Cochrane and Pain
(2000) argues that “the lives of ordinary people everywhere in the world seem increasingly to be shaped by events, decisions and actions that take place far away from where they live and work.”
Hyper Globalists
-Believe globalisation is occurring and see it as an overwhelmingly positive phenomenon
-See economic liberalism that comes with globalisation as a positive-> brings prosperity and cultural change to the world
-Globalisation makes us all more tolerant and outward thinking people
Pessimistic globalists
-Globalisation is a disaster-> inevitable and unstoppable, with a negative impact
-Exploitation in sweatshops, natural environment, westernisation and homogenisation of local cultures.
-Only a minority are benefited by globalism, many ordinary people in developed countries are left behind, particularly because of mass unemployment due to oursourcing.
Traditionalists on Globalisation
-Marxist tradition
-Whether globalisation is actually happening or it is a new phenomenon
-Frank-> the move to one world economic system occurred in the 5th Century
-This process is called internal capitalism
-Empires and international trade is not a new phenomeon-> just an aspect of capitalism
Transformationalists
-Argue globalisation is happening but not as overwhelming and irreversible to how globalists see it
-Goverments can take the positive aspects of globalisation (improved travel and communication) and resist from more damaging aspects.
Ritzer
Mc Donaldisation, suggests the culture of production and work is changing to make a standardised, low-skill culture
Giddens
- ‘cultural globalisation refers to the rapid movement of ideas, attitudes, meanings, values and cultural products across national borders’.
* It refers specifically to the idea that there is now a global and common mono-culture -> transmitted and reinforced by the internet, popular brands and international tourism -> that transcends local cultural traditions and lifestyles, and that shapes the perceptions, aspirations, tastes and everyday activities of people wherever they may live in the world.
Global Risk Consciousness (Beck)
-Technology and production created new dangers in modern society making global risk
-Climate change, nuclear War, Terrorism
-Risks are no longer seen as local or isolated but a part of wider fears
Food and Globalisation
-Spices moved around the globe, different vegetables
-Markets in Chinatown (China) or Christmas markets (Scandi)
-Different culture supermarkets-> Oseyo
Time-Space Compression
-People in faraway places feel closer together as they can communicate instantaneously
-Social media, skype, facetime
De traditionalization
(Giddens)
-Loss of tradition
-Little pressure to marry and less shame around Divorce
Four themes of Disneyfication:
Four themes of Disneyfication:
-Theming-> A version of a culture that isn’t a true depiction of that culture, e.g. Chiquito (Mexican resturaunt)
-Dedifferentiation of consumption-> Visitors are encouraged to stay as long as possible to increase spending and profit, characters, restaurants, gift shops.
-Merchandising, the promotion of good with logos and the licensing of merchandise->Co-op schools-> advertising on uniforms
-Emotional labour-> Disney employees are forced to take on unnatural and overly positive behaviour, aimed at securing customer loyalty. Example is restaurant workers being overly positive-> tipping money doesn’t always go to the worker
Alan Bryman (1999)
-Uses the example of Disney to explain and examine Cuktural Globalisation-> ‘Disneyfication’ ‘Disneyfication’
-Global influences of Disney has supported the globalisation of capitalist norms and values
Examples of Intenational Organisations
NATO
UN
EU
WTO
Frobel et al (1980)
-There is now a single fully integrated global economy based on the ‘new international division of labour’-> growing trade and economic connections between different parts of the world
-The new global economic order is the result of factory production moving from the developed world to developing countries as a result of economic globalisation
McDonaldization definition and sociologist
-George Ritzer in the 1990s
-Organising principles of fast-food chain are coming to dominate and standardise many aspects of economic and cultural life globally
-Occurs when society, its institutions, and its organisations are adapted to have the same characteristics found in fast-food chains.
-Workers are dehumanised as it doesnt requre a skilled workforce.
-Quickly and cheaper taught workers and therefore easy to replace-> devalues their labour and takes away work’s power
McDonalization 4 aspects, and examples for each
Efficiency:
-Precise steps of mc Donalds’ workers
-Expect to have something right away when buying
-Drive thru
-‘Next episode playing in 5 seconds’
Predictability:
-We love to have universal products, e.g. mc Donald’s across the world
-Restaurants look the same inside and out, or Coop academy schools look the same, have the same policies and uniforms.
Calculability:
-A lot of food for a small price, quality over quantity
-Quality over quantity in fast fashion that has emerged, e.g. Shein. Lack of focus on basics anymore, one outfit for every situation
Control:
-Technology ensures products are always the same, and means that workers can easily be replaced
-People eat quickly and leave as soon as they are finished
-Where possible, people are replaced w machines-> ordering screens.
Who said McJobs? What does this mean?
-1986 Etzioni
-Critical of McJobs-> junk food that is low on nutrition but is easy to mass-produce.
-High staff turnover
-Wages are kept low as senior experienced staff are replaced for newer and cheaper labout
McMansion
Coined in 1980s
-Large no. of similar looking suburban houses in North America
-In attempt to distinguish themselves from houses around them, they look out of place with their enviroment.
-Made cheaply, large houses, modernist style-> sell for millions
