Globalization Influences on Modern Society

We live in a time of worldwide change. What happens in one part of the world impacts people on the other side of the world. People around the world are influenced by common developments.

According to Osterhammel and Petersson, globalization “summarizes a wide spectrum of experiences shared by many people” (2). I agree with this statement and would go on to claim that globalization is a group of processes and events, some beneficial and some harmful, that have resulted in the spread of networks across the world. However, this spread of networks did not happen over night. This is in part because not all interactions are transformed into networks, as these require a certain degree of longevity. In order for interactions to become networks, groups must consider the range between each other and their interactions must be important or impactful, intense, fast, durable, and frequent. For the reason that each of these characteristics must be present in order for networks to form, globalization has been in the works for many centuries and is still at work today. Therefore, while the historical events and processes of past centuries have provided the roots of globalization, the modernization of recent decades has built upon these roots to connect the world in a way

Globalization has been a process underway for hundreds, if not thousands, of years. From the Roman Empire, to caravans on the Spice Road, to the Transatlantic Slave Trade, the process of connecting the globe in an interdependent web has been underway for a long time. Today, it seems that this process has been quickly accelerated. Since the end of World War II and the rebuilding effort that followed it, global development has increased at an intense rate fueled by transnational corporations, the World Bank, and the International Monetary Fund. These multilateral organizations have transformed our global economy and reshaped our society.

Globalization is a phenomenon that has been impacting our world since as early as 114 BCE. Globalization refers to the assimilation of different economies, trade, and communication. Its origins can be traced back to the establishment of the Silk Road; an ancient trade route extending across from China to the Mediterranean Sea. Globalization, throughout history has had a positive effect in developing economies and creating trade. However, in light of recent events, many economists and leaders are describing it as a barrier to a utopian society. As civil servant and Nobel Peace Prize recipient Kofi Annan once said, “Globalization is a fact of life. But I believe we have underestimated its fragility” (Annan 1999). In many parts of the world, globalization

Globalization is the process by which different societies and cultures integrate through a worldwide network of political ideas through transportation, communication, and trade. Generally, globalization has affected many nations in various ways; economically, politically, and socially. It is a term that refers to the fast integration and interdependence of various nations, which shapes the world affairs on a global level. Simply put; globalization is the world coming together. In this essay I will discuss multiple perspectives on globalization through the analysis of these three sources.

This source expresses its view on impacts of historical globalization on contemporary society. The perspective of this source clearly states that historical globalization is not relevant or needed in current society. Elements of the source explain how society should not “spend time dwelling on events or legacies of globalization that can not be changed.” It is clear that the author of this source has reason to believe that history should not affect the way our world is run today. The perspective presented in the source illustrates that historical globalization is a very complex issue. One perspective suggests that historical globalization should remain in the past because we should not be wasting time on events of the past and focus on the present and the future. Others, however, believe that history is relevant to the present and is important in today’s society. In evaluating the issue, it is clear there are both positives and negatives to historical globalization in contemporary society because it prevents history from repeating itself, allows us to improve upon ourselves, but also prevents us from focusing on the future.

Globalization is the process of world integration of ideas, cultures and economies. In the past five hundred years there were two major periods of globalization which have generated irreversible effects on the world. One period, began with the Age of Exploration in the late fifteenth century, and it spanned until the eighteen hundreds. The other period, the post WW II era, began in the middle of the twentieth century and continues today. Each of these eras marked a tremendous evolution in economic strength, religion, human rights, woman’s rights, agriculture and last but not least technology.

Brinkerhoff, Weitz, and Ortega (2014) define globalization of culture as “the process through which cultural elements (including musical styles, fashion trends, and cultural values) spread around the globe (p. 49). Furthermore, the cultural impact globalization has imparted on American society is clearly evident in the enormous number of choices available, which includes choices concerning food, fashion, and the arts of film, dance, and music (The Impact of Globalization on the Consumer, 2014). For instance, when I dine out and have the choice of a type of cuisine to eat, just in the small city I live, there are at least three of each type of Asian (Thai, Mongolian, Japanese, and Chinese), Mexican, and Italian restaurants.

Kofi Annan, a UN diplomat, once said,“...that arguing against globalization is like arguing against the laws of gravity.” He is undoubtedly correct in this assessment. Indeed, globalization is no longer something to be skeptical of, it is very real and is changing our world exponentially. The affects of globalization, however, continue to be a heated topic for debate. Proponents praise the overall economic lift provided by free trade, the diffusion of cultures, and the spread of democracy and capitalism. Critics cry foul at the loss of national identity, the accelerated and uncontrolled use of natural resources, and the redistribution of wealth into the hands of a few very powerful people and corporations. Globalization is a

If we want to fully understand the importance of globalization and its effects on the world’s economy and society now and its potential for the future, it is vital that we study its past and how it has originated. The history of Globalization is broad and diverse therefore it is only possible to outline some of the main areas. Globalization isn’t just a modern day phenomenon. Trading activities date from the very earliest of civilizations, but it was the Middle Ages in Europe that initiated systematic cross-border trading operations carried out by institutions of a private corporate nature. By the end of the 14th century it is estimated that there were as many as 150 Italian banking companies already operating multinationally. (Dunning, 1993) This is not exactly globalization, it is however international trade. International trade is one of the main concepts behind globalization.

Globalization by definition means the tendency of business, technologies or philosophies to spread around the world, or the process of making this happened. Globalization depends on three keys of advancement, the role of human migration, international trade and rapid movements of capital. Globalization has many pros but yet also many cons that can have a deciding factor in an economy. Many people think globalization still favors the rich and it’s a detriment to countries who emerging in the world and does not have a stable or great economy. According to Bloomberg Business Week Globalization has said to have hit its peak in the year 2007, which ties into the unfolding of the Global crisis. Some Critics and

In today’s world and economy there have been many factors that affect us all at a global level. Being as technology is increasingly growing at an all-time high and cultures are changing because of these changes, this has led to the world being more globalized. Globalization is the process of interaction amongst people, businesses, governments of different countries and nations, and is driven and or influenced by international trade and international business. Technology has been one of the largest contributing factors to the reason why the world is becoming more globalized. Globalization has both positive and negative effects on the environment, societies, as well as today’s cultures. Cultural globalization refers to the process of spreading one’s cultural values, ideology, and uniqueness on a global level. Cultural globalization can have both positive and negative effects on today’s society as well. A positive effect of cultural globalization is the easy accessibility of different cultural products and commodities. A negative effect of cultural globalization is that smaller, more unique cultures may lose what makes them different and more distinctive from other countries or cultures. Scholars see these changes as part of processes such as cultural hybridity, cultural homogenization and or cultural imperialism. These processes that lead to changes in culture, social order and identity and all of the processes are both similar and different in many ways.

“Globalization is a process of interaction and integration among the people, companies, and governments of different nations, a process driven by international trade and investment and aided by information technology. This process has effects on the environment, on culture, on political systems, on economic development and prosperity, and on human physical well-being in societies around the world. Globalization is not new, though. For thousands of years, people—and, later, corporations—have been buying from and selling to each other in lands at great distances, such as through the famed Silk Road across Central Asia that connected China and Europe during the Middle Ages. Likewise, for centuries, people and corporations

“Globalization is not just one impact of the new technologies that are reshaping the economies of the third millennium” (Thurow 19-31). When speaking of globalization, most people will not have a complete understanding as of what it actually means or what aspects of the world it affects. Globalization promotes free trade and creates jobs. The capital markets attract investors, resort cheap labor, and leads to job losses in some areas of higher wage. While all of this is happening, the world economy is being effected: economically, culturally, socially, and politically.

Globalization has, from the late twentieth century, led nations and their borders to be called into questions. Populations, often driven by their youths, now have instant access to information on everything that happened around the world. Meanwhile, and because of this globalization, states have been forced to open up to the world and to free their borders to facilitate exchanges. Therefore, people began to feel less constrained by their nationality and became what is often referred to as "citizens of the world," free to move and settle, at least theoretically, wherever they wish.