CONTEMPORARY THEORY ON GLOBALIZATION (1990-2006) AP Human
Geography
Slide 2
THE END OF HISTORY? 1989: Francis Fukuyama End of Cold War 21
st Century = Triumph of liberal democratic and capitalist values
(USA is the BEST!!) Marx was wrong (Communism = end of history?
NOT!) Failed to predict.
Slide 3
CLASH OF CIVILIZATIONS 1992: Samuel P. Huntington FF is wrong;
world headed toward civilizational clashes over culture
Slide 4
MCDONALDIZATION 1993: George Ritzer Societal and economic drive
to extreme rationalization. Four main dimensions. Aim to
increase(in business and society): 1. Efficiency- Choosing the
best, quickest, or least difficult means to a given end.Efficiency
2. Calculability- Emphasis on the quantitative aspects of the
product being sold.Calculability 3. Predictability- Involves the
customer knowing what to expect from a given producer of goods or
services.Predictability 4. Control- A way to keep a complicated
system running smoothly. Rules and regulations that make
efficiency, calculability, and predictability possible. Control
McDonaldizationMcDonaldization is profitable, desirable, and the
cutting edge of technological advances. However, it creates a
disenchantment of the world and the replacement of magic and
surprise with efficiency and routine overall dehumanizing
societydehumanizing
Slide 5
JIHAD VS. MCWORLD 1995: Benjamin Barber McWorld = global
capitalist big business Jihad = forces of traditional tribalism
Neither great for democracy McWorld will win World needs small
democracy of local and civic engagement
Slide 6
LEXUS AND THE OLIVE TREE 1999: Thomas Friedman Lexus = drive
for prosperity and development Olive Tree = desire to retain unique
identity and traditions McDonalds Theory of Conflict
Prevention?
Slide 7
THE MCWORLDVSTHE OLIVE TREE ConvergenceDivergence Economic
drivenValue driven UniformityDifference RootlessRooted
HomogenousHeterogeneous IntegratedFragmented Universal valuesUnique
Future orientedPast oriented
