Globalization and Sovereignty through Conflict (PDF)

Essay from the year 2009 in the subject Politics - International Politics - Topic: Peace and Conflict Studies, Security, grade: A-, Ottawa University, course: United States and Globalization, language: English, abstract: Globalisation has brought about fundamental change. Advancements in technology have made the global markets more accessible than ever before making trade and investing abroad much more efficient. It has become so easy to reach the global population that it would be detrimental for any entity not to expand its horizons; however, the question on whether or not an entity should go global raises conflict right from the start.

Trading, in general, makes it more likely for conflict between countries due to natural trade relations; however, globalisation mitigates these problems. Conflict is innately involved in trading and trying to maximize one's own position but globalisation has brought information and resources closer to the trader allowing for faster and more informed decision making. So although conflicts may arise, globalisation helps to extinguish the conflict faster.

NAFTA is a trilateral agreement between the U.S., Canada, and Mexico which allows for free trade within North America. Although there is a section in NAFTA that specifically deals with conflicts between member countries, in general, the agreement makes it easier to do trade or invest by globalising the continent. That's not to say conflict doesn't arise because it quite frequently does; it just happens less often because the ground rules are well established.