2026 · Q8a · Causes of globalisation (10 marks)

Source: PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION 2026.pdf, PDF page 2 · Answer allocation: 10 marks

Original examination question

Write short notes on any TWO of the following:- (10 each) a. Causes of globalization b. Challenges of Digital Governance c. Evolution of Public Administration

This page answers option/part (a). All options are supplied for revision; follow the paper’s choice instructions in the examination.

Bullet outline

Lower transport and communication costs.
Trade and investment liberalisation.
Production networks, finance and multinational firms.
Migration, education and cultural exchange.
Political choices shape uneven and reversible integration.

Full exam-ready answer

Meaning and main causes

Globalisation is the increasing intensity of cross-border economic, technological, social and institutional connections. It results from interacting changes rather than a single cause.

Technological progress has reduced the cost and time of communication and transport. Digital networks enable rapid information exchange and coordination, while improved logistics allow production and distribution across multiple countries.

Policy choices also matter. Trade agreements, reductions in barriers and more open investment arrangements can expand international exchange. These decisions create opportunities for firms to organise production through global value chains, drawing on different locations for inputs, skills and markets.

Financial integration enables capital to move across borders, although it also transmits instability. Multinational enterprises, international institutions and professional networks further deepen interdependence.

Migration, education, tourism and cultural exchange connect communities and circulate knowledge, expectations and practices. Diaspora relationships can support trade, investment and communication between countries.

Political change and international cooperation have also opened or reorganised economic relationships. Globalisation is therefore not simply an inevitable technological process: governments can accelerate, regulate or restrict particular flows.

Conclusion

The causes reinforce one another. Better communication supports international production, which creates demand for common standards and improved logistics. Nevertheless, integration remains uneven and can be disrupted by conflict, crises or protectionism. Public administrators must understand both its enabling conditions and its vulnerabilities when planning services, regulation and economic policy.

Study note: This is an original model answer, not an official FPSC marking scheme. The outline is for revision; the prose below it provides the complete answer. Marks guide relative depth rather than a prescribed word count.