Written by two leading scholars of global politics, this is a major new textbook for students of globalization. It describes and explains globalization and its origins, and examines its future in light of key recent political and global trends and events. The text: identifies the different political, economic, technological, and cultural meanings of globalization; examines its historical origins from the ancient past through the cold war and into the twenty-first century; describes the multiple attributes and consequences of globalization including its effect on the sovereignty of the nation state; discusses recent trends such as the increased use of social media and events like the Arab Spring; assesses the normative implications of globalization; analyzes the challenges to globalization posed by contemporary events such as the global financial crisis. This textbook will be essential reading for all students of globalization, and will be of great interest to students of global politics and global governance.