Cultural and Ecological Dimensions of Globalization
Chapter 5: Cultural Dimensions of Globalization
Areas of Cultural Globalization
In Chapter 5, Steger discusses three areas of cultural globalization:
- Sameness of difference
- The role of media
- The globalization of language
Culture
Culture is a learned set of shared interpretations about beliefs, values, norms, and social practices, which affect the behaviors of a relatively large group of people. Culture is dynamic, it’s in process and is adaptive.
Culture and cultural practices are moving beyond local areas of communities, towns, cities, and nations. Today our cultures are interacting with one another and with global themes.
Through these interactions, culture is creating new meanings and practices. Cultural globalization refers to the intensification and expansion of cultural exchanges across the globe. Global culture exists beyond a geographical area.
Sameness
Sameness is fueled by transnational corporations, computers and the internet, travel, printed media, televised media, movies, retail brands, food, services, etc.
The expansion of American culture to the rest of the world is referred to as Americanization, Densification, or McDonaldization. Americanization/Westernization: Western norms and lifestyles are overwhelming other cultures. Cultural Hegemony: the cultural influence over another country or a group of people by a dominant group.
Difference
Sociologist Roland Roberson rejects a cultural sameness theory and states that global culture can reinvigorate local cultures. Glocalization: a complex interaction of global and local characterized by cultural borrowing e.g cultural hybridity. Cultural Hybridity has become visible in fashion, art, music, film, food, etc.
The Role of Media
The role of media includes the rise of globalized media and a small number of companies developing control over media. TNC media secure cultural hegemony.
Media Mergers
In 2006, there were 8 media conglomerates in the US. Today there are 5. In Canada, 75% of the media is owned by 5 corporations. Small stations, publishers, and newspapers have to compete with media giants.
The Loss of Language
A language is lost every 14 days. By 2100, more than 50% of the languages spoken will disappear.
Language is a vital form of symbolic expression and, therefore, culture. We must consider language when we examine culture. We study the shifting global patterns of language to evaluate cultural change. Some languages are used more in international communication and other languages lose their prominence or even disappear.
Chapter 6: The Ecological Dimension of Globalization
Environmental Destruction
The ecological dimensions of globalization include environmental destruction, which was localized and slow-moving until the Industrial Revolution. The capitalist consumer industry convinces us that the meaning of life is in the accumulation of things.
Anthropocentric vs. Eco-centric
Anthropocentric: human beings are the central or most significant entities in the world.
Eco-centric: places value on all living organisms and their natural environment, regardless of their perceived usefulness or importance to human beings.
Energy and E-waste
Energy is limited. Given that humans use fossil fuels to power increasingly mechanized lifestyles. More people, means more demand for energy: gas, oil, coal…
E-waste: due primarily to rapid socio-economic and technological advancement, the volume of electronic waste generated has been on the rise. TVs, computer monitors, and electronic equipment are some common examples of e-waste.
Transboundary Pollution
Transboundary pollution involves synthetic chemicals released into the air and water. Industrial emissions of sulfur/nitrogen (acid rain) and carbon emissions (CO2) require a global response.
Environmental Degradation
- ½ wetlands have been destroyed
- ¾ of genetic diversity in agricultural crops and animals have been lost since 1900
- 1/3 of farmland strongly degraded.
Many governments see environmental measures as a threat to economic growth. The US and Canada historically have opposed global climate change treaties (Kyoto Protocol). NGOs and civil society continue to put pressure on government for policy changes
United Nations Climate Change Conference
The 2015 United Nations Climate Change conference, COP 21 was held in France, from November 30 to December 11. It was the 21st yearly session of the Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC).
Sustainability
Sustainability is the ability or capacity of something to be maintained or to sustain itself. It’s about taking what we need to live now, without jeopardizing the potential for people in the future to meet their needs.
Global Issues
Global issues include food insecurity, climate change, pandemics (disease), displaced people/refugees, environmental degradation, and wealth inequality.
Economic Activity and Globalization
In the first half of the 20th century, efforts to liberalize and globalize markets dominated society. Economic activity and globalized markets failed to make environmental issues and human rights a priority.
What Can Be Done?
Solidarity networks: building alliances around the world; a feeling of unity between people who have the same interests, goals.
Reformist agenda: making changes in order to improve something.
Social Movements for Change
- Workers/labour movements
- Civil rights
- Ecology/environmentalist movements
- Women’s movements
- LGBTQ movements
- Peace movements
Criticism of Economic Neoliberalism
Many people are critical of economic neoliberalism, or corporate globalization. Environmentalists, land rights and indigenous rights activists, organizations promoting human rights and sustainable development, and anti-sweatshop campaigners etc.
Internationally, activists have held protests ouside meetings of instituios such as the WTO, the international Monetary Fund (IMF), the World Bank, the World Economic Forum, and the G2O. Activists have also launched campaigns targeting TN