Globalization is the ongoing process of the intertwining and integration of economies and cultures around the world. While the history of globalization dates back at least several centuries to the “age of exploration” driven by European countries beginning in the 15th century, and could be considered to date back millennia to the continent-spanning migrations and wars of the great ancient civilizations, globalization typically refers to the rapidly accelerating interactions between countries spurred on by advances in communications and transportation technologies since the 18th century. After the fall of the Soviet Union and the advent of the internet, the 21st century has seen this process accelerate even further, and understanding globalization is of essential importance to understanding today’s world.

The impacts of globalization are as diverse and multifaceted as the countries that this process is steadily weaving together. We see it perhaps most obviously in the realm of culture, where American movies, Korean pop music, and Mexican cuisine have become incredibly popular around the world. The realities of globalization also increasingly drive the economy, with international businesses and supply chains connecting consumers with innovative products at low costs. Globalization is also impacting concerns around international security, with risks around issues like cyber-crime and terrorism as well as tensions around migration and trade becoming increasingly important as well as difficult to manage.

No matter what your interests are in the world of business, culture, or politics, the accelerating flows of globalization are creating new opportunities as well as new potential challenges to tackle. Learning about this far-reaching historical phenomenon is critical to understanding the lay of the land today - and where the world may be heading in the future.‎

An understanding of the myriad of ways that globalization is shaping the economy is essential for many careers in business. Whether you’re overseeing the logistics of a manufacturing company looking to take advantage of overseas supply chains, a branding guru trying to develop truly global marketing campaigns that can reach culturally diverse consumers, or an analyst in the world of finance trying to anticipate shifts in global commodity markets, the ability to understand and anticipate the opportunities and challenges presented by globalization can give you an edge.

If you want to dig into the macroeconomic data of globalization and shape how businesses and governments understand this phenomenon, you can pursue a career as an economist. These expert researchers and analysts typically have a master’s degree or a doctorate and may choose to specialize in the study of specific industries like healthcare or energy or decide to look more broadly at issues such as employment levels, tax policy, and international business cycles. Globalization is elevating the importance of economists; according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, economists earned a median annual salary of $105,020 in 2019, and these roles are expected to grow much faster than average.‎

Absolutely! Coursera offers a wealth of learning opportunities on a wide range of topics in business and politics, including courses that focus specifically on globalization and its impacts in specific fields. Appropriately for the subject of globalization, Coursera also lets you learn about this phenomenon from top-ranked universities from all over the world, including IE Business School, Universiteit Leiden, Sciences Po, the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, and the University of New Mexico. Regardless of where you choose to learn from, the ability to view course materials and complete assignments on a flexible schedule lets you focus on your education - and not on planning it around your existing work, family life, or time zone.‎