ENDURING ISSUE ESSAY EXAMPLE

       

An enduring issue is a challenge or problem that has been debated or discussed across time. An enduring issue is one that many societies have attempted to address with varying degrees of success. Globalization is an example of an enduring issue that has occurred across time. This occurs when the interconnectedness and interdependence of nations, economies, cultures, and societies on a global scale. This process has been facilitated by advancements in technology, transportation, communication, and trade. While globalization has led to increased economic growth and cultural exchange, it has also raised concerns about issues such as cultural homogenization, exploitation of labor, and environmental degradation. Through generations people have been through inhumane experiments, dehumanizing trauma of slavery, totalitarian regimes and the genocide by their own people. As well as exploitation and imperialism driven by foreign power. The Pledge of India taken on January 26th, 1930, “Bring back Africa”, and the Khmer Rouge captured Phnom Penh from documents 2,3 and 4 are three examples of historical events that demonstrates the impact of Globalization.  

    Essentially, Document #2 exemplifies the enduring issue of globalization. According to document # 2, it states “ Politically, India’s status has never been so reduced as under the British regime.”  The British overall involvement in India is  imperialism. This grew from the desire for natural resources as well as economic contact to direct political power over the Nation of India and the citizens that reside there. Consequently resulting in the British inflicting military defeat on India and other rulers.  Enduring the colonization of their nation, rulers in small areas of India granted and appeased to the British the rule they needed to trade in and out of the ports surrounding India. In addition this contributed to the rise of the British East India company. This company augmented their power  becoming the largest economic and unofficial political power house residing in the Nation of India under the rule of Great Britain. Global trading, led to wars with different subcontinents. Underpinned by the Sepoy Mutiny (1857) and the direct rule of Britain. The civil war was fought against Britain for a myriad reason. Two being religion and politics. This began when the Indians in the British army forcibly gained an understanding that the grease used on the bullet cartridges  came from cow and pig fat, in which they had to bite into, violating the beliefs of Hinduism and Muslim. Gradually this has led to a rebellion that profoundly impacted the nation beyond military. The outcome of this civil war was a failure. Furthermore while under British rule, Gandhi led a boycott called the salt March. This drove the Indians to further rebel against the British economically. Creating their own salt and enhancing more of their natural resources for themselves, this deprived the British of what they initially came to India for, lucrative trade. They were not able to trade with other countries for goods in India. In turn the Indians were slaughtered, killed for what they believed in. Gandhi was a civil rights activist, leader of the great people of India, influencing future leaders like Martin Luther King Jr, Nelson Mandela and much more. From an historical perspective Britain brought many assets , such as improved transportation, education, communication through technology, health services and unity. Nevertheless, it was all the more beneficial for the British, allowing them to industrialize and colonize India. The Indians believe the British stripped away and threatened their values, beliefs and practices because of the annexation of their people as well as the British people. In modern times, globalization has become prevalent. Through advanced technology, the availability of communication, religions, transportation and many more. Yet some people still believe that the interconnectedness of this has been nothing but detrimental to society. Where beliefs are deemed more important than others, the color of your skin is the determining factor of where in society you belong. Expounded, an enlightenment thinker who believes that the source of legitimate  government comes from the people and not the king or ruling power is Rousseau, . His ideology states that if the great king is deemed to have control over me and everything else, then out of respect they should protect me and allow for me to have a say in what takes place in what I live for and believe in. 

   Moreover, document # 3, illustrates the enduring issue of globalization. Highlighted in document # 3, is “the freedom Charter meeting held in Soweto, South Africa…”, “There shall be work and security. All shall enjoy equal Human Rights…”, “The people shall govern.” This highlights the exploitative nature of labor. Africans have to protest, begging for equality in rights, paid work and the security they need to provide for their family and future generations. Bring back Africa, the Africa they knew before the Scramble of Africa, the Africa it once was, unity and togetherness of one people. After the scramble for Africa and the Berlin Conference that allowed European countries to come in and take apart the continent of Africa. Dividing it into parts that specifically each European nation desired for natural resources. Examples can be seen for coal,  gold, oil, Shea butter and more. Disregarding the disadvantages that became of their beliefs, culture, values and ethnic group. One can infer that Africa was weak and closed off from the world similar to Japan. Which gave foreign powers the advantage to take over and abuse their power for what they desire. “The sun never sets on Britain” is a saying that implies the nature of European forces. They took and took across the globe, colonizing nations, up until it was impossible to pinpoint the origin of Britain because while the sun set on one part of the globe it was rising in another that was imperialized by Britain. Similarly to the Scramble for Africa, the Meiji Restoration of Japan felt fear for what was to come. They mimicked the education and technological advancements of foreign powers westernizing and modernizing their nation, after being closed off from the world for about 200 years, because they feared what would happen if the European nations tried to Imperialize their nation. Nevertheless for Africa this resulted in the Transatlantic Slave Trade. Approximately 13 million African people were kidnapped, forced onto European and American ships, trafficked across the Atlantic Ocean to be enslaved, abused, and forever separated from their homes, families, and cultures. Illustration in document #3 furthermore shows proof that during the longevity of the transatlantic slave trade, the people of Africa were protesting and fighting for their loved ones, their cultres and beliefs, econmic and political systems to improve. The people of Africa needed a leader not a monarch or exploitative means of labor with no pay. Fighting to Bring back Africa that was before. Later on, Nelson Mandela mitigated the severity of the Apartheid and the systemic trauma of slavery, racism and dehumanization of the people. The apartheid was a systemic discriminatory and prejudice against race compounded by the European forces. Fighting the great fight led to numerous outcomes of the nation of Africa. Negatively, globalization paved its way, creating wars, protest, abuse of power and so much for the world.  And yet it has also been balanced with the improvements in technology of many parts of the region, transportation as well as communication. It is crucial to understand and have knowledge of the past to know why nations have built up resentment, and why things are turning out the way they do. Pivotally, an enlightenment thinker who says one should have the right to say, print or protest whatever one wishes, also known as freedom of speech and press was Voltaire. Knowledgeable, the enlightenment era has always had a significant impact on the world, (through the enduring issues of time) influencing leaders to do what's right in the name of the people and having respect for the wishes of people, as well as individuality and the uniqueness of a people or culture and beyond the aspects of life itself. 

     Furthermore, Document #4 exemplifies the enduring issue of globalization. According to document #4 it states “That meant killing Cambodians who spoke French or wear western clothes and wiping out villagers whose ancestors were Vietnamese.” The Khmer Rouge were a group of activists and murderers that believed in becoming leaders of Cambodia, taking over and leaving things be in the country.  They didn't believe in change or being half Cambodian . This reflected the violent cultural and ethnic conflicts that arose from historical global interactions. The killing of Cambodians who spoke French underscores the deep-seated resentment against the cultural influence imposed by French colonialism, illustrating the backlash against the homogenization forces of globalization. Similarly, the targeting of villagers with Vietnamese ancestors reflected the ethnic tension exacerbated by historical migration patterns, another aspect of globalization that brings diverse populations into conflict. These violent acts also reveal a struggle for political power and control, often seen when local or national entities resist external influences or attempt to consolidate authority. Nevertheless, the evidence Underscores the lasting impact of colonialism and imperialism and the elements of globalization which continue to shape conflicts and policies in affected regions. Similarly the Arab Spring was a series of pro-democratic uprisings covering many Muslim countries like Morocco, Syria, Egypt and more. The Arab Spring tried to change and demand economic, social and political reforms in countries. However despite changes the country remains socially conserved and under the control of a totalitarian regime. This can be seen connected to the killings of Cambodians because of the negative influence, the negative experiences & mindset that was passed down for generations oto those that are now committing genocide of their own people because of discriminatory and prejudice ideologies they have. Because they wanted power, they also wanted conflict resulting in the war between Vietnam and Cambodia. In which Vietnam whipped the floor with the Warriors of Cambodia that were conflicted with themselves but externally conflicting with the power of Vietnam. This led to autonomy and control over Cambodia because of insignificant means of power. On the other hand, an Enlightenment thinker who believed that a good government is one that has a separation of power, mimicking the three branches of government such as the legislative, judicial and executive branches of the United States of America was Montesquieu. He believed that the separation of power would not only mitigate the conflict within a nation but also bring about democracy where the people have freedom of speech and a voice to choose what and who they want to rule over the nation they reside in, contrasting the killings of Cambodians done by the Khmer Rouge. Killing your own people not only shows the world how weak the nation is but also divides a people into different groups which results in more conflict, more Civil Wars and more Global and external Wars unnecessarily against other Nations. 

   All in all, The enduring issue of globalization has both negatively and positively affected the world. Protests like for the murder of George Floyd, a black man who suffocated and died by the hands and feet of a white police officer, and Mahsa Amini who was shot and killed by the police for wearing her hijab in Iran, the ongoing war between Israel -Hamas and the palestinians. This world is interconnected and because of our interconnectedness and our advancements in technology and communication, what happens in one region of the world is also afflicted and creates conflict in another region of the world. And because of our freedom of speech and  the significant use of our voice to speak what we believe to choose a side in, the fight that we believe should signify and hold such power within a nation. And throughout it all there's always been a balance, for instance the enlightenment era, the era of Martin Luther king, Gandhi, Nelson Mandela, Barack Obama, Abraham Lincoln and Frederick Douglass. These people are significant powers to what the world could be. These leaders regardless of the color of their skin or their ethnic background showed leadership, stepping up in a world where many people despise. The xenophobic ways of different parts of the world. They stepped up and fought for what was right. In spite of the enduring issue of globalization they also found a way to express the advantages of globalization. 

(this can not be plagiarised fyi)

Written by: Gabriella Henry