In this episode, I explore how globalization reshaped the world in the decades following World War II. I begin by examining the three forces that accelerated global interconnectedness: the creation of international economic institutions, rapid technological innovation, and the rise of multinational corporations. From there, I look at the goals and evolving effectiveness of the United Nations, highlighting how its peacekeeping, development work, and humanitarian missions have shaped the postwar era. I then explain how multinational corporations helped weave national economies into a single global marketplace and how cultural globalization spread ideas, media, and values across borders. The episode also traces major shifts in the global industrial economy, from the dominance of the U.S. and Western Europe to the rise of Japan, East Asia, and China as manufacturing powerhouses. Finally, I explore the environmental consequences of globalization and the ways in which these challenges are intensified by the lingering legacy of colonialism and imperialism. Together, these themes show how the postwar world became more connected, more interdependent, and increasingly shaped by both shared opportunities and shared vulnerabilities.

Question 1 00:00

Question 2 02:06

Question 3 04:02

Question 4 05:21

Question 5 07:07

Question 6 09:05