What is deglobalization? | Explainer | Chatham House?

Deglobalization is when countries start to rely less on each other for things like food, clothes, and toys, just like kids who used to trade stickers at school but now keep all their stickers in their own lunchbox.

What does deglobalization mean?

Deglobalization is the opposite of globalization. Globalization happens when people and countries work together a lot, like a big team where everyone shares stuff. But deglobalization is when that teamwork starts to fade, and countries become more like individual players in a game.

Why does deglobalization happen?

Sometimes, countries choose to be more independent because they think it's safer or better for them. It’s like if you used to buy all your candies from the same store, but then you decide to make your own candy, just in case the store runs out or closes down.

This can mean fewer toys come from faraway places and more are made nearby. It also means some countries might have more jobs, while others lose some of theirs, like when one kid starts making their own stickers instead of trading with friends.

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Examples

  1. A country decides to produce more food locally instead of importing it from abroad.
  2. People start buying goods made in their own country rather than from other countries.
  3. A company moves its factory back home after previously outsourcing jobs overseas.

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