Globalisation Flashcards
(40 cards)
Giddens’ definition of Globalisation
“the intensification of worldwide social relations which link distant localities in such a way that local happenings are shaped by events occurring many miles away and vice versa”
Outline the History of Globalisation.
The historical forms of globalisation are:
1) Name: 21st century “Thick Globalisation”
Description: High extensity, intensity, velocity and impact
2) Name: (18th century) Western imperial expansion
Description: high extensity and impact.
3) Name (200 BC-200 AD) Silk and Luxury Trade
High extensity
Low intensity, velocity and impact
What does extensity in regard to globalisation
the stretching of social, political, and economic activities across frontiers and borders.
What does extensity in regard to globalisation
the stretching of social, political, and economic activities across frontiers and borders.
What are the causes of globalisation.
(Main factors driving modern globalisation)
- Containerisation
-the cost of transporting products across the world is decreasing
-ocean and air travel cost reducing, meaing products can be transported globally more easily
2.Technological Advances
-cutting cost of transmitting information globally - Transnational Activity
4.More Trade Deals
What are the characteristics of Globalisation
E- Demands and respects EXCELLENCE
W-Not a new WESTERN concept
P- Linked with POLITICS and economics
O-is an OPPORTUNITY
E-Excellence
T-Puts technology in Service of Mankind
I-Means there is interdependence
C-Means caring and sharing
I- It is inevitable and irreversible
S-Standards of living are raised
M-Basically a mindset as it seeks to encapsulate the whole world
What are giddens 4 Factors of Globalisation
- Rise of information and communications technology
- Cultural Factors
- Economic Factors
- Political Factors
Go more into depth about Giddens four factors of globalisation
The rise of information and communications technology
* The move from telephonic communication to cable and satellite digital communication have resulted in
increasing information flows (types of global flows)
* Time-space compression – social world is closer
-instantaneous communication
-People are more directly plugged into news from
the outside world events unfold in real time in front of a global audience.
* Some individuals identify being more ‘cosmopolitanism’ as a result and increasingly identify with a global audience; however, others perceive increasing globalisation as a threat to their ways of life as it seeks to impact traditions and cultures
Cultural Factors
The emergence of global sporting events such as The Olympics , Formula 1 and Football all bring people together across boarders.
* Music, film, and celebrity culture shared globally
* Global consumption patterns have become increasingly similar E.g: rise of shopping malls and online shopping.
* People move around the world- increased shared culture and practices
* There is an emerging global risk consciousnes we are all combatting the same global issues such as climate change and covid
Economic Factors
The global economy is Post Industrial – as a result it is increasingly ‘weightless’ (Quah 1999) –
products are much more likely to be information based/ electronic, such as computer software,
films and music or information services rather than actual tangible, physical goods such as food,
clothing or cars.
* The role of Transnational Corporations (TNCs) is particularly important. These are companies
that produce goods in more than one country, and they are oriented to global markets and
global products.
* Global Commodity chains – manufacturing is increasingly globalised as there are more
worldwide networks extending from the raw material to the final consumer. The least profitable
aspects of production – actually making physical products, tend to be done in poorer, peripheral
countries, whereas the more profitable aspects, related to branding and marketing, tend to be
done in the richer, developed, core countries.
* The electronic economy underpins globalisation – Banks, corporations, fund managers and
individuals are able to shift huge funds across boarders instantaneously at the click of a mouse.
Transfers of vast amounts of capital can trigger economic crises.
- Political Factors
* The collapse of Communism in the 1990s meant the
end of the divided ‘cold war’ world, and now these ex-
communist countries are themselves democracies and
integrated into the global economy.
* The growth of international and regional mechanisms
of government such as the United Nations and
European Union – governments of Nation States are
increasingly restricted by international directives and
laws stemming from these international bodies.
* International Non-Governmental organisations such
as OXFAM or Greenpeace, operate in dozens of
countries, and members tend to have an international
outlook.
Theories of Globalisation
What is the Traditionalist view of Globalisation?
Globalisation is Exaggerated
- Trade is not truly global, it is regional. Trade is still happening mostly within individual countries. For example 60% of EU trade is within the EU. Other countries are left out of global trade flows.
- Transnational Corporations do not operate in all countries, only secure ones.
- Billions of people still live mostly subsistence lifestyles and simply cannot afford to take part in globalised western style consumption. The Sahel region still has subsistence farmers and does not have the economic power to be viable consumers.
- Some countries remain cut off from ‘global democratic and military force’
– e.g. North Korea and Iran.
North Korea do not have access to social media or connection to the world. - Governments still have the power to censor social media
-North Korea - Local traditions still remain in many cultures –
For example it is estimated that 90% of women in Somalia have
been circumcised.
Anthony GIddens argues that ‘detraditionalization’ is
part of Globalisation because people increasingly challenge traditions as they come into contact with new ideas such as the political and economic ones of globalisation.
Modernisation theory of globalisation.
When was it developed?
What are its 2 major focuses?
Developed in the late 1940s with two major aims.
1. Attempted to explain why poorer countries have failed to develop, focussing on what cultural and economic conditions might act as ‘barriers’ to development
2. Provide a non-communist solution to poverty in the developing world by suggesting that economic
change (in the form of Capitalism) and the introduction of western values and culture could play a key role in
bringing about modernisation. It favours capitalism.
Its aim was to spread a specifically industrialised, capitalist model of development through the promotion of Western, democratic values
What are the 3 criticisms of the modernisation theory?
(NOT WALLERSTEIN)
1) The viewpoint ignores the ‘crisis of modernism’ in both the developed and developing
worlds. Many developed countries have huge inequalities and the greater the
level of inequality the greater the degree of other problems: High crime rates, suicide rates, health problems, drug abuse.
2) Corruption (Kleptocracy/ capitalism ) prevents aid of any kind doing good, Much aid is siphoned off by corrupt elites and government officials rather than getting to the projects it was earmarked for. This means that aid creates more inequality and enables elites to maintain power
3)There are ecological limits to growth. Many modernisation projects such
mining and forestry have lead to the destruction of environment.
Theory of Liberalism
How do they see globalisation?
- Liberalism sees the process of globalisation as market-led extension of
modernisation. At the most elementary level, it is a result of ‘natural’
human desires for economic welfare and political liberty. - As such, transplanetary connectivity is derived from human drives to
maximise material well-being and to exercise basic freedoms. These
forces eventually interlink humanity across the planet
The result of liberalism is seen and evident through the presence of:
-Technological advances particularly in the areas of transport, communications and information processing
-Suitable legal and institutional arrangement to enable markets and
liberal democracy to spread on a trans world scale.
Theory of Marxism
What is the main idea in relation to globalisation
Principally concerned with modes of production, social exploitation through unjust distribution, and social inequality as a result of capitalism.
Marx anticipated the growth of globalism because ‘capital by its nature drives beyond every spatial barrier to conquer the whole earth for its market’.
Globalisation happens because transworld connectivity enhances opportunities of profit making
Conflict theorists stress how power is concentrated in the capitalist class. Global capitalism is a means by which capitalists exploit workers
Looks at how globalisation makes wealth more dense.
Theory of Constructivism
Globalisation has also arisen because of the way that people have mentally
constructed the social world with particular symbols, language, images and interpretation.
Constructivists concentrate on social actors. Specifically, the ways that social actors ‘construct’ their
world.
Conversation and symbolic exchanges lead people to construct ideas of the
world, the rules for social interaction, and ways of being and belonging in
that world.
Social geography is a mental experience as well as a physical fact. Social geography forms ‘in’ or ‘out’ as well as ‘us’ and they’ groups which is influenced by globalisation.
Post modernist theory
Post modernity flaws
Categorised by its focus on structural theory and its influence on the construction of norms, knowledge and identities.
Michael Foucault focuses on the idea of knowledge power in society and how power structures influence knowledge. Specific knowledge structures support specific power hierarchies.
Postmodernism focuses on media and the digitisation of media. It views this as central to globalisation and emphasises the positive effects that media globalisation has on the world.
understands ideology as the support for our reality
It sees other theories such as Marxism as just another metanarrative and another persons opinion rather than the truth. Everyone’s views on truth and reality is true to them. It is fine for everyone to have different opinions, which is why is rejects metanarratives.
If it states that there is no one true theory about something…why should we be listening to its opinion…isnt it just another narrative……..hypocritical
It is very pessismistic in the way that it believes truth is subjective. Theories should be used to try and understand reality and create a better world and understanding
The truth is subjective
The objective truth is dead
Feminism
Looks at femininity and masculinity.
Looks at biological sex as the driving force in social order and shape history such as globality.
Concerned with the structural subordination that women have to men.
Applicable to globalisation because women have been silenced, marginalised and violated in global
communications.
Theory of transformationalism
Who proposed it?
What is the key term here that globalisation creates?
How does the theory define globalisation?
David Held and Collegeaues
Globalisation is proposed to reflect
increased interconnectedness in political, economic and cultural matters
Globalisation creates a “shared social space”
Definition: a process (or set of processes) which embodies a transformation in
the spatial organisation of social relations and transactions,
expressed in transcontinental or interregional flows and networks
of activity, interaction and power.”
Optimistic views of Globalisation
What is evidence that globalisation is a positive phenomena?
What is an example of a transnational company?
- More international trade that has resulted in more wealth, health and education for many countries.
Transnational companies such as Apple and Amazon are positive driving forces.
Poverty in China decreased as a result of globalisation.
Education in China increased - Cultural Benefits
More people are consumers - Globalisation increasingly means global cities
Name the theory and person who propose optimistic views on globalisation
Neo Liberalism
Kenichi Ohmae’s
enthusiastic advocates of
globalisation from a right-wing neoliberal perspective who sees economic
change as the driving force of globalisation’
political boarders are becoming less and less
important, as countries increasingly form a giant, interlinked economy –
this is especially true of the most developing countries, such as America,
Europe and Japan, and these being joined by rapidly developing countries
such as Taiwan, Singapore and Hong Kong.
the Interlinked Economy, corporations and
consumers are more closely connected across boarders than ever, and
politicians, bureaucrats and the military are declining in importance.
Marxism
What are the foundational views of marxism and globalisation
What are the 5 key points raised by marxism on the powerpoint about how it is a pessimistic view?
Now explain them.
What did he say that capitalism focuses on and what type of product does this focus on?
Give an example that proves societies imaginary and unnatural appetite for more
Marxism is principally concerned with modes of production, social exploitation
through unjust distribution, and social emancipation through the transcendence
of capitalism.
Marx himself anticipated the growth of globality that ‘capital by its nature drives
beyond every spatial barrier to conquer the whole earth for its market’.
Accordingly, to Marxists, globalisation happens because transworld
connect
- Marx focus on the inherent crisis prone nature of capitalism
-the relentless drive for profits would force workers to squeeze more work into minimum wage until they can no longer afford new products
-We produce and produce until there is simply no one left to purchase our goods, no new markets, no new debts.
-The cycle is still playing out before our eyes: Broadly speaking, it’s what made the housing market crash in 2008.
-Decades of deepening inequality reduced incomes, which led more and more Americans
to take on debt.
- When there were no subprime borrows left to scheme, the whole façade fell apart, just as Marx knew it would. - Capitalism has a tendency to attribute high value to essential arbitrary (random) products. He argued that this would result in imaginary and unnatural appetites
-This is relevant to modern day America and how there is incredible luxury yet still a constant desire for more arbitrary stuff
-For example purchasing new iphones even when they aren’t that different to the one they already have
- The IMF and globalisation of capitalism
The IMF is the international monetary fund. It channels loans from rich nations to those that need help as long as the agree to run free market economies.
These ideas about overproduction lead mark to predict globalisation which is ‘The spread of capitalism across the world in search of new markets’
-The need for new market sneds the bergiouse all over the world. This means that capitalism and the bergiouse will nestle, settle and establish connections everywhere.
-This means that marx predicted globalisation and why globalisation would occur which is to source cheap labour, new markets and the need for more natural resources
- Monopolies
-market power would be centralised in large monopoly firms as businesses preyed upon eachother
Evidence of this is that small businesses have been replaced by coorporations such as walmart and small banks have been replaced by large bangs
-there is also monopoly within media which is a cause for concern for globalisation pessimists. this comes as the concentration of the media is in the hands of a few powerful coorporations
- Low Wages, big profits
Capitalists wish to pay as little as possible for labor,
and this is easiest to do when there are too many workers floating around
optimistic views on globalisation:
Neoliberalisms view on globalisation
What do they believe governments need to do in order to have development?
Thomas Friedman argues that globalisation has occurred because of adoption of neoliberal economic policies.
Governments in developing countries need to remove all obstacles to free trade and free market capitalism in order to generate development.
Governments should limit their role to providing a
business-friendly environment that enables businesses
(both inside and outside the country) to make a profit
Kenichi Ohmae’s view on
Globalisation
uncompromising and whole heartedly enthusiastic advocates for globalisation from a right-wing neoliberal perspective
sees economic change as the driving force of globalisation
political boarders are becoming less and less
important, as countries increasingly form a giant, interlinked economy
the Interlinked Economy, corporations and
consumers are more closely connected across boarders than ever, and
politicians, bureaucrats and the military are declining in importance
Individuals have become global citizens through their
consumption habits – they want to buy the best and
cheapest products where ever they are made, and any
government who tried to prevent this happening would
risk upsetting millions of potential voters.
Evidence for the pessimism of globalisation
Increased trade has resulted in unequal benefits
Transnational companies are massive pollutants that extract resources and exploit labour from the developing companies
The Americanisation of unique cultures, increased cultural homogenisation.
Wallerstein
What theory did he propose?
Did he like or dislike globalisation?
What are the three systems that he proposed and what are they ?
The world systems theory
Dislike
The core is the dominating economic power
The periphery provides raw materials to the core
and relies on the core’s expensive products.
The semi-periphery is exploited by the core, like
periphery, and, like the core, exploits the periphery.
