globalisation Flashcards
Giddens’ definition of Globalisation
the intensification of
worldwide social relations linking distant localities
Ritzer’s definition of Globalisation
globalisation refers to the rapidly increasing worldwide integration and interdependence of societies and cultures
History of globalisation
Globalisation has been underway since the dawn of history. It emerged with Industrialisation and Capitalism.
Causes of globalisation
Containerisation
Technological advancements
More trade deals
Transnational activity
The characteristics of globalisation
- Globalization is Not a New, Western Concept
- Globalization is Basically a ‘Mindset’
- Globalization is an Opportunity
- Globalization means “Interdependence”
- Globalization means “Caring & Sharing”
- Globalization puts Technology in Service of Mankind
- Globalization is Inevitable & Irreversible
- Globalization has Linked Politics with Economics
- Globalization means Raised Standards of Living
- Globalization Demands Respects and Excellence
The factors of globalisation
- The rise of information and communication technology
- Cultural factors
- Economic factors
- Political factors
All theories of globalisation
- Traditionalist
- Marxist
- Postmodernism
- Feminism
- Liberalism
- Eclecticism
- Transformationalism
- Modernism
- Constructivism
- McDonaldisation
Optimistic views of globalisation
optimistic views:
- Optimists believe that globalisation is happening and that local cultures are being eroded primarily because of the expansion of international capitalism and the emergence of a homogeneous global culture
- They believe that globalisation is a positive process characterised by economic growth, increasing prosperity, and the spread of democracy
- The optimistic view of globalisation is NEOLIBERALISM, neoliberalism insists that governments in developing countries need to remove obstacles to free trade and free market capitalism in order to generate development.
Evidence for optimistic views -
1. more international trade = increasing wealth, health, and education for most countries
2. optimists believe transnational corporations are a force for good, they bring investment and jobs to developing countries.
3. Cultural benefits
pessimistic views of globalisation
Pessimistic view of globalisation:
- they see globalisation as a process in which Western institutions and ideas are imposed on the rest of the world
The pessimist view of globalisation is the MARXIST VIEW. He argued that the relentless drive for profits would lead companies to mechanise their workplaces, and produce more and more goods while squeezing workers’ wages until they could no longer purchase the products they created.
Evidence for pessimistic views:
1. Low wages = big profits
2. Mass advertising of Western cultural icons.
Wallerstein’s views on globalisation
- Majority of his work focuses on the world systems. Wallerstein believes the world system is composed of the core, the periphery, and the semi-periphery.
- The core is the dominating economic power, the United States. 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 the periphery, and, like the core, exploits the periphery.
- Wallerstein argues, that globalization reached its limit in the 20th century because capitalism was finally able to reach all parts of the globe.
- Wallerstein sees the development of the capitalist world economy as detrimental to a large proportion of the world’s population.
Wallerstein has two main beliefs:
1. He believes capitalism favours the core and discourages the growth of the semi-periphery and the periphery.
2. He also believes future economic contractions will be invincible.
Beaumans view on globalisation
- Bauman argues that globalization divides as much as it unites, creating an ever-widening gulf between the haves and the have-nots. Rather than the hybrid culture we had hoped for, globalization is creating a more homogenous world.
Research methods in sociology
- Quantitive research
- Qualitative research
- Scientific approach
- Ethnographic methods
- Interviews
- Surveys
- Existing sources
- Experimental method
- Sociological research
Ritzers view of grobalisation and glocalisation
Glocalisation:
- glocalisation can be defined as the interpretation of the global and local, resulting in unique outcomes in different geographic areas.
Grobalisation:
- Grobalisation focuses on the imperialistic ambitions of the nations, corporations, organisations, and other entities and their desire need to impose themselves on various geographic areas.
- Their main interest is in seeing their power, influence and profits grow.
- It’s argued that grobalisation tends to be associated with the proliferation of nothing, while glocalisation tends to be tied more to something and therefore stands opposed to the spread of nothing.
Concepts of nothing and something
- it’s clear that neither nothing or something exists independantly of the other; each makes sense only when provided with and contrasted to the other. E.G. Something is a place (community bank) whereas nothing is a nonplace (credit card company).
- Something is a locally conceived and controlled social form that is comparatively rich in distinctive substantive content. It also describes things as being fairly unusual.
- Nothing a social form that is generally centerally conceived, controlled, and comparatively devoid of distinctive substantive content. It usually aims at the standardized and homogenous, while “something” refers to things that are personal or have a local flavor.
Glocalisation vs grobalisation
- As opposite to glocalisation, grobalisation aims to “overwhelm local”. Its ultimate goal is to see
profit grow through unilateral homogenization, thus earning its name grobalisation. - Grobalisation focuses on a group or organization in order for them to grow economically or in other aspects. Glocalisation sees the individual as important asset. The individual’s unique
creativity is the driving agent of glocalisation.
