The Contemporary World Prelims

Here, the focus is on the integration of international financial markets and the coordination of financial exchange. Free trade agreements, such the North American Free Trade Agreement and the Trans-Pacific Partnership are examples of this.

• Cultural Globalization

• Economic Globalization

• Political Globalization

This type covers the national policies that bring countries together politically, economically, and culturally. Organizations such as NATO and the UN are part of this.

• Cultural Globalization

• Economic Globalization

• Political Globalization

cultures unaffected by globalization

• Cultural differentialism

• Cultural convergence

• Cultural hybridization

increasing sameness in the direction of dominant groups

• Cultural differentialism

• Cultural convergence

• Cultural hybridization

mixing of cultures, producing new and unique cultures. A key concept is glocalization.

• Cultural differentialism

• Cultural convergence

• Cultural hybridization

adopting the customs of the better countries to a country (e.g., emergence of fast food from western countries)

• Cultural differentialism

• Cultural convergence

• Cultural hybridization

• Cultural imperialism

Belief in the importance of the free market and the need to allow it to operate free of any impediments, especially those imposed by the nation-state and other political entities.

• Liberal Theory

• Realist Theory

states aggressively pursuing their own interests.

• Liberal Theory

• Realist Theory

Measures the average income of citizens, reflecting the economic output per person

• GDP per Capita

• Human Development Index (HDI)

• Economic Development

Broader measure that considers income, education, and life expectancy to capture overall quality of life

• GDP per Capita

• Human Development Index (HDI)

• Economic Development