Что такое Глобализация

What is Globalization? 
Globalization has become an overused and vague term, but its basic meaning is clear. At its essence, globalization represents the processes of integration and interaction that link different cultures and communities from around the world. Groundbreaking developments in communication and transportation technologies have radically altered our world. With new technology has come the spread of people, ideas and information, production, finance and trade. Simply put, space, geography and distance matter less.

Is This Really a New Development? 
Hardly. We've been moving toward a single world community throughout human history. Primitive hunters and gatherers lived in isolated groups that rarely came in contact with others. As agriculture developed, larger communities formed. The process of integration really gained speed with the launch of the European colonial era five centuries ago. Trade routes linked continents as products, food, animals, ideas and diseases crossed the oceans.

In the late 19th century, the industrial revolution and the advances in transportation and communication technologies inspired a process of economic and cultural integration that in some ways was even more dramatic than today. Yet, World War I turned back the tides of this period of globalization.

The process would soon regain its momentum. The second half of the 20th century was marked by a rapidly integrating process made possible through the widespread use of airplanes, radios, telephones, satellite televisions, digital computers and then the Internet. Despite this history of integration, we suggest there is something unique about the current era. In his best-selling book The Lexus and the Olive Tree, Thomas Friedman defined globalization as the "inexorable integration of markets, nation-states and technologies to a degree never witnessed before - in a way that is enabling individuals, corporations and nation-states to reach around the world farther, faster, deeper and cheaper than ever before, and in a way that is enabling the world to reach into individuals, corporations and nation-states farther, faster, deeper, cheaper than ever before." (Friedman 1999, 9)

The key part of that definition is the emphasis on how much faster things are happening now. It's not the process itself but the pace of the changes - the speed of the impact - that makes today's era unique. It may be debatable whether we're experiencing the most radical transformations in human history, but it is clear that we're covering more ground in less time than ever before.

What Are the Pluses and Minuses of Globalization? 
Globalization supporters point to many benefits, from rapid increases in financial growth and production, to the spread of democracy and humanitarian movements, increased access to education and information, the mass distribution of modern conveniences, the rise in living standards and the increasing availability of the fruits of human progress. But critics refer to those left behind, the exploitation of workers, the gaping economic inequalities, the abuse of the environment and the threats to local culture through massive homogenization. There is more than enough to both cheer and lament.

How Are Nations Affected by Globalization? 
The question today is how much sovereignty do nations have in an era when global forces interject themselves in the most significant operations of daily life. As the global economy expands, the interests of nations are often superseded by the governing rules of the global market. Finances and goods move freely, and thus nations must provide conditions ripe for investment. Further, just as capital crosses borders so do citizens movements, and they can join ranks to lobby governments and bring international exposure and influence to what used to be purely domestic issues. People and pictures can travel instantaneously to deliver news and information that heavily impact the policies of the nation. Those looking to write the obituary for the nation, however, should pause. The nation remains a central force in the international community, and in many areas it defines the international agenda and rallies people with tremendous emotion. In sum, although the nation's sovereignty is very much reduced in the age of globalization, the nation remains a strong and pivotal player.

Who Are the Major Players in Our Globalized World? 
The growth and spread of multinational firms has been instrumental in driving the engines of the global economy. With great power, flexibility and mobility, these companies produce goods, provide services and exchange wares throughout the world. They also heavily influence the policies of governments, and some of the top firms have more wealth than many nations. Further, international intergovernmental organizations have facilitated international cooperation, enabling nations to join hands and work together to address global issues, while creating even greater connections. Among the most notable of these organizations include the United Nations, the International Monetary Fund, the World Bank and the World Trade Organization. Finally, a growing number of nongovernmental organizations and citizens movements have united across continents and fought for various causes. Their grassroots activities are beginning to form the foundation of a global civil society. Acting beyond the realm of states, citizens now have tremendous potential to influence governments, shape market realities and help determine global labor and environmental standards. That is the power of globalization. But it takes a new mindset that is willing to look beyond the nation-state; a new mindset that allows us to think globally and act globally.