Globalization

Globalization is an essential component to the modern world in which we live today.

Without the privilege of being interconnected, the world would not be what it has grown to be. Beginning in the nineteenth century, and continuing throughout the twentieth centuries were a series of events, innovations, and advancements that furthered the globalization of the economy with a momentum that was previously unprecedented. The onset of the Industrial Revolution, expansion of trade, and efficiency and timeliness of communication, established a degree of global interconnectedness that continues to advance today.

While there is no universally agreed definition of globalization, the term generally refers to international integration, trade and mobility in commodity, capital and labor. Beginning with the onset of the Industrial Revolution, new innovations and advancements surged the markets; and the need to take these products to the global market was imminent. Since the mid-19th century, there have been at least two episodes of globalization. The first began around the mid- 19th century and ended with World War I. The second began after World War II and continues today. Globalization has not been a smooth process and has had periods of rapid integration and reversals including wars and trade disputes. Those challenges were addressed by the development of new organizations like NATO, WTO, and NAFTA that promoted increasing interconnectedness, cooperation and integrations. Coal, a significant driver of the industrial

revolution had been primarily used for heating homes, now found significantly increased demand

with the invention of the steam engine by James Watt. Abundant fossil fuels, and the innovative machines they powered, launched an era of accelerated change that continues to transform human society and was the beginning of The Age of Fossil Fuels.

Not all countries welcome integration. "The arrival of US Admiral Matthew Perry in 1853, demanding that the country open to foreign commerce and navigation, brought to head the question of Japan's isolationist policy and prompted a considerable debate in Japanese circles," (Primary source 19.2). Globalization required ever increasing resources to fuel the growth and the demand for these resources and was an important driver of both World Wars and the associated problems that occurred. The globalization race between Great Britain and Germany resulted in WWI. The lack of a good resolution between warring countries where the repratirations demanded of Germany led to the Great Depression, the rise of Hitler, WWII, and the Holocuast. Having learned the importance of a good resolution, the United states created the Marshall Plan to rebuild the economy of Europe. The second phase of globalization occurred after WWII, following the expansion of the Marshall Plan and the revitalization of European and Japanese economies. A new era of demand drove trade inevitably driving globalization.

America became the leading consumer of natural gas and coal, reaching a skyrocketing consumption level of 20% in the 20th century. The exportation of coal and importation of oil was yet another way we became increasingly interconnected. According to class powerpoints,  "The development of coal-, oil-, or gas fired power stations, alternating current, transformers, and batteries permitted electricity to be generated on a commercial scale, moved across great distances and stored" (Valesey PPT Week 15). The usage of this energy opened up doors to the plethora of new advancements that could be achieved. With the European and American economies booming, the ability and advantage to taking the markets global was too rich to

ignore. However, in light of a growing economy, new conflicts at home began to brew. As we see in the textbook and from class powerpoints, the Industrial Revolution resulted in positive and negative changes in lifestyle. In the 19th century, these new changes also brought about new conflicts, as labor was exploited, and gave way to lower class uprisings, as well as conflicts among values of the upper class emerging in the 20th century. Erik Solheim, Norwegian head of the UN Environment Program expressed his concerns: "humanity's advancement in science, technology and industrialization (is) harming the planet, hence the need to reverse course" (Valesey PPT week 7). Whereas on the other hand, others felt industrialization was an indisputable necessity to the flourishing of countries. As Dr. Lloyd G. Adu Amoah, Professor at the University of Ghana in West Africa stated, "We need to industrialize, because if we don't, we are not adding value to what the African continent has" (Valesey PPT Week 7). These conflicting opinions outline the polarizing views that were felt during the 19th century. However, the need to advance and move forward outweighed the concern.

The state of the art attainability and accessibility of transportation was a foothold for the new lengths people could reach. By the end of the 18th century, Great Britain had started to dominate the world both geographically and technologically. With innovations like industrial weaving machines, and the steam engine, Great Britain was capable of creating and exporting on a global scale. The British Industrial Revolution made for a great twin engine of global trade.

With their advanced technologies, Britain was able to attack a huge and rapidly expanding market. However, Britain was not the only one to see the opportunity and take it. "...the Japanese discovered that they ... could soon manufacture a variety of goods that people overseas wanted, from raw tea and raw silk to gold leaf and buttons and cotton textiles." (Primary source 19.2).

This widespread interconnectedness created a new level of attainability in the global market. "A