Every day we perceive an innumerable amount of information about incidents from all over the world. It seems that more and more even the most distant events have an influence on our life. One word, one concept is related to all of them: globalisation. Be it the globalised financial system, globalisation of terrorism since 9/11 or cultural globalisation. Everything is tried to be explained with that term.
But what actually is globalisation? Where does it come from? Is it all in all something good or something bad? And can we influence it? In this essay, I want to examine the basic principles of globalisation and define the term according to these questions.
Table of Contents
1. Introduction
2. Globalisation as a process
3. Conclusion
Objectives and Topics
This essay aims to analyze the fundamental principles of globalisation, examining its historical origins and assessing its impact on contemporary global society to determine whether it should be viewed as a positive or negative force.
- Historical evolution and definitions of globalisation
- Economic, political, and sociological perspectives
- Globalisation as a continuous human development process
- Impact on the nation-state and international power shifts
- Management of side effects and future global progress
Excerpt from the Book
The word globalisation today is a buzzword and used in all kinds of combinations and is certainly highly topical in the public discourse as well as in the academic.
It appears to be a relatively new phenomenon that arose in the last decades and it appears to be something that we as a world society do not know how to handle yet, what the many anti-globalisation movements show (Held & McGrew, 2008, p. 5-8).
Although the English term globalisation can be detected since 1961, it got popular not until the 1990s (Waters, 1995, p. 2). It is mostly referring to developments since the end of World War II and especially after the end of the Cold War. Nevertheless many academics see the beginning of globalisation much earlier (O'Rourke and Williamson, 2002, pp. 1-2). There is absolutely no consensus about the topic but, as Hopkins (2011) put it, it is possibly: “currently the most important single debate in the social science: the analysis of the origin, nature and consequences of globalisation.”
Some historians see the beginning of globalisation with the end of colonialism, some define industrialisation as a starting point and others date it back to the year 1492 when Christopher Columbus arrived in America or somewhere in between these events (Hopkins, 2011, p. 4-9). The answer to the question, when globalisation did begin, is obviously dependent on the definition of globalisation and on the way it is measured.
Summary of Chapters
1. Introduction: This chapter introduces the topic of globalisation as a pervasive phenomenon in modern discourse and outlines the core questions regarding its origin and moral value.
2. Globalisation as a process: This section explores the historical timeline of global integration and discusses the differing academic perspectives on when the process truly began.
3. Conclusion: The final section synthesizes the analysis, arguing that globalisation is a continuous process of human development rather than a modern event, and emphasizes the need for responsible global engagement.
Keywords
Globalisation, International Relations, Foreign Policy, History, World Economy, Nation State, Global Governance, Human Development, Integration, Sociology, Social Science, Climate Change, World Market, Modern Phenomenon, Civil Society
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the primary focus of this essay?
The essay examines the definition, origins, and implications of globalisation to determine how modern society should perceive and engage with this ongoing process.
What are the central themes discussed?
Key themes include the historical interpretation of global integration, the role of the nation-state, and the impact of globalisation on environmental and social challenges.
What is the main goal or research question?
The main goal is to clarify what globalisation actually represents and whether it should be judged as fundamentally good or bad for the future of world society.
Which scientific methodology is applied?
The author employs a literature-based theoretical analysis, drawing upon diverse academic perspectives and historical definitions of globalisation.
What topics are covered in the main body?
The main body evaluates different academic definitions of globalisation, its connection to the history of human civilization, and the subsequent challenges for contemporary global politics.
Which keywords characterize the work?
The work is characterized by terms such as globalisation, international relations, integration, world society, and human development.
Does the author believe we can stop globalisation?
No, the author concludes that globalisation is a continuous process as old as mankind itself, suggesting that reversing the trend is unlikely.
How does the author view the role of the nation-state?
The author suggests that the influence of the nation-state may decline as global problems, such as climate change, require solutions that transcend national borders.
- Quote paper
- Simon Valentin (Author), 2016, Globalisation. How might one define globalisation? Is globalisation a new phenomenon?, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.hausarbeiten.de/document/343719
