ABSTRACT
Globalization has become both a process and a consequence of social change, on an international scale, that has gained in momentum over time. Globalization has affected and continues to affect politics, culture, and social organization. Other factors, such as labor specialization, the ability to purchase material in large quantities, and the ability to have more influence with government authorities, also contribute to an economy of scale. The cause and effect comes right out of Adam Smith and classical economic theory: given an opportunity for profit, people and businesses will compete in the marketplace, and competition fosters innovation and higher productivity. In the era of globalization, it is the people living in the developing world who are paying most of the environmental price tag for the global economy. In many cases, globalization forces change on people whose societies have been functioning successfully for many generations, by disrupting traditional types of authority, ways of doing business, and patterns of social interaction.
