Globalization for the Arab Countries Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3500 words

Globalization for the Arab Countries - Essay Example Then in 1973, "King Faisal of Saudi Arabia cuts off his country's oil exports to the United States, triggering an oil crisis, long lines at the gas pumps and a recession." (Newton, p 53) Globalization is typically defined as a shift from internal local human societies (including financial, politics and religions) to linking distant communities of people and levels of industry, expanding them across regions and continents - in other words removing boundaries from the world. Globalization can reduce the deficiencies of third world countries with technological advances and with equal allocation of resources. An advantage to globalization is the lowering of trade barriers, for example, the reduction of export tariffs to the developing countries charged by industrialized nations. The lowering of the trade barriers then allow the developing countries to also move towards industrialization with the realized gains. Globalization is also said to liberalize countries with less than democratic political processes, for example, the member countries of the Gulf Cooperation Council. Organization according to the theory of globalization One might argue that the GCC is a regional rather than a global organization, but they formed together because of globalization. They wish to base their common goal on the creed of Islam, believing they have a common destiny. However, it is notable that Yemen, Jordan, Iraq and Iran are not included in the regional organization. Saudi Arabia was the primary in setting up the Gulf Cooperation Council in 1981. Other members are Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates (UAE). The Gulf Cooperation Council aims to coordinate resistance to outside intervention in the Gulf. Progress towards economic integration has been slow during the 1980s economic downturn in the region. The presidency of the Gulf Cooperation Council rotates yearly among members. Council headquarters are in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. The Gulf Cooperation Council was initially formed in response to the out break of the Iran-Iraq war. ("Gulf Cooperation Council - GCC.") During that time and after the 1973 Oil Em bargoes it has been estimated that the population of the GCC is about 35 percent expatriates from the surrounding countries. (IOM, LAS 2004). The practice of globalization theory will lead countries to gain of knowledge even if the theory turns out wrong for them. It can also be used to rule out non-working solutions to diagnose and treat economic events. Liberalism of culture, religion, language by GCC Liberalism ('liberate') is opening up the local cultures, religions and languages (internal human societies) to compatibility with global cultures, religions and languages (distant across regions and even continents). In fact, one might say that liberalism wants to synthesize all of the local areas of

Railway Development in Hong Kong Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Railway Development in Hong Kong - Essay Example As the essay declares Hong Kong is a unique urban area with exceedingly high densities and strong commercial core. It cannot rely on automobiles to the same extent as other cities. Thus Hong Kong is the most favorable environment in the world for urban rail. The key to keeping Hong Kong moving will be to provide mobility alternatives that can make extensive automobile use unnecessary. This paper stresses that railways play a central role in the new transport strategy as they serve as efficient and environmentally friendly mass carriers. The location of employment centres within walking distance of rail stations ensures the usage of railways making the reliance on road-based transport minimal. The Government’s policy is to accord priority to railways so that they will form the backbone of a balanced transport system for Hong Kong. The other reasons put forward to the Provisional Legislative Council to request funding for the development of railway infrastructure are the population increase by 8.2 million in 2016, the need to access new areas, the need to redefine cross-boundary passenger and freight rail services. All the reasons can be summed up into one: the rapid changes in the Hong Kong environment in the last three years with the fundamental change being the reverting of Hong Kong to China in 1997. These changes urged the Government to formulate the fir st Railway Development Strategy in 1994.