Answer the following questions. 1. What does the term«globalization» mean?

1. What does the term « globalization» mean?

2. Why is globalization a controversial issue?

3. What is the position of its opponents?

4. What do they predict?

5. What is a opinion of the supporters of globalization?

6. What are the pros of globalization?

7. What are its cons?

Read the following quotes of different people about globalization. What is their position towards the globalization (pro, contra, indifferent, anxious)? What opinion do you agree with?

1. «One day there will be no borders, no boundaries, no flags and no countries and the only passport will be the heart»
Carlos Santana

2.“ It has been said that arguing against globalization is like arguing against the laws of gravity."(Kofi Annan, the 7^th General Secretary of the UNO, 1997—2006)

2."Globalization is a fact of life. But I believe we have underestimated (преуменьшать) its fragility(недолговечность)." (Kofi Annan)

3. "Globalization, as defined by rich people like us, is a very nice thing... you are talking about the Internet, you are talking about cell phones, you are talking about computers. This doesn't affect two-thirds of the people of the world." (Jimmy Carter,the 39th American President 1977-1981)

4."The era of globalization is over."(John Gray, is a British political philosopher and author, formerly School Professor of European Thought at the London School of Economics)

5. "We are in a struggle against a globalization that has no place for principles, values and standards." (Bill Jordan, Professor of Social Policy at Plymouth University in the South West of England)

6."We cannot wait for governments to do it all. Globalization operates on Internet time. Governments tend to be slow moving by nature, because they have to build political support for every step." (Kofi Annan)

7."We must take care that globalization does not become something people become afraid of."(Gerhard Schroeder, a German politician, ex-Chancellor of Germany from 1998 to 2005, member of the Social Democratic Party of Germany (SPD)

8."With globalization and the rate (темп) we're going at, it could happen as soon as three to five years. I don't think it's ready for prime (лучшее время) time. A lot of things have to be cleared up before that happens."(Ray Neid, airline analyst)

9."Globalization is seen as another word for Americanization. All the big multinational brands in Paris are American." (Christopher Mesnooh, specialist in media & entertainment and technology &telecommunications industries, particularly in the internet, new media, software and e-commerce )

10. «The globalization in its American version is dangerous and absurd. 40 % of total income (валовый доход) belongs only to 1000 families. The Mass-Media are also controlled by the certain group of people which supervises the political situation in the world. Slowly the process of taking away the freedom of the human being is taking place. Soon the whole mankind will be involved into the total control system» (Alexey Osipov, Professor of the Moscow Spiritual Seminary and Academy)

3. Questions to discuss:

1. Do you agree with advantages and disadvantages of globalization? Try to explain each statement given in the text.

2. What are another pros and cons of the globalization?

3. Do you like the idea of the globalization? Give your arguments.

4. Do you believe in the positive effects of the globalization? Give your reasons.

5. Do you notice some visible steps of globalization nowadays?

6. Do you agree with an idea that globalization is a smart trick of the USA to influence the political, economic and cultural processes over the world?

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