Background

The globalized world is a recurrent and highly relevant subject in today’s society. Globalization is a historical development towards the increasing interconnectedness of people, companies, and nations worldwide, making our world more and more interdependent. Understanding it is essential to navigate the complexities of today’s global landscape and to make sense of how this phenomenon impacts our lives at various levels, from economy to cultural interactions.

Globalization 2, the focus of our study, is a term that refers to the current phase of globalization marked by technological innovations such as the internet, artificial intelligence, and biotechnology. This new era has amplified the effects of globalization, allowing for near-instantaneous global communication, trade, and exchange of information. This technological revolution has transformed the world we live in, as well as the socioeconomic and geopolitical relations.

In this process, we have witnessed both positive and negative impacts. On the one hand, there has been a tremendous increase in access to information, opportunities for economic growth, and possibilities of connecting people around the world. However, globalization has also brought along significant challenges such as increased economic inequality, exploitation of workers in developing countries, and the environmental impacts of globalized consumption.

Studying globalization, and Globalization 2 in particular, helps us better understand the world we live in and how actions in one part of the world can have cascading effects in distant geographies.

As a resource for further exploration of the topic, I suggest reading the book “The World is Flat: A Brief History of the Twenty-First Century” by Thomas Friedman, which offers an in-depth analysis of the impact of technology on globalization. Additionally, Coursera provides an online course called “Globalization, Economic Change and International Development” which can be a great resource for deepening your understanding on the subject.

It’s important to note that the discussion around globalization is complex and multifaceted, so it’s crucial that you seek out different perspectives and consider all the nuances of the topic.

Hands-on Activity: Mapping Globalization 2

Project Goal

The goal of this project is to provide students with the opportunity to research, analyze, and report on the many ways Globalization 2 has impacted the world, focusing specifically on two areas: economics and culture. They will explore technological advancements in globalization and how it has reshaped our world.

Detailed Project Description

Part 1: Research and Group Discussion

Students will be divided into groups of 3 to 5. Each group should choose two countries to research, one developed and one developing country.

The research task will require students to explore how globalization has impacted the economy and culture of these countries, with a special focus on the changes brought by Globalization 2. This should include but is not limited to the flows of people, money, goods, information, as well as ethical and cultural values.

Part 2: Creating Visualizations

Following their research, each group should design two infographics representing their findings. The first infographic should focus on the economy, and the second on the culture. These infographics should demonstrate how Globalization 2 has influenced these aspects in their chosen countries.

Part 3: Presentation and Debate

Finally, each group will present their findings and infographics to the class, followed by a debate where students can discuss, compare, and contrast the different impacts of Globalization 2.

Materials Required

• Internet access for research.
• Graphic design software for creating the infographics.
• Presentation materials: projector, laptop, etc.

Detailed Steps to Carry Out the Activity

1. Divide students into groups of 3 to 5.
2. Have each group choose two countries (one developed and one developing) to focus on in their research.
3. Students should conduct extensive research on how Globalization 2 has affected the economy and culture of these countries.
4. Based on their research, each group should then create two infographics that visually represent their findings.
5. Have each group present their findings and infographics to the rest of the class.
6. Following the presentations, students should engage in a debate discussing the different impacts of Globalization 2 that were presented.

Project Deliverables

At the end of this project, each group should submit the following deliverables:

• Written Report: The report should include details of the research conducted, the processes followed to create the infographics, and a discussion of the results. The report should follow this format:

  1. Introduction: Contextualize the countries chosen, rationale for their selection, relevance of Globalization 2 to those countries.
  2. Development: Explain the theory behind Globalization 2, describe the activity carried out in detail, the methodology used for research, the creation of the infographics, and the results obtained.
  3. Conclusion: Reflect on the learning outcomes and the conclusions about the impacts of Globalization 2 in the countries researched.
  4. Bibliography: List the sources used for the research and elaboration of the project.

• Infographics: Two infographics per group that visually represent the research findings.

• Presentation: Presentation slides explaining the main points of the research and the infographics.