Globalization's Impact on Regions and Societies

Globalization and Regional Societies

Globalization is a process of integration of economies and cultures that shapes the world, caused by the rise of trade and communications. A revolution: despite political divisions, all economies are interconnected. There is a trend toward a global society: all countries adopt common cultural elements while others recover formerly lost, local elements.

Europe: density, diversity and integration

Europe is a rich, densely populated and highly urbanized continent. It consists of many states with a variety of languages and cultures. After centuries of division and conflict, European countries are now attempting a process of peaceful integration and collaboration in the Anglo-Pacific economy.

Americas and Oceania: origins and development

Most societies in the Americas and Oceania are of European origin, the result of colonization.

Australia and New Zealand

Australia and New Zealand are highly developed Anglo-Saxon societies.

Anglo-Saxon America

Anglo-Saxon America consists of the USA and Canada. It is the richest region of the planet.

Ibero-America

Ibero-America comprises the Spanish-speaking Latin American countries and Brazil. It is a developing area with great human and natural resources. Latin American societies are characterized by the variety and mix of Amerindian, European, and African elements.

Asia: population and economic contrasts

Asia is a highly populated continent of great human and economic contrasts. Japan, the first industrialized country in Asia, is the world's second largest economy. The "Asian Tigers" are a group of countries that have industrialized very quickly, most notably South Korea and Taiwan. China is the most populous country on earth and has a very dynamic economy in the process of expansion. India and the Indian subcontinent (Pakistan, Bangladesh, ...) form a group of developing countries, heavily populated with large cultural and religious differences.

Middle East and Central Asia

The Middle East and Central Asia are areas with predominantly Muslim populations. This is a strategic region because of oil, and it is one of the major areas of international tension.

Africa: underdevelopment and geographic diversity

Africa shows a combination of underdevelopment and geographic diversity. North Africa is occupied by Arab countries like Egypt and the Maghreb. Sub-Saharan Africa is the world's poorest region. In addition to natural and historical factors, such as slavery and colonialism, one of the reasons for poverty is runaway population growth.