Post-Modernism, Late-Modernity + Globalisation Flashcards
1
Q
what are the 4 features of modern society
A
- the nation-state
- capitalism
- rationality, science and technology
- individualism
2
Q
outline capitalism as a feature of modern society
A
- mod societies are capitalist as wealth distribution is unequal - leads to class conflict
- capitalism enables some to own means of production + others to offer cheap labour
- the nation-state maintains capitalism by regulating conditions
- modern industry operates on Fordist principles; cheap, mass production of consumer goods leading to a rising standard of living
3
Q
outline rationality, science and technology as a feature of modern society
A
- scientific, secular ways of thinking dominate + influences industry, medicine + communications - has replaced religious thought
- technology dominates social and economic life
4
Q
outline individualism as a feature of modern society
A
- tradition, custom and ascribed status becomes less important
- there is greater personal freedom in choosing our life course + identity
- BUT; structural inequalities still shape peoples identities + restrict their choices - like class
5
Q
outline the nation state as a feature of modern society
A
- the idea that countries are bounded territories ruled by a centralised state whose population shares the same language + culture
- the nation state is an important source of identity for citizens, who identify with its symbols - like the flag
6
Q
define globalisation
A
- Globalisation = the process of increasing inter-connectedness of people across national boarders
7
Q
what are 4 changes that came with globalisation
A
- technology changes
- cultural/ identity changes
- political changes
- economic changes
8
Q
outline technology changes as a result of globalisation
A
- people can now connect to anyone anywhere at any time with the use of developed technology (time-space compression)
- e.g. WhatsApp, Instagram, Facetime
- tech also brings risks to a global scale - e.g. greenhouse gases in one place lead to global climate changes
9
Q
outline cultural/ identity changes as a result of globalisation
A
- due to mass media + immigration, cultures are more blended (global culture)
- the inc in tourists, asylum seekers, migrants help to create this
- western owned companies spread west culture to the rest of the world
10
Q
outline political changes as a result of globalisation
A
- globalisation has undermined the power of the nation state
- Ohmae: we now live in a borderless world in which the consumer has more economic power than governments
- disorganised capitalism = states are now less able to control the activities of large capitalist conglomerates
11
Q
outline economic changes as a result of globalisation
A
- economic activity takes place within a ever-greater interconnectedness
- there is now an electric economy, in which money never sleeps and there are global 24hr financial transactions
- this contributes to a risk society
12
Q
outline the Postmodern view
A
- we are now living in a new era of PM; a fragmented, unstable, media-saturated, society where image and reality are indistinguishable
13
Q
outline Foucault’s view of postmodernity
A
- all theories based on enlightenment are outdated and have no use
- all previous theories are meta narratives/ big stories presenting one truth - which isn’t applicable in postmodern society
14
Q
outline Lyotard’s view of postmodernity
A
- due to competing views, there is no1 truth, but a variety of truths within PM society
- this variety of truth allows for more individualised experiences, in which marginalised voices can be heard in society
15
Q
outline Baudrillard’s view of postmodernity
A
- media offers signs/ simulacra which bear little resemblance to reality - which forms a hyperreality
- PM culture has replaced reality with simulacra and so we can no longer distinguish reality from simulacra - this is evident in the media - e.g. photoshop, AI
- making progress is near impossible
16
Q
what do PMs say about culture
A
- culture + identity in PM society differs from modern society - esp because of the role of the media
- the media presents an endless stream of ever-changing images, values and versions of the truth
17
Q
what do PMs say about identity
A
- identity has become destabilised; instead of a fixed identity from our ascribed status, we can construct ourselves from the lifestyles on offer from the media
- we can simply change our identity from changing our consumption patterns
18
Q
what do PMs say about politics
A
- our media-created-hyperreality leaves us unable to distinguish image from reality
- if we cannot grasp real society - we have no power to change it. political activity to change it is now useless
- we can change our identity, but not society
19
Q
outline 2 PM evaluations from Philo and Miller
A
Philo + Miller (Marxists):
- PM ignores power and inequality (e.g. how media’s images and reality are unconnected ignores the ruling class’ use of media as a tool of domination)
- the claim that we freely construct our identities through consumption ignores effects of structural inequalities like poverty
20
Q
outline late modernity
A
- the rapid social changes are a continuation of modernity which has made inds extremely individualised - we need to be more reflexive (monitor + reflect on actions)
- key features of modernity that were always present have now become intensified
- theories of modernist sociology are still useful - unlike in PM
- Beck: we are in a risk society - nothing is fixed/ permanent
21
Q
what does Giddens say are the 2 key features of late modernity
A
- global, rapid social change is due to 2 things: disembedding and reflexivity
22
Q
outline Giddens view of disembedding in late modern society
A
- disembedding = the idea that we no longer need face to face contact to interact - interactions are more impersonal
23
Q
outline Giddens view of tradition/ custom in late modern society
A
- tradition + custom have become less important + no longer serve as a guide on how to act
- we have become more individualistic
- e.g. sons are no longer expected to follow the same occupation as their fathers
24
Q
outline Giddens view of reflexivity in late modern society
A
- because tradition no longer tells us how to act, we become reflexive
- we have to constantly monitor, reflect + modify our actions
- we are also constantly revaluating our ideas and theories - nothing is fixed
- due to this, culture is unstable + subject to change
25
outline Giddens view of modernity + risk in late modern society
- in late modernity, we face a number of high consequence risks
- e.g. military risks of nuclear war. economic risks like instability of economy etc
- all of these are manufactured rather than natural risks
- Giddens reject the PM view that we cant intervene to improve things
26
Late modernity: outline Becks 'risk society'
- the dangers we face today are man made resulting from human activity, in contrast to in the past - where there were natural dangers (e.g. drought)
- there are 4 main types of risk
27
name Becks 4 main types of risk
- surveillance
- escalation of military power
- collapse of economic growth
- environmental risks
28
what does Beck mean by individualisation + reflexive modernisation
- beck sees late modernity as a period of growing individualisation - in which we become increasingly reflexive
- tradition no longer governs how we act and we have to reflect on our actions
- reflexive modernisation = having to constantly take into account the risks attached to courses of action
29
what does Beck mean by risk consciousness
- as a result of risks, 'risk consciousness' becomes increasingly central to culture - we become more aware of risks and seek to avoid/ minimise them
30
what is Beck's stance on the enlightenment project
- Beck disagrees with Baudrillard who rejects the Enlightenment project (the possibility of progress through action based on rational knowledge)
- he thinks we have the ability to use rationality to overcome risks
- e.g. Beck looks to new political movements like environmentalism to challenge the direction of tech development
31
outline evaluations of late modernity
- the concept of reflexivity ignores the restrictions w/c people may have. e.g. people living in poverty are exposed to more environmental risks in a heavily polluted area
- Rustin: criticises Beck, and says that capitalism is the source of risk - not technology
32
what do postmodern Marxists believe
- Jameson + Harvey: society has moved to postmodernity - in the sense that it is a later stage of capitalism
- Harvey: capitalism is a dynamic system, constantly developing new technologies + ways of maximising profit - 'new regimen of accumulation'
- Cap is now based on 'Post-Fordism' in which there is a diverse market of niche products - everything can be commodified
33
outline PM Marxist's idea of flexible accumulation
- capitalist crisis gave rise to the new regime of accumulation - a new way of profit (flexible accumulation/ post Fordism)
- FA involves the requirement for workers to be flexible to fit their employers' needs
- it favours the production of products for small, niche markets instead of standardised ones for mass markets
34
what has flexible accumulation resulted in
- FA brought many of the cultural changes of PM; such as diversity, choice + instability
- e.g. production of customised products for niche markets promotes cultural diversity
- it also brought changes in consumption; turning leisure, culture + identity into commodities of which make up our identities
35
what does Harvey say about the development of Capitalism
- Harvey: this more developed form of capitalism leads to the compression of time + space
- commodification of culture, creation of global markets, new information + technologies all serve to shrink the globe
36
what do PM Marxists Harvey and Jameson say about politics + progress
- Harvey + Jameson: flexible accumulation/ fragmented identities has brought political change; e.g. weakening the w/c + socialist movements as there is no longer 1 collective issue/aim
- in their place, a range of fragmented movements have emerged, e.g. environmentalism, women's rights etc
- this reduces the chance of overthrowing Capitalism + weakness collective effort
- H+J: are hopeful that a 'rainbow alliance' can occur in which different protest groups unite in a communist rebellion
- thus, progress and change are difficult but hopeful
37
outline evaluations of Postmodern Marxists
- Marx's original view of the enlightenment project was that it would be achieved by the w/c leading a revolution to overthrow capitalism. however, by accepting that political opposition to capitalism has been fragmented, a revolution is seemingly impossible
38
outline a criticism of Lyotard’s theory
- his theory is self-defeating; why should we believe a theory that says that no theory is true
