Modernity and globalisation Flashcards
1
Q
Modern Society
Modernism has a number of characteristics that distinguish it from previous societies
A
- Capitalism
- Individualism
- Rationality, science and tech
- The nation state
2
Q
Modern Society
Captialism
A
- Based on private owenership
- Brought about indsutrialisation of modern society
- Cases class conflict
- Govts try to organise capitalism
- Based on fordist principles
3
Q
Modern Society
Individualism
A
- Tradition, custom and ascribed status are not important
- Personal freedom and choice dictates our lives
4
Q
Modern Society
Rationality, science and tech
A
Rational, scientific ways of thinking dominate and re;igious explanations decline
5
Q
Modern Society
The nation state
A
- Nation state defines modernity
- Organising social life on a national basis
- Run schools, education and welfare to regulate citizens lives
- Important source of identity
6
Q
Globalisation
4 major changes have helped bring this about
A
- Changes in culture and identity
- Economic changes
- Political changes
- Technological changes
7
Q
Globalisation
Changes in culture and identity
A
- Harder for cultures to exist in isolation
- Due to role of ICT
- We live in a global culture in which western owned media companies spread western culture to the rest of the world
8
Q
Globalisation
Economic changes
A
- Economics takes place within a set of global networks
- Global economy is becoming weightless, larger production of information such as music, tv programmes
- Money never sleeps
9
Q
Globalisation
Political changes
A
- Undermined nation state
- Ohame (1994) - we live in a ‘borderless world’ in which TNCs and consumers have more economic power than national govts
10
Q
Globalisation
Technological changes
A
- Satellite communications, the internet etc have helped to create time-space compression
- Brings risk on a global scale, greenhouse gases can be made in one country can lead to a rise in sea levels in another
- Beck (1992) - we live in a risk society
11
Q
Explaining the changes
Rapid changes have led to new questions
A
- What kind of sciety do we live in now?
- what kind of theory can explain today’s society?
- Is the enlightenment project still viable?
