Globalisation Flashcards
What is globalisation?
People become increasingly interconnected due to developments in communication, technology and transportation. This causes national boundaries to become less significant
The Digital Revolution
The drastic shift from mechanical technology to digital technology which has completely changed society as it has transformed how we communicate, access information, conduct business etc
The Global Village
A concept developed by McLuhan who predicted that a global village would occur where one world was interconnected by an electronic nervous system. He suggests that information can now be passed electronically due to it “moving at the speed of light”, creating new patterns of communication and social interactions and meaning that the digital media enables people to communicate with each other like being together even if we are physically not
-“everybody lives in the utmost proximity created by our electric involvement in one another’s lives”
- the internet reduces the entire globe to the dimensions of a village- ‘global
village’
Cultural Homogenisation
Different cultures which may as well be separated geographically, politically and religiously have become more similar due to technological advancements in communication.
It is characterised by capitalist ideology, consumerism, secular ideas, increased individualism
-Friedman argues for cultural homogenisation claiming that the world is going through a process of Americanisation
-Fukuyama argues for cultural homogenisation claiming that the world will continue to be dominated by Western, capitalist, democratic ideologies in the wake of the fall of the Soviet Union and capitalism
-Spybey argues against cultural homogenisation claiming that the mastery of the processes connected to industrial and post-industrial capitalism can be directed from non-western countries
-Giddens argues against cultural homogenisation claiming that reverse colonialism is occurring i parts of the west
Virtual Communities
a social network of individuals who create an online community which may or may not reflect their lives offline. They can be formed through message boards, chat rooms, virtual worlds and groups/pages on social networks
-Carter: cybercity = shows characteristics of a city and allowed people a place to meet others and develop connections with people with similar interests. carter found that in some case online friendships lead members to then meet each other in reality.
-Boellstroff: second life = residents create virtual representations of themselves called avatars. Problems linked to the community include reports of crime linked to prostitution, pornography and rape. Boundaries are maintained through adult censors and the world also has a very specific set of rules that each avatar who visits is expected to follow (dress code, code of behaviour etc)
Digital Social Networks and Social Media
The growth of technology has led to online, digital networks linked to friendship groups, work networks, family networks
Digital networks include snapchat, instagram, TikTok, facebook, WhatsApp etc
Social media refers to any form of digitally based platform which have a global reach e.g Facebook
1. 16.8 million people use TikTok in the UK
2. 34,910,600 Instagram users in UK April 2024
3. 82.8% of UK population use social media
4. November 2024 = over 55.9 million Facebook users in the UK
Big Data
The global growth of the internet has lead to an increase in the volume of data being recorded (it used to be that people would store information on paper with only a few people being able to gain access to it). Big data refers to large sets of data that can be analysed to identify trends and patterns in behaviour and interactions.
Volume - excessive amounts of data
Velocity - digital data is transported at high speeds now
Variety - a range of different types of data
Variability - data flows are inconsistent (trending) suddenly data grows based on human behaviour
Complexity - data is being gathered by multiple sources
Example = Google (classroom, gmail, maps, drive, slides, docs, chrome). Google knows your location, personal details, work set, subscriptions, CV
The Network Society
The idea that the internet has enhanced communications between individuals in post-industrial society and the world of work. Those who do have access to the online world have greater social capital and therefore face greater rewards with regards to employability and have a higher status than those who do not have online presence
Examples of different forms of social capital you gain on social networks such as instagram, facebook, snapchat, LinkedIn, twitter = gain followers, like posts, message, comments, add people/make friends, post about qualifications/achievements
Castells: new information technologies have not only transformed the technology of communication but have brought about a new age within which these new technologies are the organising logic and principles. He states that the world has shifted from industrialism to post-industrialism and we live in the Information Age. This has brought about a whole new way in which economic activity and production is conducted through networking. The rise of new information technologies is bound to have a rapid and dramatic impact on everyday human relationships as we now live in a network society. People will feel increasingly lost in the network society as we have become further removed from the forces that shape our lives despite being connected to a very large number of people
Media convergence
Boyle: previously separate forms of media can now be accessed through one device. A range of media such as videos, text, images can all be stored and accessed on one website. Social media platforms are also interlinked for example you can access your facebook friends in Instagram. These patterns of convergence have been adopted to promote western, capitalist ideas such as the pursuit of profit, private ownership and material objects being presented as important. This is due to the idea that companies can now advertise on a range of media platforms, website and social networks
Positive impact on relationships
Granovetter
-weak ties (online) are just as important for a person’s social relationships as strong ones (in person)
-strength of relationship is judged by examining the amount of time spent together, emotional intensity of the relationship, level of intimacy and degree of reciprocity which means people have strong ties with close friends and family but weak ties with people who are considered more as acquaintances. Weak ties are just as important as strong ties as sometimes lead to connection between members of networks. Weak ties connect people with those they may not normally have commonalities with therefore helping to increase social networks
This means that if weak ties are removed, a persons social network may face considerable damage than if a person were to lose strong ties
Positive impact on relationships
Kraut et al
-the internet plays a key role in helping to develop and maintain social ties with others
-they critiqued research in the 1990s which suggested the internet was having a negative impact on people’s relationships as they believed that the internet was helping individuals stay connected and create ties but also maintain the ties, strong or weak
=without the internet, ties may not be created or maintained which impacts social network and social capital and shows how globalisation has a positive impact on relationships as it encourages online connection and companionship
Positive impact on relationships
Shaw and Grant
-the internet can benefit individuals mental health, preventing them from feeling lonely
- they conducted an experiment and discarded theories that internet use positively correlates with depression, loneliness and stress.
- over time, internet use of a chat room increased feelings of social support and self esteem while decreased feelings of anxiety and loneliness
=with increased internet usage due to globalisation, people now have more connections, friendships, relationships which improves mental well being and preventing a feeling of loneliness
Negative impact on relationships
Turkle
-the internet may make us feel connected with each other but in reality we are isolating ourselves from each other
- new patterns of behaviour are now seen as normal which would have not previously such as use of phones in meetings, classrooms, families denying each other attention whilst sitting in the same room, texting in class and at funerals. = risk to relationships and identities as we could lose each other rather than connect with each other
- internet gives the power to edit and delete interactions and shape who we are seen as but unsure whether this is a good or bad thing
=increased internet usage causing people to lose touch with real life relationships and bonds with one another, instead of being present with those around us we are drawn to looking at our screens
Negative impact of relationships
Miller
-the internet may break down our real life relationships
-social media site can be a place to find and develop relationships, can also be instrumental in breaking up relationships/marriage.
-Facebook can challenge people’s ideas of privacy and create social problems and scandal e.g expose people for being unfaithful in relationships
-some people believe the truth more when they are told it face to face
=internet provides individuals with opportunities to create new relationships whilst already involved with someone, making adultery easier to commit = break down other relationships
Negative impact of relationships
Baudrillard
-digital media has turned personal interactions into shallow fragmented exchanges, weakening real connections
-in a media saturated society, individuals no longer engage in ‘real’ world but interact with simulations making relationships disconnected and superficial from deeper emotional substance.
- blurring of reality creates a world where personal connections are influenced by media, leading people to relate to each other as images or commodities rather than as a whole
-social media platforms accelerate the process, fostering curated and artificial creating artificial interactions that undermine the authenticity and depth of real life connections
=increasing dominance of digital media has transformed human interactions into superficial exchanges where individuals engage with curated versions of each other rather than experiencing authentic, meaningful connections. this has a fragmented sense of reality and undermining depth of personal relationships
What is the postmodernist approach to globalisation and digital communication?
digital communication is being used by individuals to develop their own choices, lifestyles and identities
Fluidity/Fragmentation
our identities are not fixed. they are made up of a range of aspects and are not simply social class, gender, ethnicity, age etc
e.g influence from popular Youtube/Instagram personalities, online identities are different from offline ones
Choice
the internet gives us more choice over our lifestyles
e.g more choice surrounding online shopping and entertainment
Positive/negative impact on identity
Ellison
-people can adopt multiple online personalities, online activities can leave visible traces which can be captured, tracked, packaged and shared. these choices can tell us a lot about individuals and attitudes in wider society. Online identities can also sometimes impact on people’s offline lives in both negative ways (exposing individuals to privacy risks, judgement, pressure to conform = misrepresentation or harm self-esteem) and positive ways (allows individuals to explore and express different aspects of themselves online=enrich offline lives through self expression and connection
Positive impact on identity
Bjorklund
-digital platforms allow individuals to continuously shape and express their identities in real time, providing greater control over how they present themselves and interact with others
- traditionally autobiographies used to reflect on one’s life. in a post modern era individuals define themselves through self-presentation (twitter and facebook). in real time autobiographies, individuals display their lives and the boundaries between public and private selves are blurred people engage in self-presentation for constant social interactions
=shift highlights how identity is increasingly constructed in digital world, people can manage their lives as they unfold
Positive impact on identity
Hart
-social media allows individuals to constantly shape and share their lives, reflecting personal values and social influences, creating both online and offline identities that are meaningful and contextually relevant
-social media platforms =people can write and rewrite lives by sharing and presenting values that are important to them = people develop online and offline identities which are shaped by personal experiences and social contexts.
-people craft their identities drawing on both their personal values and social expectations that they encounter = integrating digital presence with offline lives
=digital media positively impacts identities by giving individuals a platform to shape and express their values and experiences. People create authentic identities engaging with their communities meaningfully and presenting themselves in ways true to their lived experiences
Negative impact on identity
Case
-posting personal information online can create challenges especially for adolescents by leading to long lasting mistakes, privacy concerns and potential conflicts
-posting lives online = create a challenge especially to adolescents who have two periods of life: one online and one offline
- it can be hard to remove mistakes that can remain documented (difficult to know what private data is stored online and even when it is “deleted”) = disputes between individuals
=online posts can permanently document mistakes, creating lasting consequences that are difficult to undo = privacy issues and conflicts, particularly for adolescents who may struggle with managing the distinction between their online and offline selves
Negative impact on identity
Baudrillard
-Media saturation blurs the line between reality and fiction, creating a world where it’s difficult to distinguish what is real from what is simulated.
-people are so ‘engulfed’ by communication = ‘hyper-reality’
-our physical reality has become blended with our virtual realities in which we are bombarded with ‘simulacara’
- some people are more involved with the ‘hyperreal’ world = not possible to deduce what is real anymore. - this is worsened by social media as people perform their lives to be posted online
=causing confusion between real and virtual selves, making it harder for individuals to understand or maintain an authentic sense of who they are. The blending of reality with virtual representations can lead to a fragmented or distorted identity, as people become more engaged in a constructed, hyperreal world.
Problems with defining globalisation
it is not a universally positive process - it actually worsens inequalities across the world
(creates global marginalisation. Those who don’t follow western values are excluded, western capitalism exploits developing country’s workforce = people have to live in polluted areas
Problems with defining globalisation
-it does not occur everywhere at the same time
Doesn’t occur in some parts of the world at all, and in others far slower e.g the developing world is behind the western world, poverty in Brazil, there will are primitive cultures untouched by globalisation.
Problems with defining globalisation
It does not always lead to ‘cultural homogenisation’ where one global culture is created
No it creates division and conflict e.g different value systems which are incompatible coming into contact, foreign intervention causes conflict, domestic racism e.g Giddens
Problems with defining globalisation
It will not always lead to liberal, democratic values such as individualism, diversity and choice. Many across the world will actually resist this
No there is revisited we are witnessing a backlash against these ideas e.g resurgence of nationalism, anti-globalism (Hewitt)
Negative impact on age inequality : the Ofcom Report 2014
- over 8/10 of adults now go online. There has been a 9% increase in those aged 65+ ever going online
- 6 in 10 UK adults (62%) now use a smartphone, an increase from 54% in 2012.
- 65% of men and 48% of women age 18-34 use wikipedia, compared with 40% of men and 28% of women aged 35+
= this makes them at risk of fraud scams with lack of privacy as the elderly are less educated. Digital social media excludes elderly people as everything is online and they are not moving with the globalised world
Negative impact on age inequality: Garside
the introduction of broadband has created a generation of ‘digital natives’ where the youngest generations are learning to use iPhones and iPads before they can talk. This has made communication habits between generations very different. Young people spend less time talking on the phone as they not send messages through a range of devices and apps
-this means that the young people can’t cope and become socially awkward and are also frustrated with the elderly. The old people are excluded and left behind as they have not been educated on changing technology
Negative impact on age inequality: Boyle
-each successive generation sees a greater reliance on digital communication which has led to a digital generation divide between the old who are less likely to use new technologies and the young who rely on technology for day to day lives
-the reasons for this include the young people being more equipped to develop their skills demanded by new technologies and the young people want to create their adult identities and digital technologies can assist with this. Parents are also more likely to spend money on their children and teenagers in contemporary society
Negative impact on age inequality: Berry
-reasons for old people not accessing the internet was due to their lack of skills and/or lack of interest in doing so
- many also faced psychological barriers
-79% of households below state pension age have internet access, compared to only 37% of those above state pension age
-this supports the notion of the digital generation divide where some have full access and others are excluded
Negative impact on age inequality: Palmer
- toxic parenting: parents rely on technology to occupy their children. Children feel isolated and can’t relate to others face to face (Frankie Bridge giving her children iPads at a restaurant. In the cinema, doing the foodshop
Negative impact on age inequality: Postman
-The internet leads to children and youths being exposed to adult content e.g sex and violence = childhood is disappearing (e.g exposure of young boys to online (Andrew Tate), influence of video games)
Examples on positive impacts on age inequality
-technology like apple watches detecting a fall which ensures people are kept safe
-connections during the Covid 19 pandemic = elderly are more susceptible to catching it = keep in touch with loved ones
Positive impact on age inequality: Clarke and Warren
-active ageing
- old age is a period where the elderly find new interests, hobbies, make new friends
- digital technology helps them meet new friends, book sports class, become part of communities and access education without attending physically
Positive impact on age inequality: Shaw and Gant
-the internet can benefit individuals mental health, preventing them from feeling lonely
- they conducted an experiment and discarded theories that internet use positively correlates with depression, loneliness and stress.
- over time, internet use of a chat room increased feelings of social support and self esteem while decreased feelings of anxiety and loneliness
=with increased internet usage due to globalisation, people now have more connections, friendships, relationships which improves mental well being and preventing a feeling of loneliness
Positive impact on age inequality: Boyle
young people can communicate and enhance relationships with peers through digital enhancement (instagram, snapchat)
Negative impact on class inequality: Mertens and D’Haenens
-studied the digital divide
-those from lower social classes used the internet less (81% were users as opposed to 94% of middle class people).
-Those from lower social classes used technology as a form of entertainment whereas the middle classes used devices to boost their knowledge and to research different information
-social class was the biggest factor affecting digital inequality as opposed to issues based on gender or ethnicity
Negative impact on class inequality: Helsper
-a digital underclass is forming in Britain despite there being some improvement in access and skills. These are the people who cannot afford digital communication devices. This lack of devices can lead to disadvantages and inequalities in contemporary society and can mean less social capital as a result
-those who have lower education levels and no employment appear to be those left behind in the growth and use of the internet.
- the government plans to make public services ‘digital by default’ meaning these individuals will be unable to access them
-children from poorer homes are becoming victims of a ‘digital divide’ because their parents lack the skills to help them use the internet as effectively as their middle class counterparts.
-children from better-off backgrounds not only had greater access to the world wide web at home but were more likely to exploit its array of resources
what are the 2 arguments marxists make when explaining globalisation and digital communication which make class inequalities worse?
- Digital technologies further capitalist exploitation and the maintenance of cultural hegemony/ideological domination
- Digital communication provides a new form of surveillance
Marxist view on the negative impact of class inequality: Cornford and Robins
-digital communication is just another way in which we can be ideologically controlled by capitalists who own and control this form of media.
- we are presented with social media in a way that makes us think we have freedom, democracy and equality but it is just another capitalists can make money and control us
-digital communication threatens individual freedom as information is collected about us through sites such as Facebook.
-e.g in the 2010s, personal data belonging to millions of Facebook users was collected without consent to used for political advertising
Negative impact of class inequality which can be applied to the Marxist view: Katz and Lazarsfeld
-two step flow model
-the interpretation of messages encoded in media can be influence by an individual by an individual audience member’s relationship with other audience members
-media figures and media companies can become opinion leaders (people whose interpretations of media are trusted by others
-opinion leaders can interpret their views of the text onto other audience members who respect them
-we as audience members can respond both passively and actively
-this study shows that audiences themselves spread ideological view points in favour of capitalist values without realising by acting as someone’s opinion leader
-the opinion leader’s views can be internalised as the individual’s own view on the subject. this can be used to explain a limited range of audience interpretations and how media can influence public opinion and maintain cultural hegemony
e.g Molly-mae and Andrew Tate
Negative impact on class inequality: Fuchs + Snowden Report
-rise in ‘Big Data capitalism’ -data has been commodified (a product to be bought)
-surveillance occurs when companies collect, store, control and analyse ‘Big Data’ of internet users
-Snowden Report did reveal the existence of a ‘global surveillance system’ which has secret services to monitor communication between individuals and real time
-Snowden’s revelations revealed widespread misuse of surveillance of digital forms of communication which provided evidence that the US and British government had been accessing personal and private communications claiming it was in the interest of ‘national security’. the effect of these revelations were that it protected society from terrorists and kept them safe
Negative impact on digital communication on gender inequalities and feminism
-Li and Kirkup
-used a sample of 220 Chinese and 245 British students using a self-report survey questionnaire
-men in both countries were more likely than women to use email or chat rooms and men played more computer games than women.
-men in both countries were more self-confident about their computer skills than women and were more likely to express the opinion that using computers was a male activity and skill
What are the 2 arguments Feminists used when explaining digital communication
- Globalisation and digital forms if communication further patriarchal ideology and the exploitation of women (negative impact)
- Digital communication allows women to challenge and potentially overcome patriarchal ideology and the exploitation of women (positive impact)
Negative impact on gender inequalities (Feminist)
Arlaccki
-organisation exploitation is one of the most undesirable consequences of globalisation
-this can take the form sexual slavery
-both UK nationals and those from abroad are exploited in the sex industry through forced labour, domestic servitude and forced criminal activity
-their research also revealed that cases are often not reported or recognised
Negative impact on gender inequalities (Feminist)
Castells
-researched global criminal economy and found it is worth over £1 trillion per annum. It notable includes the trafficking in women and children
Negative impact on gender inequalities (Feminist)
Hughes
-explains that digital communication can help to reproduce patriarchy through sex exploitation such as bride trafficking and sex tourism.
-digital communication means that information about where to buy prostitutes can occur and live sex shows can be viewed through videoconferencing
Negative impact on gender inequalities
Butler
-argues discourses have been used to embed ideas of women’s inferiority and their need to be nurtured by men
-this dates back to the 18th century Enlightenment which legitimised the domination of white middle class males over other groups such as women and non-whites
-we can argue that patriarchal ideology has now found its place on the primary discourse of our age - online content e.g social media to spread patriarchal and misogynistic attitudes
-this can be applied to digital media and globalisation as many British women are oppressed by the unachievable standards presented by online advertisements, Instagram and the inherent misogyny embedded in pornography
