Sociology - Paper 4 - 1.2 - Globalisation and identity

According to Scholte, what is "Deterritorialization"?

The process where identity is no longer tied to a specific geographic location, allowing people to feel a sense of belonging to global communities based on shared interests like gaming or environmentalism.

What is a "Cosmopolitan" identity?

An individual who identifies as a "citizen of the world," typically characterized by high cultural capital, frequent travel, and the ability to speak multiple languages.

How do Postmodernists explain the rise of "Consumer Identity"?

They argue we define ourselves by what we buy (global brands like Apple or Nike) to project a specific lifestyle, rather than being defined by our local occupation.

What does Homi Bhabha mean by the "Third Space"?

A metaphorical space created by globalization where global and local cultural influences collide and merge to create new, hybrid identities.

How does Anthony Giddens describe identity as a "Reflexive Project"?

The idea that in a globalized world, identity is no longer fixed by birth or tradition; individuals must constantly "work on" and choose their identity from a global range of options.

What is a "Resistance Identity" according to Manuel Castells?

An identity formed by groups who feel devalued or threatened by global forces, leading them to "build trenches" or retreat into traditionalism (e.g., fundamentalism) to protect their way of life.

What is "Cultural Defence"?

When a community uses its culture (language, religion, customs) to resist perceived "cultural imperialism" or the watering down of their traditions by global forces.

Define "Ethnic Revitalization."

A specific form of cultural defence where ethnic groups experience a "reawakening," often using global digital platforms to revive traditional languages (e.g., Welsh or Gaelic) and connect with their diaspora.

What is George Ritzer’s "McDonaldisation"?

The theory that principles of the fast-food industry—efficiency, calculability, predictability, and control—are dominating global social institutions and erasing cultural variety.

How does "Glocalization" promote Cultural Divergence?

By adapting global products to fit local contexts (Roland Robertson), it ensures that global forces and local cultures interact to create unique, diverse forms rather than total sameness.

What is "Indigenization"?

The process where local people adopt foreign cultural products but transform them to give them a specific local meaning (e.g., Trobriand Islanders' version of Cricket).

Define "Westernization" in a sociological context.

The process where societies come under the influence of Western values, such as liberal democracy, capitalism, individualism, and rationalism.

What is Benjamin Barber’s "McWorld vs. Jihad" theory?

The tension between "McWorld" (eroding borders through global capitalism/pop culture) and "Jihad" (the traditionalist backlash where people fight to reassert local or religious identities).

How does the Marxist critique view Westernization?

As "Global Capitalism" in disguise—an ideology used to open new markets and ensure the continued dominance of Western Transnational Corporations (TNCs).

What is Edward Said's concept of "Orientalism"?

A post-colonial critique arguing that Western ideology constructs non-Western identities as "exotic" or "backward" to justify Western dominance and intervention.

What does Giddens mean by "Reverse Colonialism"?

The idea that globalization is not a one-way street; non-Western cultures also influence the West (e.g., the spread of Eastern philosophy, yoga, and non-Western cinema).