NW

Globalization in Sociology - Key Lecture Notes

Course Objectives

  • Learn about the process of globalization throughout history.
  • Understand the sociological definitions of social change and globalization, along with associated processes.
  • Apply theoretical concepts in practical scenarios.

Course Summary

  • Pre-modern societies
  • Modernity
  • Social Change
  • Globalization
  • Guest Lectures

Premodern Societies

  • Characterized societal ways of life before modern industrialism.
    • Hunters-gatherers:
    • Livelihood based on fishing, hunting, and gathering.
    • Existence in underpopulated areas of Africa, Brazil, New Guinea.
    • Generally low social inequality; age and gender dictate social roles.
    • Agrarian and Pastoral Societies:
    • Focus on crops and domesticated livestock (e.g., cattle, sheep).
    • Pastoral societies were nomadic, influenced by seasonal changes.
    • Transition towards agriculture observed in societies.
    • Non-industrial Civilizations:
    • Development of writing, science, art, and complex political organizations.
    • Examples include Ancient China, India, Persia, Egypt, Rome, Aztec and Inca civilizations.

Modernity and Industrialized Societies

  • Industrialization led to the decline of old social organizations.
  • Emphasis on technological innovation:
    • Power resources from steam and electricity.
    • Shift to industrial societies, marked by urban life and factory work.
  • Key characteristics:
    • Impersonal interactions and large-scale organizations.
    • Political systems unified community through advances in technology.

Nation States

  • Defined as political communities with clear borders.
  • National governments exercise authority over citizenship and laws.
  • Advancement of military capabilities through technology leads to spread of Western lifestyles globally.

Global Development and Colonialism

  • Colonialism (17th to 20th centuries) altered political/economic organization.
    • Developed nations categorized as the Global North (e.g., North America, Australia).
    • Developing nations referred to as the Global South (e.g., parts of Africa, India).
  • Historical classifications:
    • First World (industrialized states), Second World (communist states), Third World (former colonies).

Social Change

  • Constant and multi-faceted; nothing is static in social life.
  • Influenced by:
    • Cultural Factors: Leaders (e.g., Gandhi, Mandela), communication advancements (writing, internet).
    • Physical Environment: Varies based on geography and environmental conditions.
    • Political Organization: Varies from minimal in hunter-gatherer societies to more complex in settled communities.

Social Change and Modernity

  • Cultural changes due to science and secularization challenges traditional authority.
  • Economic changes:
    • Capitalism transforms production focus from self-consumption to broader markets.
  • Political influences arise from nation-state competition for wealth and power.

Globalization

  • Defined as increased global interdependence among individuals, groups, and nations.
  • Historically ongoing, but intensified in the last 30 years.
  • Encompasses more than economics; influences varied aspects of life.

Agents of Globalization

  • Information and Communication Technology:
    • Historical informatics (telegraph to internet) compress time and space.
    • Allows for real-time global communication and participation in movements.
  • Economic Factors:
    • Shift towards intangible transactions in a post-industrial, information age economy.
  • Political Changes:
    • Increased interconnectivity of nations, forming supranational collaborations (e.g., EU, UN).

Contesting Globalization

  • Skeptics: Argue globalization is overstated, does not undermine national sovereignty.
  • Hyperglobalizers: Claim it results in a new global order reducing governmental control.
  • Transformationalists: See globalization as a dynamic force that still allows national governance.

The Impact of Globalization

  • Interdependence of industrialized and developing nations in trade and production.
  • Cultures are interwoven through global networks and citizenship.
  • Global Organizations: UN, WTO, IMF, etc. play significant roles in governance.

Globalization and Consumption

  • Emergence of a global consumer culture; similar goods available worldwide.
  • Brands like Starbucks and McDonald's ubiquitous, showcasing the shift in consumer habits.
  • Availability of diverse products worldwide reduces local exclusivity.

Globalization and Production

  • David Harvey: Concept of "time-space compression" highlighting accelerated flow.
  • Shift in production locations leads to urbanization and new consumer classes.
  • Social identities increasingly shaped by consumption rather than traditional work/class.

Conclusion / Class Exercise

  • Discuss globalization and cultural appropriation:
    • Is globalization a threat to local identities or a means to appreciate other cultures?
    • Reflect on perspectives after watching accompanying videos.