Globalization, migration into urban centers, and cross-cultural training

The process of globalization is well established and its positive effects touted by most nations. Less well known are its effects on populations negatively affected by the movement of capital and goods from rich to less rich countries and groups of people from poor to wealthy nations. After first discussing the effects of globalization on migratory patterns, this paper then examines, briefly, the mental health effects on the groups compelled to leave their native lands. These groups historically have crowded into cities and those cities become prey to developers less interested in rational planning than in providing profitable areas for local and foreign investments. As these migrations occur, they result in significant increases in diversity and, often, conflict between the hosts and the newly arrived groups. The paper then describes some techniques for ameliorating these conflicts through an understanding and application of cross-cultural training approaches. While these techniques have never been applied on the massive scale that might be required, in principle they should have positive outcomes. The paper argues that the coming migratory disasters as a result of globalization require that nations develop and deploy mechanisms that will mitigate the most negative of the likely outcomes.