G,M,PM: Modernity and Globalisation

Question 1

What are the four characteristics that distinguish modern society from previous traditional societies?

Answer 1

• the nation-state
• capitalism
• rationality, science and technology
• individualism

Question 2

The nation-state is the bordered territory rules by a powerful centralised state.
What are the main purposes of the state?

Answer 2

• to act as the focal point of modern society
• to organise social life on a national basis
• regulate citizens’ lives
• acts as an important source of identity for citizens eg. identifying with a flag

Question 3

In modern society, how does capitalism lead to class conflict?

Answer 3

• capitalism brought about industrialisation and huge increases in wealth but wealth distribution is unequal

Question 4

How do the nation-state and capitalism work together?

Answer 4

• nation-state regulates capitalism and maintains the conditions under which it operates

Question 5

On what principles is production in modern society based?

Answer 5

• Fordist

Question 6

In a modern society, what replaces magico-religious explanations of the world?

Answer 6

• rational, secular, scientific ways of thinking

Question 7

Due to greater personal freedom, what become less important?

Answer 7

• tradition
• custom
• ascribed status

Question 8

What are the four factors that have brought about globalisation?

Answer 8

• technological changes
• economic changes
• political changes
• changes in culture and identity

Question 9

How do technological changes contribute to what Beck calls the ‘risk society’?

Answer 9

• greenhouse gases produced in one place contribute to global climate change
• increasingly, therefore, threats to our well-being come from man-made technology rather than natural disasters

Question 10

How do economic changes contribute to a ‘risk society’?

Answer 10

• money can be transferred all across the world at all times in pursuit of profit

Question 11

How have a separate global capitalist class been formed according to Sklair?

Answer 11

• trans-national companies operating across countries and organising production on a global scale
• the small elites who control these companies are so powerful

Question 12

What does Ohmae describe the modern society we live in as?

Answer 12

• a ‘borderless world’

- TNCs and consumers have more economic power than national governments

Question 13

In modern society, do states have the same control to regulate the activities of large capitalist enterprises?

Answer 13

• no, they are now less able to regulate these activities

- Lash and Urry describe this as ‘disorganised capitalism’

Question 14

How has a globalised culture been formed?

Answer 14

• economic integration

- increased movement of tourists, economic migrants, refugees etc.