Introduction to the Concept of
Globalization
Sub topics
Definitions of Globalization
Globalization theories
Dynamics of Local and Global
Culture – Perspectives on Global
Cultural Flow
Origins and History of
Globalization
I. Definitions of Globalization
Complex and multifaceted
It either deals with economic, political or
social dimensions
In a comprehensive study of 114
definitions by the Geneva Center for
Security Policy (GSCP) 2006.
○ 59% or 67 out these definitions refer to
economic dimension.
Notable definitions of
Globalization
Globalization means the onset of the
borderless world – Ohmae, 1992
Globalization is a transplanetary process
involving increasing liquidity and the
growing multidirectional flows of people,
objects, places and information as well
as the structures they encounter and
create that are barriers to, or expedite,
those flows. – Ritzer, 2015
Globalization is the intensification of
worldwide social relations which link distant
localities in such a way that local happenings
are shaped by events occurring many miles
away and vice versa – Giddens, 1990
Globalization is the phenomenon refers to
the compression of the world and the
intensification of consciousness of the world
as a whole. – Robertson, 1992
Globalization is the phenomenon by which markets and
production in different countries are becoming
increasingly interdependent due to the dynamics of
trade in goods and services and the flows of capital
technology. – OECD, 2002
Globalization implies the weakening of state sovereignty
and state structures – Beck, 2000
Globalization is the establishment of the global market
free from socio-political control. – Nikitin and Elliot, 2003
Globalization is the “de-territorialization” or
growth of “suprateritorial” relations between
people. – Scholte, 2009
Globalization is a process of cross-cultural
interaction, exchange and transformation. –
Coopan, 2001
II. Globalization Theories
Theories on
globalization see
globalization as a
process that
increases
homogeneity or
heterogeneity.
Homogeneity – increasing sameness in
the world as cultural inputs, economic
factors and political orientations of
societies expand to create common
practices, same economies, and similar
forms of government.
Homogeneity in globalization is
associated with different concepts.
Homogeneity in Globalization
1. Cultural Imperialism
– this means that a given
culture influences other
cultures.
2. Media Imperialism
– this refers to the global flow of media
imposed by developing countries by the
West.
3. Neoliberalism
– this sees competition as the defining
characteristic of human relations. It
redefines citizens as consumers, whose
democratic choices are best exercised
by buying and selling, a process that
afterwards merit and punishes
inefficiency.
4. MacDonaldization
– the process by which Western
societies are dominated by the
principles of fast food restaurants.
On the other hand HETEROGENEITY
pertains to the creation of various
cultural practices, new economies, and
political groups because of the
interaction of elements from different
societies around the world.
Associated with this is the concept of
glocalization. (Roland Robertson,
1992)
This concept sees globalization as a
process wherein global forces interact
with local factors or specific geographic
area.
Cacao farmers in Davao City preparing raw
materials for a local chocolate factory.
III. Dynamics of Local and Global
Culture
Perspective on Global Cultural Flows
1. Cultural Differentialism – this
emphasize the fact that cultures are
essentially different and are only
superficially affected by global flows.
The interaction of cultures is deemed to
contain the potential for catastrophic
collision.
Cultural Differentialism
Involves barriers that prevent flows
that serve to make cultures more alike;
cultures tend to remain stubbornly
different from one another.
Lasting differences among and between
cultures, largely unaffected by globalization.
They remain much as they always have been.
Those barriers lead cultures to remain largely
distinct from one another.
Culture collisions can be devastatingly huge!
Examples: 9/11
(Western and Islamic culture)
US (largely the growth of the Hispanic
population) and Western European
countries(the growing Muslim populations)
2. Cultural Hybridization – this
emphasizes the integration of local and
global cultures. Globalization is
considered as a creative process which
gives rise to hybrid entities that are not
reducible to either global or local.
Glocalization (the heart of cultural
hybridization) : Interpenetration of the
global and the local resulting in unique
outcomes in different geographic areas.
Cultural Hybridization – the act of
blending of elements from different
cultures. Any society where cultures
have come together to create a new
mixed form.
Cultural Hybridization is evident
everywhere, from things as simple as
the food you consume and as massive
as the country you live from the
language you speak.
3. Cultural Convergence – this
stresses the homogeneity introduced by
globalization. Cultures are deemed to be
radically altered by strong flows, while
cultural imperialism happens when one
culture imposes itself on tends to
destroy at least parts of another culture.
Cultural Convergence –
the theory that two cultures will be more
like each other as their interactions
increases.
- values, ideologies, behaviour, arts,
customs etc.
English as an international language
(for international market process)
IV. Origin and History of
Globalization
It is really hard to identify the start of
globalization. Some research adheres to
the perspective that the 3 major point of
the beginnings of globalization started
after the Second World War, but never
the less it would be no harm if we look at
the five (5) different perspectives
regarding its origin.
1. Hardwired
– it is believed that globalization
emerged from Africa from our ancestors
who walked out from the said continent
in the late Ice Age. After 50,000 years,
their journey led them to the known
continents today (Chanda, 2007).
As discussed by Chanda, that
commerce, religion, politics, and
warfare are the “urges” of people for
better life. These are respectively for
connected to the four (4) aspects of
globalization throughout history – trade,
missionary works, adventures and
conquest.
2. Cycles
– globalization tends to be appearing,
disappearing and reappearing (Scholte,
2005).
3. Epochs
– Ritzer cited Therborn’s (2000) 6 great
epochs of globalization. This is also
called “waves” and it has its own origins.
6 epochs of globalization
1. Globalization of religion
(4th to 7th centuries/ 301 AD to 700 AD)
2. European Colonial conquest
(late 15th century/ 1401 to 1500)
3. Intra European Wars
(18th to 19th Century/ 1701 to 1900)
4. Heyday of European Imperialism
(19th Century to 1918)
5. Post WW2 Period
(s.1 September 1939 – e.2 September 1945
6. Post Cold War Period
(s.1947 – e.1991)
4. Events – specific events are
also considered the start of
globalization. Some examples are –
1. Roman conquests before Christ.
2. Genghis Khan’s invasions.
3. Discovery of Columbus to America.
4. Magellan’s completion of his
circumnavigation.
More Recent Changes –
these changes happened in the last half
of 20th century. Scholars point out these
3 notable changes as the origin of
globalization that we know today.
1. The emergence of the USA as the
global power (post WW2).
2. The emergence of Multinational
Corporations (MNC)
3. The demise of the USSR and the
end of Cold War.