pols 374 foundations of global politics lecture 7 explaining globalization professor timothy c. lim...
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POLS 374 Foundations of Global Politics
POLS 374 Foundations of Global Politics
Lecture 7
Explaining Globalization
Professor Timothy C. Lim
California State University, Los Angeles
Lecture 7
Explaining Globalization
Professor Timothy C. Lim
California State University, Los Angeles
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Explaining GlobalizationExplaining Globalization
Explaining globalization requires an integrated, multi-dimensional theory
Specifically, the author proposes a theory that looks at five interrelated shifts …
Explaining globalization requires an integrated, multi-dimensional theory
Specifically, the author proposes a theory that looks at five interrelated shifts …
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Explaining GlobalizationExplaining Globalization
… the major trend—the growth of transplanetary and supraterritorial connectivity—is interlinked with four other trends: shift from capitalism towards hypercapitalism in
respect of production a shift from statism towards polycentrism in respect of
governance a shift from nationalism toward pluralism and hybridity
in respect of identity a shift from rationalism towards reflexive rationality in
respect of knowledge
… the major trend—the growth of transplanetary and supraterritorial connectivity—is interlinked with four other trends: shift from capitalism towards hypercapitalism in
respect of production a shift from statism towards polycentrism in respect of
governance a shift from nationalism toward pluralism and hybridity
in respect of identity a shift from rationalism towards reflexive rationality in
respect of knowledge
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Explaining GlobalizationExplaining Globalization
The author’s overall (theoretical) approach uses … liberalism and political realism to explain the significance
of states and other governance arrangements Marxism to explain the importance of capitalism constructivism to explain the relevance identity politics postmodernism to explain the role of knowledge power and feminism to explain the role of gender relations
The author’s overall (theoretical) approach uses … liberalism and political realism to explain the significance
of states and other governance arrangements Marxism to explain the importance of capitalism constructivism to explain the relevance identity politics postmodernism to explain the role of knowledge power and feminism to explain the role of gender relations
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Explaining GlobalizationExplaining Globalization
Building Blocks: The Importance of Capitalism and Production in Explaining Globalization
Basic Point: No explanation of globalization can be complete—or even reasonably accurate—without significant attention paid to the capitalist mode of production
Building Blocks: The Importance of Capitalism and Production in Explaining Globalization
Basic Point: No explanation of globalization can be complete—or even reasonably accurate—without significant attention paid to the capitalist mode of production
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Explaining GlobalizationExplaining Globalization
What is capitalism?
Capitalism is a social order where economic activity is oriented first and foremost to the accumulation of surplus—i.e., profit
What is capitalism?
Capitalism is a social order where economic activity is oriented first and foremost to the accumulation of surplus—i.e., profit
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Explaining GlobalizationExplaining Globalization
Accumulation is part of a cycle Accumulation is part of a cycle
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Explaining GlobalizationExplaining Globalization
Other features of capitalist society:
Thoroughly monetarized Competition-based Capitalism is not just an economic system, but also an
all-encompassing social system
Other features of capitalist society:
Thoroughly monetarized Competition-based Capitalism is not just an economic system, but also an
all-encompassing social system
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Explaining GlobalizationExplaining Globalization
How does capitalism spur or “cause” globalization?
Market Expansion Accounting practices Asset mobility or global sourcing Enlarged arenas of commodification
How does capitalism spur or “cause” globalization?
Market Expansion Accounting practices Asset mobility or global sourcing Enlarged arenas of commodification
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Explaining GlobalizationExplaining Globalization
Forces of governance in globalization
Key Point: Globalization cannot unfold without some form of governance arrangement
Forces of governance in globalization
Key Point: Globalization cannot unfold without some form of governance arrangement
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Explaining GlobalizationExplaining Globalization
Forces of governance in globalization
Definitional Note: Governance here is defined rather broadly—in the
generic sense of “regulation.” Thus governance refers to processes whereby people
formulate, implement, enforce, and review rules to guide their common affairs
Forces of governance in globalization
Definitional Note: Governance here is defined rather broadly—in the
generic sense of “regulation.” Thus governance refers to processes whereby people
formulate, implement, enforce, and review rules to guide their common affairs
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Explaining GlobalizationExplaining Globalization
Forces of governance in globalization
Four ways in which governance spurs globalization Provision of infrastructure liberalization of international transactions guarantees of property rights for global
capital sponsorship of global governance
arrangements
Forces of governance in globalization
Four ways in which governance spurs globalization Provision of infrastructure liberalization of international transactions guarantees of property rights for global
capital sponsorship of global governance
arrangements
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Explaining GlobalizationExplaining Globalization
Forces of governance in globalization
In sum, the author tells us that governance has played a key role in globalization. This is hard to deny—and an important lesson to keep in mind
However, it’s not exactly clear how governance is a “cause” of globalization: instead, we might think of it as a precondition or an essential facilitating factor, for governance itself doesn’t really necessitate globalization (it can do just the opposite), but without it, globalization simply isn’t possible
Forces of governance in globalization
In sum, the author tells us that governance has played a key role in globalization. This is hard to deny—and an important lesson to keep in mind
However, it’s not exactly clear how governance is a “cause” of globalization: instead, we might think of it as a precondition or an essential facilitating factor, for governance itself doesn’t really necessitate globalization (it can do just the opposite), but without it, globalization simply isn’t possible
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Explaining GlobalizationExplaining Globalization
Forces of identity in globalization Circumstances surrounding the construction of identity
have promoted globalization in three main ways:
First, national “selves” have been substantially formed and sustained in relation to foreign “others” within a transworld realm
Second, a number of nations have developed in part as transplanetary diasporas
Third, increased attention to various non-territorial identities (like those based in faith, gender, and race) has promoted the growth of supraterritorial social connections
Forces of identity in globalization Circumstances surrounding the construction of identity
have promoted globalization in three main ways:
First, national “selves” have been substantially formed and sustained in relation to foreign “others” within a transworld realm
Second, a number of nations have developed in part as transplanetary diasporas
Third, increased attention to various non-territorial identities (like those based in faith, gender, and race) has promoted the growth of supraterritorial social connections
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Explaining GlobalizationExplaining Globalization
Forces of identity in globalization
To simplify: We might say that the ability to think globally or to conceptualize an identity beyond the horizons of a single geographic space can play a significant role in spurring globalization
Forces of identity in globalization
To simplify: We might say that the ability to think globally or to conceptualize an identity beyond the horizons of a single geographic space can play a significant role in spurring globalization
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Explaining GlobalizationExplaining Globalization
Forces of knowledge in globalization Reflects a postmodernist view, which asserts
that the ways in which knowledge is “understood” has a fundamental impact on the world
Forces of knowledge in globalization Reflects a postmodernist view, which asserts
that the ways in which knowledge is “understood” has a fundamental impact on the world
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Explaining GlobalizationExplaining Globalization
Forces of knowledge in globalization The author’s main point: Modern society
conceives of knowledge from a rationalist perspective: rationalism, by its nature, is premised on a universalist foundation: there is only one truth, the truth of science, or, as one famous saying puts it …
Forces of knowledge in globalization The author’s main point: Modern society
conceives of knowledge from a rationalist perspective: rationalism, by its nature, is premised on a universalist foundation: there is only one truth, the truth of science, or, as one famous saying puts it …
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Explaining GlobalizationExplaining Globalization Forces of knowledge in globalization Forces of knowledge in globalization
Suggests that there is an unequivocal truth “out there” in the Suggests that there is an unequivocal truth “out there” in the world, waiting to be “discovered.” The truth can be hidden world, waiting to be “discovered.” The truth can be hidden from us, but the truth itself never changes.from us, but the truth itself never changes.
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Explaining GlobalizationExplaining Globalization
Forces of knowledge in globalization
The upshot: The entire planet can be united in a single search for truth, and this truth can and should be the basis for all societies
This understanding of knowledge (which is inseperable from power) can play a key role in spurring globalization
Forces of knowledge in globalization
The upshot: The entire planet can be united in a single search for truth, and this truth can and should be the basis for all societies
This understanding of knowledge (which is inseperable from power) can play a key role in spurring globalization
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Explaining GlobalizationExplaining Globalization Forces of knowledge in globalizationForces of knowledge in globalization
A real world example: A real world example: Consider Bush’s articulation of essential truths Consider Bush’s articulation of essential truths in the world today:in the world today: ““You can't put democracy and freedom back into a box”You can't put democracy and freedom back into a box” ““Faith crosses every border and touches every heart in every Faith crosses every border and touches every heart in every
nation”nation” ““Government should be ‘whenever possible, market based’”Government should be ‘whenever possible, market based’” ““You are either with us or against us”You are either with us or against us”
The Lesson:The Lesson: These “truths” reflect the dominant power of the United States These “truths” reflect the dominant power of the United States and Western perspectives more generally: they are portrayed as universal and Western perspectives more generally: they are portrayed as universal truths, and therefore are thought to be unassailable. Those who challenge truths, and therefore are thought to be unassailable. Those who challenge these “truths” are heretics, terrorists, evil-doers, fanatics, and so on. They these “truths” are heretics, terrorists, evil-doers, fanatics, and so on. They don’t deserve to be heard; indeed, they deserve to die.don’t deserve to be heard; indeed, they deserve to die.
Forces of knowledge in globalizationForces of knowledge in globalization A real world example: A real world example: Consider Bush’s articulation of essential truths Consider Bush’s articulation of essential truths
in the world today:in the world today: ““You can't put democracy and freedom back into a box”You can't put democracy and freedom back into a box” ““Faith crosses every border and touches every heart in every Faith crosses every border and touches every heart in every
nation”nation” ““Government should be ‘whenever possible, market based’”Government should be ‘whenever possible, market based’” ““You are either with us or against us”You are either with us or against us”
The Lesson:The Lesson: These “truths” reflect the dominant power of the United States These “truths” reflect the dominant power of the United States and Western perspectives more generally: they are portrayed as universal and Western perspectives more generally: they are portrayed as universal truths, and therefore are thought to be unassailable. Those who challenge truths, and therefore are thought to be unassailable. Those who challenge these “truths” are heretics, terrorists, evil-doers, fanatics, and so on. They these “truths” are heretics, terrorists, evil-doers, fanatics, and so on. They don’t deserve to be heard; indeed, they deserve to die.don’t deserve to be heard; indeed, they deserve to die.
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Explaining GlobalizationExplaining Globalization Conclusion: Explaining GlobalizationConclusion: Explaining Globalization
To explain globalization, we need to adopt a To explain globalization, we need to adopt a multidimensional perspective; we can’t afford to have multidimensional perspective; we can’t afford to have (theoretical) tunnel vision(theoretical) tunnel vision
Explaining globalization, in other words, isn’t simple: Explaining globalization, in other words, isn’t simple: minimally, according to the author, it requires an minimally, according to the author, it requires an explanation that examines the interrelationship among four explanation that examines the interrelationship among four aspects of capitalism, five features of state and other aspects of capitalism, five features of state and other governance, three qualities of national and other identity governance, three qualities of national and other identity construction, and four implications of rationalist knowledgeconstruction, and four implications of rationalist knowledge
Conclusion: Explaining GlobalizationConclusion: Explaining Globalization To explain globalization, we need to adopt a To explain globalization, we need to adopt a
multidimensional perspective; we can’t afford to have multidimensional perspective; we can’t afford to have (theoretical) tunnel vision(theoretical) tunnel vision
Explaining globalization, in other words, isn’t simple: Explaining globalization, in other words, isn’t simple: minimally, according to the author, it requires an minimally, according to the author, it requires an explanation that examines the interrelationship among four explanation that examines the interrelationship among four aspects of capitalism, five features of state and other aspects of capitalism, five features of state and other governance, three qualities of national and other identity governance, three qualities of national and other identity construction, and four implications of rationalist knowledgeconstruction, and four implications of rationalist knowledge