Understanding Globalization and Culture

Why Contemporary World

• The contemporary world is characterized by diverse circumstances and ideas
• We need to consider the past and future while understanding diverse cultures to ensure a sustainable world
• Understanding diverse cultures without prejudice is essential, practicing "Cultural Relativism"

Different Debates About Globalization

• Globalization brings about various debates including:
  • Global governance in relation to individual state stability
  • Equitable development among nations
    • Crucial for maintaining sustainable resources (e.g., food security, energy)

Defining Globalization

• Globalization refers to the increasing interconnectedness of people and places through converging economic, political, and cultural activities.
• It is one of the biggest challenges of the 21st century

Attributes of Globalization

• Instantaneous global communication systems connect people across the globe

The McDonaldization of Society

• The contemporary world is undergoing "McDonaldization" - a process where Western societies are influenced by fast-food principles
  • This involves the global spread of rational systems like efficiency, calculability, predictability, and control

Heterogeneity

• The interaction of different societies creates various cultural practices, new economies, and political groups
  • Heterogeneity refers to this diversity, either through lasting differences or combinations of cultures
  • "Glocalization" (global + local) is a combination of globalization and local factors, producing unique outcomes in various areas
    • This occurs not only in culture but also in economic issues and political institutions

Dynamics of Local & Global Culture

• Global cultural flows move more easily around the globe, especially through digital forms
• Three perspectives on cultural global flow:
  • Cultural differentialism: Emphasizes cultural differences and potential for "catastrophic collisions"
  • Cultural hybridization: Emphasizes the integration of local and global cultures, creating hybrid entities
    • An example is intermarriage between Filipinos and foreigners in the Philippines
  • Convergence: Different processes describe the convergence of culture around the globe
    • Glocalization: Global and local forces Intertwine to create unique outcomes in different geographic areas
    • Managed globalization: Attempts to make globalization more acceptable to citizens, countering the threats of "ungoverned globalization"

Globalization of Religion

• Globalization has allowed religion to spread and thrive on a global scale, becoming a non-territorial identity marker
• This allows religion to reach a global level and be embraced by more people
• Conflicts between world religions demonstrate the limitations of hybridization due to globalization emphasizing unique identities

Economic Inequality

• Wealth (net worth of a nation) and its distribution (wealth inequality) are key factors in global economic inequality
  • GDP is used to measure global economic inequality
• Technological advancements and industrialization have created economic differences between nations
• Access to technology contributes to worldwide income inequality
  • Modernized economies require technology-based jobs with specific skills, leading to "skill-based" technological change

Classifications of Global Inequality

• The "First, Second, and Third World" classification was used during the Cold War to label specific economic and political blocs
  • "First World": Western capitalist countries
  • "Second World": Soviet Union and its allies
  • "Third World": All other countries
• "North-South" classification arose after the Cold War and shifted the focus to economic differences and racial disparities
  • "Global North": United States, Canada, Western Europe and parts of Asia
  • "Global South": Caribbean, Latin America, South America, Africa and parts of Asia

The Global City

• A global city or world city is a key node in the global economic network
  • These cities control the world's political economy
  • Examples include New York, London, and Tokyo
• The rural-urban differentiation has been impacted by globalization, altering North-South relations in agriculture
  • Southern countries produce non-traditional products for export and become dependent on industrialized food exports from the North
  • This leads to a replacement of staple diets and displacement of local farmers

Theories of Global Stratification

• Theories explain the disparity in development between countries:
  • Modernization theory: attributes global stratification to technological and cultural differences
  • Dependency theory: Explains global stratification through the historical relationship between powerful and weaker nations
  • Modern world-system: Views the world as a single global economic system, with core, semi-periphery, and periphery nations