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Drivers of globalization: There is human curiosity and the interest to travel to visit other
countries - for example to meet with members of other cultures or to learn a foreign
language. Students may like to enhance their experience and knowledge base through
studying abroad. Others migrate to make a better living. Again others seek to escape from
violence, such as prosecution, riots or wars. Companies internationalize to secure resources,
labor, talent, advantages, or find new markets. Companies are sometimes also forced into
local manufacturing or joint ventures with local businesses through protectionist measures.
Another reason to go abroad is the lack of the necessary resources or workforce on the
home market. International organizations go global to support local associations, help
people in need or tackle challenges. Religious leaders wish to share their believes or support
communities. Workers representatives and unions like to connect globally with partner
organizations to learn from each other, share best practices and consolidate power. There
are many more examples why people seek to reach beyond the homeland. An increasingly
important factor and diver are the global challenges, such as pollution, climate change and
shortages of water, which cannot be solved by one country alone and hence require
multilateral or even global collective action.
Key enabler of globalization is connectivity. This includes all kind of transport and travel
infrastructure, such as roads and railroads, ports and airports, and in a wider sense also
hotels. Today, the internet is highly important soft infrastructure enabling globalization.
Many products have been digitized, such as music, books and much of the intellectual
property of modern businesses. Today, international transfer of data is as important as the
movement of goods. Also global treaties and agreements are vehicles of connectivity - the
right of people, capital, data, and goods to cross borders and enter foreign countries is
prerequisite for globalization.
Foreign companies
Technological advances help the integration of innovative ideas and new production techniques
between countries. As a result, new global economic and social structures are emerging around the
world. Globalization causes connections between societies and labor, capital and market structures
to reach an international dimension.