Global Studies Cheat Sheet
The core ideas of Global Studies distilled into a single, scannable reference — perfect for review or quick lookup.
Quick Reference
Globalization
The process of increasing interconnectedness among the world's societies through the flow of goods, services, capital, people, information, and ideas across national borders, driven by advances in technology, trade liberalization, and institutional cooperation.
Global Governance
The collective management of transnational issues through formal international organizations, treaties, norms, and informal networks that operate beyond the authority of any single state.
Cultural Imperialism
The imposition or spread of a dominant culture's values, practices, and media onto other societies, often facilitated by economic and political power asymmetries, potentially eroding local traditions and identities.
Global South and Global North
A geopolitical framework distinguishing between wealthier, industrialized nations (primarily in the Northern Hemisphere) and lower-income, developing nations (primarily in the Southern Hemisphere), reflecting historical patterns of colonialism and unequal economic exchange.
Transnationalism
The processes by which immigrants and diaspora communities maintain social, economic, political, and cultural ties that link their societies of origin and settlement, creating networks that transcend national boundaries.
Sovereignty
The principle that each nation-state has supreme authority within its territorial boundaries, free from external interference. Globalization increasingly challenges traditional sovereignty through supranational institutions, international law, and cross-border flows.
Neoliberalism
An economic and political ideology that favors free markets, deregulation, privatization, and reduced government intervention in the economy, which became the dominant framework for global economic policy from the 1980s onward.
Human Security
A paradigm that shifts the focus of security from the defense of territorial borders to the protection of individuals from threats including poverty, disease, environmental degradation, and political violence.
Sustainable Development
Development that meets the needs of the present generation without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs, balancing economic growth, social equity, and environmental protection.
Diaspora
A scattered population whose origin lies in a separate geographic locale, often maintaining collective identity and cultural connections to their homeland across generations despite physical displacement.
Key Terms at a Glance
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