Discussing international business topics. Обсуждаем темы международного бизнеса

sample __ this study included two hundred teenagers __ the ages __ 14 and 18, New York, Lebanon, Azerbaijan, and the Philippines.

The locations were urban. Topics of globalization and globalism were grouped __ sub-categories. Globalization categories included immigration, trade, and diplomatic relations. Globalism included consumption, personal freedoms, technology, and culture. The results of the research suggested that both American teenagers and international teenagers are natural globalists and are largely __ favor __ globalization. Teenagers in New York had higher levels of support __ globalization than globalism. International teens were more globalists. Importantly, all teens were very positive towards technology, cultural exchange, trade, consumption of international goods, and immigration.

The study suggested that the future of international technology, trade, and culture will depend __ bringing the concepts of globalization and globalism together. More so, the Internet seems to be one of the most important tools __ linking teenagers globally and this suggests that this sort of communication should be developed __ the world __ a faster rate. Finally, it was suggested that the future of culture and trade will depend __ the rate __technological progress. 

Text 1. Read the text. Translate the phrases in bold type into Russian.

GLOBALISATION

Globalization, also globalisation, refers to a process of increasing integration between units around the world, including nation-states, households/individuals, corporations and other organizations. It is an umbrella term, covering economic, trade, social, technological, cultural and political aspects.

Globalization is the process by which the world is becoming more intertwined in both social and economic aspects. People all around the world are more aware of other people, cultures and countries. The production of goods and services happens in many countries – and often the making of one product may involve several countries. Global communications between countries happen much more quickly and easily due to the internet, the media, etc. There are several corporations around the world that are based in many different countries – production may occur in one country, head office is in another, sales occur on another and so on.

A number of definitions abound, but all generally note the increasing convergence of markets, economies, and ways of life across the world. A broad overview definition is that globalization is the worldwide process of homogenizing prices, products, wages, rates of interest and profits. Globalization relies on three forces for development: the role of human migration, international trade, and rapid movements of capital and integration of financial markets.

The United Nations ESCWA (Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia) has written that globalization "is a widely-used term that can be defined in a number of different ways. When used in an economic context, it refers to the reduction and removal of barriers between national borders in order to facilitate the flow of goods, capital, services and labour... although considerable barriers remain to the flow of labour...

Tom G. Palmer of the Cato Institute defines globalization as "the diminution or elimination of state-enforced restrictions on exchanges across borders and the increasingly integrated and complex global system of production and exchange that has emerged as a result."

Thomas L. Friedman has examined the impact of the "flattening" of the world, and states that globalized trade, outsourcing, supply-chaining, and political forces have changed the world permanently, for both better and worse. He also states that the pace of globalization is quickening and will continue to have a growing impact on business organization and practice.

The IMF (International Monetary Fund) stresses the growing economic interdependence of countries worldwide through increasing volume and variety of cross-border transactions, free international capital flows, and more rapid and widespread diffusion of technology.

A less economic-focused definition from the Encyclopedia Britannica states that globalization is the “process by which the experience of everyday life ... is becoming standardized around the world.” 

1)  Which of the suggested definitions of “globalization” is the most accurate? Explain your choice.

2)  Think of your own definition of “globalization”.

Text 2.  Read the text and point out its main issues.

HISTORICAL PRECEDENTS

Although the term “globalization’ was coined in the latter half of the twentieth century, and the term and its concepts did not permeate popular consciousness until the latter half of the 1980’s; various social scientists have tried to demonstrate continuity between contemporary trends of globalization and earlier periods.

The first steps towards globalization, as it is recognized today, were