Globalisation and Social ChangeClass 12 Social Change and Development in India NCERT Solutions
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Q1Questions
Choose any topic that is of interest to you and discuss how you think globalisation has affected it. You could choose cinema, work, marriage or a ny other topic.
Solution
Globalisation has profoundly affected cinema in India, transforming it in terms of production, content, and consumption.
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Content and Narrative: The influence of globalisation is visible in the changing narratives of Indian films. While earlier films were predominantly rooted in local stories, contemporary cinema often features global settings. The textbook notes a trend where stories are now set entirely outside India, reflecting a more global outlook and catering to a diaspora audience. This is a shift from earlier films that might have had scenes abroad but kept the core story local.
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Production and Technology: Globalisation has facilitated access to advanced filmmaking technology, international collaborations, and global distribution networks. This has led to an improvement in the technical quality of Indian films, bringing them on par with international standards.
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Cultural Exchange and 'Glocalisation': The process of 'glocalisation'—the mixing of the global with the local—is evident in cinema. Indian films incorporate global cinematic styles, music genres, and fashion trends, while still retaining uniquely Indian cultural elements. This fusion creates a product that is appealing to both domestic and international audiences. For instance, the rise of fusion music like 'Indi-pop' mentioned in the chapter has a parallel in film music, where global beats are mixed with Indian melodies.
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Consumption: The way audiences consume cinema has also changed. The growth of multiplex cinema halls and the availability of films on global streaming platforms are direct results of economic liberalisation and globalisation. This has created a wider market for Indian cinema but also increased competition from international films.
Q2Questions
What a re the distinctive features of a globa lised economy? Discuss.
Solution
A globalised economy has several distinctive features that differentiate it from earlier economic systems. These features are driven by technological advancements, new economic policies, and the changing organisation of capital and labour.
Based on the chapter, the key features are:
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Transnational Corporations (TNCs): A defining feature is the dominance of TNCs, which are companies that produce goods or market services in more than one country. These corporations operate on a global scale, oriented towards global markets and profits, such as Coca-Cola, General Motors, and increasingly, some Indian corporations.
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The Electronic Economy: The global economy is underpinned by an 'electronic economy' where vast sums of money can be transferred across the world instantaneously. Banks, corporations, and investors can shift funds with the click of a mouse, leading to a highly integrated but also volatile global financial system.
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The Weightless or Knowledge Economy: There is a shift from an industrial or agricultural base to a 'weightless' or 'knowledge' economy. In this system, value is derived from information-based products like computer software, media, and entertainment, rather than physical goods. The workforce is increasingly involved in design, development, marketing, and servicing rather than physical production.
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Globalisation of Finance: For the first time, finance has become truly globalised due to the information technology revolution. This has led to globally integrated financial markets with 24-hour trading in capital and securities, centered in cities like New York, London, and Tokyo.
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A New International Division of Labour: Globalisation has created a new international division of labour. Production processes are fragmented and dispersed across the globe to take advantage of cheaper labour. For example, a car like the Pontiac Le Mans is assembled with components and labour from multiple countries (South Korea, Japan, Germany, etc.). This system, termed 'post-Fordism', involves flexible production in dispersed locations, making labour more vulnerable and insecure.
Q3Questions
Briefly discuss the impact of globalisation on culture.
Solution
Globalisation has a complex and multi-faceted impact on culture, leading to debates about cultural homogenisation, the rise of new hybrid forms, and the promotion of a consumerist lifestyle.
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Homogenisation vs. Glocalisation: A central debate is whether globalisation leads to cultural homogenisation, where all cultures become similar. However, the chapter suggests that a more common phenomenon is 'glocalisation,' which refers to the mixing of the global with the local. This is often a commercial strategy, such as foreign television channels like MTV using Indian languages or McDonald's adapting its menu to local tastes by offering vegetarian products, especially during festivals like Navaratri.
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Creation of New Cultural Forms: Globalisation does not just erase local cultures; it can also lead to the creation of new, hybrid traditions. The popularity of 'Bhangra pop' and 'Indi pop' are examples of fusion music that blends global and local elements. This suggests that culture is dynamic and evolves through interaction rather than being a fixed entity.
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Culture of Consumption: Globalisation promotes a 'culture of consumption'. The proliferation of shopping malls, multiplexes, and amusement parks, especially in cities, reflects this trend. Media and advertising play a crucial role in encouraging a lifestyle where spending is valued, and shopping becomes a form of leisure. This shapes the way people live and what they aspire to.
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Threat to Indigenous Traditions: The sheer scale and intensity of global cultural flows can pose a threat to indigenous crafts, knowledge systems, and performance arts. The chapter provides examples such as the decline of theatre groups in Mumbai's mill areas and the struggles of traditional weavers who cannot compete with cheaper, mass-produced goods. Similarly, traditional knowledge systems in medicine and agriculture face threats from multinational corporations seeking to patent them.
Q4Questions
What is gloc a lisation? Isit simply a market strategy a dopted by multinational compa nies or is genuine cultural synthesis ta king place? Disc uss.
Solution
Glocalisation refers to the mixing of the global with the local, where global products, ideas, or practices are adapted to suit local cultures and conditions.
The chapter suggests that glocalisation operates on two levels: as a deliberate market strategy and as a process leading to genuine cultural synthesis.
As a Market Strategy:
The text explicitly states that glocalisation is "a strategy often adopted by foreign firms while dealing with local traditions in order to enhance their marketability." This view sees glocalisation as a calculated business move by multinational companies to make their products more appealing and acceptable to local consumers. Examples provided in the chapter support this:
- Foreign television channels like Star and MTV using Indian languages to reach a wider audience.
- McDonald's not selling its popular beef products in India and instead offering vegetarian and chicken options. It even goes fully vegetarian during the Navaratri festival to respect local religious sentiments.
From this perspective, glocalisation is not about celebrating local culture but about leveraging it for commercial profit.
As a Genuine Cultural Synthesis:
At the same time, the chapter also argues that glocalisation can lead to genuine cultural synthesis. Culture is not static; it evolves through interaction. The text highlights that India has historically had an open approach to cultural influences. The emergence of new cultural forms suggests that a real fusion is occurring:
- The growth in popularity of 'Bhangra pop', 'Indi pop', and other forms of fusion music demonstrates a creative blending of global and local musical traditions.
- This synthesis is not just a one-way imposition of the global on the local but a dynamic process that creates new, hybrid cultural expressions.
Conclusion:
Glocalisation is not simply one or the other. It begins primarily as a market strategy for multinational corporations to penetrate local markets. However, this process of interaction between global and local forces can, and often does, result in a genuine cultural synthesis, leading to the creation of new and vibrant hybrid cultures. The commercial motive and the cultural outcome are interconnected aspects of the same phenomenon.