Will globalization continue?

Answer 1

Depends on what you mean by "Globalization," and what time frame you are looking at.

Economic integration and cultural diffusion will no doubt continue for a long while.

Whether we'll see significant political integration to manage economic and cultural integration is an open question (a stronger UN? more regional governments like the EU sprouting up? or more aggressive localism in response to threats to agriculture and manufacturing in particular countries? and continued scepticism within Europe about further political integration?)

In the longer term, economic integration may depend more than we care to admit upon abundant cheap energy.

Optimists point out that even if peak oil has happened and we are well into the twilight of cheap, abundant energy, the world's remaining oil reserves will stretch out a long way into the future, because oil and gas will become more like manufactured products and less like raw resources (think biodiesel).

Pessimists worry that this optimism ignores the degree to which the world economy depends on cheap petroleum products, not just for energy, but even to manufacture the sorts of supplements and alternative fuels that the optimists point to. Public health and agriculture depend on petroleum products in complex ways that cannot be met simply by finding an alternative source of energy.

Energy, the pessimists argue, will become increasingly a local concern, as communities turn to small-scale solar, hydro, and sustainable biomass production to fuel dramatically more modest ways of life than we are today accustomed to. Economies will again become local and regional, and the degree of global trade we see today will be a distant memory. There may still be long distance trade (via sustainable transport, such as rail and sailing ships), but the sort of dense international supply and distribution chains we see today will not be sustainable.

Notice, however, that even if the pessimists are right, cultural globalization could remain, even flourish, because global information networks could be sustained on very modest and decentralized power sources, and over existing cable lines and low-energy radio transmissions with low-energy relay points. It might not be quite as pretty as today's internet, but it is easily imaginable in all but the most crazily apocalyptic of the pessimist's scenarios.

So, short to medium-term: continued economic integration and cultural diffusion, but the jury's out on significant political integration globally.

Longer term: who knows? But probably whatever happens, we'll still be able to sustain a reasonably reliable global communications infrastructure.

Answer 2

Will Globalization Continue

Answer 3

Yes. With all politics aside, I would say that within two generations globalization will be more the norm than the exception that it is for the larger companies with the rescources to make the transition. I guess it's like how credit cards are slowly but surely outmoding cash.

Answer 4

yes, the world gets "smaller" everyday as technology makes things quick from a distance. Teleconfrencing, the internet, and safe quick travel make globalization a reality.

Answer 5

Yes, eventually there will not only be any trade barriers, but we will all be citizens of the world with no national boundaries. Language will not be an issue since mini computers will help translate any language.

Answer 6

I agree, yes it will continue and so will the cost of living in the "new worlds" and with longer life. But those in 3rd world countires will have shorter harder lives but enjoy family and friends much more I do believe.

Answer 7

of course