Examples of Globalization

Interdependence among international economies is a great starting point when seeking an understanding of globalization. A greater number of goods can be exchanged and production methods can be improved. Here are some examples:

• Multinational corporations operate on a global scale, with satellite offices and branches in numerous locations. This means multinational companies can stay open virtually 24 hours a day and service customers no matter where they're located.
• Outsourcing can add to the economic development of a struggling country, bringing much needed jobs. If a powerful organization is able to outsource its call center to a developing country, that creates a new class of jobs for people who may not have had that opportunity otherwise.
• Some automobiles use parts from other countries. A car being assembled in the United States may import parts from Japan, Germany, or Korea. This creates a whole new avenue for trade, when the United States has to pay for certain parts from around the world, wait for them to be shipped, and then resume localized production.
• The European Union is an economic and political union of 28 countries. When you consider the resources that these countries can pool together, it can be said that they stand stronger. Immigrating from one country to another is easier, currencies are more easily exchanged, and tourism is encouraged.
• Consider how one shirt sold in the United States might have been made from Chinese cotton by workers in Thailand. From there, that same shirt may have been shipped on a French freighter that hosted a Spanish crew. Now, people from four different countries have had a hand in the production process before the shirt arrives in a fifth country to be put on sale.

While world economies benefit from globalization, the spread of new cultures is equally encouraging. Let's take a look at some of the more personal benefits of globalization.

• Greek culture spread across Africa, Europe and Asia under the rule of Alexander the Great. This is the reason there are dozens of cities named after Alexander, including in Egypt, Turkey, Iran, and Pakistan.
• The Silk Road was a trade route between China and the Mediterranean Sea area. It allowed the exchange of not only goods, but also culture and knowledge. As merchants grew to understand Chinese culture through their trades, an appreciation for Chinese culture began to flourish well beyond China's borders.
• Christian missionaries from Europe added to the globalization of Christianity. As they migrated from one country to another, more and more people were converting to a new spiritual way of living.
• Improved travel facilitated the growth of globalization, as people moved for a better job or a better life. Migrants also fled from danger or oppression. People can pack up all their belongings and have them shipped anywhere in the world. Planes are faster, frequent, and, often, more affordable.
• Food is another factor of globalization. Indian food, for example, is certainly not only limited to India. Rather, we can dine on Indian delights in America, all across Europe, and beyond. Certain affections for other cultures can begin with one delicious dish and then advance to other areas of cultural intrigue.

It's easy to argue that technology is a vehicle to globalization. The ability to access mountains of information online has opened countless doors. Here are some examples of globalization, brought to us by the gift of technology:

• The Internet is a major contributor to globalization, not only technologically but in other areas as well, like the cultural exchanges of art. Consider how we can enroll in online educational programs from anywhere in the world and access new information on virtually any topic.
• Global news networks, like CNN, contribute to the spread of knowledge. Worldwide news is reported almost instantly, if not via live broadcast, then through continual updates to online news outlets.
• Cell phones connect people all over the world like never before. There are a multitude of platforms through which people can communicate too, including Facebook Messenger, WhatsApp, Instagram, and Snapchat.
• Military cooperation between countries adds to globalization, such as the Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty or anti-terrorism agreements. Where two or more strong forces come together, greater military force can be placed on international terrorist groups.
• Environmental cooperation has spread to help reduce chlorofluorocarbon (CFC) emissions and slow the depletion of the ozone. One example is the Montreal Protocol. Since the United States, members of the European Union, and other countries came together to form this agreement, the ozone hole in Antarctica has started to recover.

Although technology, transportation, and the arts are major motivators within the vehicle of globalization, there are other enjoyable components too, from international sports to relief groups like the Red Cross. Here are a few closing examples:

• The Olympics began in ancient Greece and continue today. Now, people from all across the globe come together to compete in a wide array of sports and games.
• The FIFA World Cup has more viewers than any other sporting event in the world. Even though only a handful of countries compete all the way through to the finals, people all across the globe sit down and watch the same match on TV, no matter their location.
• Travel and tourism allows for the globalization of many things, like the exchange of money, cultures, ideas and knowledge. There are countless options to make travel more affordable, including budget airlines and low-rate hostels. This allows people to explore further and wider than was ever possible before.
• The United Nations is an intergovernmental organization that promotes cooperation in many areas including human rights, peace, and economic development. With one phone call or email, people from all across the globe can come together to ensure the rights of human beings are protected.
• Organizations such as the Red Cross can respond more swiftly to disasters around the world. They have a wider network, more offices, and staff members who are willing to travel or even relocate in the wake of natural disasters.

It's hard to see any cons to a globalized world. People become more educated. Goods are exchanged farther and wider than ever before, fostering an appreciation for cultures that are several thousand miles away. All of this is driven by technology, transportation, and cooperation amongst international officials.

If you take the example of a t-shirt sold in the United States, but assembled in Thailand, you might wonder if that was a job an American could have fulfilled. In some ways, developed countries may lose some of their workforce. Then, there are tax issues. Goods sold in Europe come with value added taxes (VATs) that can put an expensive price tag on an imported item.

Still, when you consider benefits like online learning, constant communication, and a world of knowledge at our fingertips, globalization has a lot more gold than silver. For more on that, enjoy these Examples of Culture.