Globalization Flashcards
Globalization: Intro
Not a single theory, but an idea
Focus on world becoming “single place (Robertson), a single community where political boundaries no longer matter
- homogenized economically, culturally–disembeddedness, esp as tech grows
- also connectivity
Theorists tend to focus on economic or cultural globalization
- some focus on interplay
Economic Globalization: Immanuel Wallerstein: Intro & World Systems Theory
Most well-known globalization sociologist
Best known for “world systems theory”
- draws upon Parsons (systems theory–complex parts work together with feedback), but def Neo-Marxist (nation-states within global system tho, instead of within nation-states)
- the world capitalist system contains inherent contradictions that will eventually be its demise
US grows based on extraction of other nation-states
Economic Globalization: World Capitalist System
Begins in Western Europe after fall of feudalism (15th-17th cent)–150 year cycle
Stratified into core, semi-periphery, and periphery
- various core nation-states compete with one another for economic and military dominance
- at certain times, states become hegemonic (completely dominate economic trade): Dutch in the 17th century, United Kingdom in the 19th century, the United States in the 20th century.
- core states disproportionately benefit from the cheap labor and resources of periphery nations–unequal trade (pay periphery small wages, take profit–periphery has no alternative)
Economic Globalization: Economic Cycles of World Capitalist System
Inherent contradictions of capitalism cause the rise and fall of core states and the expansion of capitalism
Core states begin with high demand for goods which leads to increased production and the need for raw materials
This need for raw materials expands capitalism by developing relationships with the periphery states (who have the raw material)
Eventually the supply of raw material and the production of goods exceeds the demand (overproduction), which begins the economic downcycle.
This leads to increased unemployment, decreased demand, and economic inequalities.
Economic Globalization: World Empire vs World System
The capitalist world system is different from empires of the past–empires expanded power politically and by military conquest, while capitalist world system expands power economically
Economic Globalization: End of World Capitalism
Internal contradictions are dealt with by the expansion of the system
- eventually the system will have nowhere to expand, no escape from consequences of inherent contradictions–come to an end
Cultural Globalization: Samuel Huntington & Clash of Civilization: Def of Civilization
Civilizations: The most deep, enduring cultural forms shared by a group of people (values, philosophical assumptions, outlook on life, etc)
Cultural Globalization: Samuel Huntington & Clash of Civilization: Timeline
Prior to 1500: civilizations were largely kept separate from one another in time and space
1500-1945: A period of growing Western dominance
- rise of cities, commerce, state bureaucracy
- also technological: development of weapons and military power allowed for conquest by the West
1945 – 1990: decline of the West and the clash of ideas
- debate between capitalism and communism dominates (The Cold War)
1990 – today: clash of civilizations
- fundamental disagreements over “grand narratives” that drive identity and purpose
- fundamental differences in philosophical assumptions about the good life and the goal of society
Cultural Globalization: Samuel Huntington & Clash of Civilization: West vs Sinic vs Muslim
The West continues to decline, yet views its culture as “universal culture” that needs to be exported
Emerging fault lines between three civilizations:
- The West (Western Europe/North America) and the Sinic Civilization (The Chinese): individualism versus collectivism
- The West and Islamic civilization (modernization versus traditionalism)
Both Economic & Cultural: Roland Robertson: Idea of “Glocalization”
More sympathetic to Wallerstein, but rejects his “economism” (i.e. economic determinism)
History is not inevitable, it is contingent.
Global processes (largely economic and political) interact with localities (largely cultural) and produce hybrid cultural/economic forms
This view acknowledges that macro-economic forces are important, but also acknowledges that local individuals and groups have the ability to creatively adapt to and transform these forces
