Globalization: Theories and Perspectives

Introduction

• Definition: Sharing of culture, money, and products between countries through international trade and advances in transportation and communication.
• Historical context: International trade influenced changes across borders for centuries (e.g., Silk and spice trade routes, English and Dutch shipping empires).
• Social Process: Awareness of other cultures and peoples across geographical, political, and social borders.
• Contributors: Economic interdependence, advancements in communication technology, and technological progress.

Theories of Globalization

World Systems Theory

• Focus: World as a unit rather than individual countries.
• Divisions:
  • Core Countries:
    • Examples: Western Europe, United States.
    • Characteristics: Strong central government, economically diversified, industrialized, strong middle/working classes, higher skill production.
  • Periphery Countries:
    • Examples: Latin America, Africa.
    • Characteristics: Weak government, reliant on one economic activity, high inequality, influenced by core countries and transnational corporations.
  • Semi-Periphery Countries:
    • Examples: India, Brazil.
    • Characteristics: Middle ground, relatively diversified and developed economy.
    • Pathways: Moving up from periphery or declining from core status.
• Criticism: Too economy-focused, neglects culture and class struggles.

Modernization Theory

• Path: Countries develop from traditional to modern societies.
• Assumption: Traditional countries can become modern with help.
• Focus: Internal social dynamics and changes due to new technologies.

Dependency Theory

• Reaction to Modernization Theory: Uses core and periphery concepts.
• Idea: Periphery countries are poor and export resources to core countries due to an unfavorable economic position.
• Conclusion: Periphery countries remain dependent and undeveloped.

Perspectives on Globalization

Hyper-Globalist Perspective

• View: Globalization is a legitimate process, leading to a new global society.
• Economies: Interdependence of countries' economies.
• Nation-States: Become less important.
• Debate: Theorists disagree on whether it's good or bad.

Skeptical Perspective

• Criticism: Today's processes are regionalized, not globalized.
• Borders: Important, and third world countries not integrated with same benefits.
• Economy: Current economy not leading to global capitalism.
• Transnational Corporations: Tied to home countries.

Transformationalist Perspective

• View: National governments are changing, but difficult to describe simply.
• Uncertain Outcomes: World order is changing but future patterns unknown.
• Factors: Many influences on world pattern changes.

Impact of Globalization

• Negative: International terrorism and civil unrest due to foreign cultural inundation.
• Positive: Creation of a world economy and promotion of a global community.