EQ1: What are the causes of globalisation and why has it accelerated in recent decades?

Question 1

What is globalisation?

Answer 1

A process by which national and regional economies, societies, and cultures have become integrated through the global network of trade, communication, immigration and transportation.

Question 2

What is globalisation the process of?

Answer 2

Increasing connectivity between people and places and environments across the planet.

Question 3

Globalisation involves…

Answer 3

widening and deepening global connections, interdependence and flows (commodities, capital, information, migrants and tourists)

Question 4

What is economic globalisation?

Answer 4

Involves the growth of TNCs, which have a global brand image and presence; the spreading of investment around the world; rapid growth in world trade

Question 5

What is cultural globalisation?

Answer 5

Unifying and diversifying; people using increasingly similar: food, clothes, music, values - many of which are ‘western’ in origin (from North America and Europe)

Question 6

What is social globalisation?

Answer 6

Refers to how population structures have changed as a result of shifting population characteristics e.g migration, immigration and emigration. Global improvements in education and health have also accelerated this.

Question 7

What is political globalisation?

Answer 7

Takes the form of the dominance of western democracies in political and economic decision making; spreads the view that democratic, consumerist societies are the most ‘successful’.

The growth of trading blocs, free trade agreements and global organisations.

Question 8

What is demographic globalisation?

Answer 8

Increasing migration and tourism makes populations more fluid and mixed​.

Question 9

What is environmental globalisation?

Answer 9

Refers to the holistic approach to environmental problems and issues. The realisation that global environmental threats require global solutions.

Question 10

Examples of cultural globalisation:

Answer 10

• sports
• capitalism
• pop culture
• cuisines
• religion
• languages

Question 11

Examples of environmental globalisation:

Answer 11

• Paris Agreement
• G7 Summit
• renewable energy resources

Question 12

Examples of political globalisation:

Answer 12

• European Union
• NAFTA
• IMF

Question 13

Examples of social globalisation:

Answer 13

• diversity in schools

* Brexit

Question 14

Examples of economic globalisation:

Answer 14

• TNCs

* trade

Question 15

What is interdependence?

Answer 15

The success of one place depends on the success of other places. Economic problems in one country can quickly spread to its trading partner and quickly affect people in distant places.

Question 16

What happened as a result of staff in the Honda factory in Swindon working two days a week following a Japanese tsunami?

Answer 16

The German DAX (stock market) lost 1.2% within minutes after the tsunami.

Question 17

What are global flows?

Answer 17

The connections between places.

Global flows are creating new degrees of connectedness among economies.

Question 18

What are the 3 aspects of globalisation?

Answer 18

Connections are LENGTHENING, DEEPENING, FASTER

Question 19

What are examples of flows?

Answer 19

• goods: the products and commodities we all buy in shops, many which are grown in other places
• capital: flows of money between people, banks, businesses and governments
• information: such as data transferred between people and business
• people: flows of migrants and tourists
• services
• culture
• technology

Question 20

What happened during decolonisation in the 1950s, 1960s and 1970s?

Answer 20

Many newly Independent countries reacted against the perceived exploitative nature of the international trade system by seeking self sufficiency through import substitution.

Question 21

Define hybridisation.

Answer 21

The process by which a cultural element e.g food, language or music blend into another culture by modifying elements to fit cultural norms.

Question 22

What has the speed and ease of moving around the world done?

Answer 22

Reduced the friction of distance between places as well as dramatically lowering the cost of trade.

Question 23

What did the 19th century see a development of?

Answer 23

The railway, telegraph and steam ship.

Question 24

What did the 20th century see a development of?

Answer 24

Jet aircraft and containerisation.

Question 25

Containers are inter-modal, what does this mean?

Answer 25

They can be transported by ship, lorry or train.

Question 26

How does the development of jet aircraft and containerisation increase globalisation?

Answer 26

Reduce transport costs per unit output, so products are affordable for customers in a distant market, setting up a new flow of goods/information.

Question 27

Harnessing new forms of energy allows larger loads to be transported, what do larger loads produce?

Answer 27

An economy of scale - a reduced cost per unit output.

Question 28

What is trade?

Answer 28

The exchanges of goods and services between people and companies, which is increasingly cross-border between countries rather than just within a country.

Question 29

How were railways developed?

Answer 29

Steam trains quickly replaced horse-drawn and canal transport.

Question 30

Why was the electric telegraph so useful?

Answer 30

It was the first long distance, instant communication technology

Question 31

What replaced sailing ships in the 19th century?

Answer 31

Steam ships. These increased speed and cargo capacity dramatically.

Question 32

What replaced steam ships?

Answer 32

Jet passenger aircraft, reducing travel time for passengers significantly. The Boeing 747 “jumbo jet” introduced in the 1960s lowered the cost of international air travel, bringing international tourism within the purchasing capabilities of the middle class.

Question 33

How many individual container movements take place every year?

Answer 33

Around 200 million.

Question 34

How has containerisation contributed to the acceleration of globalisation?

Answer 34

Shipping carries about 90% of international trade. Described as the “backbone” of the global economy since 1950s.

• reduced transport costs for goods by dramatically lowering costs of ‘break bulk cargo’ (products that have to be loaded individually)
• dramatically sped up goods trade and reduced costs, making consumer goods cheaper
• ubiquitous, standardised metal/steel boxes quickly transferable from a ship to a lorry or railway
• process is easily mechanised; containers are unloaded by crane, increasingly automatically. In the past, cargo was loaded manually in crates or stacks
• reduced labour costs as fewer dockworkers required to unload loose commodities
• fewer losses from theft

Question 35

What is the transport cost of moving an iPhone or television from China to UK?

Answer 35

Less than £1.

Container ships are very efficient, providing a direct pathway for goods to be shipped globally in large quantities.

Question 36

Due to containerisation, there are faster transport time of goods. Why is this beneficial?

Answer 36

Faster transport times increase the distance perishable products can be transported e.g cut flowers from Kenya,
opening bio more distant markets are reducing losses.

Question 37

How has improved aircraft/air travel contributed to the acceleration of globalisation?

Answer 37

• made it possible to easily and comfortably fly to another country or state
• most places are under a day away and many are less than 4 hours flight
• created a huge increase in the number of people visiting other countries to see family, conduct business and take holidays
• reduction in air travel costs made it increasingly affordable for the consumer
• makes trade more efficient

Question 38

How many containers can a modern container ship transport?

Answer 38

Over 10,000 containers.

Question 39

What is the shrinking world concept?

Answer 39

The perception that places feel nearer than in the past.

Suggests the rapid rate of globalisation and increased knowledge of distant places has made the world feel smaller and more connected.