What is globalization?-- CHEN SIWEN（진사문）

 1. Summary of the Reading

Globalization is a complex, multidimensional process that influences economic systems, political structures, cultural identities, and individual lives, and although the term became widely used after 1989, the underlying dynamics of cross-border trade, migration, exploration, and cultural exchange have existed for centuries, with the current era distinguished by the speed, scale, and intensity of connections, and it can be understood as the interaction of two interrelated forces, namely global connectivity, which involves networks of trade, finance, technology, communication, and institutions linking distant societies, and global consciousness, which reflects the awareness that individuals and communities are part of a shared global humanity, while this dual process unfolds across economic, political, cultural, and social dimensions including the expansion of global markets, multinational corporations, outsourcing of labor, and rapid circulation of capital, reconfiguration of sovereignty, rise of international organizations, negotiation between governments and transnational institutions, the tension between cultural homogenization and hybridization, migration, diaspora, and digital networks, and concepts like glocalization show how local communities adapt global trends while nation-states remain central and individuals navigate multiple overlapping identities in a world where boundaries are porous but not dissolved.

2. New, Interesting, or Unusual Insights
One notable insight is that global consciousness may be as transformative as global connectivity, reshaping individual and collective values, ethics, and identities, influencing social movements and humanitarian responses, and another important realization is that nation-states are not merely passive subjects of globalization but actively reinterpret global pressures to reinforce or renegotiate national identity, adopting global economic norms while emphasizing cultural uniqueness, while glocalization demonstrates that local adaptation of global trends does not simply erase cultural differences but produces new forms of diversity, and finally, the effect of globalization on individual identity is both enabling and challenging, because digital platforms provide opportunities for self-expression, transnational solidarity, and experimentation with new cultural forms while simultaneously exposing individuals to surveillance, data commodification, and global consumerist pressures.

3. Identify at Least One Question or Concern
Critical concerns include the fact that globalization is highly uneven, as access to global networks is stratified by wealth, geography, and political freedom, leaving many communities marginalized, and the role of capitalism in driving cultural and social transformations raises the question of whether apparent hybridization is genuinely organic or largely shaped by corporate interests, while glocalization itself presents a tension between preserving cultural diversity and masking homogenization under local variations, and finally, the sustainability of national sovereignty is questioned as states must navigate global challenges such as climate change, pandemics, and digital governance that transcend borders, leaving open whether global identity will dilute the significance of national belonging.

Conclusion
Globalization should be seen as a contested, multifaceted, and ongoing process integrating both connectivity and consciousness that simultaneously unites and fragments societies, offering opportunities for cooperation while generating inequalities and tensions, and its economic, political, cultural, and social dimensions interact to shape societies and personal identities, with concepts like glocalization highlighting the negotiation between global and local forces, and understanding globalization requires attention to both its integrative potential and its conflicts, as well as an awareness that fostering inclusivity, cultural diversity, and resilience is essential in a world increasingly interconnected yet unequal.