globalisation, time soace compression, representations

What is globalisation

Globalisation is the increasing interconnectedness and interdependence of the world, economically, socially, politically and culturally.

What is time- space compression

A set of processes leading to a 'shrinking world', caused by reductions in relative distance between places eg. travel time

What is a global village?

The world has become more interconnected and therefore feels smaller. This is achieved by social media, technology and transport.

Disadvantages of time-space compression

Improved communications and internet
- Loss of distinct cultures (cultural globalisation) -- Americanisation and McDonaldisation
- Erodes aspects of cultural identity by the spread of predominantly Western culture, e.g. food, fashion etc. around the world
- Less able to access foreign cultures through travel
- High streets becoming increasingly similar -- threatens independent businesses, as they are pushed out with gentrification processes
- Increased competition between traders

With gentrification and a loss of cultural identity, you get increasing property prices, which pushes some residents out and makes it difficult to get onto the property ladder

Improved transport
- Migration has become a greater issue (illegal immigration by boats)
- People more likely to travel abroad for holidays, which has placed UK holiday resorts from the post-war years into decline

Advantages of time-space compression

Improved communications and internet
- Has facilitated the growth of tertiary and quaternary industries
- Rapid flow of information across national and international borders
- People can communicate instantly, e.g. international business has increased, or allows communication to be maintained between family and friends

Improved transport
- Ease of low-cost travel and flights makes international travel more accessible to more people
- Ease of containerisation and food transport to ship goods -- improved trade between nations
- More people able to migrate
- Increased variety of currency worldwide/ more easily available

What is cultural globalisation

A phenomenon by which the experience of life is influenced by the diffusion of commodities and ideas.

Give an example of a country that have benefited from time-space compression?

- Growth rate
- Workforce?
- Industrial parks?

Time-space compression raised living standards in many poor countries such as Vietnam. Rapid growth 8-10% a year. Well educated low cost work force. 30 new industrial parks - 27,000 employed 2004.

What are formal representations of a place

Vast quantities of data are collected and used to create factual information around which we form opinions and meanings about places, eg. geospatial date, or census data - collected every 10 years. Collects range of data eg. gender, qualifications, religion, ethnicity, heath, housing, employment etc. This gives a rational perspective of a place.

Formal representation is limited in its ability to indicate the lived experience of a place

What are informal representations of a place

Includes a diversity of media, such as TV, films, music, art, photography, literature and blogs, which play a major role in representing places and giving them geographical context through sights and sounds.

Advertising can also highly influence how we view a place.

Trip advisor is a modern-day form of informal representation that is highly influential - if people see a bad review, they are less likely to visit the place and more likely to have a negative perception of it.