ABSTRACT
Globalization and the processes of globalization are widely discussed—and widely misunderstood. Sometimes people consider only the economic changes and processes. Like globalization, global capitalism is global in scale, but the processes of global capitalism are primarily economic. Global capitalism and Americanization are both one-way processes. A single powerful body acts to change weaker entities in a process of assimilation. Globalization is a two-way process. Local, or particular, practices influence universal, or global, practices. Globalization is a conversation and it is expressed in different ways around the world. In a BBC radio address, Anthony Giddens explores globalization and the way it is changing lives around the world. Globalists argue that globalization does exist—it is inevitable. Transformationalists argue that globalization is not inevitable, but changes are occurring. Giddens presents two views about globalization: the skeptical view and the radical view. The chapter also presents an overview of the key concepts discussed in this book.
