Topic 8: Golbalisation, modernity and postmodernity

What are the main Postmodernist theorises and theorists?

• Lyotard - Anti-Foundationalism

• Baudrillard - Simulacra

What are the key features that make modernity different from previous societies?

• Nation-State

• Capitalism

• Rationality, science and technology

• Individualism

What are the main changes brought about by globalisation?

• Political: Beck - Global Risk Society

• Economic: Harvey - Post-fordism

• Cultural: Ronald Robertson - Glocalisation

Postmodernity attempts to explain these changes

What theories underline Postmodernity?

• Lyotard - Anti-Foundationalism: A relativist perspective arguing that knowledge cant be guaranteed. Thus, all meta-narratives can only be a version of reality, and the Enlightenment Project of scientific innovation has failed

• Thus, society is now defined by instability, fragmentation and consumption

Which sociologist theorised Anti-Foundationalism?

Lyotard

Which sociologist theorised the Simulacra?

Baudrillard

Explain Baudrillards theory of the Simulacra

• Society`s no longer based on production of physical products, rather the buying/selling of knowledge in the form of signs/images

• These signs stand for nothing other than themselves, rather than being based in reality (simulacrums)

• Eg, tabloid newspapers about fictitious soap opera characters are ‘signs about signs’ rather than about an underlying reality

• Thus, mainly due to the pervasive, ever changing nature of the media, we`re in a state of hyper-reality, in which signs appear more real than reality itself, blurring the boundaries between image/reality

• Therefore, confronted by so many ideas, we are unable to discern the objective truth

• This explains the political, cultural & identity based instability and fluidity of postmodern society

Evaluate Baudrillards theory of Simulacra

+ Explains how 45% of US believe the 2020 election was stolen

- Baudrillard took this to the point of conspiracy, arguing the Gulf War only played out in the media

Thus somewhat useful, but theory taken to far

What theories underpin Late modernism?

Rather than the underlying system changing, already present features of modern society are intensifying. Eg social change has always been a reality of modern society, but the pace of said change has increased

What are the two main theorises, and theorists of Late modernism?

• Giddens: Disembeddedness and Reflexivity

• Beck: Global Risk Society, and Reflexive Modernisation

Explain Giddens theory of Disembeddedness and Reflexivity

Rapid change is driven by two features seen in late modern societies driven by:

• Disembeddedness: “The lifting out of social relations from local contexts.” In this way, geographic barriers have been broken down, as technology means face-to-face interactions arent needed, allowing social change to spread faster around the world.

• Reflexive: Because tradition no longer tells us how to act. Thus, change is increased as we constantly monitor our actions in light of new info.

Explain Becks theory of a Global risk society

• Global risk society: Increased globalisation now means risk takes place on a global scale (eg increased economic interconnectedness means that financial crise take place on a global scale).

• Exacerbated by increased internconnectedness of the media, which creates moral panics on a global scale.

• Beck applies this to Giddens theory of reflexivity, with not just dismebeddedness, but also increased global risk contributing to it, what Beck calls reflexive modernisation

Evaluate Late Modernism

+ Identifies how society can undergo change, without the fundamental structure of societies changing

- Rustin: Capitalism and its pursit of profit at all cost is the source of risk, and therefore indemnifying technology as the cause misses the point

Which sociologist rebuts Late Modernism?

Rustin

Compare the Marxist analysis of postmodernity to Late Modernity and Postmodernity

• Similarities to LM: Believes in Enlightenment Project of achieving objective knowledge, using it to improve society

• Differences to LM, similarities to PM: We have moved into a postmodern society, agreeing that the shift in media, diversity and instability is due to a fundamental change

• Differences to PM: See Postmodernity as a new, post-Fordist phase of capitalism

Which sociologist develops a Marxist analysis of Postmodernism?

Harvey

Explain Harveys Marxist theory of Postmodernity

• Within Capitalism, their is the tendancy for the rate of profit to decline (eg less natural resources) leading to crisis (1970s)

• Thus, the system shifted to “flexible accumulation” economic model, with a dual strategy of deregulation (eg requiring workers to be “flexible” and fit needs of employee- gig-economy) + increasing consumption (commodifying cultural/identity to create new realms of profit- eg Pride used as advertising events)

• Said changes had ramifications for the cultural characteristics in society (due to its role as the superstructure)

• Eg diversity increased due to demands for labour in new places, eg tech boom in Silicon Valley

• Thus, postmodernity acts a more developed form of capitalism, commodifying every aspect of life, including identity itself

• This explains economic (shift to Post-fordism, less secure model), identity based (commodification), and political (fragmentation of w/c) insecurity

Evaluate the Marxist theory of Postmodernity

Overemphasises the degree to which relations of production have changed (eg still large collective workplace