GlobalizationThroughout history, adventurers, generals, merchants, and financiers have constructed an ever-more-global economy.

Today, unprecedented changes in communications, transportation, and computer technology have given the process new impetus. As globally mobile capital reorganizes business firms, it sweeps away regulation and undermines local and national politics.

Globalization creates new markets and wealth, even as it causes widespread suffering, disorder, and unrest. It is both a source of repression and a catalyst for global movements of social justice and emancipation.

Globalization of culture

• Technology has now created the possibility and even the likelihood of a global culture.

• The Internet, fax machines, satellites, and cable TV are sweeping away cultural boundaries.

• Global entertainment companies shape the perceptions and dreams of ordinary citizens, wherever they live.

• This spread of values, norms, and culture tends to promote Western ideals of capitalism.

• Will local cultures inevitably fall victim to this global « consumer » culture?• Will English eradicate all other languages?• Will consumer values overwhelm peoples’ sense of community and social

solidarity?• Or, on the contrary, will a common culture lead the way to greater shared

values and political unity? •

Globalpolicy.igc.org/globaliz

Emblem for globalization

McDonalds in Tokyo, Japan

McDonalds has become emblematic of globalization.

The Economist magazine uses the "Big Mac index" (the price of a Big Mac) as an informal measure of purchasing power parity among world currencies. Thomas Friedman suggested that no countries with McDonald's would go to war with each other, a "rule" broken by the American bombing of Serbia. It remains a target of anti-globalization protesters worldwide.

AntiMcDonalds demonstration

Leicester Square, London 2004

An anti-McDonald's leafletting campaign in front of the McDonald's restaurant in Leicester Square, London, during the European Social Forum season, 16 October 2004.

As the world's largest fast-food company, McDonald's has been the target of criticism for allegations of:

- exploitation of entry-level workers,

- ecological damage caused by agricultural production and industrial processing of its products,- selling unhealthy (non-nutritious) food,

- production of packaging waste,

- exploitative advertising (especially targeted at children),

- contributing to suffering and exploitation of livestock.

McDonald's historic tendency towards promoting high calorie foods such as French fries has earned it the nickname "the starchy arches".

Overconsumption

B N DThe more we consume, the less we live

Profits

Evaluation• Globalization of CultureGlobalization of Culture

Technology has now created the possibility and even the likelihood of a global culture. The Internet, fax machines, satellites, and cable TV are sweeping away cultural boundaries. Global entertainment companies shape the perceptions and dreams of ordinary citizens, wherever they live. This spread of values, norms, and culture tends to promote Western ideals of capitalism. Will local cultures inevitably fall victim to this global "consumer" culture? Will English eradicate all other languages? Will consumer values overwhelm peoples' sense of community and social solidarity? Or, on the contrary, will a common culture lead the way to greater shared values and political unity?

• Globalpolicy.irg.org/globaliz

• Are a global culture and a common language compatible with local cultures and languages?

• McDonald’s is one of the most powerful, influential, and well-known global companies. Like all corporations, their aim is to maximise their profits and power to benefit their wealthy shareholders. But their business also has an enormous effect on the daily lives of hundreds of millions of people. If you have ever eaten their food, worked in their stores, seen their ads, or faced their litter in the street, then your life has been influenced - but for whose benefit?

• (At Issue-Fast Food by Helen Steel and Dave Morris)• http://www.mcspotlight.org/media/press/releases• You want to file a suit against McDonald’s company. Deliver the prosecutor’s speech in

which he explains all the damage caused by the company on people’s health and on the environment.

• In an article “Localizing Culture”, Jeremy Seabrook says: “Globalization is a declaration of war upon all other cultures.” Comment upon this statement.

• How far is the world threatened by the way we live?• How far can “Buy Nothing Day” help to save the world?

Préparation de cours• 1ère séance (différents groupes de recherche)• Points de départ: définitions de « globalization »• Exemples historiques de « adventurers, generals, merchants, and financiers »• Changements contemporains: « communications, transportation, and computer

technology » Quels changements? (Exemples)• Aspects positifs et négatifs:• - création de nouveaux marchés et de nouvelles richesses;• - souffrances, pauvreté, troubles sociaux et politiques…;• - revendications: pour un monde plus juste, plus solidaire• ( mouvements anti-mondialisation….)• Aspects culturels et technologiques• - développements des grands moyens de communication;• - culture globale et culture locale sont-elles compatibles? • Aspects linguistiques: rôle de l’anglais et des autres langues.• Quelle place est faite aux langues dites minoritaires?•

2e séance: emblem of globalization

Un exemple McDonald’s.• En quoi les chaînes de restaurants McDonald’s symbolisent-elles la mondialisation?• - Enumération de toutes les nuisances dont McDonald’s est la cause.• - Autres exemples de mondialisation:• magasins de luxe• de vêtements, de chaussures (grandes marques: Adidas, Nike, Reebok..)• - Opposition des anti-mondialistes (Pourquoi?)• En quoi la mondialisation profite-t-elle aux pays riches?• Que faire pour permettre aux populations défavorisées de tirer profit de la

mondialisation?• (plus de subventions aux agriculteurs • développement du commerce équitable par ex.…)• Interviews de militants anti-mondialistes…

3e séance: overconsumption

• 1- Opposition entre les pays développés• et les pays en voie de développement• Tiers-Monde / pays émergents• 2- « The most voracious consumers in the world »• Consommation et gaspillage / destruction de l’environnement• cf. « The more we consume, the less we live »• Valeur symbolique du porc. • 3- Modernisme poussé à l’excès:• Déshumanisation des habitants des pays modernes• Robotisation de la vie• Remise en cause du mode de vie des pays riches• 4 - Conclusion • Devise: « Give it a rest »• Sens du BND « Buy Nothing Day »

4e séance: profits

• - Valeur symbolique du gros sac?

• (profits / $ / drug companies)

• - Pourquoi l’homme souffre-t-il tant?

• - Quels remèdes le docteur peut-il préconiser?

• - En quoi consiste l’humour du dessin?

•

• 5e séance: évaluation