this book explores the development, content, and impact of world culture. combining two of the most fruitful theoretical perspectives on world culture - the world polity approach and globalization theory - the book traces the development of world culture from the mid-nineteenth century to the present day. it includes extensive illustrations of key issues and empirical research, gives a historical treatment of the development of world culture, and assesses the complex impact of world culture on people, organizations, and societies. this is a provocative, synthetic, and grounded interpretation of world culture that is essential for any student or scholar of globalization and world affairs.