SOCIOL 1A06 Study Guide - Quiz Guide: Scientific Management, Culture Jamming, Anti-Globalization Movement
29 Jun 2018
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Ch 19 - Globalization 18:33
Introduction
Globalization or “Globaloney”
Right-wing free-marketers – globalization represents the welcome spread
of capitalism throughout the world
Good because it spreads what is good in America
Left-wing social activists and politicians – globalization is more like a
death star
Bad because it spreads what is worst about America
Defining Globalization
Globalization – a social, economic, and political process that makes it
easier for people, goods, ideas, and capital to travel around the world at
an unprecedented pace
More efficient
Can now communicate all across the globe
time-space compression – we are no longer slowed down by long
distances and time differences (shrinking world phenomenon)
virtual communities – online (Internet facilitated) community in which
people can meet, share ideas, play games, and build relationships across
borders
digital divide – inequality of access to means of communication
The Global and The Ethical
Globalization has affected human lives and environments a lot
Debates surrounding global capitalism and global spread of insurrection
have become particularly pronounced in recent years
Occupy Wall Street Movements
find more resources at oneclass.com
find more resources at oneclass.com
Top-Down Versus Bottom-Up Globalization
Top-down globalization – involves the actions of groups promoting
globalized capitalism and free trade
Has been dominated by neoliberal economic policies
Neoliberalism – associated with a retreat from state spending and
regulation, focusing on individual responsibilities for one’s own
welfare, less protection for labour and the environment,
privatization of state resources, and faith in the power of the
market and the profit motive to create wealth
Strongly associated with the US due to its role in promoting
neoliberalism through International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the
World bank
Aka Washington consensus
Bottom-Up Globalization – the actions of groups that criticize the
injustices that result from globalization processes, in particular, the
expansion of global markets
“opposite” of globalization inaccurate
injustices resulting from globalization actually support particular
types of globalization (e.g. – spreading international human rights
and global labour standards)
use technologies such as Internet to communicate internationally
advocate more democracy, environmental protection, and social
justice in the global system
against neoliberal forms of globalization
Capitalists Go Global
The Rise of Financial Capital
Financial capital – money used for investment, currency trading, etc.
casino capitalism – rise of financial capital
Overcapacity and Centralization
growth of casino capitalism linked to declining profits and overcapacity in
the economy of goods and services
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as financial markets boomed through early 2000s, wealth grew
exponentially for some people, however excessive capacity in the
productive economy – growing inequality and global poverty global
recession was in the works
e.g. – 2008-9 US financial crisis
to survive problems of overcapacity and economic slowdown, corporations
have merged to trim operating costs
e.g. – Geely bought Volvo from ford, Renault took Nissan, Chrysler
+ Daimler-Benz
Giant corporations trade with one another, but also trade goods and
services internally
Growth of the Corporate Giants
Corporations have become bigger and more powerful than many national
governments
Big corporations do not necessarily pay big taxes
Resulting decline in corporate taxes = mobile individuals and corporations
increasingly take advantage of global tax shelters, forcing governments to
rely on taxes paid by less mobile individuals and small businesses
Critics of Corporate Power
In 1990s, emergence of anti-sweatshop movement in North America after
poor working conditions in the garment industry were exposed
Adbusters – “un-cool” famous brand names associated with
sweatshop labour and environmental degradation
Corporations responded in various ways
Changed names, diverting attention from infamous brand
Growing movement for corporate social responsibility – corporations
voluntarily try to induce best practices for labour and environment
oE.g. – The Gap promised to do better in terms of wage,
health, and safety violations
Are States Relevant in the Global World?
Due to pressures to meet the demands of the three very powerful
international financial institutions (IMF, World Bank, World Trade
Organization WTO) – states have become less oriented toward meeting
demands of citizens
find more resources at oneclass.com
find more resources at oneclass.com
Document Summary
Right-wing free-marketers globalization represents the welcome spread of capitalism throughout the world. Good because it spreads what is good in america. Left-wing social activists and politicians globalization is more like a death star. Bad because it spreads what is worst about america. Globalization a social, economic, and political process that makes it easier for people, goods, ideas, and capital to travel around the world at an unprecedented pace. Can now communicate all across the globe time-space compression we are no longer slowed down by long distances and time differences (shrinking world phenomenon) Virtual communities online (internet facilitated) community in which people can meet, share ideas, play games, and build relationships across borders. Digital divide inequality of access to means of communication. Globalization has affected human lives and environments a lot. Debates surrounding global capitalism and global spread of insurrection have become particularly pronounced in recent years. Top-down globalization involves the actions of groups promoting globalized capitalism and free trade.
