Globalisation, modernity and postmodernity

Question 1

In a nutshell

Answer 1

The nation-state is the focal point of modern society, but globalisation undermines this. Technological, cultural, economic and political changes are creating a ‘global village’. Postmodernists argue that these changes indicate the arrival of a postmodern society, which leaves society as unstable, fragmented and media-saturated. They reject meta-narratives such as Marxism because there is no objective criteria to prove whether a theory is true. However, Giddens believe such changes are the result of a late-modern society, not a postmodern society.

Question 2

MODERNITY AND GLOBALISATION

Answer 2

Characteristics of a modern society: The nation-state, capitalism, mass production, scientific thinking and technology

Question 3

Globalisation (the increasing interconnectedness of societies) is occurring because:

Answer 3

Economic changes - global networks encourage economic activity. The growth in transnational companies drives globalisation forward
Technological changes - the internet and air travel collapse time and space barriers
Political changes - the fall of communism and the rise in transnational bodies have created opportunities global capitalism
Changes in culture and identity - westernised global culture makes it harder for cultures to exist in isolation. Globalisation undermines traditional sources of identity

Question 4

POSTMODERNISM- KNOWLEDGE

Answer 4

There is no objective criteria to prove whether a theory is true:
​
Any theories claiming to have the truth about how to create a better society, therefore they reject meta-narratives (e.g. Marxism) that merely reflect someone’s version of society
We should celebrate a diversity of views rather than seek to impose one version of the truth

Question 5

THE ENLIGHTENMENT PROJECT

Answer 5

In a post-modern society, the media create a hyper-reality - the media’s signs appear more real than reality itself, leaving us unable to distinguish between reality and image
If we cannot grasp reality, we lose the power to improve society - undermining the enlightenment project

Question 6

LATE MODERNITY

Answer 6

Some sociologists argue we are now in a period of late modernity, in which key features of modernity have been intensified.

Question 7

GIDDENS

Answer 7

Late modernity has two key features that encourage globalisation and rapid change:
​
Disembedding - lifting out of social relations from local contexts of interaction. Factors such as credit break down geographical barriers and make interaction more personal.
​
Reflexivity - tradition and custom no longer serve as guides to how we should act. We are forced to become reflective (reflect on and modify our actions in light of information about risks) which means that we are continually re-evaluating our ideas. This means culture becomes unstable.