Prior to this class, the thought of defining globalization seemed trivial; I imagined globalization to be as simple as western expansion of ideas and commerce simply because this is what I was taught globalization is. Globalization was never discussed in any other capacity throughout my education, and my understanding was limited to the western view of this concept. This generalization of globalization being an exclusively western process is challenged in Dr. Nayef R.F. Al-Rodhan's article, "Defining Globalization: A Comprehensive Overview and a Proposed Definition." The definition of globalization is not stagnant, and that was the most striking thing to come out of this reading to me. I learned that the concept of globalization is multifaceted, and in fact, not just a western process. Al-Rodhan provided interpretations of the term resulted in over one hundred definitions, each encompassing different factors. Things like location, social status, culture, and political beliefs are all among the things that determine a definition, and each individual's definition is going to be different based on these things. This was probably the most enlightening component of this reading. The fact that multiple different demographic and personal factors can so vastly change the definition of a word that seemed so straightforward to me was so fascinating.

Reading through the definitions that Al-Rodhan offered in his reading allowed me to view globalization from a global perspective rather than the standard western view point. When Al-Rodhan explained that the reasoning behind using broad definitions was to, "utilize a broad perspective in order for it to be brief yet as comprehensive as possible” (2006:5). Globalization as a concept is fluid and constantly changing as society does the same, and this conclusion helped me broaden not only my definition, but my view of the world as a whole. My newfound understanding of how globalization is interpreted has consequently helped expand my understanding of different components of society and how they interact on a global level. Having opened this semester with this reading, it set a very good baseline for me to further expand my knowledge of globalization and the inequalities that it brings to societies across the globe.