Globalisation
Globalisation is the growing connection between countries through trade, communication, travel and technology.
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Globalisation is the growing connection between countries through trade, communication, travel and technology.
- Transnational companies operate worldwide
- The internet speeds exchange of ideas
- It brings benefits and challenges
🧠 Quick quiz
Three questions. Score 2 or more to complete the topic.
What is Globalisation?
Within Geography, which covers maps, landforms, weather, climate, population and settlements: understand how our planet and people connect, this topic explains Globalisation. Geography explains how places, people and natural processes connect, so each topic here combines a clear definition with a visual model.
Check that you can explain Globalisation in your own words and give one example from everyday life. If you can do that, you have understood the core idea.
Understanding Globalisation helps you explain patterns on maps and in the news, and make reasoned decisions about places and environments.
Globalisation in detail
Globalisation is the increasing connection of countries through trade, finance, communication, travel and culture. Factors include faster transport, cheaper communication, the internet, free-trade agreements and the growth of transnational corporations (TNCs).
Benefits include economic growth, jobs, cheaper goods, cultural exchange and spread of technology. Drawbacks include job losses in some countries, exploitation of workers, environmental damage, loss of local culture and inequality. TNCs such as Apple and Nike spread production across countries, and a product may be made in many places. Debates about globalisation involve winners and losers.
How the interactive helps you understand Globalisation
Watch the network in the interactive. Use any sliders or buttons it offers to change the values and see how the network responds.
Before you change anything, predict the result. Then change one value at a time and check whether your prediction was right. This is a quick way to build a correct mental model of Globalisation.
Real-life uses and examples
- Describe a real place where Globalisation can be seen, using a map or photograph.
- Explain how Globalisation affects people, jobs and land use in a region.
- Support an answer about Globalisation with a named case study and specific evidence.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Writing general statements without a named place or example.
- Mixing up cause, effect and consequence when you explain Globalisation.
- Learning the definition without testing it. Use the quiz and the interactive to check that you can apply the idea.
Frequently asked questions about Globalisation
What is Globalisation?
Globalisation is the growing connection between countries through trade, communication, travel and technology.
What are the most important points about Globalisation?
The main points are: Transnational companies operate worldwide; The internet speeds exchange of ideas; It brings benefits and challenges.
Why is Globalisation useful?
Understanding Globalisation helps you explain patterns on maps and in the news, and make reasoned decisions about places and environments.
How can I practise Globalisation?
Open the interactive at the top of this page and change the controls one at a time. Predict the result before each change, then take the three-question quiz. A score of two or more marks the topic as complete on this device.
Which topics are related to Globalisation?
Related topics in Geography include Transport and Communication, Deindustrialisation, Natural Hazard Risk.