Cultural Consequences Flashcards
Anecdotally why may cultural homogenisation be said to be taking place?
Globalisation has meant that many retailer have huge reach, standardised products are consumer around the world. Shopping malls in Kenya look exactly the same as Korea or The UK.
What group helps homogenisation?
Global elites. Those who work in supranational organisations, share same western style elite education and create common culture.
What does Ritzer argue?
That globalisation is based on technological efficiency. Everything is becoming highly rationalised (like mcdonalds). Rational methods of production will overwhelm local ones leaving us with homogenised world.
Flaws of Homogenisation?
Over emphasis on Americanization. Assumes firms dont adapt to each market there in. Bennetton example.
How can arguments for homogenisation fit into polarisation.
Methods of communication that are said to bring the world together can just as easily be used for hate.
How does history effected convergence.
Said orientalism. The world has always thought in dichomotomes there occurs a distinct tension between east and the west.
Problem with polarisation?
To pessimistic. Doesn’t deal with examples of positive integration.
What is cosmopolitanism?
A convergence around a plurality of different cultural bases.
How is globalisation paradoxical?
economically it is convergent, culturally it is divergent.
According to Ram how is McDonalds in Israel representative of the symbolic institutional theory.
Symbolically mcdonalds and falafel are equal. However the falafel has been rationalised. In the Golani case the M was replaced but mcdonalds still won the contracts and land.
