cultural homogenisation Flashcards
Friedman - Cultural homogenisation IS occurring
Globalisation has an American face - eg, Mickey Mouse, Big Macs, Coke, Pepsi, Apple, Windows. Shows how globalisation is the spread of Western brands.
Fukuyama - Cultural homogenisation IS occurring
States that western civilisation, such as politics, are being spread and adopted by other nations, especially since the fall of the Soviet Union. “Western, capitalist, liberal democracies” are seen as ideal. He very much provides a ‘political’ definition of globalisation.
Ghonim - Cultural homogenisation IS occurring
Examined protests in Egypt where social media websites were used as a forum for the public to question and criticise the government and also shape public opinions about issues such as repression. People in the Middle East use social media to stage political revolutions because it gives people a voice where they can fight for freedom and democracy. A key website that was used in Egypt was ‘Areeba Areeba’, which means ‘Closer Closer’. This helped unite people in protests and also helped to bring the rest of the world closer to the Middle East and the issues they were facing.
Kirtpatrick - Cultural homogenisation IS occurring
‘The Facebook Effect’ - Social Media spreading - Can be used in revolutions and protests.
Fairweather and Rogerson - Cultural homogenisation IS occurring
Argue that cultural homogenisation is occurring due to: computer software - microsoft shows western thinking, advertising - westernisation and editing people to western standards, antisocial behaviour - western ideas about morality and deviance leading to accessing private information and harassment, and digital communication does not give rules or police morality and ethics - occur in local communities such as western views regarding liberalism.
Giddens - Cultural homogenisation IS NOT occurring
Discusses ‘reverse colonisation’ where in fact Western cultures are not dominating less powerful groups, but in fact the reverse of this is occurring such as ‘Mexicanisation’ of California, where food, dress and music has become a key part of the Californian lifestyle. This can be known as ‘Glocalisation’ where local cultures assert their own culture whilst resisting Western norms and values.
Lesaca - Cultural homogenisation IS NOT occurring
Suggests that ISIS terrorist group have anti-Western norms and values. They are religious fundamentalists but use Western technology to threaten and play attacks on the West, but also to gain followers. ISIS sent threats to the West (UK and France for example) via videos broadcast on social media and audiovisual communication. Also, they use videos on social media to encourage young people to join terrorist groups and use WhatsApp to plan terrorist attacks.
Croteau and Hoynes - Cultural homogenisation IS NOT occurring
Argues that global digital media companies have also been forced to take into account local practices. Indigenous groups use the internet to protect their way of life - such as ‘survival international’ and ‘tribal net’ that aim to raise awareness and funds to protect their rights and land.
Mohammadi - Cultural homogenisation IS NOT occurring
The image of Western media and domination is exaggerated - Argues that globalisation is a two-way process and exchange of cultures E.g. the West shares with the East just as the East shares with the West - For example we have now adopted post-Fordist production in the UK - This derives from Japan (no more production lines - Machines etc).
