Globilisation, Modernity, Postmodernity

Question 1

Lash and Urry
(Modernity and Globilisation)

Answer 1

‘Organised Capitalism’
. Nation-state is important in maintaining/organising capitalism
. Modern industry production organised on Fordist Principles

Question 2

Four main features of modernity and globilisation

Answer 2

1. Nation State
   - Key political unit = bounded territory ruled by powerful centralised state, population shares same language and culture
2. Capitalism
   - Fordist Principles = mass production of standardised products in large factories
3. Rationality, science and tech
   - rational ways of thinking dominate the magico-religious explanations
4. Individualism
   - Tradition and ascribed status less important but structural inequalities remain

Question 3

Beck
(modernity and globilisarion)

Answer 3

Technological Changes
We now live in a ‘risk society’
^ threats to well being come from human - made tech
Tech changes = helped create time - space compression so brings risk on global scale

Question 4

Sklair
(modernity and globilisation)

Answer 4

Economic Changes
TNC’s form separate global capitalist class
^ increasingly electrical economy

Question 5

Ohmae
(modernity and globilisation)

Answer 5

Political Changes
Now live in a ‘borderless world’ - TNC’s and consumers have more power than GOV

Question 6

Urry
(modernity and globilisation)

Answer 6

‘Disorganised Capitalism’
GOV’s have less power than TNC’s and consumers

Question 7

Lyotard
(Postmodernism)

Answer 7

In postmodern society knowledge is just series of ‘language games’
^ postmodern society is preferable to modern = allows groups who’d been marginalised by modern society to be heard

Question 8

Baudrillard
(Postmodernism)

Answer 8

Knowledge is central to postmodern society - society no longer based on production of material goods but buying and selling knowledge in forms of images/signs
. Signs stand for themselves = simulacra

Question 9

Baudrillard
(hyper-reality)

Answer 9

. Signs appear more real and substitute themselves for reality
. Leaves us unable to distinguish image from reality - lost power to improve society

Question 10

Philo and Miller
(Postmodernism)

Answer 10

Criticise Baudrillard - ignores poverty and inequality
^ Says we can change our identity by changing consumer patterns

Question 11

Best and Kellner
(Postmodernism)

Answer 11

. Claims Lyotards theory is self defeating - points out important features of todays society but fails to explain how they came about

Question 12

Giddens
(Late Modernity)

Answer 12

Defining characteristic of modern society is that it experiences rapid change - often global scale. 2 features:
Disembedding = no longer need face to face contact to communicate, in late modernity tradition and custom less important

Reflexivity = have to constantly measure, monitor, reflect and modify our actions due to info about possible risks/opportunities

Question 13

Giddens
(Late Modernity) - Risk

Answer 13

In late modernity face number of high consequence risks which are all manufactured risks
^ military, economic, environmental risks

Can make rational plans to reduce these risks and achieve better society

Question 14

Beck
(Late Modernity)

Answer 14

. Believes in power of reason to create a better world
. See late modernity as growing individualisation - become increasingly reflexive = reflexive modernisation
. ‘risk consciousness’ becomes increasingly central to our culture
^ most knowledge from media - distorted view

Question 15

Beck
(Late Modernity) - Enlightenment View

Answer 15

Sceptical about scientific progress because of risks brought, but capable of being reflexive = can evaluate risks rationally and take political action to reduce them

Question 16

Rustin
(Late Modernity)

Answer 16

Capitalism is the source of risk not manufactured risks

Question 17

Marx
(Marxist Postmodernism)

Answer 17

. Believe in Enlightenment Project. Marx claimed his theory showed how WC revolution would overthrow capitalism

Question 18

Harvey
(Marxist Postmodernism)

Answer 18

Capitalism is a dynamic system, developing new tech and ways of organising production to make profit
^ Prone to periodic crisis - postmodernity arose from crisis in 1970s

Question 19

Harvey
(Marxist Postmodernism)
- Flexible Accumulation

Answer 19

Flexible Accumulation
. Replaced Ford Production System
. Use of info tech, job insecurity and requirement for workers to be ‘flexible’ around employers needs
^ Permits production of customised products

Question 20

Jameson
(Marxist Postmodernism)

Answer 20

Postmodernity represents more developed form of capitalism as it commodifies virtually all aspects of life

Question 21

Harvey and Jameson
(Marxist Postmodernism)

Answer 21

Weakened the WC and socialist movements and a variety of oppositional movements have emerged in their place

Question 22

Best and Kellner
(Marxist Postmodernism)

Answer 22

Differs from postmodernists in 2 ways:
- retain faith in Marxist theory
- goal of the Enlightenment project can still be achieved