Download Globalization, Boundaries and Territoriality

Globalization, Boundaries and
Territoriality
INR 456
Political Geography
• What is globalization?
• When did it start?
• Is colonialism of 16th, 17th and 18th centuries
or imperialism of 19th century can be
considered as globalization?
• Is globalization the product of the Information
Age?
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Globalization
• Globalization is the emergence of a complex
web of interconnectedness among societies
and individuals.
– Increased direct interaction between:
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Society to Society
Person to Person
Corporation to Corporation
International actors to local actors
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Globalization
• Globalization is the emergence of a borderless
world.
• Spatial relations have been restructured and
transformed in a globalized world.
– Space as we know has been replaced by cyberspace.
– Instead of soil, we have softwares.
– Instead of territory we have the internet.
• Deterritorialisation:
– Territory losing its significance and power in our lives.
– End of geography
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Dynamics of Globalizaiton
• Technological determinism
– Technology enhances human capacity and capabilities and
thus further human progress in history.
– Technology defines and determines social, economic and
political orders in societies.
– Rapid dissemination of information due to the
advancements in telecommunication technologies
• Redefinition of space and time in the global world
• Cyberspace:
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The land of knowledge
A way of communicating others
A way of selling your ideas, products
Thus, globalists believe that cyberspace will open up closed markets,
liberate repressed people and unify diverse societies.
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• Economic globalization:
– Refers to the emergence of a global economy based on free trade,
internationalized production and free flow of capital between
countries.
– National markets and economies are opened to international actors.
– Free flow of goods (Free trade) + free flow of money (free capital
mobility)
– Emergence of nationless and borderless corporations.
• Cultural globalization:
– Refers to the emergence of a global culture that tends to flatten out
cultural differences between nations due to the global flow of
particular products.
– Emergence of new non-state actors
• Political globalization:
– Refers to the growing importance of international organizations
– Spread of universal values and norms.
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Trends in Globalization
Homogenization: The tendecy for all countries and
societies to become similar or identical.
Localization: Refers to the growing importance of
local actors and their interactions on a global
level.
Regionalization:Refers to the increase in regional
integration among countries in the same region.
Indigenization: The process of through which alien
goods and practices are absorbed by being
adapted to local needs and circumstances.
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Theories of Globalization
• Globalists:
– Globalization understood as the spread of global
capitalism which is considered better than
national capitalism because in this case more
people in more countries will prosper and be
better off.
– Globalized economic and cultural patterns are
inevitable, driven by new information and
communications technology. (Hyperglobalism)
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• Anti-globalists:
– Sceptical about the nature and benefits of
globalization
– Globalization is a new face capitalism and imperialism
in which case rich becomes richer and poor becomes
poorer. (Increased inequality, widening gap between
developed and underdeveloped countries)
– Globalization leads to the shift towards labour
flexibility, tendency to decrease labour wages for the
sake of global competition, weaker trade unions,
foreign imposed controls on public spending and
foreign pressure on reforming national legislation on
social policy, trade policy and competition policy.
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Downsides of Globalization
• Globalization has also produced risks, uncertainty and
instability.
• Economic decision-making is increasingly influenced by
global financial markets. A financial crisis in one country
affects the economy of other countries.
• Risk Society: Ulrich Beck suggested that rising
individualism, weakening of established institutions,
consequences of rapid economic and social changes
(externalities) produce a risk society even in developed
countries.
• Globalization leads to environmental crisis and destruction.
• Globalization undermines nation states.
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The Globalization Paradox
• Rodrik advocates regulated globalization.
• Dani Rodrik (2011) argues that in order for
countries to succeed in a globalized world a
balance between three dynamics has to be
reached
– Democratization
– National determination
– Economic globalization
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Regionalization
• Regionalization is the tendency for patterns of economic and
political cooperation to develop between states in the same
region.
• As the nation-state is seen to be less effective in delivering
security, stability and prosperity, these goals are increasingly
achieved through cooperation with other neighbouring states.
• Growth of economic interdependence between states in the
same region.
• Increasing economic rivalry between different regional
organizations.
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Regional Economic Blocs
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North American Free Trade Agreement (1993)
Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (1989)
Association of South-East Asian Nations (1967)
Mercosur
Free Trade Area of the Americas (1994)
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