Trends in Globalization

Essay on
Trends in Globalization

Henrieta Bevilaqua
12027383
The Hague University of Applied Sciences
January 2014

Table of contents

Introduction
Globalization is being discussed a lot these days. Its impact became so strong in every aspect of our lives that it is cannot be ignored. Even if we live in Moldavia we come home from Finish sauna on our German car listening to Dutch Dj’s. We come home, feed our Persian cat with meal produced in Taiwan and sit on our couch from Sweden Ikea. We play our Japan TV and watch some American movie eating Mexican nachos. Then we call our Ukrainian neighbour to lower the Norway death-metal because our favourite Argentinian soap opera just starts. For good night we take a shot of Russian vodka. Next day we wake up, put on clothes designed in Italy but produced in China. We water our Dutch flowers and have a breakfast consisting of a Colombian coffee, Italian Panini and English tea. We started to realizing it and trying to define it and find its causes. Implications we can already see.
In the first part of this essay will be discussed the definition of globalization according to different dimensions. Offered is implication in political, economic and private sphere definition of this phenomena as well as definition of ‘shrinking world’, the acceleration factor and a measurement of globalization. Second section explains different driving forces of globalization that were mainly security (political) reasons, trade (economic) reasons and also individual reasons that became increasingly significant with the introduction of the internet. Elaborated is more on the acceleration factor that is a technical development Third part of the essay consist of responses for globalization that were mainly connected to effort of controlling the globalization process via rules and regulations; In particular, competition policy, consumer rights, rights for privacy and migration policy. Fourth part of the essay shows trends in globalization that are indicating global problems that came also with globalization and creating supranational institutions to tackle them as well as shift from vertical to horizontal importance (equal individuals affecting world).
In last part I give my personal experience with globalization that shows my shift to international society of students. At the end is conclusion followed by annotated bibliography.

Defining Globalization
Definitions of globalization vary from subject to subject. For every dimension- political, economic and cultural has this word distinctive meaning.
Firstly, for state that is concerned mostly by issues of security, delegation of power internally and by its position in the external world globalization means shift from national to supranational. One of characteristic features of globalization is the creation of supranational bodies that became the major actors of world politics. Secondly, economic factors were since the beginning major driving factors of globalization. Motivation of wealth was driving all the actors in private sector to cooperate with parties from and in different countries for the purposes of production, product development, sourcing, marketing etc. Thirdly, individuals alone were meeting people and making international linkages with them through the world for different reasons. There already are individuals have international background or international networks of relations not referring themselves to only one nationality or society – the global society that is also one of the outcomes of globalization.
All this factors enforced by the technical development that have made all of this possible, contributed to interconnecting people, places, activities etc. from different countries and creating a supranational network of interdependence. The outcome of all these factors and activities can be characterized as globalization.
We are talking about ”shrinking world” in a sense that distances and are getting shorter ( because we are able to travel much faster) and accessibility is raising by making information available for example on the internet, moreover local people are getting used to meet people from other countries and therefore it is easier to cooperate with them. World simply seems smaller to us when we are able to get faster to distant places and we have contacts and we communicate with people from different places.
Globalization differs in extensity, velocity, impact and intensity from country to country and from region to region. This process is yet not complete, it definitely will not be in following years and it is questionable whether it will ever be complete.

Forces driving globalization

Globalization goes back deep into the past when civilizations were in wars between each other and were reaching new lands and new civilizations. It is still discussed whether the human nature is cooperative or rather competitive, the outcome is clear. Civilizations eventually started to cooperate between each other. “Nature uses extraordinarily ingenious techniques to avoid conflict and competition, and that cooperation is extraordinarily widespread throughout all of nature.” (Proutglobe, 2012) Outcomes are clear. People realized that together their forces are stronger when they are together and cooperate in the questions of war and peace. In the 6th century BC. in the Ancient Greece was created Peloponnesian League that is an examples of the cooperation between states (nation states back then) (Brittanica, 2013)
Reason of alliances was not only better security, but also economic reasons. Different goods, prices, quality in different regions motivated traders to travel and barter for benefits. ”Following the Phoenicians, the Greek and Romans established trade routes goings as far out as Britain in the West, and China in the East. The Greeks spread their culture and ideas through this trade, and the Romans spread their organization and laws. ” (e-how, 2012) Trade has not led to only to development of transport means as well as communication means that were necessary for cooperation between buyers sellers but also to share civilizations‘ culture and ideas.
In 1776 became a crucial change in the development of the market. Adam Smith in his book ”The wealth of nations brought ” idea that relates primarily to the specialization of the labour force, essentially the breaking down of large jobs into many tiny components. Under this regime each worker becomes an expert in one isolated area of production, thus increasing his efficiency. ” (Victorian web, 2005) Specialization of markets led to further, more intensive interconnection and interdependence between various countries and continents. Economic cooperation was the major drive of globalization. As example can be one of the first and most successful national corporations, ”Dutch East India Company that has established headquarters in many different countries, had a monopoly over the spice trade and it had semi-governmental powers in that it was able to begin wars, prosecute convicts, negotiate treaties and establish colonies. ” (About Geography, 2013) International trade established many international relations and was slowly drawing the framework for international communication. ” Through the technological developments of the Industrial Revolution, European nations such as Great Britain were able trade raw materials and finished goods across the entire face of the Earth. Coupled with increasing financial sophistication and the invention of the telegraph, the burgeoning trade of the late 19th century is seen as a precursor to the free trade and globalization we know today. ” (e-how, 2012) However there were still obstacles standing in the way to establish free trade. Benefits this process was bringing to marketers led them to put pressure on destroying barriers as tarrifs, import/export quotas, regulations and different forms of government interference that were restricting them from trading freely and accumulating their wealth. ”With the fall of Soviet union in 1989 the remaining closed markets in Eastern Europe opened up to trade, making a global free trade system once again possible. Free trade accelerated during the 1990s and the beginning of the 2000s, resulting in our current globally interconnected economic system. ”(e-how, 2012) Free trade enabling individuals and companies to expand its activities through the globe and in order to increase their profits. We can say that profits- wealth, therefore economic aspect is the main driving force of the globalization. As business dictionary states, ”Globalization implies the opening of local and nationalistic perspectives to a broader outlook of an interconnected and interdependent world with free transfer of capital, goods, and services across national frontiers. ” (businessdictionary, 2013) This changes has not brought only wealth to companies and nations, wide range of product and services for customer but let also to other changes that define globalization phenomena.
Besides the political and economic reasons, there is one more essential factor driving globalization forward. 90’s brought something that strongly changed the direction of globalization in the sense, that not only nation states or companies could engage in transnational relations, but also individuals gained possibility of interacting beyond boundaries. In 1994 Andreessen and others on the Mosaic team form a company to develop the first commercial Web browser, Netscape (Phys, 2009) This development meant that not only companies and organizations but also public- individuals could use internet. With the high investments in development of cables transporting electronic information and with development of web platforms as well as browsers internet became used with extreme speed. In 2006 world Internet population surpasses 1 billion in 2008 it is 1,5 billion (Phys, 2009) with the estimated number of 2,405,518,376 users in 2012 (Techi Warehouse, 2004) The change that introduction of internet for commercial use is not only in enabling people to communicate with each other across the globe, but it also enabled them posting, downloading and sharing the content. People became able to realize themselves online, work via their computers with or for people in other country. Internet with its usage became the global platform for everyone with internet connection where information spread unbelievably fast and therefore it empowered everyone to shape the worlds’ happening.
The reason why this topic has become so discussed just now, in 21st century is, that now living generations were witnesses of huge shift towards globalization and the speed of this process has become incredible fast. Every development leads to a number of other developments. For example every twelve to eighteen months, computers double their capabilities, and so do the information technologies that use them.

This graph shows the level of improvement that our technology will have during the next five years. (The Emerging Future, 2013) The progress of technical innovation is enormous. ”The amount of technical information is doubling every two years. ” (Fisch, 2012) and this is important aspect of globalization. It means that people can communicate between each other much easily via Skype, phone, e-mail or Facebook, they travel much faster by cars, trains or planes and new production and operational technologies are being developed that forces human to cooperate and negotiate on business level everywhere around the globe.
To sum up, globalization is a long-run process that has been slowly developing since ancient world and accelerated during past century through fast technical development. First driving force was security that was the main concern of mankind in far history. Human understood that it is more safe and beneficial to cooperate with people than fight. From ancient times we can see cooperation also in satisfying needs and wants of people through trading and bartering. Looking for efficient ways for gaining wealth led to many developments and in much dependence between people. From 19th century we could see efforts to carry out business activity without obstacles and restrictions that led to free trade that has major share in globalization process. Network of interdependence became international because of benefits from international cooperation. Latest major development was the introduction of internet that enabled people to fast and easily create links with people all around the world. It is worth to mention that globalization is now happening much faster than ever before because of technical development that always leads to another progress that accelerate it more and so forth.
Responses to globalization
The changes discussed in the previous section changed the world from the core and as the laws of evolutions says, who will not adjust will not survive. Creation of free space for movement of labour goods capital and services labour and capital, introduction of new developments and opening of boarders gave to many an opportunity to benefit from it what often included misuse of this system. Globalization brought establishment of new world rules that were required for functioning internationally.
Companies suddenly did not only have local markets to compete, but also foreign rivals. When market gets more full and competition intensify, companies needs to make much more effort to survive as intensify or reengineer production, promotion or services. Reorganization of company was also often response. Local producers were and still are often unable to compete supranational giants. For this reason government bodies began to form new legislations concerning competition. As an example can be used European Union where was under treaty on Functioning of the European Union were specified unfair practices in free market as ”agreements between firms that limit competition, prohibition on the abuse of a dominant position, mergers that create a dominant position, state aid and measures by member states to favour domestic competition. ” (Europa, 2008)
Expansion of free market enabled millions of companies to enter foreign markets and sell their products there. This accelerated production as well as consumption since consumers had suddenly choice of much more wider range of products for much lower price. With quantum of new products became much harder for relevant bodies to control quality and safety of goods and services. Governments had to react quickly by creating new rules and regulations to handle this expansion. New legislations were concerning required standards for products and services, labelling, packaging and so on. New legislations have not always ensured total safety of customer, since it has not had control over provided services or after sale treatment. In the 70’s became to arise issue of consumer rights that led to creation of ”laws providing a way for individuals to fight back against abusive business practices. These laws are designed to hold sellers of goods and services accountable when they seek to profit by taking advantage of a consumer’s lack of information or bargaining power. ” (HG, 2013) Not all countries has unfortunately strong network of law and its enforcement as European Union or United States. In many developing countries there is lack of regulations for unrestricted market or its enforcement is often not possible due to corrupted government and courts.
Moreover European Union is not only example of response to globalization in terms of creating rules for competition, but also the creation of European Union itself is an example of a shift from national to supranational. After a previous experience of two world wars we can see a many examples of supranational cooperation in the issues of trade (WTO, WCO, NAFTA), security (OSCE) or law (ICC, Interpol). (CRW Flags, 2012)
With new developments in area of transport and communication also new ideas, techniques and devices started to spread much faster. Automation and introduction of software’s became inevitable in mass production. Companies in order to stay competitive had to undertake these major changes and adjust to current trends. It were not only technical developments that posed pressure to change for all the businesses, but the revolution that introduction of internet brought imposed another task for all companies and organizations that aim to affect wide public. ”In the realm of media markets, the Internet’s bona fide role as the newest mass medium and its unique characteristics of interactivity and personalization present tremendous challenges as well as potentials in the formulation of innovative business models, both from the existing media incumbents who wish to compete with and to leverage the Internet’s popularity and from the new online ventures that attempt to take a bigger share of the revenue pie from media” (Media Journal, n/a) Internet has not eased only the way to approach customers, but also to approach suppliers and distributors. Internet as well as free market created space for misuse. ”Companies often use to do this tracking is advancing rapidly and has become highly sophisticated, and individuals have little chance of keeping abreast of what is taking place when they surf, let alone taking the complex steps necessary to prevent this spying. ” (ACLU, 2013) Due to this problem during past few years governments started to create legislations for protecting internet users’ privacy.
Growing world independence brougnt not only cross-country movement of goods, information or technology, but it is also an important reason for people travelling and moving to other places. ” Migration is one of the defining global issues of the early 21st century. Approximately 175 million people reside outside their home country, or put another way, one of every 35 persons in the world is immigrant. There is no longer single state that can claim to be untouched by human mobility. ” (IOM, 2003) Migration brought also many issues for legislators that had to respond by creating new laws and rules concerning nationality, taxes, working conditions, social benefits and many more.
In this section were discussed areas that had to be controlled after sudden arrival of freedom market or internet. This led to numerous legislations concerning products and services, formulation of competition, migration policy, creation of rights for customers as well as enforcing privacy laws in internet sphere. In WTO report on trends in globalization is nice explained balance between freeing and tightening of rules: ”For those who believe that the gains from global integration outweigh its costs, it would not be wise to leave these concerns unattended. Perhaps the answer lies in a balance between open markets and complementary policies, along with international initiatives that manage better the risks arising from globalization. ” (WTO,2008)

Current trends in globalization
Globalization becomes with every new technical development faster however this process is definitely not yet complete. Responses to globalization as creation of laws and regulations of free market, consumers, privacy, migration and many other factors set the direction of globalization that is not one way, but has different impact and intensity at different places.
”Globalization can be defined as a process (or set of processes) which embodies a transformation in the spatial organization of social relations and transactions – assessed in terms of their extensity, intensity, velocity and impact – generating transcontinental or interregional flows and networks of activity, interaction, and the exercise of power” (Global Sociology, 2010) This creation of trans national relations among people, their activity and transnational networks significantly shaped the society. There are global metropolises as New York, London or Amsterdam where society is significantly shaped by foreign influences and what is important, it has access to all the world latest developments and is (more-less) protected against negative influences of globalization. On another hand, there are still countries and regions where is globalization barely visible, or is visible in form of being used by multinational corporations based in developed countries. Here we can see the other side of globalization as exploiting these countries by more powerful countries, inability of compete with local producers with multinational corporations that create unequal distribution of wealth or intolerant enforcing of western culture and ideology. ”Improvements in travel and transportation, the monetization of individuals and the softening of attitudes towards the promise of a market based system were important obstacles that needed to be overcome before a region could progress under a free market system. Therefore, regions developed at a very uneven pace over the past several hundred years. ” (StudyMode, 2007) However globalization brought significant benefits to its supporters, it tend to deepen the differences between developed and developing countries and between rich and poor. Many international organizations as OECD, United Nations, African Development Bank or also WTO try to reduce these differences. (CRW Flags, 2013) When globalization so far brought this unfair division, one of the domain trend – from the side of international organization is to make the economic situations in these countries better and help them to be competitive in the global scale. According to the WTO one interesting conclusion from the survey was that there is apparently stronger support for trade in some emerging economies than in industrial countries. (WTO 2008)However this initiative often meets with resistance of the powerful multinational corporations benefiting from the sourcing in these countries. These corporations are often ‘national champions’ of nation states what complicates situations in organizations as United Nations where nation states have significant impact.
Globalization fastened and enhanced the flow of information around the globe and vice versa. This advanced the realization of world problems that mankind faces and led to cooperative approach of facing them. Issues as terrorism, climate change, water scarcity, poverty, species extinction or overpopulation (that will be later discussed) became concerns of numerous governmental and non-governmental international organizations. The massive expansion of corporations and industrial production has naturally left traces on the environment that became concern for wide public. This led to rise of many environmental initiatives trying to tackle this problem through their activities or affecting relevant stakeholders as Greenpeace, WNO or WWF. Shift towards the international cooperation and creating supranational authorities is one of the distinctive features of globalization. Another significant but very dangerous current trend in globalization is overpopulation. Development from past century have not bring only technical devices, but also medicines and instruments that contributed to better living conditions across the globe and extended life expectancy. In the developing regions that enjoy peace and economic growth is the population expansion significant. ”The world’s population will soon reach an unprecedented level where there will be a shortage of resources to sustain life. Many environmental, social, and economic problems either stem from or have increased because of the overpopulation problem. With an exponentially increasing population, the problems created by overpopulation grow correspondingly. ” (Before It’s News, 2013) The globalisation has not brought very increased quality of life, yet it increased quantity. This issue motivated many initiatives and also led to creation of international organizations as Earth Council or Population Action International (Envirolink, 2013) however, these initiatives are not strong enough to tackle rapidity and intensity of this problem.
One rising trend that came with the massive utilization of internet is engagement of individuals in shaping the world. It is no longer necessary to change something only via the organization state or company, but now can individuals be active worldwide only thanks to the enormous power of internet that remains in its huge audience and accessibility. In the speech of Thomas Friedman (triple winner of Pulitzer price) was stated concept of world becoming flat in the sense it is not a horizontal structure anymore that shapes the world, instead those are individuals that with the access to modern technologies are becoming equal competitors. (MIT Video, 2007) Empowerment of individuals is another major current trend in globalization. Total equality (flatness) would be though only after adjusting differences between two poles of globalization- developed and underdeveloped countries. Then, when there will be equal opportunities for everyone according to Friedman, it will only matter who has more creative imagination because everything what can be done, will be done
To conclude, in current trends of globalization there is tendency to cooperate internationally and delegate power to supranational bodies in order to tackle common problems as climate change or overpopulation that people across the globe faces, often caused directly or indirectly of globalization. Cooperation across-boundaries is essential because of dense network of interdependence. Moreover important becomes role of individual that gained significant influence through using internet.
How Globalization affects my Personal Life?
Since I was born, I was part of the majority of population who was affected by globalization without even realizing it. What changed my point of view was typical product of globalization-media. In TV and Internet I could see the international influences that were affecting my country, my region and my household. I could feel this effect directly, by consuming grocery from local supermarket that was produced anywhere around the world, wearing clothes designed in developed countries and produced in developing or underdeveloped countries and watching Slovakian channel watching mainly American movies. I was growing up in the family with liberal thinking and we were going on holidays to exotic countries so all my life I assumed that I am very conscious of what does globalization means. However I decided to study abroad, in Holland, country that is one of the most internationally represented because of its colonial past and economic conditions that attracts lot of foreigners to live here and work here. I did not know it that time, so I was sincerely shocked when I went to Holland for the first time and I sat in the tram where quarter of people was black, quarter were Muslims, quarter Asians and quarter white people. Here I found out what does it really mean to be international and how does the global society really look like. My impression was strongly influenced by international background I had in school. I met people from different countries, continents, people from different cultures that all could speak English, so the communication between each other was possible. Suddenly I knew how does it feel to be a part of international society where people are not divided according nationalities and do not deal with it at all. I realized that globalization have different impact in different places (even western and central Europe shows differences of intensity of globalization). By living here and working in really internationally environment I changed from being affected by globalization only as a consumer to person who is actively engaging in this process and is participant in the creation of the global society. I am enjoying it, so I am thankful that globalization enabled me this opportunity to travel and study abroad, because I am conscious that in my country this was not possible only one generation ago.

Conclusion
Globalization is a phenomenon that directly and significantly affects our everyday lives. Rather than be ignored it should be examined as well as its reasons and implications it brought. Reason was simple human nature that drives man to search for the most effective and efficient ways to satisfy his needs and wants. Although only one man cannot do everything and therefor he cooperate with others in order to produce more outcomes that he subsequently divides. This division was not always even what we can see in the division of wealth between different countries and continents. As the civilizations grew, they were developing new and new technologies, were approaching other civilizations and cultures and were creating further and further interconnections and networks of independence that has in last century become on the global level. Nevertheless I personally believe that that concept of supranational bodies and international institutions, simply, globalization is natural evolution that started with tribes, continued with nation states, states to forming alliances between states that are currently cooperating between each other.
Outcomes are clear. Relevant governments, organizations and companies are responding to this process by trying to control it and making it predictable through law and order. As in every evolution, all actors adjust to change. Who does not adjust, he is left behind.
This stage of evolution with its complex and numerous concerns as well as high number of population brought many new challenges. These challenges originated from complex reasons and that is why they can be overcome only through international cooperation.
There are no solutions for all global challenges yet and it is not clear who and whether someone will handle them. Globalization trends shows empowerment of international organizations as well as empowerment of individuals, however it cannot be forgotten that nation states has still powerful (probably main) word in world ruling. We can only discuss who will have the initiative and ability to set further direction of globalization and how it will be done.

Annotated Bibliography

Human Intuitive Perspective of Technlological Advancement (2013) Retrieved from the Emerging Future website: http://theemergingfuture.com/speed-technological-advancement.htm

What is Globalization (2013) Retrieved from the Global Sociology website: https://globalsociology.pbworks.com/w/page/14711303/What%20is%20Globalization Globalization (2013) Retrieved from Global Policy Forum website: http://www.globalpolicy.org/globalization.html

Globalization (2013) Retrieved from the Business Dictionary website: http://www.businessdictionary.com/definition/globalization.html

Is Human Nature Competitive or Cooperative? (2012) Retreived from the Prout Globe website: http://www.proutglobe.org/2012/10/is-human-nature-competitive-or-cooperative/

Peloponnesian League (2013) Retrieved from Encyclopedia Britannica website: http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/449359/Peloponnesian-League

Adam Smith and the Division of Labour (2005) Retrieved from Victorian Web website: http://www.victorianweb.org/economics/division.html The Dutch East India Company (2013) Retrieved from the Geography About website: http://geography.about.com/od/economic-geography/a/The-Dutch-East-India-Company.htm Histrory and Trends of Free Market Capitalism (2007) Retrieved from Study Mode website: http://www.studymode.com/essays/History-And-Trends-Of-Free-Market-117828.html The History of Free Trade (2012) Retrieved from e-How website: http://www.ehow.com/about_5480889_history-trade.html

Key milestones in the Development of internetn (2009) Retrieved from Phys website: http://phys.org/news170931367.html#jCp History and Development of the Internet (2004)Retrieved from Techi Warehouse website: http://www.techiwarehouse.com/engine/2208f293/History-and-Development-of-the-Internet International Organizations (2012) Retrieved from CRW Flags website: http://www.crwflags.com/fotw/flags/int.html Consolitated version on the Treaty on Functioning of the European Union PDF (2008) Retrieved from the European Union website: http://eur-lex.europa.eu/LexUriServ/LexUriServ.do?uri=OJ:C:2008:115:0047:0199:en:PDF

Consumer Rights – Consumer Protection Law (2013) Retrieved from the HG organization website: http://www.hg.org/consume.html

Introduction: Traditional Media and the Internet: The Search for Viable Business Models PDF (n/a) Retrieved from the Media Journal Organization website: http://www.mediajournal.org/ojs/index.php/jmm/article/viewFile/284/179

Internet Privacy (2013) Retrieved from ACLU organization website: https://www.aclu.org/technology-and-liberty/internet-privacy Globalization and Trade PDF (2008) Retrieved from the WTO organization website: http://www.wto.org/english/res_e/booksp_e/anrep_e/wtr08-2b_e.pdf Top Ten Most Urgent Problems in the World (2013) Retrieved from Before It’s News website: http://beforeitsnews.com/alternative/2013/03/top-10-most-urgent-problems-in-the-world-2603780.html

Overpopulation – Organizations (2013) Retrieved from Envirolink Organization website: http://www.envirolink.org/topics.html?topic=Overpopulation&topicsku=2002119151843&topictype=subtopic&do=catsearch&catid=5 The World is Flat 3.0 VIDEO (2007) Retrieved from MITVideo website: http://video.mit.edu/watch/the-world-is-flat-30-9321/

Bibliography: Human Intuitive Perspective of Technlological Advancement (2013) Retrieved from the Emerging Future website: http://theemergingfuture.com/speed-technological-advancement.htm What is Globalization (2013) Retrieved from the Global Sociology website: https://globalsociology.pbworks.com/w/page/14711303/What%20is%20Globalization Globalization (2013) Retrieved from Global Policy Forum website: http://www.globalpolicy.org/globalization.html Peloponnesian League (2013) Retrieved from Encyclopedia Britannica website: http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/449359/Peloponnesian-League Adam Smith and the Division of Labour (2005) Retrieved from Victorian Web website: http://www.victorianweb.org/economics/division.html The Dutch East India Company (2013) Retrieved from the Geography About website: http://geography.about.com/od/economic-geography/a/The-Dutch-East-India-Company.htm Histrory and Trends of Free Market Capitalism (2007) Retrieved from Study Mode website: http://www.studymode.com/essays/History-And-Trends-Of-Free-Market-117828.html The History of Free Trade (2012) Retrieved from e-How website: http://www.ehow.com/about_5480889_history-trade.html Key milestones in the Development of internetn (2009) Retrieved from Phys website: http://phys.org/news170931367.html#jCp History and Development of the Internet (2004)Retrieved from Techi Warehouse website: http://www.techiwarehouse.com/engine/2208f293/History-and-Development-of-the-Internet International Organizations (2012) Retrieved from CRW Flags website: http://www.crwflags.com/fotw/flags/int.html https://www.aclu.org/technology-and-liberty/internet-privacy Globalization and Trade PDF (2008) Retrieved from the WTO organization website: http://www.wto.org/english/res_e/booksp_e/anrep_e/wtr08-2b_e.pdf Top Ten Most Urgent Problems in the World (2013) Retrieved from Before It’s News website: http://beforeitsnews.com/alternative/2013/03/top-10-most-urgent-problems-in-the-world-2603780.html Overpopulation – Organizations (2013) Retrieved from Envirolink Organization website: http://www.envirolink.org/topics.html?topic=Overpopulation&topicsku=2002119151843&topictype=subtopic&do=catsearch&catid=5 The World is Flat 3.0 VIDEO (2007) Retrieved from MITVideo website: http://video.mit.edu/watch/the-world-is-flat-30-9321/