# Defending Globalization: Society and Culture September 2023 ![Globalization - Society and Culture - Smiling Chef](/sites/cato.org/files/styles/aside_3x/public/2023-08/dg-societyculture.png?itok=dYWFoWyA) #### Table of Contents 13-part series - [![Food spread](/sites/cato.org/files/styles/mega_menu_aside/public/2023-11/food-spread.jpg?itok=O5cESfww)](https://www.cato.org/publications/trade-cuisine) ##### [Food Globalization Puts the World on Your Plate](/publications/trade-cuisine) By [Scott Lincicome](https://www.cato.org/people/scott-lincicome) and Sophia Bagley - [![Woman's hand browsing through rack of clothes for sale](/sites/cato.org/files/styles/mega_menu_aside/public/2023-11/fast-fashion2.jpeg?itok=kgclHtW7)](https://www.cato.org/publications/globalization-fashion) ##### [Fast Fashion, Global Trade, and Sustainable Abundance](/publications/globalization-fashion) By Joy Buchanan - [![Lightbulb Being Held to Symbolize Ideas and Innovation](/sites/cato.org/files/styles/mega_menu_aside/public/2019-09/LightBulb.jpg?itok=W6ytbGg8)](https://www.cato.org/publications/globalization-ideas-enriches-world) ##### [The Globalization of Ideas Enriches the World](/publications/globalization-ideas-enriches-world) By [James Bacchus](https://www.cato.org/people/james-bacchus) - [![Alpine meadows and wind power](/sites/cato.org/files/styles/mega_menu_aside/public/2024-04/windmills.jpg?itok=K_w0vjpM)](https://www.cato.org/publications/climate-change-globalization) ##### [Climate Change and Globalization](/publications/climate-change-globalization) By Charles Kenny - [![Video Games](/sites/cato.org/files/styles/mega_menu_aside/public/2024-04/video-games.jpg?itok=Yq7E7M-a)](https://www.cato.org/publications/how-global-markets-helped-video-game-industry) ##### [How Global Markets Helped the Video Game Industry](/publications/how-global-markets-helped-video-game-industry) By [Juan Londoño](https://www.cato.org/people/juan-londono) - [![Cornucopia with soft and subtle lighting on a soft golden brown background](/sites/cato.org/files/styles/mega_menu_aside/public/2023-09/Cornucopia.jpg?itok=wIese1ap)](https://www.cato.org/publications/superabundance-free-exchange) ##### [The More Resources We Consume, the More We Have](/publications/superabundance-free-exchange) By [Marian L. Tupy](https://www.cato.org/people/marian-l-tupy) - [![Girl watching movie in a movie theater](/sites/cato.org/files/styles/mega_menu_aside/public/2023-09/watching-movie.jpg?itok=1Gh363m3)](https://www.cato.org/publications/trade-arts/culture) ##### [The Democratic Promise of Globalized Film and Television](/publications/trade-arts/culture) By [Paul Matzko](https://www.cato.org/people/paul-matzko) - [![Beatles Albums](/sites/cato.org/files/styles/mega_menu_aside/public/2024-09/the-beatles%20Cropped.jpg?itok=Xc9PYGmh)](https://www.cato.org/publications/globalization-popular-music) ##### [The Globalization of Popular Music](/publications/globalization-popular-music) By [Clark Packard](https://www.cato.org/people/clark-packard) - [![Globalization Helps Women Thrive](/sites/cato.org/files/styles/mega_menu_aside/public/2025-01/globalization-women.jpg?itok=Qx8tL-9L)](https://www.cato.org/publications/globalization-women) ##### [Globalization Helps Women Thrive](/publications/globalization-women) By Christine McDaniel - [![Football ball with flags of world countries in the net of goal of football stadium. ](/sites/cato.org/files/styles/mega_menu_aside/public/2023-09/GettyImages-1341285864.jpg?itok=r_tsfvDl)](https://www.cato.org/publications/sports-globalization-go-hand-hand) ##### [Sports and Globalization Go Hand in Hand](/publications/sports-globalization-go-hand-hand) By Dominic Pino - [![Aerial View of Shop on Broad Street in Edenton North Carolina](/sites/cato.org/files/styles/mega_menu_aside/public/2023-09/GettyImages-1445055829.jpg?itok=uTQGm_VW)](https://www.cato.org/publications/global-community) ##### Trade and Communities: All That Is Solid Melts Into More By James Bacchus Coming soon - [![Mecca](/sites/cato.org/files/styles/mega_menu_aside/public/2023-07/mecca.jpg?itok=haxNrVmE)](https://www.cato.org/publications/globalization-islamic-world) ##### Globalization and the Islamic World By Mustafa Akyol Coming soon - [![A piggy bank placed in front of a United States flag.](/sites/cato.org/files/styles/mega_menu_aside/public/2024-02/Piggy-bank-US-flag.jpg?itok=IluzwFM2)](https://www.cato.org/publications/trade-freedom) ##### Trade and Freedom By James Bacchus Coming soon When we hear the word “globalization,” what typically comes to mind are container ships, economic terms like “offshoring” and “trade deficit,” or international tensions or agreements. But there may be no better symbols of *real* globalization than a local restaurant or your favorite show on TV. In these and many other parts of our communities and culture, globalization has provided many unseen or underappreciated benefits—ones that make our lives richer, more prosperous, more tolerant, and more fun. The essays in this Defending Globalization series will educate readers on how globalization intersects with our societies and cultures—from where we live to the films we watch, the clothes we wear, the gods we worship, and the food we eat. Readers will be left with a fuller understanding of our globalized culture and communities, as well as the essential *humanity* of commerce and free exchange—whether it crosses national borders or not. [Return to Defending Globalization](/defending-globalization) ##### About the Authors [![Mustafa Akyol Cropped](/sites/cato.org/files/styles/author_picture/public/2024-11/akyol-cropped-new.jpg?itok=VLgHg13I)](/people/mustafa-akyol) ##### [Mustafa Akyol](/people/mustafa-akyol) Senior Fellow, Cato Institute [ ](https://x.com/AkyolinEnglish) [ ](mailto:makyol@cato.org) [![James Bacchus - cropped](/sites/cato.org/files/styles/author_picture/public/2025-04/jim_baccuhus-cropped.jpg?itok=sQTKwZ3_)](/people/james-bacchus) ##### [James Bacchus](/people/james-bacchus) Adjunct Scholar, Herbert A. Stiefel Center for Trade Policy Studies, Cato Institute; Former Chairman, Appellate Body of the World Trade Organization ![Joy Buchanan](/sites/cato.org/files/styles/author_picture/public/2023-09/joy-buchanan.png?itok=Iu9TyItz) ##### Joy Buchanan Associate Professor of Quantitative Analysis and Economics, Samford University Brock School of Business ![Charles Kenny (cropped)](/sites/cato.org/files/styles/author_picture/public/2024-02/Charles%20Kenny.png?itok=1M4u7WOF) ##### Charles Kenny Senior Fellow, Center for Global Development [![marian-tupy-crop-temp.jpg](/sites/cato.org/files/styles/author_picture/public/2022-08/marian-tupy-crop-temp.jpg?itok=zdX_3JzR)](/people/marian-l-tupy) ##### [Marian L. Tupy](/people/marian-l-tupy) Senior Fellow, Cato Institute [ ](https://x.com/Marian_L_Tupy) [ ](mailto:mtupy@cato.org) [![Paul Matzko](/sites/cato.org/files/styles/author_picture/public/2021-01/Paul%20Matzko.jpg?itok=CSzwMD2U)](/people/paul-matzko) ##### [Paul Matzko](/people/paul-matzko) Adjunct Scholar, Cato Institute ![Christine McDaniel - cropped](/sites/cato.org/files/styles/author_picture/public/2024-12/christinemcdaniel_cropped.jpg?itok=bEom4-NV) ##### Christine McDaniel Senior Research Fellow, Mercatus Center, George Mason University [![Scott Lincicome cropped](/sites/cato.org/files/styles/author_picture/public/2023-10/scott-lincicome-square.jpg?itok=qnTH2GB_)](/people/scott-lincicome) ##### [Scott Lincicome](/people/scott-lincicome) Vice President, General Economics and Stiefel Trade Policy Center, Cato Institute [ ](https://x.com/scottlincicome) [ ](mailto:slincicome@cato.org) [![Juan Londono - cropped](/sites/cato.org/files/styles/author_picture/public/2026-06/juan%20londono%20headshot%20Cropped.jpg?itok=bLwQsKV4)](/people/juan-londono) ##### [Juan Londoño](/people/juan-londono) Policy Analyst, Cato Institute [ ](https://twitter.com/JuanMLondonoR) ![Dominic Pino](/sites/cato.org/files/styles/author_picture/public/2025-10/dominic-pino%20Cropped.jpg?itok=RvymhbeQ) ##### Dominic Pino Editorial Writer, *Washington Post* [ ](https://x.com/DominicJPino) ![Sophia Bagley - cropped](/sites/cato.org/files/styles/author_picture/public/2023-11/sophia-bagley-cropped-1.jpg?itok=BLX7fmWK) ##### Sophia Bagley Research Associate