2. INTRODUCTION
Economic globalization has become one of the most
important features of world economic activities since
the end of the Cold War. It has not only produced a
farreaching impact on the political, economic and
social aspects of the world, but is also confronting the
world economic system with unprecedented
challenges. With existing problems under the current
economic order still outstanding, the economic order
under globalization has presented new and tougher
security problems to countries of the world, especially
the developing countries.
3. GLOBALISATION
Globalization is described and defined in many different ways.
Frost [7] quotes several sources, each differently describing
globalization. Amongst others, he quotes Friedman’s
description of globalization as a “dynamic, ongoing process
involving the inexorable integration of markets, non-states, and
technologies to a degree never witnessed before.” Frost also
quotes the National Security Strategy issued by the White
House in December 1999 which defined globalization as “the
process of accelerating economic, technological, cultural and
political integration.”
4. NATIONAL SECURITY
National Security as a concept is associated with the history of
the United States of America following the Second World War,
with the US Congress passing the first National Security
Constitution in 1947. It traditionally had to do with the
protection of the state against external aggression through
economic, military, political, and diplomatic means. Recently
however, it has been broadened to include human security – a
people-centred approach to security, linking development to
security and broadening both the identification of possible
threats and the actors responsible for producing and resolving
insecurity.
5. IMPLICATIONS TOWARD NATIONAL
SECURITY
This close integration of the countries in the world in the global
system has wide implications or ramifications toward national
security.
The borderless world tends to increase the
"internationalization" of a nation's domestic issues and thus
precipitates the first security impact: Neo-interventionism
which poses challenges to the United Nations (UN) principle of
territorial integrity and sovereign equality.
The Anwar episode has demonstrated the increasing foreign
interference in Malaysia's internal affairs. Evidence of USA-led
interference in Malaysia's internal affairs can be seen in their
attempt to inflame the Anwar-Mahathir conflict to erode the
confidence of international community on Malaysia's political
stability.
6. SPILL-OVER EFFECT OF INTERNATIONAL
ISSUES
The spill-over effect of international issues on national security.
The increasing globalization of the world has created a new
security environment that enhanced the ability of non-state
actors to function beyond territorial borders. In particular,
terrorist organizations have become more trans-national in
character, operating relatively easily across permeable state
boundaries.
Globalization has enabled the terrorists to move easily across
frontiers; make alliances with other states or other terrorist
groups; exploit instant communications and the mass media;
and have the potential to gain access to and utilise weapon
systems that would have been inconceivable during the Cold
War.
7. THE THREAT OF "TRADE-RELATED
ISSUES"
Another impact and implication of globalization is the
threat of "trade-related issues" in trade agreement.
Northern governments plan to link trade (including
trade measures and sanctions) to the environment and
to labour standards in a manner that is likely to be
inequitable and thus harmful to the South are already
well advanced. There will also likely be attempts to
link even more issues to trade measures possibly
including "trade-related women's rights", "trade-
related judicial systems", etc.
8. GLOBALIZATION AND CHALLENGES OF
IDENTITY
The significant effect felt around the globe is waning identity
of nation states and increasing role of multinational
corporations, which are destined to take a lead role in driving
the global events underpinning their business interests.
Additionally, the enigmatic value of accelerating globalization
is that it professes to create harmony in the society and the
nation states, consequentially, it is resulting in enhanced
awareness that is causing societal heterogeneity due to uneven
distribution of its benefits across the countries, regions and the
globe at large.
9.
10. GLOBALIZATION AND INEQUALITY
While the paradoxical nature of globalization has been
much appreciated and debated in the wider academic
circles and business community, one thing aptly comes
out as a result of analyses of evolving trends that the
income distribution and poverty level has been uneven
and unparalleled.