For the first time in human history, the vast majority of the world’s population is connected through trade, travel, production, media and politics. Ours is an era of ubiquitous mobile communication, economic outsourcing, mass migration and imported consumer goods. At the same time, people everywhere are concerned to keep their identities rooted and sense of place in the face of momentous change.This new edition of Thomas Hylland Eriksen’s concise and engaging landmark textbook outlines the main debates and controversies around globalization, and develops a unique perspective to show how globalization is an inherently double process, taking place both from above and below. Each chapter is supported by boxed case studies and bullet points summarizing the core information, suggestions for further reading, and essay and discussion questions, making this the ideal guide for both the classroom and independent study. Focusing on key concepts of globalization and drawing on international examples, this book is essential for anyone wishing to understand the fundamental processes underlying the contemporary world and the consequences these have for all of us.

This book does an excellent job of defining key concepts and terms in a clear, accessible and engaging way, without ‘dumbing down’. The case studies are interesting, drawing on a variety of different cultures, countries and regions, to illustrate the concepts at hand. * Caroline A. Hartzell, Professor of Political Science, Gettysburg College, USA *
This is a great introduction to the study of globalization! To organize the text along key concepts is a brilliant idea as it helps students to understand the complex integration of various dimensions of globalization and pushes them to ask new and pertinent questions. * Sylva Frisk, University of Gothenburg, School of Global Studies, Sweden *
Globalization: The Key Concepts cuts through the vast scholarship on globalization with powerful, simple ideas. Packed with thought-provoking examples, this book is accessible and intelligent, providing a good grounding in the fundamentals while introducing students to major scholarly debates. An excellent introduction to the field. * Emma Reisz, Lecturer in Asian History, History and Anthropology, Queen’s University Belfast, UK *
Eriksen’s book is perhaps the best one volume survey on globalization available. With a clear and conversational writing style, he weaves together theory, explanation and contemporary examples into an effective overview of the causes, consequences, concepts, and debates regarding globalization. * Mark Dailey, Associate Professor of Anthropology, Green Mountain College, USA *

Thomas Hylland Eriksen is Professor of Social Anthropology at the University of Oslo, Norway.