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H.A. KHAN
Globalization Globalization means the revolutionary changes in information and communication technology that has transformed the world’s political and economic landscape. Globalization has caused the increased integration of social, economic, political and technological systems. Ritzer (2010, p. 2) defines globalization as a “transplanetary process or set of processes involving increasing liquidity and the growing multidirectional flow of people, objects, places, and information as well as the structures they encounter and create that are barriers to, or expedite those flows.” Globalization represents increasing economic interdependence, through the use of increasing communication technologies, the travel of people around the globe and the use of English as a common language. It implies the widespread sharing of knowledge, communication, common cultural habits, and the adoption of English as a global common language. Three major dimensions of globalization have been identified: economic, political and social. Economic globalization refers to the increasing flow of trade, goods, and services among nations. It also means an increasing in the levels of Foreign Direct Investment (FDI). Political globalization means increasing interactions between countries in their common interest. It can also mean regional and international cooperation in various activities. Finally, social globalization refers to the emergence of a common culture and a decrease in the differences between people. It can also mean a shared love of things such as food, music, or other common activities. Globalization has opened up opportunities and challenges to public administration. In a globalized world, no country can afford to live in isolation, and immune from public scrutiny. It has opened up opportunities for the public to voice their concerns in the affairs of government and has promoted greater openness and accountability. Globalization, through the proliferation of social media, has given the people an avenue to express their opinion without it being regulated by the government. This is particularly important for some of the developing countries, where governments try to monopolize the news through their control of the media. Today, people have the opportunity to listen to the world media and read from sources which are beyond the reach of the government. The technological revolution has enabled the people to reach out to the remote corner of the world. At the same time, any country can take advantage of the technological advancement taking place and can use it for the improvement of the management of its organizations.