The word globalization was used in the English language as early as the 1930s, but only in the context of

education and the term failed to gain traction. Over the next few decades, the term was occasionally used by
other scholars and media, but it was not clearly defined.[7] One of the first usages of the term in the meaning
resembling the later, common usage was by French economist François Perroux in his essays from the early
1960s (in his French works he used the term mondialization (literary worldization), also translated as
mundialization).[7] Theodore Levitt is often credited with popularizing the term and bringing it into the
mainstream business audience in the later half of the 1980s.[7]

Since its inception, the concept of globalization has inspired competing definitions and interpretations. Its
antecedents date back to the great movements of trade and empire across Asia and the Indian Ocean from
the 15th century onward.[12][13] Due to the complexity of the concept, various research projects, articles, and
discussions often stay focused on a single aspect of globalization.[14]

In 1848, Karl Marx noticed the increasing level of national inter-dependence brought on by capitalism, and
predicted the universal character of the modern world society. He states:

“The bourgeoisie has through its exploitation of the world market given a cosmopolitan character to
production and consumption in every country. To the great chagrin of Reactionists, it has drawn from under
the feet of industry the national ground on which it stood. All old-established national industries have been
destroyed or are daily being destroyed. . . . In place of the old local and national seclusion and self-sufficiency,
we have intercourse in every direction, universal inter-dependence of nations.” [15]