Introduction

This introduction presents an overview of the key concepts discussed in the subsequent chapters of this book. The book examines the globalization of the world in light of the traditions from which human civilizations have evolved. It looks at some of the common ways in which we think of our world as divided, both geographically and regionally, according to cultural, ethnic, and religious identities. The book describes the multiple dimensions of the globalizing effects of economic expansion and political strife as experienced by different cultures at local and regional levels. It explores the impact of globalization on the socio-political transformations of multiethnic societies, using Nigeria as a case study. The book shows how the Worldwide Web has become an effective medium in the globalization of religious movements and a resource for the furthering of doctrines by religious communities. It explains different religious groups and outlines the purposes for which religious communities utilize web sites to propagate their own views.