topic 12

Globalization

Definition: The worldwide intensification and increased movement of money, people, goods, and ideas within and across borders. Example: The spread of technology like smartphones, global trade, and multinational companies like Walmart.

Cultural Change

Definition: Ongoing transformation of culture through internal innovations or external influences. Example: The introduction of fast food chains (like McDonald’s) in non-Western countries leading to the hybridization of local food cultures.

Hybridization

Definition: The blending of two or more cultural elements to create a new, hybrid culture. Example: The fusion of Mexican and American food, creating Tex-Mex cuisine.

Cultural Diffusion

Definition: The spreading of cultural traits from one culture to another. Example: The spread of yoga from India to the Western world.

Globalization and Colonization

Definition: The historical period when European powers colonized other regions for resources, which contributed to globalization. Example: The European colonization of Africa in the 19th century, where resources like gold and rubber were extracted.

Colonialism

Definition: The practice by which states extend political, economic, and military power beyond their borders over an extended period of time. Example: The British Empire’s control over India and its resources like tea and cotton.

Triangle Trade

Definition: The exchange of enslaved people, sugar, cotton, and furs between Europe, Africa, and the Americas. Example: Enslaved Africans were transported to the Americas, where they worked on sugar plantations that sent goods to Europe.

Industrial Revolution

Definition: The period of rapid industrialization in the 18th and 19th centuries that fundamentally changed economies, technologies, and societies. Example: The development of steam engines and factories, particularly in Britain.

Neocolonialism

Definition: The continued pattern of unequal economic relations between former colonial powers and their former colonies. Example: Many African countries still depend on former colonial powers for trade and economic decisions.

Dependency Theory

Definition: A critique of the idea that all nations follow the same trajectory toward development, arguing that less-developed countries remain underdeveloped due to exploitation by wealthier nations. Example: Latin American countries that rely on exports of raw materials to richer countries while importing expensive manufactured goods.

World Systems Theory

Definition: The theory that nations are connected in an economic and political system where wealthy nations exploit poorer ones, dividing the world into core, periphery, and semi-periphery. Example: The U.S. as a core country exploiting resources from African nations (periphery), and semi-periphery countries like China manufacturing goods for core countries.

Core, Periphery, and Semi-Periphery

Definition:

• Core: Wealthy, industrialized nations that dominate global systems.

• Periphery: Poorer, less-developed nations exploited for raw materials and labor.

• Semi-Periphery: Countries that are intermediate in development, between core and periphery. Example:

• Core: The United States and Germany

• Periphery: Sub-Saharan Africa

• Semi-Periphery: India and Brazil

Multinational Corporations (MNCs)

Definition: Corporations that operate in multiple countries, influencing economic and cultural systems. Example: Companies like Apple, PepsiCo, and Walmart that operate globally and shape local economies and cultures.

Neoliberalism

Definition: Economic and political ideology that emphasizes the free market, with limited government intervention. Example: Policies that reduce trade barriers and privatize industries to encourage competition.

Migration

Definition: The movement of people from one place to another, often due to economic, social, or political factors. Example: Mexican workers migrating to the U.S. in search of better job opportunities.

Diaspora

Definition: The dispersion of a group of people from their original homeland. Example: The Jewish diaspora, where Jews live outside Israel due to historical displacement.

Push and Pull Factors

Definition: Factors that cause people to leave their country (push) or attract them to a new country (pull). Example:

• Push: War, political persecution, or lack of job opportunities.

• Pull: Economic opportunity, better living conditions, and political freedom.

Bridges and Barriers

Definition: The factors that either enable or limit migration. Example:

• Bridges: Family connections, easy access to transportation, relaxed immigration policies.

• Barriers: Language barriers, geographic distance, strict immigration laws.

Labor Immigrants

Definition: Individuals who migrate to find low-skill, low-wage jobs. Example: Migrant farm workers in the U.S. who fill positions in agriculture that native-born workers do not want.

Circular Migration

Definition: The regular movement of people between two or more locations, often for labor purposes. Example: Seasonal workers who travel back and forth between their home countries and host countries for agricultural work.

Refugees

Definition: People who are forced to leave their home country due to fear of persecution based on race, religion, nationality, political opinion, or membership in a particular social group. Example: Syrian refugees fleeing war and violence since 2011.

Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs)

Definition: People who are forced to leave their homes but remain within the borders of their own country. Example: People displaced by conflict in Sudan, who are relocated within Sudan itself.

Development-Induced Displacement

Definition: Forced migration caused by large-scale development projects such as dams or infrastructure projects. Example: The construction of the Three Gorges Dam in China displaced over a million people.

Relocation Stress

Definition: The psychological and social stress associated with moving to a new location. Example: Immigrants feeling stressed about adapting to a new culture, language, and job market.

Feminization of Migration

Definition: The growing percentage of women among global migrants. Example: Increasing numbers of women migrating to work as domestic workers in various countries.

Chain Migration

Definition: Migration where one person moves and then helps family and friends to migrate to the same area. Example: A family member moving to the U.S. and then sponsoring relatives to join them later.

Inclusion & Exclusion in Migration

Definition: Migration policies that either include or exclude certain groups based on political or economic considerations. Example: The U.S. immigration debate about whether to allow refugees or prioritize skilled workers.

Multiculturalism

Definition: The coexistence of diverse cultural groups within a society, promoting cultural diversity. Example: Canada’s policy of multiculturalism, where multiple ethnic groups live together while retaining their distinct identities.

Migration & Human Rights

Definition: The human rights concerns that arise with forced migration, displacement, and resettlement. Example: The right of refugees to seek asylum and the debate over whether forced displacement is a violation of human rights.

Acculturation

Definition: The process by which a group of people adopts the cultural traits of another group. Example: Immigrants in the U.S. adopting American customs, food, and language while retaining their own cultural practices.

Syncretism

Definition: The blending of cultural elements from different traditions to create a new culture. Example: The creation of Latin American religions combining Catholicism with indigenous beliefs.