This chapter discusses the changing economic, social, and political context of cultural studies. It covers topics like the transition from Fordism to post-Fordism; the reconfiguration of social classes and rise of the service class; patterns of globalization and cultural flows; debates around cultural imperialism; new social movements and life politics; and the impacts of climate change and new technologies. The chapter examines how these shifts are challenging traditional concepts and creating a "new world disorder" for cultural studies to analyze.