globalization
gloh-bul-ih-ZAY-shun
/ˌɡloʊbələˈzeɪʃən/
The process by which businesses or other organizations develop international influence or start operating on an international scale.
Can refer to economic, cultural, or political integration. It is often used to describe the increasing interconnectedness of the world.
The story behind the word. The word 'global' dates back to the 17th century, but 'globalization' as a term for economic integration only gained widespread use in the 1980s, popularized by Harvard Business School professor Theodore Levitt.
Word relationships
- integration: Integration is the act of combining; globalization is the result of that combination on a worldwide scale.
- localization: The process of making something local in character or restricted to a particular place.
Commonly confused with
- westernization: Westernization is specifically the spread of Western culture; globalization is the two-way exchange of all cultures and economies.
Word family
- globalize (verb): To make global.
- global (adjective): Relating to the whole world.
Collocations
- economic globalization
- cultural globalization
- forces of globalization
Example sentences
- "Globalization has led to the spread of Western culture, but also to the rise of global supply chains." Sociology
- "Globalization is a fact, not a policy." Economic theory
Memory hook
The 'Globe' is becoming one big 'Station'. One world economy.
When not to use
Don't use it to just mean 'traveling'; it refers to the systemic integration of the world.
Fun facts
- The first era of globalization is often considered to be the late 19th century, which ended with the start of World War I.
Related words
Explore more words
interconnectedness, glocalization, standardize, transnational, supply chain, homogenization
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