What does globalisation mean?

Question 1

1) What does the term globalisation mean?

Answer 1

1) How people and places are more connected with one another than they used to be.

Question 2

1) What is economic globalisation?

Answer 2

1) > More TNCs which increase cross-border exchanges of raw materials, components, manufactured goods and purchasing.
> ICT allows for complex spatial divisions - creating an international economy.
> Online purchases can be made using platforms like Amazon.

Question 3

1) What is social globalisation?

Answer 3

1) > International immigration has created extensive family networks.
> There have been global improvements in education and health.
> Social interconnectivity thanks to mobile phones and e-mail.

Question 4

1) What is cultural globalisation?

Answer 4

1) > Americanisation and McDonaldisation of tastes and fashion.
> Glocalisation and hybridisation happen when local cultures
merge with global influences.
> Circulation of ideas has increased due to 24-hour reporting, and
also platforms such as Twitter and Facebook.

Question 5

1) What is political globalisation?

Answer 5

1) > Trading blocs allow TNCs to buy firms in neighbouring countries.
Also allow for reduced trade restrictions and tariffs.
> Global concerns such as free trade, credit crunch and the
response to the 2011 Japanese tsunami.
> World Bank, IMF and the WTO work to harmonise international
economies.

Question 6

1) How does post-1940s globalisation differ from the global economy which preceded it?

Answer 6

1) > Lengthening of connections: water brought to the UK from Fiji.
> Deepening of connections: Connected to other people and places through the products we consume.
> Faster Connections: People can Skype and travel between continents using jet aircraft.

Question 7

1) What is cultural homogenisation?

Answer 7

1) The manner in which cultural globalisation leads to a reduction in cultural diversity.

Question 8

1) What is the mobile phone revolution in Africa?

Answer 8

1) In 2005, 6% of Africans owned a mobile phone, in comparison to 2015, when this had risen to 70%, thanks to falling prices and the growth of companies such as Kenya’s Safaricom.

Question 9

1) What is the mobile phone revolution in Asia?

Answer 9

1) In India, over 1 billion people are mobile subscribers.

Question 10

1) What is M-Pesa, and who created it?

Answer 10

1) It is a mobile phone service, created by Safaricom in 2007, which allows credit to be transferred between phone users.

Question 11

1) How has M-Pesa revolutionised businesses and life for Kenyan individuals?

Answer 11

1) > One-third of the country’s GDP is sent through the M-Pesa system annually.
> People in towns can use mobiles to pay for utilities and school fees.
> In rural areas, fishermen and farmers use mobiles to check market prices before selling produce.
> Women in rural areas can secure microloans from development banks, by using M-Pesa bills as proof of a good credit score. The ability to borrow is lifting rural families out of poverty.