How can globalization be best described?

Globalization can be best described as a process of increased interconnectedness among countries, which encompasses the growth of international trade, cultural exchange, technological advancement, and the movement of people across borders. This phenomenon leads to a more integrated world, where economic and social ties between nations become stronger.

One of the key components of globalization is the expansion of global markets, allowing countries to trade goods and services more freely. This interconnectedness fosters cultural exchanges, where ideas, traditions, and practices are shared and influence one another. As a result, globalization can lead to cultural hybridization, where local customs adapt to incorporate elements from other cultures.

The other options depict aspects that contradict the fundamental nature of globalization. The notion of a decline in international trade and cultural exchange, as well as movements towards isolationism and nationalism, are trends that typically emerge as reactions to globalization rather than characteristics of globalization itself. Similarly, the idea that local cultures overwhelm global influences does not capture the nature of the current global landscape, where, in many cases, local cultures find ways to coexist and even thrive alongside global influences.