UNIT CRITERIA
Globalisation
Factors in globalisation: the development of technologies, systems, and relationships, including financial,
transport, security, communications, management and information systems and trade agreements
Global systems
Issues associated with interdependence including how:
o Unequal flows of people, money, ideas and technology within global systems can sometimes act to
promote stability, growth and development but can also cause inequalities, conflicts and injustices for
people and places
International trade and access to markets
Global features and trends in the volume and pattern of international trade and investment associated with
globalisation
The nature and role of transnational corporations (TNCs), including their spatial organisation, production,
linkages, trading, and marketing patterns.
World trade in at least one food commodity or one manufacturing product.
Analysis and assessment of the geographical consequences of global systems to specifically consider how
international trade and variable access to markets underly and impacts on students’ and other people’s lives
across the globe
Global governance
Issues associated with attempts at global governance, including how:
o Agencies, including the UN in the post-1945 era, can work to promote growth and stability but may also
exacerbate inequalities and injustices
o Interactions between the local, regional, national, international and global scales are fundamental to
understanding global governance
Antarctica as a global common
Threats to Antarctica arising from: fishing and whaling
Globalisation critique
The impacts of globalisation to consider the benefits of growth, development, integration, stability against the
costs in terms on inequalities, injustice, conflict, and environmental impact
Globalisation
Describe the role of technology in the growth of globalisation
A number of factors have contributed to the growth of globalisation and technology is significant in its
development. In the digital age there are few barriers to prevent the sharing of information and flow of data
globally leading to the development of links between countries and enabling growth. The development of
technology has enabled countries to communicate better with one another, enabling the easy facilitation of
agreements and trade deals. The use of mobile technology (particularly important In LDEs as people are
able to communicate easier) has been important in the growth of globalisation, there are nearly 7 billion
mobile phone subscribers worldwide. Computer control and robotic technologies have integrated
manufacturing operations and enabled TNCs to manufacture products all over the world and computerised
logistics systems have evolved to support supply chain distribution.
Outline the role of financial systems in the growth of globalisation
The world became increasingly financially integrated in the 1980s and 90s due to financial regulation and
this has played a significant role in the growth of globalisation. The global financial system (GFS) provides
an additional framework that facilitates flows of capital for the purpose of financing investment and trade,
making it easier to transport capital across borders. Integration of developing economies into the GFS
system has helped to reshape international trade and facilitated globalisation. High-speed electronic
transmission systems and global exchange connectivity means that transactions between importers and
exporters can be completed securely with fewer concerns about exchange rates. Financial deregulation
, has also contributed to the growth of globalisation as trade becomes easier facilitated due to the easy
movement of capital across borders, this gives developing countries a better chance to secure trade deals
and leads to their integration within the economy.
Outline the role of transport systems in the growth of globalisation
Transport systems play a key role in the growth of globalisation, they mean that products and commodities
can be shipped across borders faster and in large quantities. The growth of low-cost airlines and air freight
companies has facilitated easy movement and influenced trade and travel, integrating countries and
economies. The use of standardisation of shipment containers, known as containerisation, has meant the
universal usage of one standard shipment container. This results in trade made easier on a global scale as
all countries are working with the same transport method for exportation of goods, further facilitating and
leading to the growth of globalisation. High-speed rail networks have also facilitated the growth of
globalisation, allowing goods to be shipped faster around the world across national borders.
Outline the role of security systems in the growth of globalisation
The global community faces a number of security issues as a result of globalisation. National boundaries
are less of a barrier and easy travel means more fluid flows of products and people. The integrated nature
of globalisation provides opportunities to reduce traditional security methods but can also provide a number
of threats. As a result of terrorism, screening and monitoring movements by security forces as part of
counter-terrorism measures has been easily facilitated by technological advancement, playing a key role in
the growth of globalisation. Reliance on the internet as a result of globalisation has led to increased
cybercrime and cyberbullying, as a result, security measures have been put in place to diminish these
issues. For example, Interpol enables police in most countries to work together to fight international crime
and counter-terrorism agencies in many countries operate to thwart terrorist attacks.
Outline the role of communications in the growth of globalisation
Communications and further integration of economies has led to the growth in globalisation whereby
countries have been able to better facilitate trade agreements and development. Communication
technologies have enabled people to connect all over the world, allowing companies to exchange emails
within seconds and facilitate the easy movement of imports and exports. There are nearly 7 billion mobile
phone users worldwide. The importance of communication in globalisation is paramount, people can
communicate across borders using different languages and from different ethnicities, enabling people to
better work together. Communications is also imported in the growth of globalisation as governments can
work together to form agencies or schemes against threats or facilitate trade deals and create trade blocs.
For example, during Covid-19, communications technologies became increasingly important and depended
upon as people were forced to isolate and this meant the lack of face-to-face communication. Technologies
such as Skype and Apple Facetime were significant during this time.
Describe the role of management and information systems in the growth of globalisation
Management and information systems play a significant role in the growth of globalisation. In
manufacturing, high volume production enables substantial economies of scale on a global level.
Management and information systems have led to higher-order business activity being based at corporation
headquarters and strategic hubs around the world. A rapid growth in the logistics and distribution ‘solutions’
industry has also influenced the growth of globalisation. Integrated ICT management systems, have also
led to the growth of globalisation as this facilitates global communications and technological growth which
can also facilitate greater supply chain organisation.
Describe the role of trading agreements in the growth of globalisation
A trade agreement is the formal agreement between two or more countries that removes trade barriers
between those in the agreement, easily facilitating the integration of economies and the easier movement
of goods and services. On a global scale there are a number of advantages to nations grouping together to
Globalisation
Factors in globalisation: the development of technologies, systems, and relationships, including financial,
transport, security, communications, management and information systems and trade agreements
Global systems
Issues associated with interdependence including how:
o Unequal flows of people, money, ideas and technology within global systems can sometimes act to
promote stability, growth and development but can also cause inequalities, conflicts and injustices for
people and places
International trade and access to markets
Global features and trends in the volume and pattern of international trade and investment associated with
globalisation
The nature and role of transnational corporations (TNCs), including their spatial organisation, production,
linkages, trading, and marketing patterns.
World trade in at least one food commodity or one manufacturing product.
Analysis and assessment of the geographical consequences of global systems to specifically consider how
international trade and variable access to markets underly and impacts on students’ and other people’s lives
across the globe
Global governance
Issues associated with attempts at global governance, including how:
o Agencies, including the UN in the post-1945 era, can work to promote growth and stability but may also
exacerbate inequalities and injustices
o Interactions between the local, regional, national, international and global scales are fundamental to
understanding global governance
Antarctica as a global common
Threats to Antarctica arising from: fishing and whaling
Globalisation critique
The impacts of globalisation to consider the benefits of growth, development, integration, stability against the
costs in terms on inequalities, injustice, conflict, and environmental impact
Globalisation
Describe the role of technology in the growth of globalisation
A number of factors have contributed to the growth of globalisation and technology is significant in its
development. In the digital age there are few barriers to prevent the sharing of information and flow of data
globally leading to the development of links between countries and enabling growth. The development of
technology has enabled countries to communicate better with one another, enabling the easy facilitation of
agreements and trade deals. The use of mobile technology (particularly important In LDEs as people are
able to communicate easier) has been important in the growth of globalisation, there are nearly 7 billion
mobile phone subscribers worldwide. Computer control and robotic technologies have integrated
manufacturing operations and enabled TNCs to manufacture products all over the world and computerised
logistics systems have evolved to support supply chain distribution.
Outline the role of financial systems in the growth of globalisation
The world became increasingly financially integrated in the 1980s and 90s due to financial regulation and
this has played a significant role in the growth of globalisation. The global financial system (GFS) provides
an additional framework that facilitates flows of capital for the purpose of financing investment and trade,
making it easier to transport capital across borders. Integration of developing economies into the GFS
system has helped to reshape international trade and facilitated globalisation. High-speed electronic
transmission systems and global exchange connectivity means that transactions between importers and
exporters can be completed securely with fewer concerns about exchange rates. Financial deregulation
, has also contributed to the growth of globalisation as trade becomes easier facilitated due to the easy
movement of capital across borders, this gives developing countries a better chance to secure trade deals
and leads to their integration within the economy.
Outline the role of transport systems in the growth of globalisation
Transport systems play a key role in the growth of globalisation, they mean that products and commodities
can be shipped across borders faster and in large quantities. The growth of low-cost airlines and air freight
companies has facilitated easy movement and influenced trade and travel, integrating countries and
economies. The use of standardisation of shipment containers, known as containerisation, has meant the
universal usage of one standard shipment container. This results in trade made easier on a global scale as
all countries are working with the same transport method for exportation of goods, further facilitating and
leading to the growth of globalisation. High-speed rail networks have also facilitated the growth of
globalisation, allowing goods to be shipped faster around the world across national borders.
Outline the role of security systems in the growth of globalisation
The global community faces a number of security issues as a result of globalisation. National boundaries
are less of a barrier and easy travel means more fluid flows of products and people. The integrated nature
of globalisation provides opportunities to reduce traditional security methods but can also provide a number
of threats. As a result of terrorism, screening and monitoring movements by security forces as part of
counter-terrorism measures has been easily facilitated by technological advancement, playing a key role in
the growth of globalisation. Reliance on the internet as a result of globalisation has led to increased
cybercrime and cyberbullying, as a result, security measures have been put in place to diminish these
issues. For example, Interpol enables police in most countries to work together to fight international crime
and counter-terrorism agencies in many countries operate to thwart terrorist attacks.
Outline the role of communications in the growth of globalisation
Communications and further integration of economies has led to the growth in globalisation whereby
countries have been able to better facilitate trade agreements and development. Communication
technologies have enabled people to connect all over the world, allowing companies to exchange emails
within seconds and facilitate the easy movement of imports and exports. There are nearly 7 billion mobile
phone users worldwide. The importance of communication in globalisation is paramount, people can
communicate across borders using different languages and from different ethnicities, enabling people to
better work together. Communications is also imported in the growth of globalisation as governments can
work together to form agencies or schemes against threats or facilitate trade deals and create trade blocs.
For example, during Covid-19, communications technologies became increasingly important and depended
upon as people were forced to isolate and this meant the lack of face-to-face communication. Technologies
such as Skype and Apple Facetime were significant during this time.
Describe the role of management and information systems in the growth of globalisation
Management and information systems play a significant role in the growth of globalisation. In
manufacturing, high volume production enables substantial economies of scale on a global level.
Management and information systems have led to higher-order business activity being based at corporation
headquarters and strategic hubs around the world. A rapid growth in the logistics and distribution ‘solutions’
industry has also influenced the growth of globalisation. Integrated ICT management systems, have also
led to the growth of globalisation as this facilitates global communications and technological growth which
can also facilitate greater supply chain organisation.
Describe the role of trading agreements in the growth of globalisation
A trade agreement is the formal agreement between two or more countries that removes trade barriers
between those in the agreement, easily facilitating the integration of economies and the easier movement
of goods and services. On a global scale there are a number of advantages to nations grouping together to
