three major poles of globalisation concentrate a high level of wealth, economic development, and a strong capacity for economic development + innovation and great accessibility + house international institutions (UN in New York, WTO in Geneva.) + power is also based on their ability to bring about the emergence of economic, political and cultural models disseminated worldwide. Europe and North America are grouped together in regional economic associations (EU, ACEUM), which promote intra-zone trade and enhance their border interfaces.

global cities are distinguished by functional specificities that allow them to shine beyond their national territory + concentrate strategic and command functions (FTN headquarters, world stock exchange headquarters). These metropolises offer a dense population and are on average more educated than in the rest of the country + certain number of high value-added service activities necessary for businesses (insurance, banking services, research and development, etc). These very dynamic territories are strongly linked to each other by powerful hubs. The CBDs or business districts symbolize this integration into globalisation + power of these metropolises is prolonged thanks to their maritime facades.

areas on the fringes of globalisation accumulate weaknesses which lead to their exclusion from world trade. The isolation of certain areas is a repelling factor for transnational firms (FTNs): the latter need accessibility (access to the sea, large airport, paved roads) to participate in commercial and financial exchanges + regional instability, potentially generating conflicts, discourages the establishment of foreign firms (country risk).

extreme poverty is also a factor limiting integration: poor access to education causes a lack of skilled labour, necessary for the installation of FTNs + transport infrastructure also suffers from this lack of resources.

globalisation is a moving process that can change the situation in certain territories (e.g. the discovery of new scarce resources or climate change can make it possible to enhance certain areas). Others, on the other hand, become repulsive in the event of dwindling resources or political instability.

new stakeholder strategies (State, regional organizations, companies) can change the situation of a territory in globalization: this is evidenced by the rise of emerging countries and the effects of development corridors. At the national level, a policy of openness to FDI, at the local level, the creation of free zones, can make a territory attractive. Tax havens have thus become major centres of financial globalisation.

International institutions encourage globalization by encouraging the liberalization of trade. Since 1944, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Bank (BM) have promoted a liberal economy. Likewise, the World Trade Organization (WTO) can sanction all deviations from free trade. These institutions also aim to resolve trade conflicts and tensions linked to globalization. At the WTO, every member state counts as one voice, which allows poor or emerging countries to make their voices heard. The IMF and the World Bank lend money to countries in difficulty.

Countries, such as the G7 or the G20, have formed to try to group together solve global challenges and regulate globalization. These more informal cooperation sometimes make it possible to challenge the order proposed by international institutions. The creation of the G20 or the BRICS testifies to a desire to promote a more multipolar world.

groupings between States aim to influence globalisation. These regional associations all function and have different objectives: sometimes it is a simple free trade area (ACEUM) or more extensive cooperation in economic, monetary and political (EU) matters.

continental scale is particularly relevant for states and businesses. All regional associations promote free trade within them by removing customs barriers (ASEAN, Mercosur.). They often bring together countries of different economic weight.

this regional cooperation makes it possible to strengthen the economic power and the attractiveness of the area concerned. Intra-zone trade is favoured by development corridors. Global exchanges are organized mainly between these large associations.

despite some successes, regional cooperation is all experiencing tensions. In the EU, Brexit underlines the deep disagreement in the UK between the winners and the forgotten in globalization. Tensions also relate to the economic model: some countries advocate a minimum of protectionism while others are in favour of free trade (e.g. Donald Trump's United States favours national productions, which causes tensions within CUSMA).

many regional organizations are ultimately poorly integrated: trade is more important with the outside world than within the region. They do little for development; inter-regional disparities remain strong. The fear of a too powerful neighbour within the organization is also a vector of tension.

tensions also emanate from citizen movements that have emerged since the end of the 1990s. Alter-globalization is a nebula of associations which oppose liberal globalization while committing themselves to the protection of the environment. These citizen demands have the common point of advocating more equitable and sustainable global governance.