cultural homogenisation

Question 1

cultural homogenisation is actually occuring

Answer 1

• friedman
• fukuyama
• faireweather and rogerson

Question 2

cultural homogenisation is not occuring

Answer 2

• spybey
• giddens

Question 3

freidman

Answer 3

• cultural homogenisation through globalisation is essentially a process of westernisation, more narrowly americanisation
• he suggests that globalisation has an american face due to the widespread of american brands and cultural icons around the world
• e.g. mickey mouse, big macs, pepsi
• this perspective implies that americam culture and its capitalist values are being spread globally through the mechanisms of globalisation

Question 4

fukuyama

Answer 4

• argues that cultural homogenisation is occuring globally due to the increasing dominance of western capitalist liberal democratic ideologies:
• the historical trajectory if the world is moving towards the kind of civilisation found in the western capitalist liberal democracies
• world conflicts will persist as struggles to establish capitalism in areas where absent
• the world will continue to be dominated by western, capitalist. democratic ideologies following the collapse of the soviet union and the rise of capitalism
• therefore fukuyama aligns with the idea that globalisation is leading to a more unifrom global culture shaped by western political and economic systems

Question 5

fairweather and rogerson

Answer 5

• cultural homogenisation is ocurring due to several factors:
• Computer software not being localised and therefore microsofy for example reflexts western ways of thinking
• Advertising by the west is broadcasting on a global scale therefore presents western ideas on what is desirable
• Antisocial behaviour on the internet can reflect western ideas about morality and deviance for example, accessing private information, racism, sexism and other forms or harassment
• Digital communication does not give rules or police morality and ethics than can occur in cultures such as Western views regarding liberalism

Question 6

spybey

Answer 6

• argues against the idea that globalisation leads to cultural homogenisation solely through western influence
• instead he sees globalisation as a chance for the exchange of practices between countries
• he illustrates this with the example of japan adopting fordist mass production of techniques, while in return the us adopted japanese post-fordist practices that have led to further innovations
• this suggests that the mastery of processes connected to industrial and post industrial capitalism is not limited to western countries and can be directed from non-western countries as well, such as japan.
• therefore, spybey views globalisation as a more reciprocal process involving the interchange of ideas and practices rather than a simple impositio of western cultures

Question 7

giddens

Answer 7

• argues that globalisation is not a straightforward process of cultural homogenisation driven by the west
• he defines globalisation as the intensification of worldwide social relations that connect distant localities in such a way that local happenings are shaped by events occuring many miles away and vice versa
• this highlights the interconnectedness and reciprocal influence inherent in globalisation.
• argues that globalisation does not necessarily destroy local cultures and instead can spark unpredictable responses and be a reason for the revival of local cultural identities and claim for their survival
• introduces the cocnept of reverse colonialition where western cultures are not dominating less powerful groups but the reverse is occuring.
• e.g. mexicanisation of california and latinisation of LA
• due to the threat of cultural homogenisation, a process of cultural defense is taking place as a form of resistance
• the rapid pace of social change brought about by globalisation is a significant characteristic of our time
• giddens sees globalisation as a complex and dynamic process invlolving mutual influence and adaptation between different cultures rather than a simple imposition of western dominance leading to cultural unifromity