When combined, `全 (whole) + 球 (globe) + 化 (-ization)` literally translates to “whole-globe-ization,” a perfectly logical and descriptive term for the concept of globalization.
`全球化` is one of the most significant concepts in post-Mao China. Its meaning is deeply tied to the country's trajectory since the “Reform and Opening Up” (改革开放, gǎigé kāifàng) policy began in 1978. For decades, China was relatively isolated. `全球化` represents the momentous decision to join the world system. Initially, this was primarily about economics: attracting foreign investment and becoming the “world's factory.” This aspect of `全球化` is viewed with immense pride and is seen as the engine of China's economic miracle. However, the Chinese perspective on `全球化` differs from the common Western one. While a Westerner might associate globalization with the universal spread of free-market capitalism, liberal democracy, and individualistic values, China's approach is more selective and pragmatic. The government has championed economic globalization while actively managing its cultural and political effects. This is famously symbolized by the “Great Firewall,” which allows the free flow of e-commerce and capital but controls the flow of information and ideas deemed politically sensitive. This creates a fascinating tension. In any major Chinese city, you'll see Starbucks, McDonald's, and Hollywood blockbusters—clear signs of cultural `全球化`. At the same time, there is a strong government-led push for “cultural confidence” (文化自信, wénhuà zìxìn) and the preservation of traditional Chinese values. Therefore, `全球化` in China is not a one-way street of Westernization but a complex negotiation between embracing the world and defining its own modern identity.
`全球化` is a formal and standard term used across various domains.