Criticisms of globalization

Criticism of globalization is skepticism of the claimed benefits of globalization. Many of these views are held by the anti-globalization movement. Globalization has created much global and internal unrest in many countries. Case studies of Thailand and the Arab nations' view of globalization show that globalization may be a threat to culture and religion, and it may harm indigenous people groups while multinational corporations would profit from it. Although globalization improved the global standard of living and economic development, it has been criticized for its production of negative effects. Globalization is not simply an economic project, but it also influences the country environmentally, politically, and socially as well.

There is a debate over how globalization affects employment. There is less domestic manufacture of everyday products as a result of globalization. When buyers search for a product, they will usually choose the least expensive option, and occasionally US-made items cannot compete with the pricing of goods manufactured elsewhere.

It was estimated in 2013 that the Chinese import competition led to a loss of employment for 548,000 workers between 1990 and 2000.

English Philosopher John Gray described globalization as post-Cold War American triumphalism, and stated "global laissez-faire is an American project". Gray points out that the American system of Globalization is past its prime and is no longer sustainable in the modern world. Globalization in the United States began with the common goal of forming a global collective that facilitates a steady stream of trade, internationalism, and collaboration in various sectors to promote peace and prosperity. Some scholars and critics say the Washington Consensus played a role in solidifying the United States as one of the core nation-states at the heart of the system of global capitalism in the post-Cold War era.

Sanjib Baruah criticizes American-led globalism as tending to export American hegemony while only benefiting a small, English-speaking minority in developing countries at the expense of the broader population. On the other hand, United States President Donald Trump, speaking to the U.N. General Assembly, stated that he felt that America had lost its former high regard and had become a laughing stock on the world stage and that globalism had led to America bearing a disproportionate share of the costs of international initiatives. According to a survey conducted by the Pew Research Center, many Americans have a feeling of being forgotten or swept up by globalization and its lasting effects. According to the survey, these feelings were brought on by the rising cost of living, culture shifts, industry decline, and the rising influence of multinational corporations.

Multinational corporations often benefit from globalization, while minority indigenous groups may be negatively affected or exploited. Minority groups within larger nations opting towards globalization may be threatened by the growing power of multinational corporations. An example of this occurring is large palm oil companies receiving land to develop from the government that is occupied by the indigenous tribes. Globalization has been criticized for benefiting those who are already large and in power at the cost of endangering the countries’ indigenous population. In the name of free markets and with the promise of an improved standard of living, local authorities give up some of their political and social powers to international organizations. Thus, globalization causes the greater empowerment of these international organizations and the diminishing influence of local state institutions.

In the late 1970s and 1980s, hydropower dam projects were conducted in order to recreate Thailand's economy into an export-oriented economy. The projects were funded by loans from the World Bank and was part of globalization efforts. Local villagers whom the project would directly affect were not notified, and the World Bank disregarded their concerns. As a result of the building of the dams, villages that heavily depended on the river lost their livelihood and their means of economic gains (i.e., fishing). The projects contaminated the river, which made the river unfit for villagers to drink, bathe, and do laundry without experiencing negative health conditions such as rashes. Furthermore, the projects resulted in the extermination from the region of 40 edible plant species, 45 mushroom species, and 10 bamboo species, all of which the income of the local markets were dependent on, some of which were important for medical usage. The decline in fish population exterminated fishermen's ways of life, as 169 different fish species were affected and 56 species became totally extinct from the local ecosystem. The globalization efforts in Thailand resulted in environmental impacts that affected the social and economic welfare of indigenous populations.

The decrease in biodiversity worldwide is an effect of human activity; human impact on ecosystems can be measured by biological diversity. Harmful effects from globalization are visible from reduced genetic diversity in agriculture from the loss of crop varieties and livestock breeds, loss of biological species, increase of "exotic species" which live outside their natural geographic range, pollution in Earth's natural elements such as air, water, soil, rapid climate change, exhaustion of resources, and social or spiritual disruption.