Socio-Cultural Environment: Spotting Implication of Globalization on Sustainability

Abstract

The phenomena of globalization are intricate and multifaceted. It is the process of international integration that results from global exchanges of ideas, goods, worldviews, and other cultural aspects, leading to the global interchange of national and cultural capitals. The current wave of globalization is the result of technological innovation and progress, as well as the interaction of numerous stakeholders at different economic levels. The rapid production, trade, and consumption of material products in previously unheard-of amounts has been encouraged by globalization, which has both positive and negative features. On the positive side, globalization is often associated with an increase in international trade. This has been influenced by the global ecological footprint of human activities. The effects of globalization on the environment are still hard to measure. One of the primary environmental issues brought on by globalization is climate change. Above all, globalization has impacted the environment as a whole at various levels and in a range of dimensions over the years, and it continues to do so. This chapter covers the socio-cultural effects and environmental aspects of globalization, which is a complex phenomenon in and of itself.

1. Introduction

The globe has grown increasingly more interconnected and dependent on one another in recent decades [1]. The trade of goods and services between nations and continents marked the beginning of this growth millennia ago. Exporters had to look for more effective means to deliver their goods overseas as the supply of these foreign goods rose along with the demand in their home regions. Globalization is largely due to innovations, which have led to breakthroughs in transportation and technology and have made it feasible for people to exchange much more than simply goods and services ([2], p. 14). Globalism is defined as “a state of the world involving networks of interdependence at multicontinental distances.” According to Keohane and Nye [3], p. 4, “The links arise through flows and influences of capital and goods, information and ideas, people and forces, as well as biologically and environmentally relevant substances.” Accordingly, globalization is the expansion of globalism and the fortifying of ties between all nations by the development of networks and the cross-border transfer of each country’s tangible and intangible resources ([3], p. 6). Globalization, however, is a multifaceted notion with a wide range of frequently unforeseen impacts and ramifications on the planet and its ecosystem, economy, and human population; in other words, Sustainable Development. Globalization has been beneficial to the world in numerous capacities, but it has also brought forth new and serious issues that have caused controversy. One of the most significant problems with globalization today is sustainable development (SD), which is defined as “development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs”. Sustainability is also referred to as the “Triple Bottom Line” as there are three components to it: economy, environment, and equity (social). Studies have demonstrated that globalization has varying effects on SD, with some being detrimental ([4], p. 19; [5], p. 3) and some being beneficial ([4], p. 15; [6] p. 104; [7], p. 31). However, because nations differ, what works for one may not be beneficial for another. The UN is the largest supporter of SD, and its main objective is to create an environment where global peace and equality can be fostered. Over the past years, authorities and the general public have also come to understand and accept SD more globally (Figure 1).

Figure 1.

Overview of representative social-cultural concepts in the context of human-nature relationships.

2. Implication of globalization on sustainability

In recent times, the negative consequences of globalization have been recognized not only for developing countries but also for industrialized nations. A cohesive and mutually beneficial solution will require the cooperation of governments, individuals, corporations, IGOs, and NGOs at various levels of the global scale. While many scholars, policymakers, and supranational authorities have differing ideas on how to “solve” the globalization problem, it must be understood that each party has widely varying motives ([8], p. 5; [9], p. 977). Making concessions and gaining information and awareness will be necessary for this endeavor to reach a consensus that will benefit all parties involved and the globe at large.

2.1 Problem statement

Sustainable development and globalization have been working against each other, leaving the world in an unequal state of poverty and inequality while straining the earth beyond its limits ([5], p. 4). Some claim that the greatest challenge with making globalization and SD work is inequality, which is preventing developing countries from adopting sustainable methods, while others claim it lies in the policies and regulations of global governance, which should be better regulated [1]. A number of approaches have been put up to address this issue, such as the UN’s SD efforts, citizen involvement in global governance, and various frameworks for incorporating SD into corporate operations. In spite of these initiatives, poverty persists, and environmental pollution levels are rising, making SD an increasingly pressing issue [10, 11]. What is the reason for this, what is generating these issues, and how can they be resolved? Assessing the impact of globalization on sustainable development will offer a foundation for comprehending the problems impeding the worldwide attainment of sustainable development objectives and opportunities for improvement going forward.

2.2 Objectives

This chapter’s primary goal is to present a comprehensive and up-to-date analysis of how globalization has affected sustainable development. There are differing opinions about how globalization affects SD. Thus, in order to arrive at a fair conclusion, it will be crucial to consider a wide range of viewpoints. Highlighting significant ideas and subjects from the scholarly literature would also be crucial. Following the identification of the effects of globalization on sustainability, it will be feasible to ascertain the state of some SD-related issues, thereby illuminating the current state of advancement or regression that the globe is experiencing.

2.3 Methodology

The study methodology follows a descriptive-analytical approach that includes correlational data on globalization and sustainability. A systematic literature review will be conducted using scholarly journal articles that have been published in the last 10 years. The selected articles will be categorized and ordered to reveal the most popular themes and topics of globalization and Sustainable development currently under discussion in the academic literature. After highlighting the most common themes in the literature, the findings will be reviewed, and the main challenges facing globalization and Sustainable Development today will be summarized. This study concludes with a discussion on how to initiate a change toward Sustainable Development using globalization as a catalyst. The globalization section will include conceptualizing, defining, and explaining globalization and its various dimensions: economic, environmental, social, and cultural ([3], pp. 4–6).

3. Globalization

Globalization is a difficult term to define as it has multiple dimensions that overlap, relate, and affect one another. As a result, definitions of globalization widely vary, as many scholars define globalization in the context of a single dimension. Author Martell states “you can’t understand globalization without looking at its economic and political dimensions, or by analyzing cultural and social spheres instead of, or separately from, politics and economics” ([12], p. 2). He explains that if one dimension of globalization is assessed without consideration of the others, then the effects that these dimensions have on the other dimensions are overlooked. Therefore, this section will begin by conceptualizing globalization. Following the concept, the definitions of globalization will be compared, and the various dimensions of globalization will be described. This study will be based on defining globalization and its dimensions with a number of different foci. In the modern world, globalization has grown to be a significant and well-liked topic of discussion. Because of its many facets, viewpoints, and opinions on the subject are widely varied in the literature, leading to intense debate on the subject lack of a consensus or definition ([12], p. 12; [13], p. 15). For example, Martell [12] offers four pluralist interpretations of globalization to counteract too westernized, homogenizing, and monocausal interpretations of the term. He contends that perspectives on globalization that are pluralist, hybrid, and multidimensional see it functioning at several levels, ranging from the political to the cultural.

Multi-causal, multilevel, hybrid, and localized are the characteristics of Martell’s [12] pluralist views on globalization ([12], p. 12). Multi-causality suggests that there are multiple primary causes of globalization. Five levels are classified by multilevel classification: political, cultural, military, economic, and environmental. The hybrid perspective incorporates a variety of East/West/North/South inputs. Last but not least, the shape that globalization takes differs according to the context; for this reason, a localized perspective is crucial ([12], p. 12). The goal of this paper is to present the concept of globalization in an objective and equitable manner by upholding a pluralistic perspective on it.

3.1 Globalization of the Zeitgiest

Owing to the intricacy of globalization, in order to completely comprehend the subject matter, it is imperative to elucidate the notions, definitions, and diverse aspects of globalization. Since comprehending the origins of the term’s definition is essential, this section will start with the concept of globalization. Over the past 20 years, a number of researchers have conceptualized globalization; despite all the changes the world has experienced, some of these notions overlap, revealing important themes in the literature.

Held et al. [13] draw attention to the difficulty in defining globalization and explain that it exists on a continuum with local, national, and regional elements making up the several levels at which globalization manifests itself. The social and economic networks and relations that are organized locally and/or nationally make up one end of this globalization continuum, while the social and economic networks and relations that crystallize on the larger scale of regional and global interactions are found on the other end ([13], p. 15). Held and McGrew [14] further explain this continuum, stating that globalization does not displace or take precedence over local, national, or regional orders of life but that the local becomes more embedded within more expansive sets of interregional relations and networks of power ([14], p. 3). Martell [12] uses his idea of globalization to highlight these multiple levels and uses “guidelines” to set the phenomenon apart from other comparable concepts. The significance of these “guidelines” lies in the fact that they provide a means of differentiating globalization from internationalization, regionalization, or transnationalization in the absence of geographical referents ([14], p. 4). Since “the global cannot be interpreted literally, as a universal phenomenon, then the concept of globalization lacks specificity,” Martell’s [12] principles seek to create a cohesive and universal understanding of globalization ([14], p. 4). These four principles will be explained in the sections that follow, together with the major ideas that comprise the notion of globalization. According to Martell [12], one aspect of globalization is the compression of space, meaning that distance no longer plays as much of a role in information, communication, and mobility as it once did ([12], p. 12). In their paper, Keohane & Nye [3] also discuss the importance of space in their understanding of globalization (pp. 4–7). Held et al. [13] stated that by connecting and extending human activity across regions and continents, “globalization can be taken to refer to those spatio-temporal processes of change which underpin a transformation in the organization of human affairs” ([13], p. 15).

1. Therefore, globalization must be global, meaning that it needs to reach all continents and majority of those continents ([12], p. 6).

2. Another ‘global’ factor is that globalization needs to have inputs from across continents and multiple countries within them ([12], p. 12). According to Martell [12] and Held et al. [13], relations need to be stable and regular to establish a structure or system in order to be global in scale.

3. Furthermore, Martell [12] claims that globalization needs to involve the elites as well as the masses, and a global consciousness must exist so that people have an awareness of the globe as a single place ([12], p. 12).

(1) Consequently, globalization has to be worldwide, which means it must affect all or most of the continents ([12], p. 6). (2) Inputs for globalization must come from several countries on different continents, which is another “global” component ([12], p. 12). According to Held et al. [13] and Martell [12], relations must be regular and stable in order to create a structure or system that is global in scope. (3) In addition, Martell [12] argues that in order for people to perceive the world as a single location, globalization must involve both the masses and the elites ([12], p. 12).

By going over the several definitions and dimensions of globalization, we can show why it is important to evaluate each one and also highlight the areas where they overlap. However, the idea of globalization clarified how the phenomena function, defining it and highlighting the significance of its material components.

3.2 Dimensions of globalization and socio-cultural environment

This section aims to introduce several aspects of globalization, encompassing economic, environmental, social, and cultural globalization. Prior to discussing the dimensions, it is important to note that advanced and developing economies are affected by globalization in two different ways. The different parties and activities engaged in the globalization process are introduced through economic globalization. The section on economic globalization will be the largest and include a variety of topics, such as trade, foreign direct investment, and short-term capital flows. It will also discuss the role that multinational corporations (MNCs) have had in the process of globalization (Figure 2).

Figure 2.

Dimensions of globalization and socio-cultural environment.

3.2.1 Economic globalization

The structuring of the processes that connect the long-distance flows of capital, products, and services is referred to as economic globalism ([3], p. 4). A more specific definition of economic globalization is from Bhagwati, who defines it as the “integration of national economies into the international economy through trade, FDI, short-term capital flows, international flows of workers and humanity generally, and flows of technology” ([15], p. 439).

3.2.1.1 Consumerism

Free trade agreements necessitate negotiation and compromise among the parties around mutually agreed-upon norms. Concerns pertaining to trade and consumer protection center on the food, product, and service standards that a nation has put in place to safeguard its citizens. Not every nation has the same criteria.

3.2.1.2 Environmental and social responsibility

Labor and environmental protection regulations differ from nation to nation, particularly between industrialized and developing nations, much like consumer protection issues. Choosing which nation’s labor and environmental protection regulations to apply when producing items for export is difficult due to the differences between developed and developing nations.

3.2.2 Environmental globalization

The increase in the global flow of people, capital, products, and services was demonstrated by the economic aspect of globalization. The production and movement of commodities between continents are growing along with these activities. As science and technology have advanced and given rise to inventions like the Internet, telephones, ships, and airplanes that have accelerated global communication and travel, they have also brought to light the detrimental effects that industrial and capitalistic activities have been having on the environment. Since poverty is a key source and impact of global environmental concerns, environmental challenges are linked to globalization and development. “Ecology and economy are becoming ever more interwoven locally, regionally, nationally, and globally into a seamless net of causes and effects,” according to a UN report on Our Common Futures (1987). The idea of environmental limits originated in 1972 at the Stockholm Conference when the Club of Rome unveiled the concept of “Limits to Growth,” is one of the core ideas of environmental globalism ([16], p. 107).

The majority of the world’s population expansion is predicted to occur in impoverished countries’ urban regions over the next 30 years, making rapid, unplanned, and unsustainable urban development patterns the main source of new environmental and health risks [10, 11]. The World Health Organization [10, 11] states that socio-environmental factors are a major contributing factor to the burden of death, sickness, and disability, especially in poor nations. Poor water quality, availability, and sanitation; vector-borne infections; poor indoor and outdoor air quality; hazardous compounds; and global environmental change are the main sources of risk [10, 11]. Unsafe water, indoor smoke from solid fuel use, malaria from poorly designed irrigation and water systems, inadequate housing, poor waste disposal, and water storage, deforestation and loss of biodiversity, traffic, lead exposure, climate change, and unintentional poisonings from improper use of toxic chemicals and pesticides are the most significant environmental-related causes or conditions that lead to global deaths [10, 11]. Therefore, the poor and vulnerable populations in developing countries are most adversely affected by environmental concerns in terms of health [10, 11]. However, it is also possible that the poorest people are more reliant on natural resources for their livelihood and well-being, making them more vulnerable to the effects of unsustainable resource extraction and depletion [10, 11, 17].

3.2.2.1 Air pollution

The World Health Organization (WHO) lists the following as the main human activity-related sources of air pollution: • Fuel combustion from motor vehicles, such as cars and heavy-duty vehicles • The production of heat and power (such as boilers and oil and coal power plants). • Industrial facilities, such as mines, oil refineries, and factories that manufacture goods. • Residential cooking, heating, and lighting with polluting fuels; • Municipal and agricultural waste sites and waste incineration/burning [10, 11].

3.2.2.2 Differing standards

Developing countries still struggle to meet their most basic requirements, including those for food, water, energy, hygienic conditions, healthcare, and education, and lack the resources, capital, and organizational capacity to put environmental, labor, and health norms into effect.

3.2.2.3 Global warming

There is another essential component of environmental pollution, aside from the detrimental impacts of air pollution on human health. This is the case with CO₂ emissions and other greenhouse gas emissions (GHG), which are significantly influencing the Earth’s atmosphere’s CO₂ concentration.

3.2.3 Social and cultural globalization

Globalization of the environment has a significant impact on humanity, yet a nation’s culture and traditional values also constitute a form of social capital. Keohane and Nye define social and cultural globalism as the long-distance flow of people, ideas, information, and images ([3], p. 5).

One crucial component of social globalism is isomorphism, which is the replication of a society’s structures and practices by another ([3], p. 5). Srivastava and Khan define cultural globalism as the spread of ideas, meanings, and values around the world by extending and deepening social ties [18], which is similar to Keohane and Nye’s concept of social and cultural globalism. According to Srivastava and Khan [18], on page 18, the common consumption of cultures disseminated through the Internet, popular culture media, and foreign travel is indicative of the progress of cultural globalization.

On the one hand, without the global movement of capital, goods, and services that facilitate cross-cultural interaction, social and cultural globalism would not be feasible.

3.2.3.1 Culture clash

According to a number of scholars ([2], p. 28; [18], p. 20), globalization has a detrimental impact on culture. Globalization frequently suggests that two traditional cultures will conflict as a result of new cultures interacting. Since a nation’s culture defines its identity, this has a negative impact on that nation’s social capital. The isomorphism associated with social and cultural globalization may be the cause of this. More local cultures will be exposed to foreign cultures if social and cultural globalism disseminate concepts, data, pictures, and people over great distances. Local cultures get increasingly diluted as a result of isomorphism—the adoption of other cultures by local people.

The powerful October 18 Brooke Baldwin 48/148 colonies overran the weak, imposing their culture, political beliefs, and institutional framework on the citizens of the weak colonized countries. This is comparable to what happened during the colonial era: “Psychologically, the superior attitude of the colonist who viewed the local culture and practices as inferior, local religions as barbaric, and local institutions as inefficient not only created a new Westernized ruling class among the native in the country but also had a psychological impacting the local self-esteem and sense of identity” ([2], p. 28).

3.2.3.2 Knowledge of labor

The foundation of a company’s competencies is knowledge, which is increasingly produced and maintained by the company and travels with it wherever it does business. In terms of global economic efficiency, labor flows represent the movement or flow of people worldwide. Labor moves around the world as certain regions become more productive than others. This has the potential to be both detrimental and advantageous at the same time. Although it may result in an influx of labor into areas that are understaffed, it may also cause a migration of young, skilled people from nations that depend on them for economic growth.

3.2.3.3 Controversial events

The Syrian Civil War in 2011 caused a massive exodus of immigrants into Europe in 2015, which in turn sparked the global refugee crisis. This massive influx of migrants and asylum seekers put a significant burden on public authorities in multiple Member States and even had consequences in the United States.

4. Sustainability and globalization

In order to create a world of peace, prosperity, and justice for all people, sustainable development (SD) aims to create a society in which social, economic, and environmental issues are shared by all people and ultimately resolved. According to Blewitt [19], p. 29, SD “is about promoting social equity and a degree of economic equality within and between nations as well as protecting and conserving the planet’s natural environment.”

With global ecological changes, an ever more integrated global economy, and other global trends, political activity increasingly takes place at the global level (Table 1).

Ecological scale	Socio-cultural scale
Biosphere	World
Biome-Type	Supranational regions
Biome	State
Landscape	Region
Ecosystem	Locality 1: City, Town,
Community	Locality 2: Village, community, neighborhood
Population	Household
Organism

Table 1.

Sustainability spatial scale (ecological scale, socio-cultural scale).

4.1 Globalization and sustainability in the shades of the NEO-normality

Some authors contend that the UN’s most recent set of sustainable progress goals (SDGs) has facilitated progress by encouraging collaborative efforts toward shared global objectives, while others believe that they have limited popular acceptance.

Critics of globalization contend, on the one hand, that it has resulted in a widening disparity between the rich and the poor and increased social systemic imbalances ([20], p. 1; [21], p. 15; [22], p. 5). However, proponents of globalization contend that without it, there would not have been a rise in living standards or a decline in poverty brought about by increased trade and capital flows, idea sharing, and the expansion of democratic institutions across international borders ([23], p. v100).

4.1.1 Income inequality

In developing nations, where competition and technology make it difficult for them to compete in the global market and where living standards are low for the environment, labor, and society, income inequality is especially difficult to overcome ([7], p. 30; [24], p. 67; [25], p. 553).

4.1.2 Technology trends

Technology today is evolving at a rapid pace, enabling faster change and progress, causing an acceleration of the rate of change. However, it is not only technology trends and emerging technologies that are evolving; a lot more has changed. Technology has made it easier to conduct cross-border trade and interactions. Similarly, technologies that have made air flight more efficient have helped increase the flow of people around.

4.2 Sustainable development guiding principles

In fact, during the past few decades, sustainability strategies have garnered a great deal of attention and favor in the business world. Businesses have been implementing sustainability initiatives more frequently as a result of the ongoing awareness of SD issues and the detrimental effects that corporate operations have on the environment ([8], p. 4).

The following describes these eight SD driving principles:

Nature is not subject to systematically increasing in a sustainable society.

1. Concentrations of materials taken out of the crust of the Earth (such as metals and fossil carbons).

2. Concentrations of materials created by civilization (e.g., protective measures, restricted production, and thoughtful molecular designs).

3. Physical degradation (such as excessive fishing and forest harvesting).

4. Health (e.g., hazardous working circumstances or inadequate post-work relaxation).

5. Influence (e.g., by stifling free expression or disregarding viewpoints).

6. Competence (e.g., through educational barriers or a lack of opportunities for personal growth).

7. Impartiality (e.g., through unfair hiring practices or discrimination).

8. Meaning-making (e.g., by stifling cultural expression or putting up barriers to the joint production of conditions that serve a goal).

4.3 Sustainability and responsible innovation

According to Voegltin and Scherer [26], “the idea of responsible innovation is that new products should not harm the general public’s or consumers’ health, new processes should be safe for all parties involved, and neither of these should pollute or harm the environment in any way.” Three dimensions make up responsible innovation. These are as follows: (1) innovations prevent harm to people or the environment; (2) innovations “do good” by providing new goods, services, or technological advancements that support sustainable development; and (3) global governance frameworks are in place to support innovations that both “do” good and prevent harm.

5. Results and discussion

A broad range of issues and solutions pertaining to globalization and SD were discussed in the papers evaluated across the academic literature. The literature has made it abundantly evident that globalization has both positive and negative effects on SD. This suggests that the results of research conducted by Das and Das [6], Fura et al. [9], Ertrugul et al. [25], and Grossman and Helpman [23] also support the idea that globalization can help advance the sustainable development agenda, especially with certain modifications. These changes, however, are not straightforward; rather, they call for coordinated and cooperative decision-making and execution within as well as across national borders ([9], p. 978; [27], pp. 27–29).

The damage caused by environmental and economic globalism, as well as global governance and policy coordination, were the primary causes of income disparity. Good global governance and policy coordination, according to many authors, will help limit the negative effects of economic and environmental globalism ([5], p. 2; [6], p. 110; [8], p. 5; [16], p. 101; [27], pp. 27–29; [28], p. 379). There is a strong correlation between these two topics.

Global governance, policy coordination, and the damage caused by economic and environmental globalism were the primary causes of income disparity. Strongly correlated with these two topics are the opinions of numerous authors who believe that enhanced global governance and policy coordination will help prevent the negative effects of globalization on the environment and economy ([5], p. 2; [6], p. 110; [8], p. 5; [16], p. 101; [27], pp. 27–29; [28], p. 379).

Increased capital and control in developed countries, coupled with persistently low social standards (health, work, living conditions) in developing nations, are the common outcomes ([20], p. 3; [25], p. 553; [29], p. 26). Furthermore, foreign direct investment (FDI) undermines local enterprises and competitiveness in developing nations, which makes it harder for those nations to grow their own economies ([22], p. 4; [30], p. 29).

To compete in the global market, developing nations must continue to entice international investment despite the negative impacts of foreign direct investment (FDI) ([25], p. 543; [31], p. 1142). Once more, the outcome is increased money gain and control for industrialized countries and increased suppression of developing countries. Consequently, the role of global governance regimes is to supervise international operations and support national governments that are incapable of operating independently.

As a result, national governments in both rich and developing nations perceive a loss of sovereignty [32]. Thus, we have new types of global governance, such as corporate governance across borders and citizen engagement. The choice between the higher standards of the developed countries and the lower standards of the developing countries becomes difficult when it comes to the coordination of policies between these countries. Furthermore, although to a lesser extent than previously, transnational corporate governance seeks to raise the social standards of nations that participate in international commerce ([24], p. 66; [29], p. 26; [33], p. 31).

6. Conclusion

Global networks of interdependence made up of nations, businesses, and individuals characterize modern globalization. These networks facilitate the metaphorical shrinkage of space and the exchange of goods, services, capital, and knowledge at a rate and frequency that is both fast and frequent ([3], p. 5; [12], p. 12; [13], p. 15). The corporate climate has altered as a result of globalization, enabling corporations to look for and locate in regions of the world that provide them the most financial opportunities ([34], p. 132). In the twenty-first century, wealth and mass production have increased like never before because to the unrestricted movement of capital and corporations throughout the globe, technological advancements, and the Internet ([4], p. 13). However, income disparity persists despite rising income levels, indicating that wealth is not being dispersed equitably throughout countries. Furthermore, the stresses placed on the environment are constantly rising ([10, 11]; [16], p. 103).

Technology, foreign direct investment (FDI), and competition have been identified as the main causes of the negative effects ([7], p. 30). Knowledge transfer and spillovers, higher income levels, increased support in supply chain networks, increased collaboration and coordination, increased awareness of SD, increased ESD, and increased support of SD are some of the positive effects of globalization on SD that have been identified ([6], p. 101; [9], p. 977; [23], p. 100; [25], p. 553; [35], p. 1). However, an intriguing discovery was how some of the positive effects of globalization on SD, especially for poor nations, can be used to counteract the negative consequences of competition, FDI, and technical advancement. For example, Das and Das [6] discussed how technical advancement, international commerce, and investment may globalize an economy and raise living standards in nations such as India ([6], p. 101).

The results of the systematic literature study further emphasized the importance of key stakeholders’ cooperation, coordination, and support for the SD goal. This was underlined in a number of settings across the scholarly literature. First, in terms of the SDGs, Fura et al.’s [9] paper clarified how the 28 EU members have been cooperating to achieve the objectives of the Europe 2020 Strategy.

In summary, globalization has both negative and positive consequences on SD. Nonetheless, the results of the systematic literature assessment offer hope for overcoming a number of the current problems that globalization and SD are confronting. Global progress toward sustainable development is shown in the growing acceptance and endorsement of the SD agenda by national governments, academic institutions, developing nations, and global governance frameworks. However, because of the study’s narrow focus, many consequences of globalization on SD have not been taken into account despite the fact that there are thousands of scholarly books and papers on the subject.

Additionally, this study’s broad data search may have produced more general conclusions than if it had focused more on certain features of SD or types of globalization. Nonetheless, the study’s findings might offer a broad summary of the principal subjects and ideas covered in the most current scholarly literature, serving as a solid base of information for later investigations, especially in light of the three primary obstacles that globalization and sustainable development must overcome: (1) efficient global governance and policy coordination, (2) winning over society to support SD, and (3) winning over business to support sustainable development.