This paper is articulated around globalization, economic growth, and human development. It pays particular attention to one aspect of globalization - the global economy. It argues that although many countries, particularly from the global south, have been negatively affected through their engagement in the global economy, the global economy still offers far reaching possibilities for economic growth and human development. Introduction The Cold War era, marked by the domination of two superpowers in the decades following the end of World War II, has given way to a new era called globalization. This new eon is characterized by paradigm shrinking of the globe in terms of travel, communication, increased participation in global policy making by an expanding array of national and non-state actors and an exploding volume of problems of Security with ever-growing consequences. While the tearing down of Berlin Wall over a decade ago dramatically symbolized the end of the cold War Era, the creation of the internet graphically illustrates the emergence of the globalization era and the fallen World Trade center symbolizes a new paradigm for conflict, War and lasting war. Early signs of this transition were manifested during the latter part of the twentieth century by series of problems that transcended national boundaries. These problems caught the attention of erudite scholars, philosophers and renowned policy makers who demanded and sought for comprehensive analyses and deep-rooted solutions. The effects of significant population growth in the developing world, for example called for multilateral action by leaders in developed countries like U.S.A, Japan, China and Russia and in developing countries like Haiti, Sierra Leone, Nigeria and Most other African countries. Acid rain, created by emission from smokestacks was the precursor to a host of environmental crises that appeared with increasing frequency, challenging the traditional political order and those that commanded it. These and many concerns that are more global remain today. It is good to note that some of these global issues are being addressed successfully, others are addressed without success and while others are not given sincere preference. With the shattering of the cold war system and the advent of the globalization age, new issues have emerged to broaden our conception of the global agenda. It is that the term globalization has very much found popularity in mainstream literature. And while it covers issues of trade, media and communication, migration, politics, culture, etc., globalization has come to mean everything and nothing in particular. In development discourse, the key argument is the effect globalization has or has had on human development. The idea is that there are winners and losers in the globalization process. While the terms winners and losers are quite controversial and debated topics, there still happens to be stronger agreement that over the decades the engagement of some, particularly from the global south, in the global economy, has had somewhat negative effects on them. 1. What is “globalization” and “human development”? 1.1 Globalization This article works with the World Bank's definition of globalization, which reads thus: “... the growing Integration of economies and societies around the world”. This definition indicates that globalization is still an on-going process, which revolves around the socio-economic and political spheres. It therefore rules out assertions of a fully globalized world economy. In line with this thought, Dicken (2007: 8) emphasizes that “... we do not have a fully globalised world economy [globalizing processes are reflected in, and influenced by, multiple geographies, rather than a single global geography ...” Otherwise, a fully globalized world economy, with a single global geography would imply that we humans are a global citizenry, our societal goal(s) being influenced by a global common. This is far from truth. Different geographies have different goals and preferences; and while these geographies are more or less tied into the global economy, what we have is a global system characterized by different processes and outcomes. Globalization heightens our awareness of a vast array of global issues that will challenge individuals as well as governmental and non-governmental actors. Since the demise of cold war, analysts and lay persons have become free to define, examine and explore solutions to such issues on a truly global scale. 1.2 Human Development This article works with the UNDP's definition of Human Development. In the first Human Development Report (1990) UNDP defined Human Development as “a process of enlarging people's choices ... the most critical of these wide-ranging choices are to live a long and healthy life, to be educated and have access to resources needed for a dissent standard of living ...”Very much influenced by the work of Nobel laureate ArmatyaSen,