9.7 Resistance to Globalization After 1900

Resistance to globalization means actions governments, groups, or people take to push back against cultural or economic connections that cross borders. Countries do it to protect local culture, economy, or political control—examples include protectionism and import substitution industrialization to shield industries, cultural nationalism and the Great Firewall/Weibo to control information, and protests like the Seattle WTO demonstrations or anti-IMF/World Bank activism to oppose unfair economic policies (CED Topic 9.7 keywords). Resistance can be reformist (alter-globalization, Fair Trade) or more state-led (Bolivarianism, censorship). On the AP exam, be ready to explain causes (economic, cultural, political) and give illustrative examples (EZLN, Weibo, anti-IMF protests) while connecting to broader themes like economic systems and cultural interactions. For a focused review, see the Topic 9.7 study guide (https://library.fiveable.me/ap-world-history/unit-9/resistance-globalization-after-1900/study-guide/UNOZnXixKCtpAMnEyT1Y) and try practice questions (https://library.fiveable.me/practice/ap-world-history).

People protested the IMF and World Bank because their policies often worsened inequality and undermined local control. In the 1980s–90s these institutions pushed Structural Adjustment Programs (SAPs)—conditions like cutting public spending, privatizing services, and opening markets—that critics said reduced funding for health, education, and protections for workers and farmers. Protesters (part of the anti-globalization / alter-globalization movement) also argued these loans prioritized multinational corporations and debt repayment over local development, environmental protection, and sovereignty. Events like the Seattle WTO protests (1999) and gatherings at the World Social Forum channeled these grievances into broader calls for Fair Trade, debt relief, and alternative development models (keywords from the CED: anti-IMF, anti-World Bank, Fair Trade, alter-globalization). On the AP exam, anti-IMF/World Bank activism is an illustrative example for Topic 9.7 and can be used in SAQs, DBQs, or LEQs to show resistance to economic globalization (see the Topic 9.7 study guide: https://library.fiveable.me/ap-world-history/unit-9/resistance-globalization-after-1900/study-guide/UNOZnXixKCtpAMnEyT1Y). For more review and practice, check Unit 9 (https://library.fiveable.me/ap-world-history/unit-9) and the practice problem bank (https://library.fiveable.me/practice/ap-world-history).

Economic resistance to globalization targets global markets, institutions, and flows of goods/capital. It uses protests and policies: anti-IMF/World Bank demonstrations (Seattle/WTO-style or World Social Forum), protectionism, import substitution industrialization, Fair Trade campaigns, Bolivarianism, and movements like Occupy Wall Street. Goals are to change trade rules, reclaim economic sovereignty, or protect local industries. Cultural resistance challenges global ideas, media, and values. It uses censorship or alternative platforms (Great Firewall, locally developed social media like Weibo), cultural nationalism, bans on foreign media or religion, and promotion of local languages/education. Goals are to preserve identity, morals, or political legitimacy. On the AP exam this fits Topic 9.7 (Learning Objective G): be ready to cite specific examples and explain differences in motives and tactics in short answers or documents. Review the topic study guide (https://library.fiveable.me/ap-world-history/unit-9/resistance-globalization-after-1900/study-guide/UNOZnXixKCtpAMnEyT1Y) and try practice questions (https://library.fiveable.me/practice/ap-world-history).

China created Weibo instead of using Facebook or Twitter mainly because of state control and local adaptation. After the 1990s–2000s internet boom the Chinese government built the “Great Firewall” to restrict foreign platforms and require data/control inside China, so Facebook and Twitter were blocked or limited. The state also pushed for homegrown tech firms, legal rules requiring local servers and content monitoring, and a preference for platforms that comply with censorship and promote cultural nationalism. Chinese companies (Sina, Tencent, etc.) then developed microblogging sites like Weibo that fit local language, features, payment systems, and regulatory expectations—so users stayed on an ecosystem the state could regulate. This is the AP Topic 9.7 example of locally developed social media resisting (and reshaping) global platforms (see the Topic 9.7 study guide: https://library.fiveable.me/ap-world-history/unit-9/resistance-globalization-after-1900/study-guide/UNOZnXixKCtpAMnEyT1Y). For more review and practice, check Unit 9 (https://library.fiveable.me/ap-world-history/unit-9) and thousands of practice items (https://library.fiveable.me/practice/ap-world-history).

Globalization can boost growth, but countries sometimes reject it because the benefits aren’t evenly spread and can threaten local jobs, culture, or political control. Economically, governments use protectionism or import-substitution industrialization to shield domestic industries from cheaper foreign competition. Politically and socially, leaders push cultural nationalism or limit foreign influence (e.g., China’s Great Firewall, Weibo) to preserve identity and control information. International institutions or loans (IMF/World Bank) can force unpopular austerity or privatization, which sparks anti-IMF/World Bank protests and broader alter-globalization movements (Seattle WTO, Zapatistas, Fair Trade). For the AP exam, connect these examples to Learning Objective G (Topic 9.7) and use them as specific evidence in SAQs/LEQs or DBQs. See the Topic 9.7 study guide for focused review (https://library.fiveable.me/ap-world-history/unit-9/resistance-globalization-after-1900/study-guide/UNOZnXixKCtpAMnEyT1Y). For broader review and practice questions, check Unit 9 (https://library.fiveable.me/ap-world-history/unit-9) and the 1000+ practice problems (https://library.fiveable.me/practice/ap-world-history).

Here are specific examples of post-1900 anti-globalization movements you can use for AP World (Topic 9.7, Learning Objective G): - Seattle WTO protests (1999) and the broader anti-WTO/alter-globalization movement, including the World Social Forum – direct challenges to neoliberal trade rules. - Zapatista uprising (EZLN, 1994) in Mexico—indigenous resistance to NAFTA and global corporate agriculture. - Anti-IMF and anti-World Bank protests in the 1980s–2000s (e.g., 1999 Washington demonstrations) opposing structural adjustment policies. - Fair Trade movement and Fair Trade certification as an economic alternative. - Occupy Wall Street (2011)—critique of global financial inequality. - Bolivarianism (Venezuela) as a political/economic pushback against neoliberal globalization. - Protectionism and import substitution industrialization (ISI) policies in Latin America as state economic resistance. - Digital/cultural controls: Great Firewall and locally developed platforms (Weibo) as responses to cultural globalization and foreign social media. Use these examples on the exam to show varied economic, cultural, and political responses. For a quick review see the Topic 9.7 study guide (https://library.fiveable.me/ap-world-history/unit-9/resistance-globalization-after-1900/study-guide/UNOZnXixKCtpAMnEyT1Y) and practice questions (https://library.fiveable.me/practice/ap-world-history).

Start with a clear thesis that answers the DBQ prompt about responses to globalization and sets a line of reasoning (e.g., resistances ranged from local cultural controls to global protest movements because economic pressures, cultural threat, and state sovereignty concerns differed). Contextualize: situate after 1900—rising economic/cultural globalization, IMF/World Bank policies, digital controls, and protests (Seattle WTO 1999, Zapatistas, anti-IMF/World Bank). Use at least four documents to support your argument, and bring in one specific piece of outside evidence (e.g., Great Firewall/Weibo as state-led digital responses or the Fair Trade/alter-globalization movements). For sourcing, explain POV or purpose for at least two docs (who benefits, audience, historical situation). Show complexity by comparing forms of resistance (violent vs. nonviolent, state vs. grassroots) or by explaining causes and effects. Wrap with a brief conclusion that ties evidence to your claim. For Topic 9.7 review, see the Fiveable study guide (https://library.fiveable.me/ap-world-history/unit-9/resistance-globalization-after-1900/study-guide/UNOZnXixKCtpAMnEyT1Y) and practice questions (https://library.fiveable.me/practice/ap-world-history).

Good question—developing countries often resist loans from institutions like the World Bank because those loans come with conditions that limit national control and can deepen dependence. Conditionality (structural adjustment) often forces cuts to public spending, privatization, and market liberalization—policies that can raise unemployment, cut social services, and benefit foreign investors more than local people. Critics argue this is a form of economic imperialism and fuels anti-World Bank/anti-IMF protests (Topic 9.7 keywords). Countries also worry about debt traps: high interest and repayment terms can constrain future budgets and sovereignty. On the AP exam, you can connect this to resistance to globalization, alter-globalization movements, and examples like Seattle WTO or anti-IMF protests. For a quick refresher see the Topic 9.7 study guide (https://library.fiveable.me/ap-world-history/unit-9/resistance-globalization-after-1900/study-guide/UNOZnXixKCtpAMnEyT1Y) and the unit overview (https://library.fiveable.me/ap-world-history/unit-9). Practice applying these ideas with 1000+ AP-style questions (https://library.fiveable.me/practice/ap-world-history).

Anti-globalization activism rose in the late 20th century mainly because people reacted to the real economic, cultural, and political effects of neoliberal globalization. Policies favoring free markets, deregulation, and structural-adjustment programs from the IMF and World Bank often increased inequality, unemployment, and austerity in many countries—sparking anti-IMF/anti-World Bank protests. Cultural globalization and corporate expansion also threatened local cultures and labor standards, fueling cultural nationalism, the Fair Trade/alter-globalization movements, and protectionist or import-substitution responses (e.g., Bolivarian rhetoric in Latin America). New tech and networks amplified organizing: by 1999 large protests (Seattle WTO) showed coordinated global action, and later locally developed social media (Weibo) and censorship (Great Firewall) shaped how resistance looked in places like China. For AP exam use: link these causes to examples (Seattle WTO, Zapatistas, Fair Trade, Occupy) under Topic 9.7 Learning Objective G. For a focused review, check the Topic 9.7 study guide (https://library.fiveable.me/ap-world-history/unit-9/resistance-globalization-after-1900/study-guide/UNOZnXixKCtpAMnEyT1Y) and practice questions (https://library.fiveable.me/practice/ap-world-history).

Yes—locally developed platforms like Weibo can be an effective form of resistance to globalization, but with limits. Strengths: they promote cultural nationalism and local norms (CED keywords), allow domestic actors to shape discourse, and reduce dependence on Western tech ecosystems. China’s Great Firewall + Weibo illustrate how states combine tech and regulation to resist foreign cultural/economic influence (Topic 9.7 illustrative example). Limits: such platforms don’t stop economic integration or global flows of capital/ideas entirely; they can be co-opted by state control, surveillance, and censorship, which narrows the kind of “resistance” they offer. For the AP exam, treat Weibo as an illustrative example of responses to globalization (Learning Objective G)—explain both how it advances cultural/economic autonomy and how state power or tech limits that autonomy. For more on Topic 9.7 see the Fiveable study guide (https://library.fiveable.me/ap-world-history/unit-9/resistance-globalization-after-1900/study-guide/UNOZnXixKCtpAMnEyT1Y) and practice questions (https://library.fiveable.me/practice/ap-world-history).

Both resistances push back against outside influence, but they look different. Nineteenth-century resistance to imperialism focused on stopping formal political control—rebellions, anti-colonial nationalism, limiting European trade/missionary access, or restricting Europeans to ports. After 1900, resistance to globalization often targets economic and cultural systems rather than direct empire: anti-IMF/World Bank protests, Seattle WTO riots (1999), Zapatista and Occupy movements, protectionism, import substitution industrialization, Bolivarianism, and cultural-nationalist internet controls (Great Firewall, Weibo). Similarities: both use nationalism, local movements, and sometimes violence or civil disobedience to defend autonomy. Differences: post-1900 actions often aim to reshape global economic rules, digital flows, or corporate power (alter-globalization, Fair Trade), not just remove foreign political rule. For AP exam essays, tie examples to CED keywords and analyze causes/effects or continuity/change (comparison and causation). For deeper review, see the Topic 9.7 study guide (https://library.fiveable.me/ap-world-history/unit-9/resistance-globalization-after-1900/study-guide/UNOZnXixKCtpAMnEyT1Y) and practice questions (https://library.fiveable.me/practice/ap-world-history).

When countries reject global economic institutions (IMF, World Bank, WTO) they often face mixed consequences. Short-term benefits: greater policy autonomy to pursue protectionism, import-substitution industrialization, or Bolivarian-style state-led development—which can protect domestic industries and support cultural nationalism. Short-term costs: reduced access to foreign loans, investment, and trade dispute mechanisms, which can cause capital flight, higher borrowing costs, or isolation from global supply chains. Long-term effects vary: some states build alternative institutions or local tech ecosystems (e.g., Weibo/Great Firewall approach to digital independence), while others suffer slower growth, inflation, or reduced foreign direct investment. Politically, rejecting institutions can boost nationalist legitimacy but also limit capacity to respond to crises. For AP essays, link these consequences to specific examples (anti-IMF protests, import substitution in Latin America, protectionist policies) and show causation and continuity/change over time. See the Topic 9.7 study guide for examples and practice (https://library.fiveable.me/ap-world-history/unit-9/resistance-globalization-after-1900/study-guide/UNOZnXixKCtpAMnEyT1Y) and try practice questions (https://library.fiveable.me/practice/ap-world-history).

Globalization produces both supporters and opponents because it creates winners and losers across economies, cultures, and politics. Supporters point to cheaper goods, foreign investment, tech transfer, and faster communication that boost growth and connect people (think multinational firms and freer trade). Opponents see threats to local jobs, cultural change, unequal power (IMF/World Bank policies), and loss of sovereignty—so they push protectionism, import-substitution, Bolivarianism, Fair Trade, or protest movements (Seattle WTO 1999, Zapatistas, Occupy). Cultural controls (Great Firewall, Weibo) show governments shaping tech to reduce perceived harms. For the AP exam, link these causes/effects and specific examples to Learning Objective G (Topic 9.7)—that’s useful in SAQs, DBQs, or LEQs. For a focused review, check the Topic 9.7 study guide (https://library.fiveable.me/ap-world-history/unit-9/resistance-globalization-after-1900/study-guide/UNOZnXixKCtpAMnEyT1Y) and practice questions (https://library.fiveable.me/practice/ap-world-history).

Nationalism often fuels resistance to globalization because it emphasizes loyalty to the nation’s culture, economy, or political sovereignty—so global flows that seem to undermine those things prompt pushback. Economic nationalism creates protectionism, import-substitution policies, anti-IMF/World Bank protests, and movements like Bolivarianism that reject neoliberal reforms. Cultural nationalism pushes back against Western cultural influence (e.g., Great Firewall, Weibo as a local alternative). Political nationalism underlies uprisings and alter-globalization actions (Zapatistas, Seattle WTO protests, World Social Forum, Occupy Wall Street) that demand local control or fairer rules. For AP exams, use Topic 9.7 (Learning Objective G) to link specific examples to causes and effects—show continuity/change, causation, and multiple perspectives in short answers, DBQs, or LEQs. For a quick refresher, see the Topic 9.7 study guide (https://library.fiveable.me/ap-world-history/unit-9/resistance-globalization-after-1900/study-guide/UNOZnXixKCtpAMnEyT1Y) and unit review (https://library.fiveable.me/ap-world-history/unit-9). Practice with related questions at (https://library.fiveable.me/practice/ap-world-history).