What Exactly Is Globalization?

"Globalization" is the term some use to describe  the growing worldwide interdependence of people and countries.  This process has accelerated dramatically in the past decade or so, largely because of huge advances in technology.  During this time, the divisive blocs of the Cold War have virtually disappeared, trade barriers have come down, the world's major financial markets have been integrating, and travel has been cheaper and easier. 

This growing worldwide integration has produced a whole series of consequences-economic, political, cultural, and environmental. Unfortunately, some of these consequences can be negative.  The United Nations publication Human Development Report 1999 explained: "People's lives around the globe are linked more deeply, more intensely, more immediately  than ever before.  This opens many opportunities, giving new power to good and bad." Like many human achievements, globalization has both an upside and a downside.

Next time: Hopes for a More Prosperous World

From the Awake! magazine, 2002