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GLOBALISATION: definition
“the world becoming connected”
norms and values are being shared across the world
media allows us to communicate globally
businesses are becoming multi-national
GIDDENS, DUNEIER + APPLEBAUM
if all of history was on a clock:
modern societies would be created at 11:59:30pm
the internet would be created a second before midnight
because so much has changed in 30 seconds, we cannot apply sociology to societies prior
GIDDENS: cultural homogenisation
globalisation may lead to all of the world’s cultures becoming the same: this is ‘detraditionalisation’
identities would become insignificant
world would be boring!
JOHN WISEMAN
globalisation studies are often inaccurate because:
complex process - changes do not always happen in uniform everywhere
effects can be positive or negative
negative effects can lead to reinforcement of social inequalities
MCLUHAN: ‘global village’
predicted that the world would be connected by an ‘electronic nervous system’
restores mechanical solidarity, which is greater for value consensus
DURKHEIM: mechanical and abstract solidarity
mechanical: face-to-face communication and feeling part of a community brings better value consensus (seen in rural areas)
abstract: lack of true connection to others, national identity brings community (seen in urban areas)
abstract solidarity often brings anomie
STUART HALL
there are 3 reactions to globalisation:
cultural homogenisation: different cultures morphing together to create a super-culture
cultural hybridity: several cultures blending to make one unique culture
cultural defence: people double down on their national identity, refuse others
ANDERSON: imagined community
national identities are social constructs that push the idea we are one community
allows for easier control
promoted by media through national symbols: 🇬🇧, big ben
PHILIPS ET AL: hidden curriculum
nationalism is promoted through the education system
everything we learn is from an english p.o.v
seen in history: taught about battles we’ve won
RITZER: mcdonaldisation
describes the change in working culture across the world, based on ‘rationalisation of production, work and consumption’
efficiency
calculability
predictability
control
our culture has been dehumanised in favour of efficiency
BRYMAN: disneyisation
another aspect of Americanisation, ‘everyday experiences are transformed into extraordinary events’
theming of ordinary places e.g. cafes and restaurants
hybrid consumption: there’s a mix of consumption in the same place e.g. the hairdressing restaurant
everything has merchandise
service jobs have become a performance
AMERICANISATION
the term to describe how american culture is a dominant culture:
hollywood dominates film media
largest companies in the world are american (Forbes Global 2000)
dollar is used as international currency
SEABROOK
globalisation is a ‘cultural war’
the west imposes its values onto poorer countries like an ‘imperial power’
ARLACCKI (1997)
exploitation of women has been the most undesirable consequence of globalisation
though this is not considered a priority for any country
IMPACT ON VULNERABLE GROUPS
globalisation offers more opportunities to exploit vulnerable groups
women and children are more likely to be commodified and sold
human trafficking is made easier as national borders are less significant
