Introduction

Globalization is best understood as the interrelationship between nations in the widest sense. Though it is often associated with economic forces, globalization has come to represent the impact of one nation’s political, economic, cultural, and environmental actions upon the global community: as well as the impact on a given nation from developments in the outside world. As students begin to grapple with understanding globalization, it is imperative that they recognize and appreciate the interconnectedness between nations that currently exists and how those connections are shaping the world and also their futures.

Using a current map of the world and up-to-date information (the CIA’s World Factbook Website is a recommended resource), students can draw connections between nations based on trade and diplomatic relationships. The most pressing concerns regarding globalization are a) the ramifications for the developing world as the industrial world continues to consume natural resources at an alarming rate, and b) how these developing nations can or will gain a foothold in a modern global economy. Added to these concerns are the environmental effects of rapid growth and industrialization and the impact on the poor, hungry, and disenfranchised.

Finally, and most notably, globalization should be considered from the perspective of technology and its availability throughout the world. As citizens of nations become more interconnected, how might those factors shift the balance of power at the government level? To what extent does a readily available, constantly streaming source of information begin to reshape our understanding of what it means to be a citizen of the world? The impact of globalization can serve to unify or divide; what role is it now playing in moving us toward unity or division?

The video clips below will help your students better understand the impact of globalization on international relations and on today’s politics of food and water.