Ch. 1, 2, and 8

 Chapter 1 opens by defining globalization, which is made helpful through the plethora of examples listed after each point. While I'm not familiar with what each reference is, they are all real-world events that can make understanding the concept easier. This chapter puts the idea of globalization in a positive context, made stronger by acknowledging some of its downsides. Globalization does create gaps within and between societies, but it says that there is more good than harm in the grand scheme of things.

Chapter 2 expands on the inequalities that were briefly mentioned in Chapter 1, more specifically on the rich versus the poor. Since globalization is primarily an economic concept, wealth distribution in globalized nations is the best place to see the gaps that can form. In many cases the poor do benefit in some way, but that benefit needs to be compared to the gain for the other income classes as well. Otherwise, the poor may not have received their fair share of the spoils, and therefore their benefit is not really much of a benefit at all since the rest of the income classes will pull away even more. I think the inequalities subject will be the primary topic of debate and discussion going forward into the next few weeks as we keep getting a better grasp on gloablization as a whole. When it comes down to it, the real effect that all of us could feel is that unequal gap, and I think it will serve as a valuable gauge moving forward.

Chapter 8 discusses the concept of neoliberalism, which revolves around the idea that if markets were free from governmental control, they would yield more benefits to the economy. This includes the belief that government intervention in the economy would create a bias for benefitting the government rather than the people they serve. The concept of regulation is propped up on the belief that the free market would regulate itself without state involvement. The book discusses the historical rise of neoliberalism after the second world war, up until the present where it is a strong force. I think neoliberalism as a concept has benefits for economic growth because it stimulates the competitive forces within economies. I do think that over time it could lead to some issues as well. One that I could think of is resource management, specifically with environmental resources. These are typically finite in supply, and I worry about the potential lifespans of natural resources without government regulation.