Globalization

Introduction to Cultural

Anthropology

Globalization

Process of intense global interconnectedness

Framework for thinking about the flows of people,

information, goods, and

technology

Major force of contemporary culture

change

Defining Globalization

The intensification of global interconnectedness.

A process that promotes economic, political, and other cultural connections among people living

all over the world.

The world condition created by relatively recent developments in information, communication

and transportation technologies.

Is Globalization Really New?

World has been global and interconnected since 16th

century

Precursors to Globalization:

Human groups have always moved around carrying their

culture, exchanging goods,

stories, and ideas.

European Exploration and Colonialism (1500-1950)

Spread of Industrial Capitalism (1850-present)

Histories of Globalization

Globalization new forms of

Diffusion: spread of cultural trait

Acculturation: acquiring second

culture

Colonialism: organized system of occupation

and exploitation

Imperialism: creating empire

Lessons from Early Forms

of Globalization Global culture change is

always complex and

multidimensional.

Global culture change brings benefits and

burdens.

The benefits and burdens of global culture change are

not distributed evenly.

Globalization of the past shapes globalization of the

present.

Factors in the Rise of Globalization

Economic factors

Transnational corporations

Integrated financial markets

Free trade zones

Global flow of information and communication

Political changes

Fall of communist regimes

Rise of IGOs and INGOs

Rising importance of international coalitions (the European Union,

United Nations, etc.)

Globalization

The fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989 marked

the symbolic

beginning of our

present period of

globalization.

Globalization

As yet one more leading indicator of rapid globalization, more than half of all U.S.-based franchises are now located in other parts of the world, as is this KFC restaurant in Shanghai, China.

Globalization in everyday life

1. IKEA furniture ______________

2. Wii games ______________

3. H&M fashions ______________

4. LOreal beauty products ______________

5. Samsung cell phone or PDA ______________

6. Molson beer ______________

7. Birkenstock sandals ______________

8. Diesel jeans ______________

9. Apple iPhone ______________

10. American Express credit card ______________

Globalization in everyday life1. IKEA: founded in Sweden, now owned by a Dutch

foundation

2. Wii: MNC in Kyoto, Japan

3. H&M: Swedish company

4. LOreal: Paris suburb

5. Samsung cell or PDA: Seoul, South Korea

6. Molson beer: Montreal, Canada

7. Birkenstocks: Germany

8. Diesel jeans: Molvena, Italy

9. Apple iPhone: established in California, parts from

China

10. American Express: New York City

Cultural Consequences of Globalization

The local context is shaped more by global

issues.

Experience here is tied more to events there.

People and culture are less tied to specific

places.

Culture, identity, and tradition are disrupted

and reworked.

Cultural Consequences of Globalization

As a result of these global flows, new ways

of living and new forms

of culture are created:

transnational lives and cultures

cosmopolitan outlooks

hybrid cultural forms

Are These Global Flows

Good or Bad?

It depends!

on who you are

on where you are

on how you look at it

Generally

Who is more likely to benefit?

The haves of the world

Who is more likely to suffer?

The have-nots of the world

The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly

Money comes easily, money goes easily.

Jobs are created more easily, jobs are relocated more easily.

You can spread information easily, you cannot control information easily.

Corporate networks more easily established, illicit and terrorist networks more easily established.

Computers and programmers move more easily, weapons and sex traffickers move more easily.

New medical technologies spread more easily, diseases spread more easily.

The Central Cultural

Dynamic of Globalization

Increasing Homogeneity:

the world is becoming smaller, and we are all becoming more alike.

Increasing Heterogeneity:

The world is fragmenting, and we are emphasizing our difference more.

What is Global Culture?

Is global culture simply

American cultural imperialism?

the spread of American consumer culture?

the McDonaldization of the World?

YES, AND NO

Global McDonalds

McDonald's franchises and operates more than 32,000 fast-

food restaurants in over 100

countries.

Europe ... $7,072 (35% of total company revenues)

United States ... $6,955 (34%)

Australia/Asia-Pacific ... $2,815 (14%)

Latin America ... $1,327 (6%)

Canada ... $948 (5%)

Other ... $1,343 (6%)

McDonalds Culture

McDonaldization refers to "the principles of the fast-food restaurant coming to dominate more and

more sectors of American society as well as of the

rest of the world. (Ritzer, The McDonaldization of Society, 1993)

McDonalds Emphasizes

Efficiency

Calculability

Predictability

Control

McDonalds and Culture In China

Promoting young, independent consumers

Promoting birthday celebrations

Global Hollywood

The U.S. entertainment industry generates more revenue from overseas sales than any other

industry other than the commercial aerospace

industry.

From the late 80s-late 90s, the U.S. share of the European film market rose from 56% to over 90%.

"Washington's crusade for free trade is often seen abroad as a Trojan horse for companies, such as

Walt Disney Co. and Cable News Network that

would dominate foreign lifestyles and values. Most

Americans react to these fears with a shrug. That's

a big mistake. Jeffrey Garten, former U.S. Under Secretary of Commerce for International Trade (Business Week , November 30, 1998)

Models of Cultural Interaction

Clash of civilizations

McDonaldization of culture

Hybridization

Localization or glocalization

Is Global Culture American Culture? Yes!

American corporate consumer culture clearly

shapes global culture,

raising consumer

aspirations and providing

models for living for

people all over the world.

Exporting not just a product or a franchise,

but a culture, a

worldview, a way of life.

Is Global Culture American Culture?

No!

Globalization is also the spread of culture from all

over the world.

Tiendas in Silver Spring

Tasley Pharmaceuticals in Shady Grove

Bollywood in Gaithersberg

Sushi in College Park

World Music in Baltimore

Al Jazeera in Washington DC.

Impacts of Globalization

Gross differences in wealth and health exist between and within

countries

Migration and refugees

Overurbanization

Decreasing biodiversity

Increasing global warming

Over 1 billion lack safe water

Nearly 3 billion live on less than $2 a day

25 million in Sub-Saharan Africa are living with HIV/AIDS

Globalization Increase Heterogeneity?

Movement of ideas, art, music, and food

More of a two-way process

Practically no human group that does not exchange with others for consumer goods

Exchanges alter culture

Conformity and Conflict

Article 32How Sushi Went Global

Describes the journey of a bluefin tuna from the New England coast to the Tokyo fish market.

Shows the interdependence between fishermen and the international market.

Looks at the growth of tuna fish farming in the Mediterranean.

Notes the growing worldwide demand for sushi and the effect of demand on tuna prices and production.

Conformity and Conflict

Article 34The Road to Refugee Resettlement

Follows the life of a refugee as he makes his way from southern Sudan to permanent residence in the United States.

Defines what the designation, refugee, means.

Reveals the role of NGOs (non governmental organizations) and the United Nations in providing aid to refugees.

Shows how difficult it is for a refugee to find a permanent home in a new country.

Conformity and Conflict

Article 35Global Women in the New Economy

Describes the life of a nanny who unequally divides her time between her foreign employers family and her own family at home.

Traces the migration routes of nannies from their homes to work in other societies.

Looks at how home countries encourage women to work abroad as a way to promote foreign exchange.

Addresses the personal cost for women working abroad.

Canvas Reading: Japanese Hip-Hop

Interprets Japans vibrant hip-hop scene, explaining how a music and culture that originated halfway around the world is appropriated and remade in Tokyo clubs and recording studios

Draws attention to the collaborative, improvisatory character of cultural globalization

Contends that it was the pull of grassroots connections and individual performers rather than the push of big media corporations that initially energized and popularized hip-hop in Japan