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How Did “Globalization” Become a Dirty Word?
Author’s note: This is a rant. I usually write about global security — specifically military topics. I got a B minus in economics, so take all of this with a grain of salt. Excuse this short digression.
I used to teach Marketing 101 at a small Michigan college; it was the kind of place where adjunct instructors like me kept in touch with our students long after they graduated.
During my seven years of teaching, one of my lectures was about the effects of globalization on the world.
For students, globalization can be a complex concept.
The most benign definition says that globalization is “the process of interaction and integration among people, companies, and governments worldwide.”
In that sense, globalization has been happening since humans first wandered out of Africa between 60,000 and 90,000 years ago.
But I would argue that the biggest impact has happened over the past 50 years with a focus on trade: tapping into labor pools in other countries, the rise of multinational corporations, and cross-border investment.
The basic economic premise is this: countries will trade with each other to gain what each lack, thereby benefiting both.
