What is globalization and its association with crime
Sample solution
Dante Alighieri played a critical role in the literature world through his poem Divine Comedy that was written in the 14th century. The poem contains Inferno, Purgatorio, and Paradiso. The Inferno is a description of the nine circles of torment that are found on the earth. It depicts the realms of the people that have gone against the spiritual values and who, instead, have chosen bestial appetite, violence, or fraud and malice. The nine circles of hell are limbo, lust, gluttony, greed and wrath. Others are heresy, violence, fraud, and treachery. The purpose of this paper is to examine the Dante’s Inferno in the perspective of its portrayal of God’s image and the justification of hell.
In this epic poem, God is portrayed as a super being guilty of multiple weaknesses including being egotistic, unjust, and hypocritical. Dante, in this poem, depicts God as being more human than divine by challenging God’s omnipotence. Additionally, the manner in which Dante describes Hell is in full contradiction to the morals of God as written in the Bible. When god arranges Hell to flatter Himself, He commits egotism, a sin that is common among human beings (Cheney, 2016). The weakness is depicted in Limbo and on the Gate of Hell where, for instance, God sends those who do not worship Him to Hell. This implies that failure to worship Him is a sin.
God is also depicted as lacking justice in His actions thus removing the godly image. The injustice is portrayed by the manner in which the sodomites and opportunists are treated. The opportunists are subjected to banner chasing in their lives after death followed by being stung by insects and maggots. They are known to having done neither good nor bad during their lifetimes and, therefore, justice could have demanded that they be granted a neutral punishment having lived a neutral life. The sodomites are also punished unfairly by God when Brunetto Lattini is condemned to hell despite being a good leader (Babor, T. F., McGovern, T., & Robaina, K. (2017). While he commited sodomy, God chooses to ignore all the other good deeds that Brunetto did.
Finally, God is also portrayed as being hypocritical in His actions, a sin that further diminishes His godliness and makes Him more human. A case in point is when God condemns the sin of egotism and goes ahead to commit it repeatedly. Proverbs 29:23 states that “arrogance will bring your downfall, but if you are humble, you will be respected.” When Slattery condemns Dante’s human state as being weak, doubtful, and limited, he is proving God’s hypocrisy because He is also human (Verdicchio, 2015). The actions of God in Hell as portrayed by Dante are inconsistent with the Biblical literature. Both Dante and God are prone to making mistakes, something common among human beings thus making God more human.
To wrap it up, Dante portrays God is more human since He commits the same sins that humans commit: egotism, hypocrisy, and injustice. Hell is justified as being a destination for victims of the mistakes committed by God. The Hell is presented as being a totally different place as compared to what is written about it in the Bible. As a result, reading through the text gives an image of God who is prone to the very mistakes common to humans thus ripping Him off His lofty status of divine and, instead, making Him a mere human. Whether or not Dante did it intentionally is subject to debate but one thing is clear in the poem: the misconstrued notion of God is revealed to future generations.
References
Babor, T. F., McGovern, T., & Robaina, K. (2017). Dante’s inferno: Seven deadly sins in scientific publishing and how to avoid them. Addiction Science: A Guide for the Perplexed, 267.
Cheney, L. D. G. (2016). Illustrations for Dante’s Inferno: A Comparative Study of Sandro Botticelli, Giovanni Stradano, and Federico Zuccaro. Cultural and Religious Studies, 4(8), 487.
Verdicchio, M. (2015). Irony and Desire in Dante’s” Inferno” 27. Italica, 285-297.
Globalization refers to the process of increased interconnectedness and interdependence among countries, economies, and societies on a global scale. It involves the exchange of goods, services, information, technology, and culture across borders, leading to a more integrated and interconnected world. While globalization has brought about numerous benefits such as economic growth, cultural exchange, and technological advancements, it has also been associated with certain challenges, including its impact on crime.
Association Between Globalization and Crime
1. Transnational Crime: Globalization has facilitated the rise of transnational crime syndicates that operate across borders to engage in illicit activities such as drug trafficking, human trafficking, arms smuggling, and cybercrime. These criminal networks take advantage of the interconnected nature of the global economy to evade law enforcement authorities and exploit loopholes in international regulations.
2. Financial Crimes: The increased flow of capital and investments across countries as a result of globalization has also led to an escalation in financial crimes such as money laundering, tax evasion, and corruption. Globalized financial systems provide opportunities for individuals and organizations to engage in fraudulent activities that have far-reaching consequences for economies and societies.
3. Cybercrime: The digital revolution brought about by globalization has given rise to cybercrime, including hacking, identity theft, online fraud, and data breaches. Criminals leverage technology and the interconnectedness of the internet to target individuals, businesses, and governments, posing significant challenges for cybersecurity and law enforcement agencies worldwide.
4. Environmental Crimes: Globalization has contributed to environmental degradation through activities such as illegal logging, wildlife trafficking, and pollution. As multinational corporations operate across multiple countries, they may engage in practices that harm the environment and violate regulations, leading to ecological crimes that have global implications.
5. Human Rights Violations: The globalized economy has created conditions for human rights abuses, including forced labor, child exploitation, and human trafficking. Migrant populations seeking economic opportunities are vulnerable to exploitation and abuse by criminal networks that thrive on the vulnerabilities created by globalization.
Conclusion
While globalization has brought about numerous economic, social, and cultural benefits, it has also created conditions that facilitate various forms of crime on a global scale. Addressing the association between globalization and crime requires international cooperation, regulatory frameworks, and law enforcement efforts that transcend national boundaries. By understanding the complex relationship between globalization and crime, policymakers, law enforcement agencies, and civil society organizations can work together to combat illicit activities and promote a safer and more just global community.
