Topic 9: Globalisation, modernity & postmodernity

What is modern society?

Emerged late 18th century; features: nation state, capitalism, rationality, individualism

What is the nation state?

Defined territory + central government + shared culture/language; institutions regulate behaviour + shape identity

What is capitalism?

Small group owns businesses; industrialisation; inequality; state regulates labour

What is organised capitalism?

Lash & Urry:

Capitalism structured/ regulated by the state

What is Fordism?

Mass production, large factories, low-skilled labour; cheap goods but inequality remains

AO2: Ford Motor Company

What is rationality, science and technology in modernity?

Scientific, secular thinking dominates; science important in industry / medicine

What is individualism?

Less tradition; more choice; ascribed status less important but inequality still limits opportunity

AO2: Class still affects life chances

What are technological changes in globalisation?

• AO1: Internet, satellites, global TV → reduced distance

• Risk society (Beck): human-made risks (AO2: climate change, nuclear risk)

What are economic changes? (globalisation)

• Weightless/ electronic economy; info-based products (AO2: streaming, software)

• 24-hour financial markets → global risk

• TNCs dominate global production

What are political changes? (globalisation)

Nation state power weakened

Ohmae: borderless world; TNCs > governments

What are cultural changes? (globalisation)

Global culture via media + migration

Same products worldwide (AO2: Nike)

What is postmodern society?

Unstable, fragmented, media-saturated

What is anti-foundationalism?

No objective truth; science not absolute truth

What are meta-narratives?

• Big theories claiming truth (AO2: Marxism)

• Rejected → can justify control

What is relativism?

Truth depends on perspective; no single truth

What are Lyotard’s language games?

Different ways of seeing the world; multiple truths

What does Baudrillard argue about postmodern society?

Society based on signs/images not material goods

What are signs and stimulacra?

• Signs: represent something (AO2: menu photo)

• Stimulacra: no real meaning (AO2: reality TV, influencers)

What is hyper-reality?

Fake feels more real than reality

What is postmodern culture?

Media saturation → fragmented culture; decline in belief in meta-narratives

What is identity in postmodernity?

Unstable, “pick and mix” identity

What is Baudrillard’s view on political action?

Meaningless; cannot distinguish reality → cannot change society

What are criticisms of postmodernism?

• Philo & Miler (AO3): ignores power/inequality

• Identity not free for all (class limits choice)

• People can distinguish reality/media

• Relativism = dangerous (AO2: denying Holocaust)

• Lyotard self-defeating

• Best & Kellner: no explanation of origins

• Harvey: too pessimistic; knowledge can improve society

What is late modernity?

Modernity continues but intensified change

Difference from postmodernism?

• Late modern: change possible

• Postmodern: no progress

What is disembedding?

Giddens:

• Constantly reflecting + adapting actions

What is decline of tradition?

Giddens:

• less fixed roles; more choice

AO2: not following family job

What are risks in late modernity?

Giddens:

• Human-made risks: nuclear, economic, environment, surveillance

Giddens’ view on change?

Rational planning can reduce risk + improve society

What is Beck’s risk society?

Risks now human-made

(AO2: pollution, nuclear war)

What is individualisation?

Beck:

• Less tradition; must make own choices

What is reflexive modernism?

Beck:

• Constant awareness of risks → careful decision-making

Criticisms of late modernity theories

• Not everyone can reflect (AO2: poor face more risk)

• Rustin: capitalism causes risk

• Hirst: movements too weak

• Still useful alternative to postmodernism (AO3)

What do Marxists believe about postmodernity?

Not new era; latest stage of capitalism

What caused postmodernity? (Marxist view)

Capitalist crisis 1970s → changes in production → fragmentation (AO1)

What is flexible accumulation?

Harvey:

• Flexible production, technology, finance expansion

• Workers adapt roles (AO2)

• Customised products → diversity

What is time-space compression?

World feels smaller, faster

How has politics changed?

Harvey & Jameson:

• weakened working class

• fragmented movements (AO2: BLM, LGBTQ)

• Customised products → diversity

How do Marxists differ from postmodernists?

• Keep faith in Marxism

• Believe change/progress still possible

Criticisms of Marxist postmodernity

• Fragmentation weakens revolution

• Strength: still explains change via capitalism (AO3)