The article "How to Judge Globalism" by Amartya Sen, pages 9-24 in The Globalization Reader, edited by Frank J. Lechner and John Boli, discusses the benefits and downfalls of globalization. Globalization has several benefits which, for the most part, outweigh its issues. Globalization is increasing efficiency and therefore aiding millions to "leap ahead" and propser. It also provides a chance to expand the idea of liberty and allow the individual to gain more rights. For example, globalization curtails governmental power. Individuals in business can expand their trade by moving business abroad and offering services to a broader market. This doesn't put a complete stop to the government's power - but it provides the individual with more of a chance to pursue liberty.

Technology also is providing a huge service to globalization as the Internet and cell phones can send signals and information across oceans in a matter of seconds. This provides a pathway to the people with the drive to work hard - it opens up a whole new world in which to create a business outside of just the national market. This, furthermore, gives people the ability to define their own identities and tastes. In this way, globalization stresses individuality over homogenization, as some critics suggest due to the massive companies that service countries all over the world, such as McDonald's.

On this note, a lot of critics say that globalization is just Westernization under a different name. Admittedly, some companies are trying to do this. A perfect example is Monsanto, a company that is working to twist consumer preferences by using the language barrier. However, over and over, farmers are finding themselves disappointed and without the success that Monsanto promised - because Monsanto knew it was lying. It used globalization to push a lie.

Despite this example, the majority of globalization exists outside of this "Western curse." Interrelations have helped advance countries all over the world. And these advancements are not just the West helping the rest of the world. As Lechner and Boli point out, the decimal system we use today was used before in both India and Arab civilizations. Globalization and technology take their influences from all over the world, not just the West.