Paper 3 Global Politics · Globalisation

Globalisation · Notes

Sub-topic lookup view of the walk-through.

About these notes. This is the sub-topic lookup version. For the full narrative lesson, use the Walk-through. For active recall, use the MCQ Quiz.

Likely exam angles. Has globalisation been positive or negative for those involved, and which type is being weighed? The strongest answers commit to a line, name the type (economic, cultural or political) before evaluating, and weigh gains against costs.

1. What globalisation is

Globalisation is the process by which states, markets, technologies and cultures have become increasingly interconnected across borders. The standard definition - the widening, deepening and speeding up of worldwide interconnectedness - comes from Held and McGrew, the names to reach for first.

The five drivers

Technology: the internet, cheap container shipping (the standard container dates from 1956), aviation, satellite media.
Finance: deregulation of capital markets from the 1980s; the dollar as global reserve currency.
Trade liberalisation: GATT and the WTO from 1947, NAFTA 1994, China's WTO accession in 2001.
Multinational corporations: Apple, Toyota, Samsung, with supply chains crossing dozens of countries.
Intergovernmental organisations: the IMF, World Bank and WTO globally; the EU and ASEAN regionally.

2. The three types

Type	What it is	The debate
Economic	Integration of markets across borders. World trade rose from around 25% of GDP in 1960 to over 60% by 2008; global supply chains (the iPhone is designed in California, assembled in China). Governed by the IMF, World Bank, WTO.	Growth and cheaper goods against inequality and instability.
Cultural	The spread of values, language and media - Hollywood, English, K-pop, Netflix, social media.	Homogenisation ("McDonaldisation", "Americanisation") against two-way flows (Afrobeats, Bollywood, Korean drama).
Political	Governance above the state, through IGOs (UN, WTO), regional bodies (EU, AU, ASEAN) and international law.	An erosion of national democracy against the only realistic way to govern cross-border problems.

Linked but not identical. A country can be deeply economically integrated yet culturally insular (Saudi Arabia), or culturally globalised yet economically protected. Name the type before evaluating - the answer to "has globalisation been positive" depends on which one is being weighed.

3. The gains and the costs

The case for

Hundreds of millions lifted out of poverty as trade and investment spread, especially in East Asia.
Cheaper goods, faster technology transfer, and growth from larger markets and specialisation.
Cross-border problems (climate, pandemics, finance) gain institutions capable of coordinating a response.

The case against

Widening inequality within and between states, and a "race to the bottom" on wages, tax and regulation.
Contagion: the 2008 financial crisis spread worldwide through integrated markets.
Loss of national control and cultural distinctiveness; democratic decisions constrained by global markets and IGOs.

4. The three theoretical positions

Position	Core claim
Hyperglobalists	Globalisation is real and transformative; the nation-state is in decline and a borderless global economy is emerging. Markets, not governments, increasingly rule.
Sceptics	Globalisation is exaggerated; what exists is mostly regionalisation and trade between strong states. National governments and regional blocs still dominate, and the state is not disappearing.
Transformationalists	Globalisation is real but does not abolish the state - it reconstitutes it. States adapt and remain central actors while interconnectedness reshapes what they do. The Held and McGrew position.

Use them as lenses. A 30-mark answer weighs the case through these positions rather than reciting them: is the state in decline (hyperglobalist), holding firm (sceptic), or adapting (transformationalist)?

5. Exam method

Name the type (economic, cultural or political) the question is about before you evaluate.
Commit to a clear line and weigh gains against costs rather than treating either side as obvious.
Anchor with named evidence: Held and McGrew on the definition, the WTO/IMF/World Bank, China 2001, the 2008 crisis, two-way cultural flows.
Judge through the three positions - whether the state is declining, resisting or adapting is the synoptic spine.

📜 Walk-throughThe full narrative lesson on the types, drivers, gains, costs and theories. 🧠 MCQ quiz15 questions across the topic. 📚 All topic packsBrowse every Paper 3 pack.