The definition of globalisation can vary with examples such as; “Globalisation refers to all those processes by which the peoples of the world are incorporated into a single society, global society” (Albrows 1990:9). Another definition of globalisation is “a term used to describe a complex of related processes that has served to increase the interconnectedness of social life in the (post) modern world” (Pacione 2001:8). Upon awareness of the definition we can know realise and understand that globalisation is an ongoing process; however its full impacts are not identified.

Globalisation has created a more interconnected global society. The result of this is the emergence of transnational corporations or global companies which ha

ve utilised the ability to extend their business over the world. These global companies have economic activities in more than one country. Although these companies often appear to be beneficial to the urban environment, by creating job opportunities for other people, this in turn forces local businesses to have lower wage rates and sacrifice quality in order to compete. Because of globalisation, powerful transnational corporations can have negative effects on urban environments as they can cause extreme disruption to a country’s economic and social plans. Local capital has difficulty competing and the small local businesses become disadvantaged. Local firms may be squeezed out of local capital markets by the perceived attractiveness of transnational corporations as a use for local savings (Dickens 1992:390). An example of this negative impact can be found in a case situated in the Caribbean where local outlets served wonderfully succulent and spicy portions of chicken. “They were then undercut by a certain US brand leader, which subsidised imported chickens and took losses over a two year period until it could drive the local firms out of business. Needless to say the prices for its inferior product soon went up” (Cohen & Kennedy 1998:124). Here, small local business owners can understand

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, United Kingdom, Batam Islands, Cohen Kennedy, global companies, urban environments, underdeveloped countries, globalisation dirty word, urban impact, cheap labour, dirty word, globalisation dirty, transnational corporations, local businesses, investing underdeveloped countries, de-industrialisation investing underdeveloped, de-industrialisation investing,