Final answer:
Globalization is the expanding connections between governments, cultures, and financial markets globally due to international trade. It's characterized by increased cross-cultural interactions and trade, rather than isolation. The trend has significant impacts on political, cultural, and economic relations worldwide.
Step-by-step explanation:
Globalization refers to the process of integrating governments, cultures, and financial markets through international trade into a single world market. This phenomenon has been driven by a variety of motives, from corporate market expansion to philanthropic initiatives aimed at improving healthcare. Importantly, globalization is not about the isolation of communities but rather about the increasing interconnectedness and interdependence of societies and economies across the world.
The rise of globalization has substantially increased the scale of cross-cultural interactions, as evidenced by the free-flow of money, people, goods, images, and ideas. Corporations like Walmart, McDonald's, or Ford illustrate this trend by trading across international borders and utilizing labor and resources from various countries to offer products in the global marketplace. Additionally, it encourages international efforts like bringing clean-water technology to communities lacking safe drinking water, often producing substantial benefits despite concerns over cultural colonialism.
The recent trend towards globalization is marked by the expansion of cultural, political, and economic connections across the world. A key aspect of this has been the growth of international trade and capital flows, which are significant measures of globalization's impact on societies and economies globally.