Introduction Globalization is an integral part of the modern world, and its processes affect all countries and all inhabitants of the earth. However, the effects of this process are controversial, since, on the one hand, it is beneficial, but on the other, it has negative consequences for many countries. Especially these differences can be noted by comparing the situation of countries that only after the 1970s gained independence and embarked on the path of democratic and economic growth and developed countries. The period of the 1970s–2000s is the most vivid for understanding the impact of the process of globalization and changes in the world order. The system of colonization and the bipolar world was finally eliminated, and democracy replaced the dictatorships in many countries precisely during these years. Consequently, this paper will explore the period of the 1970s-2000s to determine the events and impact of the first stages of globalization in different countries and their people. Main body The first feature of this period is the fact that almost all countries of the world have switched to a democratic system and a free market economy. The last African colonies gained independence, Latin American countries overthrew dictatorial regimes, and the Cold War ended with the collapse of the Soviet Union (Tingor et al., 2014). The latter event had the most significant consequences for Europe and part of Asia, since after the collapse of the USSR, 15 independent states appeared on the world map. In addition, the reduction of the influence or support of the communist ideology to such countries as Czechoslovakia, Germany, and Yugoslavia, and internal causes also led to their collapse and the emergence of young democracies (Tingor et al., 2014). The newly emerging countries or governments had to correct the mistakes of previous authorities and create new institutions and structures to ensure the development and a sufficient standard of living for their people. However, all these states demanded support and implementation in the new economic system, which led to increased cooperation and integration, and therefore globalization. One of the landmark events of that period was the fall of the Berlin Wall, which for nearly 50 years, symbolized the division of the world into a capitalist and socialist camp. This event was expected and unexpected at the same time. As Ann Tusa notes in her article, the mass migration, or rather escape, of East Berlin residents through other countries or gaps in the Wall has grown to a considerable extent, as well as citizens’ protests (Tingor et al., 2014). Hence, the USSR authorities were not able to control the situation and decided to open access for East Berlin citizens to West Berlin (Tingor et al., 2014). Ann also notes that such an event was completely unexpected for both journalists and the public and was the beginning of the unification of Germany (Tingor et al., 2014). Such changes in German politics, as well as the opportunities of its western part, allowed the state to join the processes of globalization in short lines, benefit from it, and become one of the most developed countries in the world. Changes also occurred in the political system of som