Globalisation, Modernity & Postmodernity

Question 1

Modernity & Golbalisation - Characteristics of a modern society

Answer 1

The nation-state, capitalism, mass production, scientific thinking and technology

Question 2

Modernity & Globalisation - reasons for globalisation

Answer 2

• Economic changes - global networks encourage economic activity. The growth in transnational companies drives globalisation forward
• Technological changes - the internet and air travel collapse time and space barriers
• Political changes - the fall of communism and the rise in transnational bodies have created opportunities global capitalism
• Changes in culture and identity - westernised global culture makes it harder for cultures to exist in isolation. Globalisation undermines traditional sources of identity

Question 3

Postmodernism - Knowledge

Answer 3

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Any theories claiming to have the truth about how to create a better society, therefore they reject meta-narratives (e.g. Marxism) that merely reflect someone’s version of society
We should celebrate a diversity of views rather than seek to impose one version of the truth

Question 4

Postmodernism - Enlightenment Project

Answer 4

In a post-modern society, the media create a hyper-reality - the media’s signs appear more real than reality itself, leaving us unable to distinguish between reality and image
If we cannot grasp reality, we lose the power to improve society - undermining the enlightenment project

Question 5

Late Modernity - Giddens (two key features that encourage globalisation)

Answer 5

• Disembedding - lifting out of social relations from local contexts of interaction. Factors such as credit break down geographical barriers and make interaction more personal.
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• Reflexivity - tradition and custom no longer serve as guides to how we should act. We are forced to become reflective (reflect on and modify our actions in light of information about risks) which means that we are continually re-evaluating our ideas. This means culture becomes unstable.