Power, places and networks Flashcards
Why can levels of globalisation be measured, and what spatial variations exist?
Levels of globalisation can be measured to show the extent to which countries participate in global interactions. Spatial variations exist, with some countries being ‘cores’ (central hubs of high interactions) and others being ‘peripheries’ (low interaction levels). Semi-peripheral regions are transitional, becoming more or less globalised over time.
What is an example of global interactions that highlights core and peripheral regions?
Global air traffic is an example of global interactions. Core regions, such as major economic hubs, have dense international flight networks, while peripheral regions have fewer connections.
Why is globalisation not inevitable or universal? Provide examples.
Globalisation is not inevitable or universal because some nations and cultures limit interactions due to political or physical isolation. For example, North Korea is politically isolated, while Tibet faces physical isolation due to its geography.
What are examples of reversals in globalisation trends?
Reversals in globalisation include the rise of protectionism in the USA and Brexit (the UK’s exit from the EU), which may reduce global interactions for these countries.
What is protectionism?
Protectionism is a set of government policies aimed at protecting domestic jobs and industries from foreign competition by imposing tariffs and quotas on imports to make them more expensive.
How does globalisation differ from global interactions?
Globalisation is primarily an economic process involving international operations of industries like TNCs. In contrast, global interactions encompass economic, social, cultural, and political exchanges between nations.
What is a TNC, and what is an example of early globalisation involving a TNC?
A Transnational Corporation (TNC) operates across multiple countries. An example is the Ford Motor Company, which became one of the first TNCs in 1911 when it opened an assembly plant in Manchester, England.
How has Ford Motor Company contributed to globalisation?
Ford expanded globally throughout the 20th century, operating in 90 countries and employing around 250,000 workers. Its practices (e.g., assembly lines) influenced industries worldwide, spreading Western economic systems and culture.
What criticisms exist regarding the cultural impacts of globalisation?
Critics argue that globalisation imposes Western systems and values on other cultures, often seen as a form of cultural imperialism where recipient societies are unwilling participants in a one-sided relationship.
What is the KOF Index of Globalisation?
The KOF Index measures levels of globalisation using a composite score (0–100), combining economic, political, and social dimensions. It allows for comparisons across countries and time periods.
What are the three dimensions measured by the KOF Index and their weightings (2016)?
The three dimensions are:
- Economic globalisation (36%)
- Political globalisation (27%)
- Social globalisation (37%).
What sub-indices are included under economic globalisation in the KOF Index?
Economic globalisation includes the volume of cross-border trade, such as imports and exports, foreign direct investment (FDI), and other revenue flows. It also considers the number of restrictions on trade, including import tariffs and non-tariff barriers.
What sub-indices are included under political globalisation in the KOF Index?
Political globalisation is measured by the number of foreign embassies and high commissions operating within a country, the number of international organisations to which the country belongs, participation in UN peace missions, and the number of international agreements signed since 1945.
What sub-indices are included under social globalisation in the KOF Index?
Social globalisation includes personal contact, which measures direct cross-border interactions such as telephone calls, letters, tourist flows, and the size of resident foreign populations. It also includes cross-border information flows, measured by access to the internet, global television services, and foreign press media products. Cultural proximity is another sub-index that evaluates how close a society is to the global mainstream. This was initially measured by the number of McDonald’s outlets but later expanded to include IKEA stores.
What were some key findings from the KOF Index in 2016?
In 2016, the Netherlands was ranked as the most globalised country with an index score of 91.70. The Cayman Islands were ranked lowest in 184th place with a score of 32.18. Smaller Western economies were among the most globalised countries, while larger economies like the USA (ranked 34) and China (ranked 73) occupied lower positions.
What are some strengths of the KOF Index?
The KOF Index provides a comprehensive overview of globalisation and allows for easy, objective comparisons over time and across countries. It incorporates a large number of variables (23 in total), covering economic, political, and social aspects of globalisation. The data is sourced from reliable institutions such as the World Bank, UN, IMF, UNESCO, and others. Additionally, five-year running mean values are used for each variable to reduce statistical outliers.
What are some limitations of the KOF Index?
The KOF Index has several limitations. Reported data may be outdated or inaccurate due to challenges in data collection. It gives too much emphasis to outdated communication methods like letters while underemphasising emails and social media. Cultural proximity is measured using Western retailers like IKEA and McDonald’s, which introduces bias. Informal or black-market economies are excluded despite their significant role in globalisation. Additionally, economic, political, and social dimensions are not equally weighted.
Why was the Kearney Globalization Index discontinued after 2007?
The Kearney Globalization Index was discontinued because it was assumed that economic globalisation had become an entrenched and unstoppable phenomenon by that time. As a result, annual updates were deemed unnecessary.
Define global superpower
A global superpower is a nation or a group of nations that is able to project dominating power and influence anywhere in the world, sometimes simultaneously in more than one place.
Define hegemony
Hegemony is cultural or political leadership and influence by one nation over others.
What is the traditional and modern concept of ‘power projection’?
Traditionally, power projection referred to the hard power of military force, such as the USA’s use of the MOAB weapon in Afghanistan in 2017. Modern power projection also includes less coercive methods like political negotiation and economic relationships, exemplified by China’s Confucius Institutes.
What is soft power, and how does it relate to superpowers?
Soft power is the non-coercive influence exerted by a superpower through cultural appeal and attraction. It spreads leadership and power by spreading elements of its lifestyle, such as media, education, and consumer products, which are perceived as desirable.
How did World Wars I and II contribute to the rise of superpowers?
World War I weakened European economies, leading to the decline of powers like Great Britain while strengthening the USA and USSR. World War II further elevated these nations, with the USSR extending its influence over Eastern Europe and both countries becoming industrially and militarily dominant.
What was the Cold War, and how did it shape global superpower dynamics?
The Cold War (late 1940s–early 1990s) was a period of geopolitical tension between the USA and USSR. It involved an arms race, political alliances like NATO (USA-led) and the Warsaw Pact (USSR-led), and competition for global influence. The USSR’s dissolution in 1991 left the USA as the sole superpower.