ABSTRACT
The first section of this chapter reviews the international extensions of the themes explored in the previous chapter, examining how cities occupy positions in the larger contexts of regional and global networks of trade, finance, and information. The term “globalization” is often invoked to describe the remarkable changes under way in communications and economic relations worldwide. The processes of globalization are surely as old as human history, but recent years have seen unprecedented developments in the speed, scale, scope, and complexity of change. In its modern forms, globalization is characterized by a rapid evolution of the international division of labor, increased trade and foreign direct investment (FDI), a quickening pace of transnational communication, and a dramatic expansion of cross-border business alliances (Cohen, 1981; Berry, Conkling, and Ray, 1997). In the eyes of critics, the modern forms of globalization are also associated with rising inequality and social polarization.
