Globalisation & DC

• globalisation meaning 


  refers to the process that includes the expansion of global linkages, the organisation of social life consciousness, hence to the consolidation of world society
• globalisation refers to 4 inter-related developments

  dramatic & constant expansion & integration of economic markets globally and across national boundaries

  facilitated through technological advances and declining barriers to the flow of goods,services skills and capital

  the spread of market-orientated policies at both global national levels

  trans formative consequences for nation-sate power global politics,cultures,societies and economics
• 3 aspects of globalisation

  cultural

  political

  economics
• globalisation positives 


  betters people in western Europe & north america

  1% are the beneficiaries of economic growth & capitalist economy

  appreciation of diverse perspectives and lifestyles
• negatives of globalisation 


  inequality in the distribution of wealth

  high divide in wealth 1% of the population owmajorityn the of money

  right wing government against foreign investments and immigration

  working classes in america, japan % Germany losing out( Branko milanovic : elephant chart
• cultural aspect advantage 


  spread of norms & values

  builds understanding tolerance, acceptance
• cultural aspect disadvantage

  loss of cultural customs traditions, lost due to westernisation/ Americans

  dominant cultures overshadow or even erase local traditions and identities (cultural homogenisation)
• political aspect advantage

  growth of intentional organisations that raise important humanisation

  promotion of interdependence and cooperation among nations

  forge alliances to address shared challenges e.g social issues
• political aspect disadvantage 


  rise in capitalist ideology breed good

  rise to right wing governments
• economic aspect advantage 


  easier to export goods

  allows for economic growth through capitalism & open markets
• economic aspect disadvantage

  creates a highly competitive market whereby smaller businesses lose out to larger commercial companies

  inequality between and within countries
• Marxist view on DC: tools that the ruling class use to maintain their power. the technologies are used by capitalist cooperation to increase surveillance etc
• positive Marxist views on DC

  new climate for change- (Castells)

  examples of protests using DC e.g Brexit protests more to be added to later

  solidarity among workers and oppressed communities
• negative Marxist views on DC

  it aids ideological control of the proletariat ( castells, conford & robins)

  it aids maintenance of privilege social (castells)

  it aids the bourgeoisie to stay rich- convergence and concentration e.g Murdoch
• volume- storage is not a problem. deciding what to keep is a problem. includes online communications, purchases & social media streaming

  advantage: trends and patterns
• velocity- data is streamed extremely fast % must be dealt with promptly

  advantage: money quickly
• variety- wide range of data including structured, numerical, unstructured, texts, videos etc
• variability- trending and popularity aspects of data, daily seasonal peaks affect the managing of data
• complexity- matching & sorting data is straightforward because it comes from many different systems
• age groups (patterns)

  young people are more likely to use digital forms of communication

  this pattern is changing and there are increasing numbers of older people beginning to use them too.
• explanation for patterns in age groups

  have more time

  are more affluent

  more able to learn new skills

  more keen to use new forms of digital communication to express and develop their emerging identities
• social class patterns

  those with less money have higher rates of non-participation in digital forms of communication leading to a 'digital underclass'

  the more affluent are able to increase their social capital through networks online, strengthening their position socially and economically in society.
• explanation for social class patterns

  there are considerable costs linked with digital forms of communication including set up and maintenance.

  the digital divide leads to increasing social inequalities in society
• gender patterns 


  men & women use digital forms of communication very differently: the digital world is perceived to be overwhelmingly masculine and women use social media much more than men

  gender roles & identities are often reinforced & reproduced through digital forms of communications
• explanation for gender patterns

  women are more likely to engage with social media white men contribute more to the work-based networking sets
• locality patterns

  developing countries are increasing their use of digital communication but are still significantly behind compared with the usage of developed westernised countries
• explanation of locality patterns

  globalisation is not occurring evenly & many parts of the world lack the money or freedom to access western forms of digital media which require considerable start up cost. results in poorer people being further marginalised
• positive effects on relationships that are created through digital forms of communication

  another opportunity to meet people

  immediacy: people can be contacted instantly

  opportunity to meet people who you wouldn't contact normally

  a way people overcome traditional barriers to meeting people e.g disability, geographical distance
• negative effects on relationships are created through digital forms of communication

  • lack of privacy of differing ideas about privacy resulting to conflict
  • hard to switch off
  • coming into contact you may not want to
  • people's offline relationships suffer as a result of the time spent with online relationships
• positive feminist views towards DC

  enables women to network in areas they previously haven't before

  offer a support network for women

  can be used as a platform to protest against patriarchy- ( Laura Batas)

  offer a platform for women to create new identities- ( Harraway)~non-gendered space

  women from ethnic minorities have a platform to share their experience & be heard- (Nakamusa)