The big idea: Globalization has reshaped development — but whether it has done more good or harm is one of the biggest debates in the theme. It links the whole world through trade, money, technology and ideas — creating winners and losers.
Globalization can spread growth, jobs and technology to poorer countries — or lock them into unfair terms and widen the gap between rich and poor. The exam question is rarely 'is it good or bad?' but 'who wins, who loses, and on what terms?'
- Trade & markets — poorer countries can sell to the world and attract investment.
- Technology & knowledge — ideas, tools and skills spread fast across borders.
- Money & jobs — foreign investment brings jobs, but can also move them away again.
- Winners and losers — some countries and groups gain hugely; others are left behind or exploited.
The double edge: Globalization is a double-edged sword for development. It has helped lift hundreds of millions out of extreme poverty through trade and growth — yet it has also widened inequality, exposed poorer countries to global shocks, and let powerful states and companies set the rules. Both sides are real.
Free preview
This is the free notes preview
You're reading the free notes. Aimnova Pro unlocks the full study experience — and you can try it free for 7 days:
- FlashcardsLock in vocabulary and key terms with spaced repetition.
- Practice questionsAnswer exam-style questions and get instant AI marking.
- Mock exams & past-paper vaultSit full mocks and see exactly how examiners award marks.
- Personalised study planA daily plan built around your exam date and weak areas.
The sharpest version of the debate is about winners and losers — because globalization has clearly done both at once.
Case study — globalization's winners and losers: Globalization helped countries that could plug into world trade — exporting manufactured goods, attracting investment and lifting hundreds of millions out of extreme poverty. But it left others behind: countries stuck exporting cheap raw materials gained little, workers lost jobs when factories moved to cheaper countries, and the gap between rich and poor widened both between and within countries. The same process that made some countries winners made others — and many workers — losers.
So globalization does not simply help or harm development — it redistributes it, rewarding those who can compete and connect, and punishing those who cannot. Whether a country wins depends on its capacity and the terms it faces.
The key point: Globalization has reshaped development by connecting the world through trade, money and technology — creating winners and losers. It has lifted many out of poverty but also widened inequality, so the real question is who gains, who loses, and on what terms.
Never wonder what to study next
Get a personalized daily plan based on your exam date, progress, and weak areas. We'll tell you exactly what to review each day.
So on balance — has globalization brought more winners than losers, or does it mainly increase inequality? A key recurring debate. Weigh it.
The 'more winners than losers' case
Supporters point to the huge fall in global extreme poverty as countries joined world trade, plus the spread of technology, medicine and knowledge — arguing globalization has, on balance, lifted far more people than it has hurt.
The 'increases inequality' case
Critics argue the gains have gone mostly to the already-powerful — rich states, big companies and skilled workers — while others lost jobs or were left behind, so globalization has widened inequality even as it cut absolute poverty.
Two perspectives — weigh them: One view: globalization has brought more winners than losers, cutting extreme poverty and spreading growth. Another view: it mainly increases inequality, rewarding the powerful and leaving others behind. Strong essays evaluate both, often concluding globalization has cut absolute poverty while widening inequality — so the verdict depends on which you weigh more.
How globalization comes up in Paper 2: A Paper 2 essay might ask whether globalization has more winners than losers, increases inequality, or always fosters development. Weigh 'cut absolute poverty' against 'widened inequality', use real trends, then judge.
The 15-mark markband (what moves you up)
Bands 1–6
Mostly descriptive; perspectives not identified.
avoid
Bands 7–9
Clear knowledge, but perspectives identified, not explored.
7–9
Bands 10–12
Well-supported argument; perspectives explored.
10–12
Bands 13–15
Balanced, compelling; perspectives explored AND evaluated.
13–15
"There have been more losers than winners from globalization." Discuss this view.
Model answer plan
See the mark-by-mark plan — for / against / judgement, with marking guidance — in study mode.
Common mistakes: 1. Treating globalization as simply good or bad. It creates winners AND losers.
2. Confusing poverty and inequality. It cut one while widening the other.
3. No real trend. Use the fall in extreme poverty / rising inequality.
4. Listing, not evaluating. Top marks need perspectives explored AND evaluated.
5. No judgement. Weigh absolute progress vs relative fairness.