Globalization is a social change, an increase in connections among societies and their elements. The term is applied to many social, commercial and economic activities. Depending on the context it can mean closer contact between different parts of the world (globalization of the world), or increasing relations among members of an industry in different parts of the world (globalization of an industry). It shares a number of characteristics with internationalization and is used interchangeably, although some prefer to use globalization to emphasize the erosion of the nation or national boundaries.
Globalization has become identified with a number of trends, most of which have developed since World War II. These include greater international movement of commodities, money, information, and people; and the development of technology, organizations, legal systems, and infrastructures to allow this movement. More specifically, globalization refers to:
- An increase in international trade at a faster rate than the growth in the world economy
- Increase in international flow of capital including foreign direct investment
- Greater transborder data flow, using such technologies such as the Internet, Communication satellites and telephones
- Greater international cultural exchange, for example through the export of Hollywood and Bollywood movies
- Reduction in global cultural diversity through hybridization, Westernization, Americanization or Sinosization of cultures
- Erosion of national sovereignty and national borders through international agreements leading to organizations like the WTO
- Greater international travel and tourism
- Greater immigration, including illegal immigration
- Development of global telecommunications infrastructure
- Development of a global financial systems
- Increase in the share of the world economy controlled by multinational corporations
- Increased role of international organizations such as WTO, WIPO, IMF that deal with international transactions
- An increase in the number of standards applied globally; e.g. copyright laws
Barriers to international trade have been considerably lowered since World War II through international agreements such as the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade(GATT). Particular initiatives carried out as a result of GATT and the World Trade Organisation, for which GATT is the foundation, have included:
- Promotion of free trade
- Intellectual Property Restrictions
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Anti-globalization
Various aspects of globalization are seen as harmful by anti-globalization, public-interest activists.
See also: Anti-globalization movement.
Globalization in question
There is much academic discussion about whether globalization is a real phenomenon or only a myth. Although the term is widespread, many authors argue that the characteristics of the phenomenon have already been seen at other moments in history. Also, many note that those features that make people believe we are in the process of globalization, including the increase in international trade and the greater role of multinational corporations, are not as deeply established as they may appear. Thus, many authors prefer the use of the term internationalization rather than globalization. To put it simply, the role of the state and the importance of nations are greater in internationalization, while globalization in its complete form eliminates nation states. So, these authors see that the frontiers of countries, in a broad sense, are far from being dissolved, and therefore this radical globalization process is not yet happening, and probably won't happen, considering that in world history, internationalization never turned into globalization.
See also
References