Globalisation, Modernity and Postmodernity

Question 1

Briefly outline what is meant by modernist theories.

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Question 2

Briefly outline the following characteristics of modern society:

• The nation-state
• Capitalism

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Question 3

Briefly outline the following characteristics of modern society:

• Rationality, science and technology
• Individualism

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Question 4

Define globalisation.

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Question 5

Briefly outline how the following changes have helped to bring about globalisation:

• Technological changes
• Economic changes

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Question 6

Briefly outline how the following changes have helped to bring about globalisation:

• Political changes
• Changes in culture and identity

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Question 7

Briefly outline the features of postmodernity.

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Question 8

In postmodern society, how do we define ourselves?

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Question 9

According to postmodernists, what is anti-foundationalism?

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Question 10

Briefly outline the two consequences of anti-foundationalism.

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Question 11

Give an example to show why postmodernist reject meta-narratives such as Marxism.

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Question 12

Briefly explain what is meant by a relativist position.

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Question 13

According to Lyotard, what form does knowledge take in postmodern society?

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Question 14

According to Baudrillard, what is postmodern society based on?

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Question 15

Briefly explain what Baudrillard means by simulacra. Give an example.

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Question 16

Briefly explain what Baudrillard means by hyper-reality.

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Question 17

Briefly explain why Baudrillard is critical of television.

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Question 18

According to postmodernists, why has culture become fragmented and unstable?

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Question 19

In postmodern society, why do people lose faith in meta-narratives?

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Question 20

According to postmodernists, why is it easy to change our identity in postmodern society?

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Question 21

According to Baudrillard, why have we lost the power to improve society?

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Question 22

Briefly outline Philo and Miller’s four criticisms of postmodernism.

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Question 23

Briefly explain why Lyotard’s theory is self-defeating.

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Question 24

According to Best and Kellner, why is postmodern society a weak theory?

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Question 25

Briefly outline Harvey’s reasons for rejecting the pessimism of postmodernism.

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Question 26

What does Foucault mean by a discource?

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Question 27

Using an example, explain how discourses can be a form of domination.

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Question 28

Briefly explain how the idea of discourses suggests that truth is relative.

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Question 29

According to Foucault, why can there be no progress?

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Question 30

Briefly outline how theories of late modernity differ from postmodernism.

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Question 31

Briefly explain ‘disembedding’.

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Question 32

Briefly explain ‘reflexivity’.

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Question 33

Give an example of a military risk.

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Question 34

Give an example of an economic risk.

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Question 35

Give an example of an environmental risk.

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Question 36

According to Giddens, is it possible to deal with risks?

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Question 37

According to Beck, what dangers were present in the past?

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Question 38

According to Beck, what dangers are present today?

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Question 39

Explain what Beck means by reflexive modernisation.

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Question 40

Give an example of how we are more ‘risk conscious’ in late modernity. Why might our knowledge of risk be distorted?

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Question 41

Briefly explain why Beck disagrees with postmodernism’s rejections of the Enlightenment project.

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Question 42

Briefly outline a criticism of the concept of reflexivity.

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Question 43

According to Rustin, what is the source of risk?

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Question 44

What is Hirst’s criticism of Beck?

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Question 45

Briefly outline the positive aspects of theories of late modernity.

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Question 46

In what ways do Marxists agree with Beck and Giddens?

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Question 47

In what ways do Marxists disagree with Beck and Giddens?

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Question 48

How do Marxists see postmodernity?

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Question 49

Accordign to Harvey, when did postmordernity arise?

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Question 50

What does Harvey mean by flexible accumulation?

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Question 51

Briefly outline two ways in which changes to production have brought about the cultural characteristics of postmodernity.

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Question 52

Briefly outline the changes to consumption brought about by flexible accumulation.

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Question 53

Why does Jameson see postmodernity as a more developed form of capitalism?

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Question 54

What is meant by the compression of time and space?

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Question 55

According to Harvey and Jameson, what political changes have occurred due to flexible accumulation?

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Question 56

According to Best and Kellner, in what two ways do Marixists differ from postmodernists?

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Question 57

Briefly outline Marx’s view of how the Enlightenment project would be achieved.

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Question 58

Why and in what way have Marxist theories of postmodernity abandoned this view?

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Question 59

What is the strength of Marxist theories of postmodernity?

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