GHY 1020-101
World Regional Geography
MWF 1:00 – 1:50 PM
Professor: L. Baker Perry, Ph.D.
Introduction to Course, Globalization
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Introductions
Course Logistics
Globalization
Economic Globalization
Advocates and Critics of Globalization
For Next Class: Read rest of Chapter 1 (pp. 11-45)
Introductions
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Find a partner sitting near you and find out the
following info:
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NAME
POINT(S) OF ORIGIN
MAJOR (or projected major)
INTERESTING PLACES VISITED
PLACES YOU WOULD LIKE TO VISIT
TALENTS OR HOBBIES
Course Logistics
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Please read the course syllabus in detail and let me know if
you have any questions!
Office hours are MWF 9-11 AM, MW 2-3 PM, or by
appointment (296 Rankin West)
Textbook is Rowntree et al. 2012 Diversity Amid Globalization.
Other readings are available on AsUlearn.
Readings are expected to be completed before coming to
class!
Texting will not be tolerated during class!
Plan on 2-3 hours of outside work per hour of class time on
average (see statement of student engagement on syllabus).
What is Globalization?
Globalization
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Textbook Definition: “increasing interconnectedness
of people and places through converging processes of
economic, social, political, and cultural change”
Distant regions and places are increasingly linked
Processes of change occur at greater and greater
speeds!
Attributes of Globalization
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Global communication systems
Transportation systems
Transnational business strategies
New and more flexible forms of capital accumulation
Global agreements that promote “free trade”
Market economies
Increase in economic disparities
Army of international workers
24 Hour Global Air Traffic
Images of Globalization
Linguistic Diversity in Maryland
Southwestern India
Figure 1.4
Figure 1.1
Economic Globalization
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The driving force behind globalization is economic
globalization
The roots are found in neoliberal economic theory
Core tenets are privatization, unrestricted
movement of capital, openness to foreign
investment, and lower corporate taxes
Characterized by:
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Multinational corporations with assets greater than
most countries
• Of the world’s 175 largest economic entities, 112 (64
percent) are corporations and 63 are countries!
• The total revenue of Wal-Mart (24th on the list) is 1.94
times greater than the GDP of Israel (50th on the list) and
5.1 times larger than the GDP of Iraq (139th on the list).
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Instantaneous movement of capital across borders
Outsourcing—moving of jobs overseas to low-wage
countries
http://dstevenwhite.com/2011/08/14/the-top-175-global-economic-entities-2010/
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Move towards privatization of services, including
health care and water
Global institutions and agreements that promote
“free trade”
• World Trade Organization (WTO)
• North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA)
• Free Trade Agreement of the Americas (FTAA)
Economic Globalization – Formal
Figure 1.10
Economic Globalization – Informal
Figure 1.6
Advocates and Critics
Figure
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The “Electronic Herd”
Figure
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Figure
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Global Sweatshops
Washington, D.C.
demonstration
Group Exercise
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What are the arguments of the pro-Globalizers?
How do the critics of globalization respond?
What is your position?
Advocates of Globalization
Critics of Globalization
Dhaka, Bangladesh
A Middle Position?
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Globalization of anti-globalization
Importance of managing globalization
Strong, yet efficient governments
Dani Rodrik:
• “The world market is a source of disruption and upheaval
as much as it is an opportunity for profit and economic
growth.”