Lycée · Terminale · Anglais (LVA)
Mondialisation et échanges
Axe culturel 1 — Identités et échanges : globalisation, migrations et interconnexions dans le monde anglophone (programme de Tle, LVA)
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Globalisation: defining a connected world
Globalisation (US: globalization) is the process by which countries, economies and cultures become increasingly interconnected and interdependent. It belongs to the axis Identities and exchanges: how do exchanges shape who we are?
Three dimensions are usually distinguished:
- Economic globalisation — free trade, multinational companies, global supply chains.
- Cultural globalisation — the spread of languages, music, food, films (e.g. Hollywood, English as a lingua franca).
- Political / social globalisation — international organisations (UN, WTO), migration, global issues (climate, health).
Caption: the three interconnected dimensions of a globalised world.
The flows of globalisation (people, goods, ideas)
Globalisation is best understood through the flows it generates. Nothing stays local: people, products and information circulate constantly.
| Flow | Example in the English-speaking world |
|---|---|
| People | Migrants, students, tourists, expatriates (e.g. Indian engineers in the USA, EU nurses in the UK). |
| Goods | Smartphones designed in California, assembled in Asia, sold worldwide. |
| Capital | Investment from London or New York into emerging economies. |
| Ideas & culture | Pop music, social-media trends, the spread of English. |
Benefits and tensions of a global world
Globalisation is a double-edged sword: it creates opportunities but also deep tensions. A balanced essay must weigh both sides.
| Benefits | Tensions / drawbacks |
|---|---|
| Economic growth, cheaper goods | Inequalities between rich and poor countries |
| Access to global culture and knowledge | Cultural uniformity ("Americanisation") |
| Innovation, cooperation on global issues | Exploitation of cheap labour, sweatshops |
| Mobility, opportunities abroad | Environmental cost, carbon footprint |
Caption: globalisation has not erased inequalities — wealth remains very unevenly shared (illustrative figures inspired by global wealth reports).
Migration and diasporas in the English-speaking world
Migration is one of the most visible faces of globalisation. The English-speaking world is shaped by waves of arrivals.
- The USA — historically a "melting pot" (assimilation) or a "salad bowl" (cultures coexisting).
- The UK and Canada — models of multiculturalism.
- Australia — built on successive migrations, from British settlers to recent Asian communities.
People migrate for push factors (war, poverty, persecution) and pull factors (jobs, safety, family, education).
Cultural exchange, soft power and identity
Globalisation circulates not only goods but culture. The diffusion of English-speaking culture is a form of soft power.
But cultural exchange raises the question of identity:
- Hybridisation — cultures mix and create new forms (e.g. British-Asian cuisine, Afrobeats reaching global charts).
- Cultural appropriation vs. appreciation — borrowing can enrich or offend.
- Resistance — communities defend local languages and traditions against uniformity.
Key vocabulary of globalisation
Mastering precise vocabulary is decisive for the Bac. Revise these essential terms.
| English | Français |
|---|---|
| a borderless world | un monde sans frontières |
| trade / free trade | le commerce / le libre-échange |
| a multinational company | une multinationale |
| a supply chain | une chaîne d'approvisionnement |
| to outsource / offshoring | externaliser / délocalisation |
| inequalities / the wealth gap | les inégalités / l'écart de richesse |
| a melting pot | un creuset (de cultures) |
| to broaden one's horizons | élargir ses horizons |
Caption: flip the cards to revise the core vocabulary of the unit.
Grammar in context: present perfect, passive, comparison
Three grammar points are especially useful to talk about globalisation.
| Idea | Sentence |
|---|---|
| Ongoing change | English has spread across the globe. |
| Process / agent hidden | The trainers are made in several countries. |
| Comparison | Today's economy is far more interdependent than in 1950. |
Building an argument on globalisation
For the written expression, structure your answer like a mini-essay.
Useful connectors:
- Adding: moreover, furthermore, in addition, what is more.
- Contrasting: however, on the other hand, nevertheless, whereas, although.
- Cause/consequence: because of, due to, therefore, as a result, consequently.
- Concluding: all in all, to sum up, on balance.
- Globalisation = growing interconnection of economies, cultures and societies (people, goods, capital, ideas).
- It brings benefits (growth, exchange, innovation) but also tensions (inequalities, uniformity, exploitation).
- Migration & diasporas shape the English-speaking world: melting pot, multiculturalism.
- Soft power spreads English-speaking culture; identities hybridise and sometimes resist.
- Grammar tools: present perfect (ongoing process), passive (global processes), comparatives.
- Argue with nuance: on the one hand… however… all in all…
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