Active learning ideas
Globalization has transformed the world economy, but its benefits have not been shared equally. This topic examines the 'winners' and 'losers' of global trade and the rising tide of economic inequality. Students debate whether globalization has failed the working class and explore strategies for making economic growth more inclusive.
Activity 01
Display stories of individuals affected by globalization (e.g., a tech worker in Singapore, a factory worker in Vietnam, a displaced coal miner in the US). Students identify the systemic factors that led to their different outcomes.
Has globalization widened the gap between the rich and the poor?
Activity 02
Students debate the motion: 'This house believes that protectionism is a necessary tool for protecting local jobs.' They must use examples like the US-China trade war or Singapore's FTA network.
Is protectionism a viable economic strategy?
Activity 03
Students discuss why certain industries (like Big Tech) seem to capture most of the wealth in a globalized world. They share ideas on how this wealth could be more fairly redistributed.
How can nations ensure inclusive economic growth?
A few notes on teaching this unit
Watch Out for These Misconceptions
Globalization is only about trade in goods.
Globalization also involves the flow of services, data, people, and ideas. Using a 'mapping' exercise of a digital service (like Netflix or Grab) helps students see the invisible layers of global connectivity.
Economic inequality is inevitable in a capitalist system.
While some inequality exists, the *extent* of it is shaped by policy choices like taxation and education. Peer teaching about the 'Nordic Model' helps students see that different versions of capitalism can lead to different social outcomes.
Methods used in this brief
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