GlobalisationClass 12 Contemporary World Politics Case Study Questions

Globalisation as a concept fundamentally deals with flows. These flows could be of various kinds - ideas moving from one part of the world to another, capital shunted between two or more places, commodities being traded across borders, and people moving in search of better livelihoods to different parts of the world. The crucial element is the 'worldwide interconnectedness' that is created and sustained as a consequence of these constant flows. This is illustrated by various examples. Janardhan's work in a call centre represents the globalisation of services. Ramdhari's purchase of a Chinese-made cycle shows the movement of commodities. Sarika's new career opportunities, which challenge traditional family values, highlight a conflict of values influenced by global trends. These examples show that globalisation is a multidimensional concept with political, economic, and cultural manifestations.

Economic globalisation has created an intense division of opinion. Those who are concerned about social justice are worried about the extent of state withdrawal caused by processes of economic globalisation. They point out that it is likely to benefit only a small section of the population while impoverishing those who were dependent on the government for jobs and welfare. They have emphasised the need to ensure institutional safeguards or creating 'social safety nets' to minimise the negative effects of globalisation on those who are economically weak. Advocates of economic globalisation argue that it generates greater economic growth and well-being for larger sections of the population when there is de-regulation. Greater trade among countries allows each economy to do what it does best. This would benefit the whole world. They also argue that economic globalisation is inevitable and it is not wise to resist the march of history.

The cultural effect of globalisation leads to the fear that this process poses a threat to cultures in the world. It does so, because globalisation leads to the rise of a uniform culture or what is called cultural homogenisation. What we have in the name of a global culture is the imposition of Western culture on the rest of the world. This is dangerous for it leads to the shrinking of the rich cultural heritage of the entire globe. At the same time, it would be a mistake to assume that cultural consequences of globalisation are only negative. While cultural homogenisation is an aspect of globalisation, the same process also generates precisely the opposite effect. It leads to each culture becoming more different and distinctive. This phenomenon is called cultural heterogenisation. For instance, the burger is no substitute for a masala dosa, and blue jeans can go well with a homespun khadi kurta, creating a unique new combination.