What is Globalization?
• “process in which the constraints of geography
recede and in which people become aware that
they are receding”
• “widening, deepening and speeding up of
worldwide interconnectedness in all aspects of
life”
• process by which networks of interdependence
become large and continuous, or “thick”
What is Globalization?
• a quantitative and qualitative change
• not only economic
• 4 dimensions:
– Space - extensiveness of global networks
– Regularity - intensity of global interactions
– Speed - velocity of global flows
– Depth – impact of global interconnections on
quality of life
When did globalization begin?
• Underway since dawn of history
• Emerged with industrialization and
capitalism
• Recent development of Information Age
• Globalization not linear
• Ebbs and flows with politics
Historical Forms of Globalization
• 21st century “thick globalization”
– high extensity, intensity, velocity and impact
• Western imperial expansion (18th century)
– high extensity, impact; low intensity, velocity
• Silk and luxury trade (200 BC-200 AD)
– high extensity; low intensity, velocity, impact
The Globalization Debate
• 3 Schools of thought
• Hyperglobalizers
– new epoch in human history
– logic of market trumps state power
• benefit or oppressive?
– emergence of global civil society
– smooth unfolding of human progress
The Globalization Debate
• Skeptics
– current levels of interdependence not new
• classical “Gold Standard” period 1870-1914
– power of national governments endures
• hegemon important
– regionalization prevails
– inequality undermines global civilization
– global culture not emerging
– global governance illusory
The Globalization Debate
• Transformationalists
– current globalization unprecedented
– but outcome unclear
– globalization has contradictions
– unclear if single world society will result
– national governments not powerless but must
share governance with IGOs and NGOs
Theme 1: Integration-Fragmentation
• Integration - breaking down barriers
historically separating people
– communications, economics, security, ideas
• Fragmentation
– nationalism, regionalization, religion, ethnic
conflict, inequality
Theme 1: Integration-Fragmentation
Dilemma
• integration satisfies material needs, freedom
from want
• fragmentation satisfies non-material desires,
freedom from fear
Theme 1: Integration-Fragmentation
• Examples of fragmentation and inequality
• Africa – region of the world most excluded from
global economy
• Access to information technology – the “digital
divide”
• Science and technology for public health and food
production skewed to solve problems of developed
world over those of poor countries
Theme 1: Integration-Fragmentation
Summary - Fragmentation can be viewed
as:
• Nationalism, ethnic conflict, identity
• Regionalization
• Inequality
Theme 2: Universalism-Particularism
• Focus on global culture vs. local culture
– globalization as convergence, homogenization,
uniformity
• Cultural imperialism thesis - variants:
– Americanization
– Westernization
– Core over periphery
– Modern over traditional
– Global capitalist monoculture
Theme 3: Borderless World-Sovereignty
• What are states?
• Why are states under pressure?
• Causes of state decline
– market forces; technology; skills revolution
• But states not powerless
• Historically rooted political agents interact
with increasingly globalized economic agents
Transmission Belts for Globalization
• Media • Tourism
• MNCs, TNCs, MNEs • Air
• Capital • Water
• Labor • Science and
• Transportation Technology
• Communication • Others?
Globalization Summary
• Globalization best conceived as a dialectical
process stimulating:
– integration and fragmentation
– cultural differentiation and convergence
– borderless world and evolution of state
Advantages and Disadvantages of
Globalization
Realm of Advantages Disadvantages
Globalization
Weakens power of Unwanted external
authoritarian influences difficult to
Political governments control
Jobs, capital, more Exploitative; benefits
Economic choices uneven
Offers exposure to Risks cultural
Cultural other cultures imperialism