Limits to globalization

Abstract

Today it is fashionable to see things in a ‘global context’ and to refer local events to all kinds of ‘globalization processes’. Some even argue that we all live in the ‘global village’. This paper argues that we do not and that the concept of globalization is often used in inappropriate ways. The so called ‘globalization process’ is strongly geographically limited and large parts of the world are not (yet) affected by it. Hence, the world is not (yet) becoming economically or culturally homogenized and that which is often labelled ‘global’ is, in fact, a sign of various internationalization and/or regionalization processes.