globalisation theories ☆

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