Globalization (or globalisation) in its literal sense is a social change, an increased connectivity among societies and their elements due to transculturation; the explosive evolution of transport and communication technologies to facilitate international cultural and economic exchange. The term is applied in various social, cultural, commercial and economic contexts. "Globalization" can mean:

* The formation of a global village - closer contact between different parts of the world, with increasing possibilities of personal exchange, mutual understanding and friendship between "world citizens",
* Economic globalization - more freedom of trade and increasing relations among members of an industry in different parts of the world (globalization of an industry),
* The negative effects of for-profit multinational corporations - the use of substantial and sophisticated legal and financial means to circumvent the bounds of local laws and standards, in order to leverage the labor and services of unequally-developed regions against each other.