In 2005 Terhi Ratanen wrote a piece
that sets out numerous academic definitions of Globalisation, which as I
blogged about last week, is a word that is difficult to accurately
and wholly define.
Quoted in this piece was Anthony
Giddens who wrote that Globalisation was:
"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 visa versa (Giddens 1990 as in Ratanen
2005 p.6)"
I find this definition interesting as it was
written in that historical time ‘before the internet existed’, that is a time
that many of us don’t even remember. I like that Giddens was able to anticipate
the impact that improvements in technology like the internet have changed our
lives to allow for the local to become the global. An easy example of
this is the Arab Spring.
Before the process of globalisation
individuals throughout the Arab world would not have followed the uprising and
eventual over throw of the Tunisian president in early 2011. Improvements
in communicative technology allowed individuals in nearby countries like Egypt
and Libya to witness the success of the Tunisian protests which inspired them
to act on a local level in their own countries with similar protests.
Gidden’s definition however does fail
to specifically refer to the economic and environmental relations which due to
globalisation have become worldwide issues with nation states decision
effecting not only their people but also citizens worldwide.
References
Rantanen, T 2005, ‘Theorizing media
globalization’, The
media and globalization,
Sage, London, pp. 1–18
Such a good prediction by the writer all the way back in 1990! It's amazing to see that twenty two years later, such things have occurred throughout the world. As a politics student myself, who has studied the Middle East its been amazing to see how much technology has played its part in conflicts over the years. That's a great example that you use with the Arab Spring conflict. Decades ago, many countries would have been isolated by such instant footage and only had to rely on filtered and censored newspapers and television coverage. You raise good points in relation to globalisation and how that has allowed the instant access to people that are in conflicting countries and that that urge to rebel and protest. I really enjoyed reading this and how you tied it nicely into the political example. Good job.
ReplyDeleteThis is a great post! You clearly identify the accuracies and inaccuracies with the definition of Globalisation.
ReplyDeleteYour writing is sharp and this makes it easy and entertaining to read.
I think that it is a good idea that you relate your second blog to your first blog. I also like that you take the quote by Giddens and show how important and relevant it still is today. I agree with you that it is remarkable that Giddens has been able to anticipate the importance and impact of technology.
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