Global cities show a particularly high degree of social polarization Essay

Social polarisation is a relatively new urban phenomenon that identifies the existence of a widening breaking mingled with the rich and poor inside a cordial sort out or entity. This col has developed in soils societies as a allow for of income equalities, real estate fluctuations and economical displacement (Moulaert 2003). The do keep be damaging to society and stern include a loss of resources, investment and young heap to the core (Bradford and Kent 1995). I lay to discuss and explain kind polarization in terms of the causes and make on society, as well as the main catalysts of polarization.Many geographers rely that globoseization is a process that has enabled nation-states, TNCs, as well as individuals, to withstand their reach across the globe (Daniels et al 2008). globalisation has meant that national economies gain become integrated into the international economy (Croucher 2004) as a dissolving agent of trade, capital flows, foreign direct investment, mi gration and the spread of technology leading to the addition of many sectors, especially the pecuniary sector, where information is slow accessible via a technologically strong communications network.Some are of the belief that Globalization leads directly to social polarization (Sassen 1991) The rapid growth in the financial sector has led to the formation of very well paying(a) positions within financial institutes dominated by managers, executives and stockbrokers. However, it has also created large numbers of low-paying jobs, a great deal filled by women and the minorities in unskilled positions. As a offspring of this, income difference is common in global cities with salaries ranging greatly. The United Nations quoted that between 1960 and 1990 country differentials between the wealthiest and poorest 20% increased from 30 to more(prenominal)(prenominal) than 60 (UNDP 1993)(Thrift et al 2002).This can lead to a number of problems, with the lower paid workers easily rep laced by an abundant supply of workers moving to the area from abroad, known as the urban immigrant population (Chao-Lin 2002). The replacement of low-income workers has become a problem in many global cities, for example in Beijing, the open door in-migration policy as led to an influx of urban immigrants. Many social problems are caused as a result of this, such as tenor at home and at work etc. This, in turn, widens the gap between the richer and poorer mass in society thence increasing social polarization.The transnationals imbibe, of course, greatly changed the economic environment. At the global scale their location of work in developing countries has contributed to what has been called a global lean (Bradford and Kent 1995). In the start-off half of the twentieth century the majority of manufacturing and production plants was concentrated in the core Western Europe and North America.However, a global shift (Bradford and Kent 1995) did occur and by the 1980s a third of TNCs had moved to global production in Newly Industrializing Countries (NICs) at the periphery. As these TNCs made more m iodiny and became financially stronger, there was a shift of power from the goernments to the transnationals. The TNCs stick out great control over roughly sectors of the economy, as government receipts from taxes is recycled (through wages) back into the large corporations.TNCs can cause a variety of problems by locating in developing countries, the concentration of many transnationals activities in one area, oft the core, may exacerbate inter-regional differences (Bradford and Kent 1995). Again, this depart cause social polarization as different areas in a country, or town will show differences in amenities etc. due to a greater investment in infrastructure. However, this investment in the core regions is needed to good the large corporations.Investment will attract people, jobs and activity into the core regions, thus emphasizing the strength of the pul l factors created by TNCs more well paid jobs are created, better living conditions, more amenities etc. However, this is often at the expense of peripheral regions which lose resources, investment and young people to the core the so called backwash or polarization effects (Bradford and Kent 1995). Friedmanns Core Periphery Model is relevant here as over time people are drawn from the periphery areas into the core, (See Figure 1).Transnationals can also cause problems if similar corporations locate in the same countries, thus leading to segmentation of markets (classifying markets into distinct subsets with the same needs). (Todd 1977). (Classifying markets into distinct subsets with the same needs). This can lead to social differences being accentuated, again relating back to differences in income inequality and quality of life at the core and periphery. Furthermore, particular cultures in countries engender changed as a result of acquisition of material goods (Bradford and Kent 1995). This has lead to peoples position in society being determined by possession or consumption of particular goods, causing temper and stress, which causes societies to began more polarized.To conclude in my opinion social polarization, can only have a negative effect on societies and countries as stress and anger is caused as a result of concentrations of investment in core areas, leave peripheral areas without amenities and jobs. As TNCs continue to increase in size the effects of polarization can only increase with the gap between different social groups increasing, as a result of income inequality and economic displacement. With increased control and power, soon TNCs will have even more control than some governments, and this can already be seen in some areas of the world with governments in India etc. being unable to stop sweatshop ride e.g. Nike in Bangladesh. Polarization shows gaps in society have begun to develop as local markets develop in global markets as a result of globalization and the growth of large corporations.ReferencesBradford, M. and Kent, A. 1993 Understanding Human Geography wad and their Changing Environments, Oxford University Press, Oxford.Chao-Lin, G.U. 2001 Social Polarization and Segregation in Beijing, Beijing, Science Press, http//www.springerlink.com/ meat/h3w8112rj24l8468/fulltext.pdf, 29th NovemberJohnston, R.J., Taylor, P.J and Watts, M.J. 1995 The Reconfiguration of Late Twentieth-Century Capitalism. In Johnston, R.J., Taylor, P.J and Watts, M.J. (eds) Geographies of Global Change Remapping the World, Blackwell Publishers Ltd., United Kingdom, 19-29.Moulaert, F., Swyndedouw, E. and Rodriguez, A. 2003 The Globalized metropolis Economic Restructuring and Social Polarization in European Cities, Oxford University Press, Oxford.Sassen, S. 2001 The Global City, Princeton University Press, the StatesTodd, D. 1977 Polarization and the Regional Problem Manufacturing in Nova Scotia, The University of Manitoba Geography discussion section, Canada.Figure 1. Rodrigue, Dr. J. P. Department of Economics and Geography, 1998Bradshaw, M., Daniels, P., Shaw, D. and Sidway, J. 2008 An Introduction to Human Geography, Pearson Education Limited, England.