1 the world is ours 2016

THE WORLD IS OURS

An introduction to the origins of globalisation with Chris McMillan

So, what is globalisation?

According to Anthony Giddens (1990, p.64), globalisation involves: “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�

Globalisation is an evolving process, not a thing that has happened

Globalised social structures 

Structure is a metaphor for understanding the social influences or influences that ‘structure’ and organise human behaviour

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If human behaviour has identifiable patterns, social structures are the drivers of these patterns

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Social structures are the basis of sociological investigation – the identification of something that makes us behave a similar way beyond biology and individual decisions to do so

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These structural influences have become increasingly global

What are the global influences in your life?

Today 

The sociological challenge of globalisation

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Module overview

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The origins of globalisation

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Global institutions

Core questions 

How and why have local relations become increasingly affected by global structures and events?

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How have changes in global structures been experienced by different peoples?  How

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have you experienced them?

What are the future consequences and challenges of living in a more global world?

Week 2 – Think local, act global: Understanding local and global cultural identities (LC266)

Week 3 – Mediating globalisation: Communicating hegemony or technologies of resistance? (LC266)

Week 4 – Who runs the global village? Cultural hegemony and the convergence of cultures (LC266)

READING WEEK!

Week 6 – Globalising socialising: From the global to the personal (LC068)

Week 7 – There is no alternative? The rise of global capitalism (RUSL119)

Week 8 – The Flat Earth Hypothesis: Development, inequality and poverty (RUSL119)

Week 9 – It’s getting hot in here: Climate change and the limits to expansion (LC266)

Week 10 – People movers: Urbanisation and migration (LC266)

Week 11 – Welcome home, history: Security, surveillance and terror in a global era (LC266)

Week 12 – Course review and essay preparation (LC266)

Our Goal: To think critically about the society in which we live

Learning and assessment 

Lectures are held on Tuesdays from 11-1pm There are no seminars  We move rooms, a lot… 

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Lectures are recorded, but will be discussion based

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There are two assessments: A 30% 1,000 word ‘critical review’  A 70% 1,500 word essay 

Assessment I: Critical Reflection To what extent has your cultural identity been affected by the processes of globalisation?

1,000 words, 30% Due: Monday 22nd February, 3pm ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------Please note: Students are encouraged to write reflectively, but are also required to make reference to a minimum of three academic sources

Assessment II: Essay Choose ONE question, worth 1500 words/30% Due: Monday April 25th, 3pm 1.

2.

3.

4.

To what extent do we live in an increasingly economically ‘flat earth’?

To what extent should developing nations be forced to reduce their carbon emissions?

To what extent does London promote post-national cultural identities?

To what extent is the possibility of terrorism a threat to democracy in the UK?

Readings 

Readings have been assigned for each week – they are uploaded to BBL

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The recommended textbook is Cohen and Kennedy (2012) Global Sociology

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Many of the issues will also be covered in your ‘Introduction to Sociology’ textbooks

About Me! chris.mcmillan@brunel.ac.uk 

Room: TBD

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Phone: ext. 66547

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Consultation and feedback hour: Tuesday 1-2pm

About you!

Globalisation According to Giddens (1990, p.64), globalisation 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�

We are being critical of the affect of global structures upon local agencies

What’s new? 

The processes described in globalisation, principally the connections between people outside of the nation state, have been developing for a number of years

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What is new is the intensity at which they are occurring through changes in technology, communication and forms of co-operation

Intensified connections 

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Connections between peoples have intensified across time and space 

More communication and influence outside of immediate environment (space)

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Quicker interactions between geographically separated peoples (time)

These changes have meant that geography matters less and less

What technology do you use that allows you to influence people beyond those immediately around you?

Does this change your perception of time and distance?

Global interconnectedness 

Associated with Marshall McLuhan (1911 -1980), the idea of a ‘global village’ connected by electronic technology captures the most optimistic sense of the inter-connectedness possible through globalisation

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Closer global connections and a sense of global consciousness make global problems more manageable

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Global governing institutions have emerged to respond to the difficulties in trans-national exchanges

Global institutions 

The most prominent political institutions were the ‘League of Nations’, constructed after World War I, and the subsequent ‘United Nations’

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These institutions attempt to maintain global order and negotiate common ground between states

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This suggests a recognition of a ‘common humanity’

To what extent do you see yourself as living in a global society?

Principles The UN has four main purposes To keep peace throughout the world;  To develop friendly relations among nations;  To help nations work together to improve the lives of poor people, to conquer hunger, disease and illiteracy, and to encourage respect for each other’s rights and freedoms;  To be a centre for harmonizing the actions of nations to achieve these goals. 

The Security Council 

Whilst the general assembly of the UN can only make recommendations, a ‘Security Council’ can make binding decisions

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The Security Council has 15 members, with five permanent members: China, France, Russia, the UK and the US

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These permanent members can ‘veto’ any binding decision

Some nations are more equal 

The permanent members of the Security Council, all of whom are nuclear powers, are able act on their exclusive interests  

Permanent members of the Council are able to protect their national and ideological interests The US has used its veto 42 times in support of Israel, for example to condemn new Israeli settlements in 2011

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As any one of these divergent nations can veto a motion, the security council is naturally conservative

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Whilst global institutions may appear neutral, some nations have much stronger influence over other nations

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Consequently, some ‘distant localities’ become more globally influential than others

Americanising you 

As we will discuss further in Weeks 3 and 4, these global institutions are not neutral, but represent the spread of localised values – primarily American

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American values have become dominant through both practical factors – the power of the US Dollar, military support – and through the spread of US entertainment media and ideology

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As a consequent, local nations, and identities, have become threatened by a foreign culture

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A similar threat in the UK is perceived to come from the European Union

Britain and the EU 

Britain is part of the European Union, a block of 28 nations, which was constructed in the latter half of the 20th century

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The European Union established free movement of peoples, capital, goods and services

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This requires the UK to give up some power to the EU: Britain contributes around £4billion a year to the EU and about 15% of all British laws stem from the EU

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By far the most controversial of these is the European Court of Human Rights

Are you European?

Two minute DIY summary 

Write for two minutes on:

What is global in your life?

Next Week WEEK 2 THINK LOCAL, ACT GLOBAL: UNDERSTANDING LOCAL AND GLOBAL IDENTITIES

READINGS (AVAILABLE THROUGH BLACKBOARD) 1.

2.

3.

Anderson, P. (2006). Imagined Communities (Chapter One, pp.6-8). Verso: London.

Hall, S. (1992) The Question of Cultural Identity in Hall, S., Held, D. and McGrew, T. (eds.) Modernity and its Future. pp.

273-325 Polity: Cambridge Hall, S. (1996) Introduction: Who needs ‘identity’? in Hall, S. and Du Gay, P (eds). Questions of Cultural Identity. SAGE: London.