2. Towards an Understanding of the Concept of Globalisation

In any discussion about globalisation very few of the debate’s participants deny the existence of the phenomenon. It is widely accepted that we all live in a globalising world. The debates and protests emphasise how important it is to measure globalisation. Without doing so, it is impossible to assess the severity or benefits of its effects and how it should be managed – if, in fact, it can even be managed. The winners and losers from structural changes that globalisation seems to accelerate are the prime political actors in the debates. As mentioned previously, globalisation became a prominent topic from the early 1980s. Until that time, the topic was irregularly discussed. While deindustrialisation in developed economies has long been a concern, it is moot as to why the most recent wave of globalisation has been such a hot issue.