Posted by Hiquiwdua on June 19, 2002 at 00:45:13:
In Reply to: What would Orwell think of "Globalisation"? posted by Mike on June 17, 2002 at 18:10:53:
For the sake of speculating on a dead man's hypothetical thoughts, I am posting.
As Orwell considered himself a socialist, something that is quite easy to contradict at times, I beliive he would be against it. Moreover, many of the things that globalisation entail such as the poverty and the stance aginst many traditional small shops, he would definitely be against it. However, this making the conjecture that globalisation (or globalization if you are an american) is a "bad" thing.
Those who support globalisation, largely corporations more interested in their wealth than in any philanthropic effects to "developing" countries, are ones who don't care for individual emancipation, which was in a way something Orwell looked for as a socialist. Here in America (where there is not much anti-american sentiment, obviously enough, and thus a generally positive view on globalization, which is something the Bush administration supports) globalization seems as a great thing. And why not? the American economy is increased because of it. What capitalist would not look for greater wealth? However, Orwell was not an american, and probably gave a shit less for them, too. Anyway, globalisation is against socialistn principals and the socialistic mentality (largely, there is always room for individual interpretation) and Orwell would likewise be against it.