People, nations, and ecosystems are becoming more integrated as the exchange of goods and services among countries and ecosystems is occurring at an ever-increasing rate. Transportation and communication systems over the past century have enhanced this integration, which is resulting in a highly interdependent world community. This phenomenon, referred to as globalization, has significantly affected the world's environmental and social systems (see Alder and Watson, Chapter 2; Rose and Molloy, Chapter 4; Ruddle, Chapter 8; Frank et al., Chapter 16), and has captured the attention of the public and professionals from a wide spectrum of disciplines. Globalization is defined as “the widening, deepening and speeding up of worldwide interconnectedness in all aspects of contemporary social life, from the cultural to the criminal, the financial to the spiritual” (Held et al. 1999:2).

The attention given to recent issues related to globalization, e.g., cultural and economic influences, may lead many to think that globalization is an entirely new trend in human history. Globalization, however, is hardly new and can be traced back to the time when individuals and communities began interacting and exchanging goods with one another (Lentner 2000; Simmons and Oudraat 2001). What is new is the accelerated rate of these interactions and exchanges beginning during the latter part of the twentieth century. This acceleration is related to the significantly improved communication and transportation systems that have allowed for the rapid transfer of goods, services, and knowledge throughout the world.