world quickly come to have significant for people in other parts of the world. Therefore globalization refers one world where perspective of it includes certain issues, a process to unite all states interaction and also their citizens. In globalization, there are results of advantages in communication, transportation, information and culture which those things also describe the growing economic, political, technology and culture.
Globalization’s fever occurs not only in west world but also in east world especially in Asia. Globalization had been carried on the back of westernization and it was to be associated uniquely with Americanization. In this case, United States of America as a superpower country has a strong role in spreading globalization throughout the world including Asia. Asia based on its geography devided into six regions such as West Asia, South Asia, Middle Asia, South East Asia, East Asia and North Asia. While all of them are competing with other countries then in the same time they also have to compete among them in this globalization era. However, among these Asia regions then Asia is the foremost region which leading in technology and economy and they known as “Asia Tiger”. Just name it like Japan, China, Korea which had become the leader not only among Asia countries but also in the world. As a prove is the trade friction between Japan and USA since the late 20th century until nowadays.
Another prove of globalization that had been experienced by Asians in economy sector was about the improvement in trade and the movement of capital, stocks, currencies and investments along with the growth of multinational corporations (MNCs) and transnational corporation (TNCs). Besides, there are institutions of globalization which support economically such as International Monetary Fund (IMF), World Bank, World Trade Organization (WTO), Multilateral Development Banks (MDBs) and other International Financial Institution (IFIs). Various kinds of multinational corporations (MNCs) and transnational corporations (TNCs) in Asia especially South East Asia proved that economy globalization had arrived in these regions. Along with the increasing of those corporations then workers from west countries even fellow Asia countries can easily work in Asia regions which means that competition has begun.
Economy globalization in Asia especially South East Asia also supported by free market such as AFTA (ASEAN Free Trade Area) as well as BFTA (Bilateral Free Trade Agreement). Those corporation show that globalization has eliminated boundaries among countries (borderless) and because of that foreigners can easily in and out of a country to work and compete with local people. However, as Asians, we must progressively thinking of preparing ourselves with competent capability and potential skills in order to compete and show that Asians are not less professional than them. The difference of racial, tribe, religion or culture are not recognized in this globalization era because only individual ability and skill are needed here.
The other side effects of globalization also felt by Asians when economy crisis hit Asia few years ago. This crisis had made not only economy unstable but also had affected world economy generally. Globalization made the side effects of Asia economy crisis spread rapidly to the rest of the world. This crisis had invited international society as one global society for their concerns by supporting and helping Asian countries to overcome this crisis. Some of them like IMF, World Bank also fellow of Asian countries that had passed through the crisis faster than others were helping other Asia countries. Globalization has made many countries in the world become one when there is a problem among them especially for Asian countries where the crisis had made the relationship among them closer than before.
Besides economy globalization, other globalizations have affected Asians lifestyle, new way of life and attitude. Having meal in McDonald with a glass of Coca Cola, enjoying global entertainment by watching Hollywood movies and music videos on MTV, tuning in to global channels such as BBC, CNN, HBO or ESPN, communicating with mobile phone, using internet to get latest and fastest information are common things among Asians-young and old, male and female, urban and rural even poor and rich. The bad influences from all above that also affected Asians such as drug addicted, free sex, HIV/AIDS as well as moral degradation. However, positive and negative aspects had been accepted and felt by Asians all at once through knowledge, technology, resources and ethical values also rapid spread of diseases, illicit drugs, crime terrorism and uncontrolled migration. As we called ourselves global society and being part of the global world then we have no reason to avoid globalization because no matter what, it still can not be avoided.
However, to handle the side effects both good and bad then we must sort out those effects wisely, fortify ourselves with our eastern values, think logic before act and be positive thinkers. Besides, as young and next Asia generation who live in a free world era which has let us get the best education and life experiences to make us as a survivor then we can, surely, make our own choice for our lives. Having well education and skill then we can compete with others professionally and confidently. Also by supporting, cooperating and implementing government’s policies then we can contribute many things in settling problems. Altogether with government, international society, international institutions and the rest of Asians then we can solve any problem as one global society who lives in one world (borderless). If we can show our optimist attitude and think positive then we can do anything from small to big for our nation then be proud as Asians who can determine ourselves in the map of 21st century’s globalization. Those are the things that Asia can do in the globalization-21st century which is fully supported by all Asians.