You can define the process of globalization as the reduction of the distances between the countries, obviously not in a literal sense, but with regard to the differences between them in the aforementioned plans.
Globalization is a multi-impact process: It has fundamental effects in the cultural, economic, social and political spheres. It is a phenomenon that was spreading and deepening from the second half of the 20th century, and it acquires more and more force. For instance: social media, free trade agreements, internet shopping.
Examples of globalization
Here are some examples of phenomena associated with globalization:
- Social networks
- The Wall Street Stock Exchange, and the importance of its quotes
- The songs most listened to on the radio
- Free trade agreements between countries
- The series that are seen on television in all countries, or on the Internet
- The use of new communications, such as cell phones or computers
- The problem of drug trafficking, which is spreading more and more in the world
- The reduction of immigration controls in most countries, partly reversed in recent years
- The soccer world championships, watched around the world
- The incorporation of women into the labor market, and the expansion of their rights in the world
- The possibility of exploiting natural resources in distant areas with foreign investments of different origins
- The condemnation of undemocratic regimes and the spread of democracy in the world
- The call centers for Spanish-speaking clients, who work remotely
- The dedication of countries like Taiwan as suppliers of electronic supplies in almost the entire world
- Switzerland as a center for important bank deposits of citizens from all over the world
- Fast food businesses, seen in every city in the world
- The decline of ultra-nationalist movements
- Internet purchases from all types of companies
- The shopping malls or malls, with local international brands
- International credit organizations, such as the World Bank or the Monetary Fund
Causes of globalization
It is not possible to speak of a single cause of globalization, since it is a summation of phenomena: undoubtedly the combination of technological evolution with the abrupt decrease in costs and transport times around the world stands out.
A fundamental event that allowed the explosion of the globalization process is the fact that since the fall of the Berlin WallFor the first time in history, a single economic system extends throughout Europe and almost the entire world, and all countries trade with each other generally without major hindrance.
In its economic facet, globalization is clearly manifested through the free trade agreements that have been signed between different countries, either from the same region or from distant regions.
In addition to the important issue of trade, globalization also reached the other fundamental side of the economy: the production. By simplifying the possibility of moving from one place to another, not only the mobility of capital became much easier, but also that of products.
Thus, by the end of the 20th century, the identity of the largest companies oriented to the manufacture of products was completely different from what it was in the middle of that century, and each one no longer belongs to a country but to the world.
The production process It is divided according to what is most economical and efficient in each place, and the countries with greater commercial openness stop having a diversity of products to focus specifically on a few activities.
Thus was born the concept of a ‘multinational’ company, a determining factor in understanding the world in which we live today.
The digital age it allows information to circulate in a matter of seconds between different parts of the planet, and cultural guidelines are no exception to this: it is no coincidence, in this sense, that the best known artists in central countries are also known in peripheral regions.
This generates a strong debate, since some consider that this trend towards globalization tends to blur the cultural patterns of the peoples, while others celebrate the diversity of the offer.