THE WORLD IS OURS An introduction to globalisation
Today
Module overview
The sociological challenge of globalisation
The origins of globalisation
“Put another way, globalisation does not necessarily produce cultural uniformity but stimulates cultural reinvention�
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
Globalised Structures
Structure is a metaphor for understanding the social influences that ‘structure’ and organise human behaviour
If human behaviour has identifiable patterns, social structures are the drivers of these patterns
But these structures cannot exist without human actors
Local Agency
We have individual bodies and have the potential to act independently
Agency is the capacity to act otherwise: It requires both a choice and the capacity to act on that choice
Global sociology considers how global structures influence local agency and vice versa
What global ‘structures’ influence your local circumstances?
Our Questions
How do global structures affect our local interactions and vice versa?
How have changes in global structures been experienced by different peoples?
What are the future consequences and challenges of living in a more global world?
Week 2 – Think local, act global: An introduction to global institutions
Week 3 – There is no alternative? The rise of global capitalism
Week 4 – Mediating globalisation: Communicating hegemony or technologies of resistance?
Week 5 – Who runs the global village? Cultural hegemony and the convergence of cultures
Week 6 – Globalising socialising: From the global to the personal
ASK WEEK!
Week 8 – The Flat Earth Hypothesis: Development, inequality and poverty
Week 9 – It’s getting hot in here: Climate change and the limits to expansion
Week 10 – People movers: Urbanisation and migration
Week 11 – Welcome home, history: Security, surveillance and terror in a global era
Week 12 – Course review and exam preparation
Our Goal: To think critically about the society in which we live
Module timetable
Lectures: 8thth Jan – 26th March
Exams: 28th April – 16th May
Learning and assessment
Lectures are held on Wednesday from 11-1pm and attendance is compulsory
There are no timetabled seminars
The exam is assessed by a 3hour examination: Details will be released later in the term
Contact details chris.mcmillan@brunel.ac.uk
Room: MJ153
Phone: ext. 67541
Consultation and feedback hour: Tuesday 1-2pm Use it!
Readings
The primary textbook is Cohen and Kennedy (2012) Global Sociology
The textbook chapters provide an overview of the lecture content
Many of the issues will also be covered in your ‘Introduction to Sociology’ textbooks
Reading Groups
A vital element of this module is the ‘peer reading groups’
These groups substitute for the seminars by providing an informal environment for to discuss the readings
The readings are available on the reading list on BBL
You will work together in groups of around 8, coordinated by a student leader
Who can volunteer as a reading group leader?
Reading Groups
Groups are required to meet on the Tuesday before lectures to discuss the assigned reading and previous course content
Each group needs to identify three questions inspired by the reading that are both personally interesting and sociologically important
We will address these questions during the following lecture
What is 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
What is new is the intensity at which they are occurring through changes in technology, communication and forms of co-operation
Intensified connections
Connections between peoples have intensified across time and space
More communication and influence outside of immediate environment (space)
Quicker interactions between geographically separated peoples (time)
These changes have led to a progressive deterritorisation
Changing time
The compression of time means that the time previous taken for social interaction to occur has been reduced
Communicating with the Southern hemisphere once took more than six weeks but is now instantaneous, changing our sense of time and distance
This has changed our perception of distance and the importance of territory
These changes have been primary driven by technological developments, from steam trains to smart phones
What technology allows you to influence people beyond those immediately around you?
Does this change your perception of time and distance?
Consequently…
Technological developments have allowed us to have a much wider geographical influence
Trans-governmental institutions such as the United Nations and World Trade Organisation (WTO) have (partially) shifted sovereignty outside of the nation-state and local representation
Corporations trade outside of their national origin and the restrictions of national regulation
Global ‘brands’ create shared cultural connections between different peoples
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
Closer global connections and a sense of global consciousness make global problems more manageable
Global governing institutions have emerged to respond to the difficulties in trans-national exchanges
The global village
The development of a global consciousness suggests both an interconnected society, but also a singular global sense of humanity
Whilst we are undoubtedly more connected, there are significant doubts about whether we are becoming more similar Does globalisation mean a more similar global culture, or an increasing range of influences? If there is increasing homogeneity, is this one culture imposing itself upon the others?
Sameness “Globalisation as a concept refers to both the compression of the world and the intensification of consciousness of the world as a whole” (Roland Robertson, 1992, p.8)
“Globalisation refers to all those processes by which the peoples of the world are incorporated into a single world society, a global society” (Martin Albrow, 1990, p.45)
Difference Globalisation “is best considered as a complex set of interacting and often countervailing to human, material, and symbolic flows that lead to diverse, heterogeneous cultural positionings and practices, which persistently and variously modify established sectors of social, political and cultural power� (Lull, 2000, p.150)
Uneven globes
If globalisation involves the construction of more globally similar cultures, this is experienced unevenly
Globalisation is often seen as the hegemonic spread of American ideals (or British…)
As Permutter (1991, p.898) argues, the imposition of one form of culture upon another has generally been seen as a form of violence
To what extent do you see yourself as living in a global society?
Two minute DIY summary 
Write for two minutes on:
What is global in your life?
Next Week WEEK 2
THINK LOCAL, ACT GLOBAL: BEYOND THE NATION STATE?
Textbook: Cohen and Kennedy, Chapters Three and Five GROUP READING:
Anderson, P. (2006). Imagined Communities (Chapter One, pp.6-8). Verso: London.