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. Combining several of the most fruitful theoretical perspectives on world culture, including the world polity approach and globalization theory, the book 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.