9.13 - Globalization

Globalization in Late 20th Century Europe

• Globalization Overview:

  • Definition: Globalization refers to the increasing economic, political, and social interconnectedness of the world.

  • Historical Context: Although globalization began earlier, particularly during the first wave of European imperialism, it significantly accelerated in the late 20th and early 21st centuries.

• Factors Contributing to Rapid Globalization:

  • Multinational Corporations:

    • Definition: Corporations incorporated in one country but manufacture and sell goods in multiple countries.

    • Example: Nestle, headquartered in Switzerland, manufactures chocolate using low-wage labor, including child and enslaved labor, in West Africa and sells globally.

  • International Governing Bodies:

    • Examples: The European Union (EU) and the United Nations (UN).

    • Impact: These organizations often implement policies that prioritize global community benefits over individual state interests.

  • Advancements in Communication and Transportation Technologies:

    • Communication:

      • Telephone, radio, and television revolutionized connectivity.

      • The Internet in the late 1990s and early 2000s connected the world in unprecedented ways.

    • Transportation:

      • The widespread adoption of automobiles and the infrastructure built around them facilitated easier migration and global interaction.

• Impact of New Technologies on Globalization:

  • Communication Technologies:

    • Migration and Family Connection: Technologies like the telephone allowed for easier migration while maintaining family connections across distances.

    • Entertainment and Cultural Influence:

      • Television: Democratized access to entertainment, especially as costs decreased.

      • American Media Influence: The export of American movies and TV shows to Europe led to the spread of American values, creating tension as European audiences adopted some cultural aspects that conflicted with their own.

  • Transportation Technologies:

    • Automobile Adoption: Led to the redesign of cities, suburbs, and rural areas to accommodate cars, making migration more accessible.

• Environmental Concerns and the Rise of Green Parties:

  • Industrial Revolution's Environmental Impact: The Industrial Revolution had already caused significant pollution and resource depletion.

  • Globalization's Environmental Toll:

    • Examples: Pollution of the Rhine River, oil spills in Brittany, France.

  • Green Parties' Response:

    • Emergence: Green parties began to form in Western and Central Europe, opposing the environmental degradation caused by globalization and consumerism.

    • Notable Success: The German Green Party gained prominence by opposing nuclear energy, especially after the Chernobyl disaster.

    • Continued Influence: By the end of the 20th century, Green parties existed in every European state, advocating against policies that harm the environment.