Unit 9: Globalization (copy)

Globalization

The increasing interconnectedness of the world economically, culturally, politically, and environmentally.

Interconnectedness

The state of having connections or relationships with other entities, creating links that affect decisions, products, ideas, money, and problems.

Technological change

Advancements in technology that reduce the friction of distance and make global connections routine.

Economic integration

The process of reducing barriers and creating a tighter connection in the world economy through trade agreements and multinational corporations.

Cultural diffusion

The spread of cultural elements like music, fashion, and food between different societies.

Digital divide

The gap between those who have access to modern information technologies and those who do not.

Containerization

The use of standardized shipping containers that lowers costs, reduces theft, and makes long-distance manufacturing supply chains practical.

Remittances

Money sent by migrants back to their home countries, supporting families and local economies.

Green Revolution

Mid-to-late 20th-century agricultural changes that increased crop yields through improved technology, but also created environmental and social tradeoffs.

Neoliberalism

A policy approach emphasizing market-oriented reforms, including reducing trade barriers and privatizing state-owned industries.

Homogenization

The process where distinct cultures become more alike, often through the influence of global brands and dominant cultural elements.

Hybridization

The blending of cultural forms to create new local-global cultural hybrids.

Global civil society

Networks of organizations and activists operating across borders to address global issues outside formal government structures.

Structural adjustment

Economic policy conditions imposed by the IMF or World Bank on countries seeking loans, often requiring market-oriented reforms.

Multinational corporations (MNCs)

Companies that operate in multiple countries, often benefiting from lower costs and access to diverse markets.

Diaspora

Communities living outside their ancestral homelands while maintaining cultural and familial connections.

International Criminal Court (ICC)

A court established to prosecute individuals for serious international crimes, such as war crimes.

World Health Organization (WHO)

An international organization coordinating responses to global health crises.

Backlash against globalization

Opposition movements that arise in reaction to the perceived negative impacts of globalization on local cultures, economies, or political sovereignty.

Cultural hybridity

The creation of new cultural forms that mix global and local elements, reflecting both adaptation and change.

Environmental interdependence

The interconnectedness of countries and regions regarding environmental issues, which often require coordinated global responses.

Economic core and periphery

A model describing developed countries (core) that benefit from globalization, contrasted with developing countries (periphery) that are often marginalized.