Defining Globalisation

It is considered that we are living in an increasingly globalised world, with increasing interconnections between the world’s economic, cultural and political systems. The International Monetary Fund (IMF) defines globalisation as “the growing economic interdependence of countries worldwide through increasing volume and variety of cross-border transactions in goods and services, freer international capital flows, and more rapid and widespread diffusion of technology”.

Arguably Globalisation is a centuries old process with the British Empire’s shared links of ‘communication, trade, shared head of state and attempts at imposing a shared culture’. Today, various factors contribute to the accelerated progress of globalisation, from Transnational Corporations, communications technology, transport technology, consumers to the media. A select few can gain from the benefits of Globalisations, most of the world remains invariably ‘cut-off’.

Possible Teaching Activities: -

1.      Getting pupils to consider how their lives have been influenced by the connections of globalisation (e.g. air travel, tourism, internet, and media). Maybe useful for a starter activity.

2.      Researching global products e.g. Nike

3.      Investigating Trade Groups

4.      Banana Trade or other cash crops