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SS10U1L2
Chapter Questions
1. Define the following terms as they pertain to globalization:
a) Glocal – combination of the words ‘local’ and ‘global’, expressing how those terms
are related; in accordance with globalization, events that occur at a global level likewise
affect events that occur in a local area, because the world is so interconnected and
interdependent
b) Transnational Corporation – a company based in one country and sells in other
countries, it is international; in accordance with globalization, because this corporation is
based in one country, its home country, and sells in other countries, those other
countries in turn have products from all over the world, which is the foundation of what
globalization is
c) Media concentration – the accumulation of media (newspapers, TV, websites, etc.) all
into a few larger companies; this means that instead of many privately owned
businesses and corporations, there are only a few that own them all
d) Media convergence – the integration of media (newspapers, TV, websites, etc.) using
electronic technology; this means gathering information from all of these sources to
develop stories
e) Biodiversity – a contraction for the terms ‘biological diversity’, meaning a variety of
plants and animals around the globe; in accordance to globalization, biodiversity is
steadily decreasing as more and more forested areas are mowed down to satisfy
consumer demand; for example, Costa Rica is supposed to have lost 60% of its original
forested areas in order to comply with the demand for bananas
f) Homogenization – as the globe becomes more and more interconnected and
interdependent, differences among cultures and peoples are erased, thus they become
more similar; in accordance with globalization, it means that because so many things
are becoming the same, cultural diversity is becoming lost, yet at the same time, racism
and prejudice are also becoming vanquished as the absence of difference grows
g) Accommodation – accepting and creating space for one another; customs, traditions,
technologies, values, beliefs, and languages of both cultures, these are some things
included in accommodation; in accordance with globalization, it means that as the world
becomes more homogenized, there is more accommodation, because there are less
differences and more understanding
h) Assimilation – a culture of a minority group is absorbed by another culture; in
accordance with globalization, it means that more minorities are being swallowed up
and the culture of different countries are becoming more and more similar
i) Cultural revitalization – the process of affirming and promoting individual and
collective identity; in accordance with globalization, it is somewhat the opposite of
assimilation, because where assimilation is the loss of collective identity, cultural
revitalization is the promotion of collective identity
2. Referring to the images on page 42, tell which image best illustrates the following:
a) Social Globalization – the picture on page 42 that best illustrates social globalization
is the picture of three different people using their phones; phones are one way to
communicate, and people all over the world have them and use them to communicate
with each other
b) Economic Globalization – the picture on page 42 that best illustrates economic
globalization is the picture of an Air Canada airplane; this is an example of a
transnational corporation, because it is a company that is based in Canada, yet has
airport terminals in many other countries in the world, affecting Canada’s economy and
the economy of many other countries
c) Political Globalization – the picture on page 42 that best illustrates political
globalization is the picture of an Al Jazeera webpage, relating politics of many countries
all over the world; democracies are becoming more and more popular throughout the
globe, and more and more political leaders and coming together to discuss how things
should be ruled and how to submerge from conflicts
3. Explain how the following forces of globalization can impact identity:
a) Trade – trade has a huge impact on identity; transnational corporations means that
countries like Canada will import products from all over the world, and so as individuals,
people will own, wear, eat, watch, or use things from many different countries, thus
affecting their identity; so instead of owning and using things from only their country of
origin, trade enables them to own and use things from all over the place
b) Transportation – transportation likewise affects our identity; it is this prospect that
enables trade to impact our identity so effectively, because of shipping, that has been
occurring faster and more frequently than ever before, with the increasing amount of
trade; without the transportation of goods across the world, people would merely own
and use products from their country of origin, thus a different identity
c) Communication technology – this concept has a massive impact on identity; masses
of information are booted onto the web, where people all over the world have access to;
now, instead of having to go to libraries, or contact a professional, all a person has to do
is double click and they have access to more information than they could possibly
imagine; knowledge plays a fundamental role in shaping identity, thus with
communication technology, identity is changed and formed a great deal
d) Media – this also impacts identity, building largely off of the internet, where media
can hook up and store large amounts of information for anybody to read; with this,
people can know and understand what is going on all around the world without ever
having to set foot in another country; they can experience marvellous events without
ever having to leave their home, which greatly affects identity
4. What do the ‘banana wars’ suggest about transnational companies? Research in
your text and online to learn and decide if transnational corporations play a positive or
negative role toward globalization? Identify and discuss (in detail) a current example to
support your answer. (2 to 3 paragraph response is required)
Transnational corporations play a negative role toward globalization. Though
these corporations do provide work, create wealth, and give other countries and people
benefits of one product, there are still many adverse effects. For example, despite there
being work and jobs created, few opportunities to advance in them are provided, and
often inadequate payment for a person to spend time relaxing or taking it easy is
offered. This instigates long hours of hard work for many people. Also, these
corporations can be detrimental to a country’s culture. For example, to introduce
multiple businesses and products to a culture could mean impeding on their cultural
growth and stability, where each new rising generation is brought up learning that
culture’s ways of life. Differences in ways of life are lost as the world becomes more and
more globalized.
One example of how transnational corporations are not the greatest solution for
everybody’s problems is the Banana Wars. For a long time, bananas have been a
favoured fruit in North America, and not solely because of the taste, though that does
play a part. Bananas are favoured partly because of the prices – which are very, very
low. They are low because, in countries where they are planted and grown, the people
work for very, very little, so that people in countries like Canada and America may have
the benefits of enjoying a good banana for good prices. However, not only are workers
being paid unfairly, their work also provide almost no opportunities to advance – for
example, there are not many promotions for working at a banana plantation, and not a
lot of excessive knowledge to learn. In this case, transnational corporations are not
helpful at all.
If transnational corporations can lead to exploitation or near-slavery for the
benefits of other people who were better off already, they cannot be viewed as a
positive role in globalization.
5. Identify and explain 3 inventions that have contributed to globalization. How have
they contributed? Three inventions that have contributed to globalization are: shipping
containers, the internet, and transnational corporations. Shipping containers have
contributed, because they carry different products from one country to many other
countries all over the world, which causes it to be globalized because many people own
the same type of thing and take part in the same style of living. The internet has
contributed, because like the shipping companies, it spreads information, allowing
everybody access to the same information. Transnational corporations have
contributed, because they allow different products to be spread throughout the world,
making it possible for many countries and people to enjoy the same thing.
6. Identify and explain 5 ways that globalization influences your life (you can refer to
specific examples or general forces in your answer)
Globalization has influenced my life in many ways. I have lived in both Canada and the
Middle East, but I still wear the same brand of clothes, I still enjoy my favourite meals, I
still use the same technology, I still participate in the same activities, and I am still
educated in the same ways. All of these things, before the world became so globalized,
would have been virtually impossible. But because of shipping, which heavily instigated
globalization, the clothes I wear here are the same as I did back in Canada, the food I
eat is the same as I used to enjoy, and the technology I used is also the same. Because
of the internet, the ways in which I am educated remain the same, as do the activities I
participate in.
7. How do media concentration and media convergence impact one’s identity? Explain
with examples.
Media concentrations and convergence impact one’s identity a great deal. If a person
had access to only one source of information, for example only The Times newspaper,
he or she may not be able to identify bias. He or she may not know all the facts and
thus his or her perception of things would be very limited.
For example, if you only had access to your local newspaper, you likely would
not be able to perceive bias as well as if you had other sources of information. Facts or
details of an event may have been exaggerated or exempt, leaving you with a false
awareness of exactly what happened.
8. “There are only three daily newspapers in Canada that are privately owned – The
Winnipeg Free Press, the White Horse Star, and Montreal’s LeDevoir. What
conclusions can you draw from this? Explain your answer.
From this, I can conclude that I may need to look into other sources if I want detailed
information that I can detect bias from. This would be because if all of the other papers
are publicly owned, it would be more difficult to detect bias, which can often occur in
newspapers that express only one point of view. There are also fewer perspectives
available, and the beliefs of that corporation will always be the one expressed.
9. The Idol Franchise TV program has expanded to 35 countries. Is the popularity of this
TV show an example of a challenge to people’s identity or is it an opportunity to
promote identity? Support your answer.
Reference: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/4648208.stm
(Do you detect bias in this reference? Discuss.)
I think this TV program is an opportunity to promote identity. There are too many other
reality shows for this one show to make much of a difference to the people’s identity,
and in addition, it is a great way for contestants to really discover who they are.
However, I do detect bias in this reference. Much of the article is spent discussing how
wonderful and successful the show is becoming, and how great it is for Ethiopia. Almost
nothing was mentioned about any defects or shortcomings with initiating this show,
other than citing that some people thought that it was cultural invasion. But following
that statement, it is immediately passed off by subsequent paragraphs, that said, “It is
not cultural invasion – people are performing in their own languages.”