SOC 451Globalization of Culture and Communication

Asst. Prof. Fatma Altınbaş Sarıgül

Is there such a thing as globalization?

• The great globalization debate between skeptics and globalists.

• The globalists tend to see a broad process of globalization, but to the skeptics there is no one process of globalization, but rather many globalizations. (Therborn 2000: 151-79)

Globalists versus SkepticsSKEPTICS GLOBALISTS

• Globalizations• Nation-state is the key world

player• Globalization is simply a new term

for ancient process• MNC s are mostly based on their

original national locations• Focus on inter-governmentalism• The powerful role of the

international order of nation-states continue

• Reject the idea of a common global popular culture

• Strong national identities

• One broad globalization• Nation-state survives but looses its

power• Globalization is a new

phenomenon• MNC s are actors of global

economy as international entities• Emphasize mulilateralism• A multi-layered global governance

• The rise of a global popular culture

• Identities becoming blurred

When did globalization begin?Five different ideologies about the origin of globalization.1. Hardwired: Globalization stems from a basic human urge

for a better life.2. Cycles: Globalization goes on cycles and there happened

to be other globalizations in the past.3. Epochs: There are set of epochs for explaining the origins

of globalization. (read pg 37-38)4. Events: There are specific events that can be seen as the

origin of globalization. (read pg39)5. Momentous changes: US becoming global leader after

WWII, the emergence of MNCs., The end of cold war (demise of Soviet Union)

Globalizations

• Economic• Political• Cultural• Religion• Science• Health and Medicine• Sport• Education

What drives globalization?

• Material and Ideal Explanations (Karl Marx versus Hegel)• Common ground which sees both material

and ideal factors as being of great importance(Max Weber)

Is globalization inexorable?• Widespread view in academic work:

Globalization is inevitable.• While it is true that people may often be

overwhelmed by such large-scale changes, they always retain the ability to act singly and collectively to modify, if not prevent, such changes. (Ritzer, 49)

• Globalization from above-Globalization from belowProcess that is created and disseminated by large-scale forces, especially in the North and imposed especially on the South

Individual actors or groups of people, opposing and acting to oppose globalization.

Globaphilia and Globaphobia• Globaphilia: Emphasis on the positive aspects of

globalization, especially greater economic success and the spread of democracy

• Globaphobia: Emphasis on the negative aspects of globalization, especially for the less well-off parts of the globe.

• Globaphilia supporters believe that; the ‘losers’ (The South part of the World) will also have economic gains if they become patient, globalization increase democracy, the spread of civil society occurs,

Globaphilia and Globaphobia

• Globaphobia supporters believe that; capitalism is the driven ideology of globalization, immigration and outsourcing effects life standards of worker class negatively in US and Europe, globalization works for the benefit of the North and the elites, increases American hegemony, serves the benefits of the ‘haves’ while disadvantaging the ‘have nots’, it leads to greater global inequality.

Globalization, as a problem..

• The source of the problem is the mere existence of nearly 200 sovereign states in the world today. More important are the differences in those states in terms of how well they are run, especially how well they run the economy. It is this difference among and between states that is the source of inequality among individuals across the globe.

(Ritzer, 55)

• How is globalization different from modernity? Explain the continuing debate over that issue?