Download Theories of Globalization

Theories of Globalization
• Globalizing trends not new
• Scholars have struggled to understand them
–
–
–
–
–
Modernization (sociologists)
World Capitalism (sociologists and economists)
Transnational Connections (political scientists)
Global Village (communication theorists)
Culture of Capitalism (anthropologists)
Perspectives from Sociology
• Focus on transformative forces that
transcend state boundaries
• Major theorists
– Emil Durkheim (specialization)
– Max Weber (rationalization)
– Karl Marx (capitalist commodification)
Durkheim
• Common conscience of traditional society
gives way to differentiation and
specialization in industrial society
• Specialization (through work) is globalizing
force
• Cause - industrialization
• Industrialization > specialization >
integration across states and societies
Modernization Theory
• Builds on Durkheim’s ideas
• Industrialization produces wealth so it
spreads
• Leads to specialization (by occupation)
• Promotes integration
• Also transforms societies down common
evolutionary path > modernization
– bureaucracies, markets, money, democracy
• Globalization = integration & convergence
Weber
• Focuses on sources of authority in society
• Rational/legal authority only workable
mode for modern complex society
– people desire rationality and rule by law
– very efficient
• All societies converge on rational model
• Rationalization is key globalizing force
Marx
• Globalization results as capitalism spreads
in search of markets
• Capitalism disequilibrium system
–
–
–
–
long-term trend of falling rate of profit
overcapacity and underconsumption
capitalism spreads to survive
expands for cheap labor, markets, and cheap
raw materials
• Result - global economic system and global
consumption patterns
World Capitalist Theories
• Vladimir Lenin
– capitalist system imposed on globe
– imperialist system of domination
– societies become stratified
• Andre Gunder-Frank
– capital exported abroad but profits returned to
center
– produces “dependent development”
– dependency theory
Sociology Summary
• For Durkheim and Weber, industrialization
causes globalization
– Durkheim - changes in work patterns change
society
– Weber - produces belief that we can rationally
control our environment
– leads to convergence in how societies are
organized, and to integration
• Ideas fleshed out in modernization theory
Sociology Summary (cont.)
• For Marx, “link-maker” is capitalist mode
of production which must spread to survive
• Globalization is process of integration that
is exploitative
• Does not produce convergence across
societies
• Ideas about way capitalism integrates world
fleshed out in world capitalist theory
Perspectives from Political Science
• Dualistic view of globalization
– Economic and cultural integration develops
alongside states
– But relations between states still privileged
• Major approaches
– world society theory
– transnationalism
– hegemonic stability theory
World Society Theory
• Early approach to globalization
• World society created by networks that
transcend state boundaries
– “effective” distance replaces “geographic”
distance
• Hedley Bull
– system of states vs. society of states
– world society requires common interests,
values, rules
Transnationalism
• James Rosenau
• Relations between states supplemented by
relations among govts., IGOs and NGOs
• Technology is driving force
• Leads to interdependence among states and
disintegration of states
• Multi-centric and state-centric worlds exist
side by side; turbulence
Hegemonic Stability Theory
• Robert Gilpin
• Globalization linked to capitalist expansion
• But states affect direction and pace of
economic integration
• Economic integration depends on political
stability and presence of liberal hegemon
• Two periods of liberal hegemony
– 19th century Britain & 1945-70 America
Political Science Summary
• Recognize emergence of world economic
system
• But states still important
• States regulate and shape globalization
• Dualistic approach
Global Village
• Communications theory
• Focus on culture, not economics
• Culture/values determined by mode of
communication
• Industrial era communications reduce
attachment to local/tribe
• Information era communications restore
culture of tribalism, but on global scale
• Creates “global village”
Culture of Capitalism
• Anthropological perspective
• Distinctive way of viewing world has
emerged called “culture of capitalism”
• Belief in commodity consumption as source
of well-being
• Luxuries transformed into necessities via:
– marketing, changes in social institutions, and
changes in values
• Culture exported globally; unites world
Theory Summary
• Industrialization and capitalism are major
globalizing forces
– industrialization integrates (due to
specialization) and leads to convergence (down
path of modernization)
– capitalism integrates (as spreads to survive) but
integration is uneven and exploitative
• States cannot control globalization but they
affect its speed and success
Theory Summary (cont.)
• Inter-state relations co-exist alongside
transnational linkages
• Technological developments may be
producing cultural shift in globalized
direction - “global village”
• Capitalism may also be producing a global
“culture of capitalism” that exists alongside
local culture