INT 200: Global Capitalism and its Discontents Globalization

Globalization: – a set of social processes that appear to change our present social condition by increasing the global economic, political, cultural, and environmental interconnections and flows and make most of the currently existing borders and boundaries less relevant

Globalization Agricultural Revolution Early Modern Period Modern Period & Industrial Revolution – Capitalism, socialism, colonialism, imperialism – First, second, and third worlds – The single global market

Globalization Was Globalization good? The IMF’s History of Globalization – Better goods and services, lower prices, better jobs, improved heath, higher living standards – “The growth in global markets has helped to promote efficiency through competition and the division of labor—the specialization that allows people and economies to focus on what they do best.” The End of History by Francis Fukuyama – human history has been a struggle between ideologies – global triumph of political and economic liberalism Politics of Globalization – globalization a false god foisted on weaker countries – Three reactions nationalism strong central power/leader politics of populism: protectionism