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Overview

explore the dimensions of, and the debates surrounding, globalization

theories of globalization

the link b/n globalization and culture

What is Globalization?

A multidimensional set of social processes that create, multiply, stretch,and intensify worldwide social interdependencies and exchanges while at

the same time fostering in people a growing awareness of deepeningconnections between the local and distant. (Manfred B. Steger p.13)

Globalization usually involves some reference to growing forms of politicaland economic interdependence fuelled by new technologies like personal

computers, the Internet, cellular phones, pagers, fax machines, satellites, jetplanes, space shuttles, and supertankers. ( p17)

More Definitions

1) A set of processes leading to the integration of economic, cultural, political, andsocial systems across geographical boundaries.

2) The worldwide integration of humanity and the compression of both the temporaland spatial dimensions of planet-wide human interaction.

3) A process by which the people of world are unified into a single society. This

process is a combination of economical, technological, sociocultural and politicalforces.

Highlights of definitions

a)b)

c) planet-wided) spatial

e) political

d) economice)

f) cultural

Globalization has no one single cause, but the following have been very important:

technological innovationmass communication

supra-national regulationscientific standardization (e.g. time zones)

expansion of trade and marketsspread of ideologies e.g. religions

developments of global events (e.g. Olympics)

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Key thinkers on globalization

The work of the following is central to understanding globalization:

Jan Aart Scholte author of the best introductory text (although it is more than justan introduction)David Held offers the most comprehensive account of the multi-dimensionality of

globalization

Roland Robertson the most influential theorist of them all; emphasises therelationship between the global and the local, and the historical dimensions to

globalizationJohn W. Meyer substantiated the idea that the world is becoming institutionally

similar and that something like a world culture exists

Current issues

Thinking about globalization has led to some big questions for the social

sciences. E.g.Is the world becoming more similar? Are we all McDonalds eating, jeans wearing,

Hollywood watching global inhabitants?Or, does globalization promote cultural difference? Do common scripts of difference

exist?

We will investigate these issues further as we work through the course

Is Globalization Good or Bad, for whom?Globalization: An old concept dresses in garbs

Old concept dressed in new garbs

Gained new currency in 20th C

For Some Its a Curse

The McDonaldization of the worldThe conquest of American-style capitalism

The dictatorship run by unelected bureaucrats in the World Trade Organization andthe International Monetary Fund.

Watch rest on your own

The new rulers of the worldhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XB6EHRjNn-w&p=7B2C864417A38446

For Others Its Modernized Nirvana

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Nivarna: (Hindu term) transcending the cycle of reincarnation; extinction of desire

and suffering=EdenFree Trade creates wealth

The spread of ideas and information promotes and awareness of human rights norms.The human experience is enriched by the sharing of cultures, foods, and customs.

Proponents and detractors

Chief defenders=Arguments: new global economy has replaced old international e/ system.

Market forces as drivers/engine in global economyGlobalization is inevitable, inexorable

Bill Clinton and Tony Blair

Dissolution of national bordersRedundancy of national economies

Watch on your own

Video interlude:The World is Flat3.0 | MIT World

___________________________

Opposed to neo-liberal claims of totalizing global economy

Arguments:Separate national economies still exist

It is still possible to organize cooperation b/n authorities to challenge marketforces

It is possible to manage domestic economies and govern international economy

The preservation of entitlements to welfare benefits, for instance, can still be secured.

________________________

Middle ground: If you cant beat them, join them?

Arguments:New forms of interdependence and integration

Added constraints on conduct of national economiesNew era=another step in a long evolutionary process

National economies are mixing, interdependent, integrated, and cosmopolitan

The anti-globalists

At the extreme end=

The arguments:Globalization is nothing more than neo-imperialism

Global corporatization

The spread of American-led capitalism

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The anti-globalists have tempered their rhetoric somehow these days.

Forces of GlobalizationImportant terms

________________________A set of globalized s/ conditions that exist at any one time

These conditions include the amount of global interdependence and the rate ofexchange of social, economic, and political information and materials between

global markets

Steger (2003)Economic globalization: the development of a global market and the flow capital,

technology, and goods

_______________ an ideology that endows the concept of globalization with

neoliberal values and meanings.Globalists are those that think the only way for globalization to occur is through

the implementation of neoliberalist policies

Glocalization: the tailoring of globalization to meet local needs and tastes (e.g.poutine at McDonalds in Quebec)

Timeline of Globalization

The contemporary period (from 1970)

The modern period (1750-1970)The early modern period (1500-1750)

The pre-modern period ( 3,500 BCE- 1,500 CE)We will quickly go over a part of this slide show; you must watch the rest on your

own. Several questions in the exams and quizzes will come from these slides. You

may do your EGJ on one part or both parts of the slide show.Nayan Chanda, Globalization in the Mirror of History- Part 1 Part 2 Part One

GLOBALIZATION AND CULTURE

Flowing Dimensions of Cultural MaterialsAppadurais five scapes

Technoscapes

Financescapes

Mediascapes

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Culture and Globalization

Preamble:

Capitalism =process of "creative destruction.- Austrian economist Joseph SchumpeterDouble sword nature of C:

-may help propel e/ development

-but destruction of local cultures identities.no destruction can be considered creative."Globalization of Culture

Emergence of a global culture?

What might this look like?

Positive: whole world shares same ideas and values?World Cup, Olympic Games

Negative: local cultures destroyed?

Religion as an anti-system protestLiberation Theology

Islamic fundamentalistsProtestant fundamentalists

Cultural homogenization?Cultural heterogenization?

Cultural Imperialism

Westernisation / Americanisation of the worldDomination ofAmerican consumer brands:

McDonalds, Nike, Coca-Cola, Gap

(McWorld - Benjamin Barber)

Global cultural homogenisationSame consumer goods everywhere

Same ways of thinking everywhere

This is bad (left-wing critics e.g. Noam Chomsky)This is good (right-wing critics e.g. Francis Fukuyama)

Cultural Imperialism

Dominance of American mass media

Oligopoly of big media companies:

Disney, Warner, Sony

Imbalance of cultural flows:from core to periphery,

not vice versaCulture Clashes

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Benjamin Barber Jihad vs. McWorld

Local identities, nationalisms, religious traditionsDevelop in opposition to McWorld

McWorld creates Jihad

Samuel Huntington Clash of CivilizationsEuropean-Christian, Russian-Christian, Arabic-Muslim, Chinese, etc.

All in conflict: symbolically & materiallyCultural heterogenization

Roland RobertsonPeople in local cultures reinterpret global culture products in light of their own

values & interests

Global culture is always limited by local culturesMixtures of global and local cultures:

process ofglocalizationlocal becomes global; global becomes local

Perceived threats to local identity:strong assertion of local identity

Globalization reinforces local cultures

Globalization produces new local culturesHybridization & Creolization

Anthropologists: Ulf Hannerz

No culture is ever pureAlways a mixture of influences

Previously (relatively) separate cultures come into contact with each other

Globalization = Complex mixtures of culturescreole cultures, hybrids

Globalization vs. Local Cultures

The plus side:

1) access to varieties of products to local cultures.2) agribusiness=more food supplies

3) exposure to cultural goods-music, films, ideas, etc

Minus side:

1) destruction of local/traditional industry2) erosion of cultural values

3) undermining of cultural identity

EX: cheap foreign foods=displacement of local farmers.My experiences in the village (Quaker Oats)

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The Influence of U.S. Corporations on Local Mores

Limits of Hybridization Ideas

Local cultures commercialised:Sold to Westerners by media and

big business; fashion trendsEnforced hybridization

Western culture imposedon non-West

Westerners choose non-Western culturesMost people still primarily

enmeshed in local culture?Global culture has superficial effects?

Culture and Religion

Culture: the sum of all shared human lifestyle activities, material and non-materialproductions, including those activities and products that provide food, shelter,

clothing; those that meet human spiritual, psychological needs; and those that helpregulate social life, including values, norms, and ethics.

The hardware and software of culture

Where is the place of religion in culture?

Religion and a subset of cultureBut also mutually influential

Dialectical relationship; both feed into each other.Marx on dialectical link b/n culture and religion The criticism of religion is therefore

in embryo the criticism of the vale of woe, the halo of which is religion. Criticism has

plucked the imaginary flowers from the chain, not so that man will wear the chainwithout any fantasy or consolation but so that he will shake off the chain and cull the

living flower.

How does religion impact culture and vice versa:1) religions incorporate cultural practices

EX: xmas trees and Easter eggs were originally pagan symbols for eternal life andfertility respectively.

Male and female circumcision=cultural practices in Africa, Asia and EuropeCan you think of any exs?

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Globalization= enriching process, opening minds to new ideas and experiences, and

strengthening the finest universal values of humanity.Paradox: the protection of local or indigenous cultural values versus forces of

globalization

Globalization of religion:other options than the local religion

religious syncretism: mixing and matching

New Age religions: bits of Christianity, Hinduism, Buddhism, Taoism, Celtic paganism& witchcraft, etc.

Globalization of food:

fusion cuisine e.g. French-Japanese, Anglo-Indian

Globalization of music:

World musicBuddhist-techno, Spanish rap, Hungarian rock

Relativization of ones own cultural traditionsGlobalization and Indigenous Religion

Read my article Africa and false gods

May use it for your EGJ entry. You will be tested on the article in the final exam.

Virtual Breakout room Discussion: How does globalization positively impact on local

indigenous religion?