Globalisation CASE STUDIES Flashcards
Case studies demonstrating the growth of ICT over time
Fibre optic cables - today, enormous flows of data are conveyed across the ocean floor by fibre optic cables. More than 1.2 mil km of flexible undersea cables today
The internet - in 2020, 58% of the world’s population using the internet, 500 mil tweets sent a day
Telephone - core technology for communicating over distance
Case study of the EU
Evolved over time from simple trade bloc to multi-governmental organisation with its own currency (euro) and some shared political legislation
Formed 1993, only group of nations that grants all citizens of member states freedom of movement
Case study of China and 1978 Open Door policy - open door vs closed door approaches
Deng Xiaoping’s radical ‘Open Door’ policy in 1978 brought 300 million out of rural areas to SEZs such as Shanghai. By 1990s, 50% of GDP generated in SEZs, and 400 million have escaped poverty since reforms. It is the world’s largest economy.
Open door: FDI from TNCs predicted to total US$1.25 trillion between 2015 and 2025, foreign TNCs now allowed to invest in some sectors of China’s domestic markets
Closed door: Google and Facebook have little or no access to China’s market, strict controls on foreign TNCs in some sectors
Glocalisation examples
Cadbury makes it’s Chinese chocolate sweeter as it is preferred that way.
Driving seat positioned differently for cars sold in US vs UK
Reality TV shows gain larger audiences if they are re-filmed using local people in different countries
Case studies of North Korea and Sahel: switched off regions
North Korea: ruled as an autocracy by single family, chosen to remain politically isolated from the rest of the world. Ordinary citizens do not have any access to the internet or social media, and there are no undersea data cables connecting North Korea with anywhere else.
Sahel region: mismanagement of natural and human resources due to colonial rulers alongside LICs lacking a coastline means countries such as Chad struggle to attract FDI. Arid conditions/desertification give rise to further developmental challenges. Global brands do not yet view places as viable markets, leaving them relatively switched off from consumer networks
Cultural change affecting people and the environment: changing diets in Asia
Traditional Asian diets = low in meat, high in vegetables. Healthy mix giving way to more meat and fast food among the emerging middle classes. During 1990s, annual meat consumption in China increased ten fold (5kg to 50kg).
Impacts physical environment as livestock farming increases (more methane) and crops are imported from across the world to feed China’s farm animals.
Case study of global outsourcing of services to India: costs and benefits
Why have US and UK businesses outsourced work to India? Many Indian citizens are fluent English speakers, and broadband capacity is high in technology hubs like Bangalore
Costs: exploitation of workers, repetitive work, widening gap between rich and poor (65% access to a toilet)
Benefits: call centre workers earn good middle-class wages, Indian outsourcing companies have become extremely profitable
Cultural change in attitudes towards disability: Paralympic Games Rio
In 20th century, sterilisation programmes that sometimes targeted disabled people. Since then, seismic shift in cultural attitudes as global media has helped turn the Paralympic Games into one of the world’s biggest sporting events by celebrating the physical achievements of elite athletes with disabilities.
Examples of protecting against globalisation/cultural change
China: censorship. ‘Great Firewall of China’ prevents internet users from using BBC or Facebook services. China’s governments sets strict quota of 34 foreign films a year
France: fiercely protective of its culture and language, government extremely supportive of French filmmakers, subsidises works filmed in French language. 40% of TV output must consis of French productions. French language music heavily promoted on radio stations.
Extremism in Europe examples
Nationalist parties such as the 1990s UK British National Party and France’s National Rally can command significant support.
Racially aggravated assaults still occur in the UK - murder of Stephen Lawrence in Eltham 1993
Terrorist attacks such as ISIS inspired attack in Barcelona 2017 killed 13 - showing tensions are still high in multicultural Europe
Ethical consumption: the Rana Plaza collapse
Collapse of the Rana Plaza building in Bangladesh in 2013 that led to the deaths of 1100 textile workers. On day of collapse, workers sent back into building to complete international orders in time for delivery despite major cracks appearing in the walls. TNCs like Walmart and Matalan regularly outsourced to Rana Plaza. Since then, many British TNCs have signed the Accord on Fire and Building safety which is a legally binding agreement on worker safety in Bangladesh
Ethical and environmental criticism of Apple
Apple outsources production to 2 key manufacturing suppliers in Asia due to ample supply of law wage labour and the fact that suppliers assume much of the business risk. Ethical concerns such as worker suicides in 2009-10 in Shenzhen, with employees working 70 hour weeks. Use of terms such as ‘sweatshop’ in the media
Environmental - 2006 Greenpeace Green Electronics Guide ranked Apple a lowly 11th out of 14 major electronics TNCs. Rose to 5th by 2010 by promoting recycling and scrapping use of PVC plastic
Case study of Todmorden, a transition town
- Incredible Edible ‘propaganda planting’ of vegetables around town to create self sufficient food production
- Encouraging local businesses to sell more local food (blackboards in market to advertise local food)
- Planting of apple, pear and plum trees at town’s newly built health centre, allow people to pick fresh fruit and make connection between healthy eating and being healthy
- 50m polytunnel on site just outside of town being set up
