What is globalization- Sun Jiayi

Summary of the Reading

In this reading, the author does not try to give a single and fixed definition of "globalization", but regards it as a multi-dimensional and continuous process of change. The author pointed out that globalization not only occurs in the economic field, but also involves many levels such as politics, culture and society. Therefore, it is an overly narrow view to simply understand globalization as economic integration or market expansion. At the same time, different disciplines, different countries and people from different historical backgrounds have obvious differences in their understanding of globalization, which further shows that globalization is not a state that has been completed and universally recognized, but a process of continuous discussion and re-understanding. 

The author also emphasized that when discussing globalization, people tend to pay more attention to structural changes at the macro level, such as the flow of connections, capital and information between countries, but tend to ignore the impact of globalization on individuals and daily life. Globalization not only means that the world has become more structurally interconnected, but also means that people begin to understand reality from the perspective of "the world as a whole". This change in the level of consciousness makes globalization no longer just an abstract macro phenomenon, but gradually penetrates into personal experience, lifestyle and understanding of one's own position.

On the issue of the country, the author also opposes the understanding of globalization as the process of weakening or replacing the nation-state. On the contrary, the state is regarded as an important part of the process of globalization, not its opposite. The state still plays a key role in institutional arrangements, political coordination, or the response to global problems. The author pointed out that understanding globalization requires paying attention to the dimensions of the country, individuals and "human beings as a whole", because globalization is carried out in the interaction of these different levels. This perspective helps to avoid simplifying globalization into a single-dimensional change.

Reflection

This reading made me rethink my understanding of globalization. In the past, I understood globalization more from an economic perspective, focusing on trade, market and transnational links. However, the author's discussion made me realize that changes in culture and consciousness are also an important part of globalization. Globalization not only changes the economic structure, but also implicitly affects how people understand the world and how they view the relationship between themselves and others.

This change in understanding has made me realize that globalization is not a distant concept that exists only at the national or institutional level, but is closely related to daily life and personal experience. Whether it is how to obtain information or to pay attention to global issues, globalization is shaping people's cognitive framework. This made me pay more attention to the impact of globalization at the ideological and cognitive levels, not just the material or institutional changes it brings.

Question for Discussion

Based on this reading, the question I further think about is: if globalization itself is a concept that is constantly redefined and understood, then does there really be a unified and fixed meaning of globalization? With the deepening of global connections, will people's understanding of globalization also change? This question reminds me that globalization is not a concept that can be clearly defined at once, but needs to be continuously thought about and discussed in the context of changing reality.

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