Basic in-depth: Globalisation

Question 1

AO1: Define Globalisation:

Answer 1

Globalisation is the process in which the world is becoming increasingly interconnected as a result of massively increased trade and cultural exchange. Globalisation is a process in which has taken place for hundreds of years. However, it has enormously sped up during the 20th and 21st century.

Question 2

AO1: According to Holton (2005) Globalisation is defined as:

Answer 2

The interconnection which is the intensified movement of goods, money, technology, information, people, ideas and cultural practices across political and cultural boundaries.

Question 3

AO1: Problems with defining globalisation:

Answer 3

1. Can result in marginalisation and exclusion; for example, those without access to internet, in poverty.
2. Occurs at different rates at different places, for example, in less developed countries, digital technology maybe used less.
3. People to spread out all over the world with similar or unique cultural characteristics together to protect their rights culture.
4. Globalisation affects all these different areas of social life in differing ways.
5. May result in people wishing to defend themselves against changes as a form of cultural resistance.

Question 4

AO1: Globalisation has resulted in:

Answer 4

• Increased international trade with companies operating in more than one country.
• Greater dependence on the global economy.
• Freer movement of capital goods, services and employers.
• Cultural exchange (language, ideas, humour, music, food) across boarders.

Question 5

Colonialism:

Answer 5

Where the culture itself is damaged.

Question 6

Imperialism:

Answer 6

A country which forces its ways of doing things on another nations state.

Question 7

AO2: Robertson (1992) on describing Globalisation:

Answer 7

Robertson argues that there are five phases of Globalisation:

• Germinal: 1400-1750
• Incipient: 1750- 1802
• “Take off”: 1870-1920
• Struggle for Hegemony: 1920-1960
• Uncertainty: 1960s-1990

Question 8

A03: Analysis and Evaluation of Robertson (1992):

Answer 8

Strength:
- Gives us evidence of when and where these phases are used.
Weakness:
- Robertson only speaks of the phases that took place within the from 1400 to 1990s. What about the events that took place before the 1400s?

Question 9

AO2: Seabrook (2005):

Answer 9

There are three main responses to the process of globalisation:

• Fatalism: The feeling that we are powerless to alter globalisation, that our national identity will be worn away whatever we do. (Resolution to this is Glocalisation).
• Welcoming: The feeling that global culture will be good for the economic prosperity and will make the world more homogenous (the same).
• Resistance: The idea that local identities are maintained or that old national identities or fundamentalisms become stronger.

Question 10

AO2: Hall (1991):

Answer 10

Argument is similar to Seabrook (2005), that there are three reactions to globalisation:

• Acceptance (cultural homogenisation)
• Cultural Hybridity
• Cultural resistance (protect heritage)

Question 11

AO2: Giddens (2002):

Answer 11

Giddens would agree that globalisation is not a one way process from western civilisation to the rest of the world. Giddens suggests that globalisation is now characterised by ‘reverse colonialism’. For example, ‘ Latinisation’ of Los Angeles. The city of Los Angeles has been influences by the cultures of Latin American immigrants. This can be successful though the use spreading of Latin American culture in America. I.e. Language Spanish. Moreover, Gidden sees this process of globalisation as continuing in unforeseen directions.

Question 12

Cultural homogenisation:

Answer 12

The worlds culture emerges into one culture.

Question 13

AO2: Cochrane and Pain (2000):

Answer 13

The emergence of a global economic and cultural system, which is incorporating the people of the world into one single global society.

Question 14

Cultural defence:

Answer 14

When various groups recognise that their cultural practices are at risk due to cultural homogenisation. They protect and reinforce their own cultures to make sure that they remain distinct.

Question 15

What are digital forms of communication?

Answer 15

Communication that takes place via the digital device, this relates to all binary communication that use electronic equipment to pass on information. The digital world is changing and evolving quickly, examples could include text messages, emails, Facebook etc.

Question 16

Two categories of new forms of digital communication:

Answer 16

Category 1:
-An extension and development of existing forms of media on various new platforms. For example, through satellite and cable transformation.
Category 2:
-New media platforms such as mobile phones, laptops and tablets which are used in various new ways in phone ‘apps’ can be sued to help people manage their lives, in relationships, shopping, diet, health and wellbeing.

Question 17

AO2: Horst and Miller (2012):

Answer 17

The world digital can be defined as all forms of information that can be reduced to binary code, which can then lead to the proliferation (growth) of small and large scale phenomena.

Question 18

Digital Revolution:

Answer 18

Refers to the massive and rapid advance in technology, which have transformed peoples lives over the past few decades. These new forms of communication are created by computer technology using internationally recognised programming systems.

Question 19

The Global village:

Answer 19

Has led the idea that as time and distance shrink, the world is becoming a much smaller place.

Question 20

Virtual Communities:

Answer 20

A social network of individuals who created online community which may or may not reflect their offline lives. This community crosses geographical, political and social lines.

Question 21

AO2: Carter (2005):

Answer 21

• Joined an online community which she refers as ‘cybercity’ participated as participant observer.
• Carters analysis suggests that cybercity allowed people the chance to widen their network of relationships and these relationships were emerged into everyday life.
• Carter uses ideas of Giddens in asserting the ‘pure relationships’ which had three core elements: freedom, commitment and intimacy.

Question 22

AO3: Evaluation of Carter (2005)

Answer 22

Strengths:
- Has a good sample size of 86.
- A range of different responses from different age groups.
Weakness:
- The interviewees may have misunderstood some of the questions. Allowing them to have given an invalid answer.

Question 23

AO1: Media Convergence:

Answer 23

Refers to the ways a whole range if different kinds of information can be combined and delivered in one format.

Question 24

AO2: Boyle (2005):

Answer 24

Explains how the process of digitalisation allows for media convergence. These once separate forms of media can be accessed online. For example, Tv on phones.

Question 25

AO1: Social Media:

Answer 25

Refers to any form of digitally based platform for making, confirming or developing social networks which have a global reach.

Question 26

AO1: Glocalisation:

Answer 26

A process where different countries and religions customise such globalisation trends into what best suits them. For example, the McDonalds in India has no beef or pork on the menu, this is because most of the citizens are vegetarians due to religious beliefs.

Question 27

AO2: Ritzer (1993):

Answer 27

Argues that globalisation can be described by the process he calls Mcdonaldisation, which refers to the idea that life is adopting the business practices of McDonalds fast food chain.

Question 28

AO1: Name the four components of Mcdonaldisation:

Answer 28

1. Efficiency = to reach a specific end rapidly, with the least amount of cost or effort.
2. Rationality = the business presents quantity over quality.
3. Predictability = ensuring that each stand of this business shares no differences.
4. Technological Control = Everything is pre-done by technology.

Question 29

AO1: The digital social world:

Answer 29

Rapid increase in digital technology has led to a range of different forms of social networks, which go beyond the face-to-face format.

Question 30

AO3: Advantages and disadvantages of the digital social world:

Answer 30

Advantages include:
- It allows one to acknowledge the world crisis, political issues and more.
- It allows individuals to become more expressive with their opinions.
Disadvantages include:
- Can encourage cyberbullying.
-Can have an impact on ones non-virtual social interactions; gaining social anxiety.

Question 31

AO1: Networked Global Society:

Answer 31

Refers to the idea that in the past industrial society. the focus is on information as a result of new forms of communication.

Question 32

Reverse colonialism:

Answer 32

Refers to the process in which cultural norms and values from non-western societies are changing to the western ways, including the USA.

Question 33

A02: Statistics: Digital 2020 The UK

Answer 33

• 45 million active social media users in the UK.
• 1.3 million were added in 2019.
• Social media advertising spend up to 20% year on year in the UK.
• £2.6 billion was spent on social ads last year (2019).