HL extension terms and definitions

HL extension terms and definitions

Term                                                Definition

Civil society                                    Any organization or movement that works in the area between                                                               the household, the private sector and the state to negotiate matters                                                         of public concern. Civil societies include non-governmental                                                                   organizations (NGOs), community groups, trade unions, academic                                                         institutions and faith-based organizations.

Core and periphery                         The concept of a developed core surrounded by an undeveloped                                                             periphery. The concept can be applied at various scales.

Cultural imperialism                      The practice of promoting the culture/language of one nation in                                                              another. It is usually the case that the former is a large,                                                                            economically or militarily powerful nation and the latter is a                                                                  smaller, less affluent one.

Food miles                                     A measure of the distance food travels from its source to the                                                                  consumer. This can be given either in units of actual distance or of                                                        energy consumed during transport.

Globalization                                 “The growing interdependence of countries worldwide through the                                                        increasing volume and variety of cross-border transactions in                                                                  goods and services and of international capital flows, and through                                                          the more rapid and widespread diffusion of technology” (source:                                                            IMF).

Globalization indices                     The AT Kearney Foreign Policy index measures twelve variables,                                                           which are subdivided into four “baskets”: economic integration,                                                             personal contact, technological connectivity and political                                                                      engagement. Nations are ranked according to a calculated                                                                      globalization index. The KOF index measures three main                                                                        dimensions of globalization: economic, political and social, and                                                              nations are ranked accordingly. It is designed by the Swiss Federal                                                        Institute of Technology on a yearly basis.

Glocalization                                 A term that was invented to emphasize that the globalization of a                                                            product is more likely to succeed when the product or service is                                                              adapted specifically to each locality or culture in which it is                                                                    marketed.The increasing presence of McDonald’s restaurants                                                                  worldwide is an example of globalization, while changes made to                                                          the menus of the restaurant chain, in an attempt to appeal to local                                                          tastes, are an example of glocalization.

GNI                                                Gross national income (now used in preference to gross national                                                            product—GNP). The total value of goods and services produced                                                            within a country together with the balance of income and payments                                                        from or to other countries.

Outsourcing                                  The concept of taking internal company functions and paying an                                                             outside firm to handle them. Outsourcing is done to save money,                                                           improve quality or free company resources for other activities.

Time–space convergence              The reduction in the time taken to travel between two places due to                                                        improvements in transportation or communication technology.

Transnational corporation              A firm that owns or controls productive operations in more than   (TNC)                                            one country through foreign direct investment.

Source: IBDP Geography guide.