Globalization is the global integration of economies, political institutions, and societies.  In other words, globalization is the gradual reduction of regional contrasts at the world scale, resulting from increasing international cultural, economic, and political exchanges.

There are a number of factors which help facilitate globalization:

1. Increased Mobility (migration and tourism)
2. Supranational Organizations (UN, EU, etc.)
3. Trade Associations (NAFTA, GATT, etc.)
4. Multinational Corporations
5. Telecommunications (also cellular phones)
6. The Internet
7. Diffusion of American Culture

There are several important impacts associated with globalization:

1. Increased exchange of ideas
2. Increased familiarity of cultures
3. Increased economic dependence
4. Increased political dependence
5. More corporate influence on government
6. Instability in labor patterns
7. Reduction of regional diversity
8. Potential environmental degradation

Realistically speaking, globalization is nothing new.  Most of the colonial empires of the past, such as the Persian, Roman, and British empires represented forms of globalization.  Indeed, even certain religious movements could be considered globalizing, including the spread of Christianity, Islam, and Buddhism. Furthermore, for centuries, trade and investment between countries have promoted interdependence of the world's economies. However, what is now referred to as globalization, is a much more rapid and thorough process than has ever existed before.

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