SOCI 261 11. Globalization, Migration, and Transnational Inequality

Globalization

A process of interconnectedness and interdependence among the world’s nations in the economic, cultural, social, and political spheres

Protectionism

Protecting a country’s domestic industries from foreign competition by restricting international trade

The Global North

A global classification that refers to countries that are classified as wealthy, high income, and industrialized

• Canada, USA, Japan, Australia, etc

The Global South

A global classification that refers to countries that classified as low or middle income

• Latin America, Asia, Africa, Oceania, Caribbean

Globalization from Above

A concentration on the influence of transnational states, transnational corporations, and global political institutions like the UN

Transnational States

Global capitalist relations embodied in a diverse set of global political institutions

• UN, World Bank, IMF

Globalization from Below

A concentration on democratic and popular social movements and global political engagement

• protesting, public movements

Cultural Globalization

The transmission or diffusion of various forms of media, arts, values, ideas, lifestyles, language, and behaviours across national boundaries

• the trade of consumer goods, signs, and symbols help to facilitate cultural globalization

Reverse Cultural Diffusion

A phenomenon in which a product of a less powerful culture becomes popular in the Global North

Cultural Imperialism

The process by which the cultural values, norms, practices, and media products of a dominant society come to shape, influence, or displace those of less powerful societies

Asymmetry of Power

The process in which one culture’s worldview becomes widely accepted or enforced as the global standard

• Americanization

Glocalization

A process in which global products are made to fit a local state

• ex, fast food restaurants have different menus in different countries that better fit that culture

The International Monetary Fund (IMF)

A global organization promoting economic order based on global financial cooperation

• sought to establish financial stability and economic growth around the world by promoting international monetary cooperation

The World Trade Organization (WTO)

A global organization that focuses on the rules of trade between nations and provides a forum for negotiating agreements to reduce obstacles to international trade and contribute to economic growth and development

The World Bank Group (WBG)

Five international organizations that aim to reduce poverty and support development in underdeveloped countries

The Live-In Caregiver Program

A Canadian program where migrants, under a temporary status, provide care to individuals, often children, elderly, and people with disabilities

Modernization Theory

A theory that seeks to address issues of inequality and the lack of development in the Global South and to explain social change

• frames social development as a uniform and inevitable evolutionary process

• emphasizes internal sources of economic development and that modern societies are freer, wealthier, more powerful, more respected internationally, and have higher standards of living because of their institutions and values

World-Systems Theory

A theory that proposes that the establishment of a capitalist world economy created an international division of labour where politically and economically strong states achieve and retain their wealth and power at the expense of weaker, poorer countries

• core (rich), periphery (poor), semi-periphery (in-between)

Dependency Theory

A theory that shows global inequality as the result of exploitive links between core and peripheral countries

• Global North as the centre of world economy

• Global South as the supply of raw materials and resources

Citizenship

The full social, economic, political, and legal membership in the community in which one lives

Transnationality

A state of possessing dual or multiple citizenships