Globalization involves increasing political, economic, cultural, and technological interconnections between countries and peoples around the world. It is driven by advances in communication, travel, and technology that have accelerated the flow of ideas, capital, and goods across borders. Key institutions that shape globalization include the IMF, World Bank, and WTO, which work to promote free trade, economic development, and monetary cooperation between nations. While globalization has increased prosperity in many places, it has also contributed to cultural homogenization and been criticized for exacerbating inequality and environmental damage.