A global event is any event that impacts the world as a whole or at least a substantial portion of it. This can include economic events, wars and natural disasters. While the impacts of these events can differ from place to place, they have the potential to influence perceptions, policies and systems on a global scale.
When the global financial crisis hit, it caused millions of people to lose their jobs and families to break up. This global event reshaped the economy and shifted political ideologies worldwide. These changes have had long-term impacts on how countries do business and interact with one another.
Similarly, the impact of global events can vary between regions and industries. For example, the eruption of Laki in 1783 resulted in a dramatic change in climate across Europe and Asia, with atmospheric haze and ‘dry sulphurous fog’ reported by traders. These effects were less severe in parts of the world that were not heavily impacted by global trade and investment, reflecting a range of local contexts and resilience to the event.
The outbreak of COVID-19 is a more recent global event that has also had varying impacts from place to place. The virus has prompted some nations to consolidate and improve access to their national healthcare services, whilst others have struggled to keep up with demand, revealing a range of different responses to this global crisis. This highlights the truth behind Castells’ assertion that globalisation leads to a sense of placelessness, but also indicates that these processes are not equally impactful in all places.