What is globalisation?
According to Steger (Professor of Global Studies at RMIT University):
Globalisation is an overarching term used to describe different but interrelated
phenomena. He therefore suggests the following terms which may be useful:
Globality is the social condition characterised by “tight global economic, political,
cultural and environmental interconnections”
Globalization (with a z) is the set of social processes that “appear to transform our
present social condition of weakening nationality into one of globality. The shifting
form of human contact. This aspect leads academics to explore causes and features of
globalization. This also accounts for historical developments in globalization as it is a
process.
Global imaginary is the growing consciousness of belonging to a global community
and its relation to national and local frameworks.
Overall, it is the reduction of the “obstacles” of time and space which hinder
communication and the increase in the awareness of this new “closeness”.
Four additional qualities of globalisation are:
1. the creation of new, and multiplication of existing, social networks and activities.
e.g. satellite-news corporations
2. the expansion and stretching of social relations, activities and interdependencies
e.g. identical shopping malls on all continents with products from all over; global
institutions such as UN, Doctors Without Borders, Google
3. the intensification and acceleration of social exchanges and activities.
e.g. the rapid development of new technologies
4. the view that “global” is the frame of reference for human thought and action
e.g. new individual and collective identities
“Globalization refers to the expansion and intensification of social relations and
consciousness across world-time and world-space” (Globalization, Steger 2009 p.14)
Globalisation: how old?
Depends on how far we wish to extend the chain of causation.
Older discoveries led to newer, meaning recent technological advances arise from
previous advances which themselves were based on others, etc.
Four basic approaches in considering starting point of globalisation:
1. Limited to post-1989 era or last four decades of post-industrialism
- quantum leap in globalisation
2. Ground-breaking developments of the nineteenth century
- similar explosion of technology in 19th century
3. Emergence of modernity and capitalist world system five centuries ago (1500s)
- importance of Eurasia, Africa and Americas becoming trade routes
4. Ancient historical process as old as humanity
- ancient developments are basis for newer; expansion of human race
Economic dimension of globalisation
Global economic order
Bretton Woods
-
-
reversed protectionist interwar policies
established binding rules on international economic
activities
resolved to create stable monetary system with currencies
pegged to fixed gold value of US dollar
set foundations for IMF, World Bank (at first called
International Bank for Reconstruction and Development)
and GATT, which became the WTO
based on John Maynard Keynes’ economics
(Keynesianism)
This system worked until President Nixon took the dollar off the gold standard,
leading to global economic instability in the 1970s
Neoliberal policies then became popular.
Neoliberalism
-
market is self-regulating; tends towards equilibrium of
supply and demand
any constraint on free competition would interfere with
natural efficiency of market mechanisms
advocates elimination of tariffs and barriers to trade and
capital flows between nations
based on liberal ideas of Adam Smith and David Ricardo
introduction led by Reagan and Thatcher; rejection of
Keynesianism
movement legitimised by collapse of Soviet bloc
Since this period, three features have been prominent:
1. the internationalisation of trade and finance
2. the power of transnationals
3. the enhanced role of economic institutions
Political dimension of globalisation
The nation-state system
-
dates from Peace of Westphalia in 1648
divided into sovereign states which recognise no superior
authority
states hold law-making decisions, etc.
international law ruled by minimal rules of co-existance
conflicts only between those involved
all states equal before law
differences settled by force
collective priority is to reduce impediments to state freedom
Development of intergovernmental organisations, which are designed to give
expression to international cooperation but have led to political activities to take place
across national boundaries, has led to the sovereignty of the nation-state to be
undermined.
Hyperglobalizers, i.e. those who emphasise the importance and effects of
globalisation, see globalisation as causing the demise of the nation-state and as giving
rise to a world in which internationally-linked regional economies determine a
minimalist political order.
Globalisation sceptics, on the other hand, say that political decisions are key in
shaping the development of globalisation, saying that globalization has been
significantly aided by the political decision to lift tariffs and protectionist policies.
Cultural dimension of globalisation
Cultural globalisation involves the construction, articulation and dissemination of
meaning: in music, in language, and in image.
Through technology exposure to different types of these is facilitated greatly.
Does this lead to sameness or difference?
“Pessimistic hyperglobalizers” suggest that because of globalisation, a homogenised
popular culture based on Western culture is arising.
e.g. Amazonian Indians wearing Nike trainers; people in Southern Sahara wearing
Yankees baseball caps
Sociologist George Ritzer coined the term “McDonaldization” to describe the
expansion of principles behind American fast-food culture are spreading.
Political theorist Benjamin Barber warns against the “ethos of infantilization” that
sustains global capitalism – global consumerism is becoming soulless in the pursuit of
profit.
“Optimistic hyperglobalizers” say that increased sameness is a good thing. Francis
Fukuyama welcomes this and thinks that the Americanisation of the world brings
better lifestyles and values such as democracy and free markets.
Some commentators, such as Roland Robertson, say that cultural globalisation means
local cultures are invigorated – glocalisation, which involves cultural borrowing.
Cultural globalisation has contributed to the expansion of people’s consciousness –
global imaginary.
Cultural globalisation may lead to hybridity.
The role of the media:
-
led to the increase in the global imaginary
-
transnational corporations (TNCs) now dominate the media
market
smaller media outlets are dying out
led to increased consumption of media
depoliticization of social reality
news has become more “entertainment”
The globalisation of languages
Researchers at Globalization Research Center at the University of Hawaii have
identified 5 variables that influence globalisation of languages:
1. Number of languages – decline indicates increased homogenisation
2. Movements of people – languages are taken with them
3. Language tearning and tourism – spreads languages beyond national borders or
cultural boundaries
4. Internet languages – as global medium for instant communication, language use on
internet is a key factor
5. International scientific publications – contain languages of global intellectual
discussion and so impacts knowledge around the world
Globalisation of English is a historical development due to British colonialism. At the
same time, number of languages spoken has dropped by over half.
Ecological dimension of globalisation
Global environmental issues have become more prominent in discussion since
beginning of this century.