glob

• how can globalisation be defined?

  - world becoming more interconnected through travel, trade and communication

  - advancement in new technologies accelerated process of globalisation, e.g: the internet, created in 1983 and made publicly available 1991

  - may not impact all people in the same way

  - challenges in how globalisation is defined
• is globalisation a new phenomenon- older versions

  - global interaction via travel, trade and communication is not new

  - humans have always travelled across geographical boundaries

  - trade and communication between different groups has been happening since boats were invented

  - e.g: Roman, Moor or European colonial conquests, migrating and trading globally while influencing other cultures

  - in this way- it is not a new phenomenon
• is globalisation a new phenomenon- newer versions

  - advancement of new technologies like internet, aeroplanes and digital communication = a vastly increased regularity, speed and distance of people travelling across the world (tourism, economic migration etc)

  - global trade of goods is much larger, quicker and less restrictive than ever before e.g: the EU

  - digital communications have enhanced the speed of communication

  - flow and exchange of new ideas is transnational and almost instantaneous and continuous

  - this aspect of globalisation is relatively new
• does everyone experience globalisation in the same way?

  - some live far away, e.g: Amazonian Indians live in traditional ways deep in the forest

  - however these people still experience global issues like climate change

  - marxists: rich and poor may experience globalisation differently

  - rich may worry less about the pollution globalisation brings as they can isolate themselves from negative effects by moving away

  - world's poor are more likely to be directly affected like flooding in Bangladesh

  - Berry- the old don't benefit from digital media as much as the young as they are less likely to have the skills to use new tech

  - therefore not everyone affected in the same way
• is globalisation a positive phenomenon- positive effects


  - people are increasingly able to see alternatives from around the world and therefore make a variety of choices regarding their lives and identity

  - Giddens: detraditionalisation

  - e.g: global campaigns like #girlsnotbrides and #metoo highlighted issues of gender inequality and raised greater global awareness leading to changes in many societies

  - e.g: decline in child marriage, FGM, increase in women's rights on a global scale

  - postmodernists welcome globalisation for the increased consumerist choice it brings

  - millions of products available due to global trade, thousands of tourist destinations, endless information

  - explosion of opportunities lets individuals make highly personalised choices that may be liberating, exciting and fulfilling
• is globalisation a positive phenomenon- negative effects: Giddens


  - see more international news than ever before

  - quick exchange of information may make us feel vulnerable

  - images of terrorism widely available through internet

  - seeing atrocities from all over the world may feel overwhelming

  - globalisation has created a 'new riskiness' because of increasingly international nature of problems e.g: global warming

  - overwhelming feeling of risk and lack of fixed structures means people may fall into addiction or fundamentalism as a reaction against uncertainty

  - being tied to a clear political or religious ideology may make it easier to make decisions

  - 'solution' to feelings of hopeless and vulnerability
• is globalisation a positive phenomenon- negative effects: Giddens CA

  - fails to explain who may experience positive and negative effects

  - marxists: class differences, rich and powerful are more able to defend themselves
• is globalisation a positive phenomenon- negative effects: Ritzer


  - Neo Marxist

  - McDonaldization- local cultures disappearing under pressure from predominately American fast food restaurants

  - cultures become homogeneous

  - growth of these restaurants will have an impact on the local economy of restaurants in any area

  - theory applicable to other industries e.g: fashion

  - cultural homogenisation leads to Americanisation

  - multinational companies produce strict service guidelines, every employee must wear the same uniform and perform their tasks in the same predetermined ways

  - leads to fewer differences between countries and less empowerment for employees, e.g 0 hour contracts

  - jobs= McJobs, lack of control employees have within huge organisations they work for
• is globalisation a positive phenomenon- negative effects: Robertson


  - 'glocalisation' challenges idea globalisation destroys local cultures

  - local communities are often active modifiers of global ideas

  - tailor products and services to fit local conditions

  - McDonalds don't serve any beef in India and instead serve a McAloo Tikki vegetarian burger

  - rejects concern that cultural homogeneity, Americanisation and cultural imperialism are occuring

  - glocalisation is the way forward, cultural diversity will still be maintained

  - or is it just the next stage of the process where fast food restaurants are adapting to local cultures to gain further popularity?