What does the term
actually mean? I have studied globalisation before, but never have I had to
think about it in such a basic way. And it is not a basic term. To each person,
globalisation means something different. How I view globalisation? My view is
that the world is becoming globally connected in more than one way, be it through
culture, economics, media or even ideas.
For Piertese, the term
has brought about a range of debate and is, at times, a controversial term. But
he attempts to put it simply by stating
“globalisation is like a prism in which major disputes over the
collective human condition are now refracted: questions of capitalism,
inequality, power, development, ecology, culture, gender, identity, population,
all come back in a landscape where ‘globalisation did it’,” (2007, p7). To me,
this is still confusing!
However, one thing
that stood out was a point of consensus Piertese found among theorists. That is,
globalisation is being shaped by technological change. This makes sense to me.
Global connectivity is convenient and simple now. I am able stay in contact
with friends travelling overseas in ‘real time’. I don’t have to wait for a
postcard to arrive in the mail to know what their trip is like. I can pick up my
iPhone and send a message for free through an App. Then get a reply
instantaneously.
The ability to connect
with people on a global scale is a positive implication of technology change. But
what about the negative implications? What about sexually explicit photographs
of school kids being distributed to mass audiences with the click of a button? What
about the sex offender who has the ability to pose as a 14 year old on a social
networking site to lure his next victim? I hate to end on a negative note, but
these are all made possible because of technological change.
References
Nederveen Pieterse, J 2004, ‘Globalization:
consensus and controversies’,
Globalization and culture: global mélange, Rowan
& Littlefield, Lanham, Md., pp. 7–21.
I really enjoyed reading this blog; it was produced in a casual and realistic manner, which is very appealing for the reader. I like how you admitted that "this is still confusing" after your view and a direct quote. It makes the blog appear more personal. I think it was very practical that you pulled apart the definition and broke it down, also simplifying this for the reader. You identified both the positive and negative aspects of Globalisation, I too, have a better undertsnading after reading this blog!!
ReplyDeleteHello!
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed your blog!
I agree with your points of negative implications of technology, crimes relating to technology are increasing. I have read an article reporting that a boy who committed suicide was bullied not only physically, but also mentally, he was vilified in a website by his classmates in Australia. Also technology could make transnational crimes easier to occur. I guess the accessibility with ease to technology is ironically accelerating new problems today.
Well people always say when it comes to globalisation and technology, that we are living in a 'global village'. No matter how far away we are from each other, with the internet we can communicate within a second. The question is, is the global village a eutopia where we all get along all is it a seedy place filled with criminals and degenerates? Like villages, towns and cities in real life, there are places on the internet which is great, safe, fun and informative, while there are places of the internet which are like run down cities and dark alleyways. It's just the way society has been since the dawn of time, I do not think the internet has changed anything, it just reflects normal society
ReplyDeleteGreat post by the way, keep it up
I really enjoy the style of writing you've implemented here. You've managed find a tone that is both professional and "scholarly" while still feeling friendly and entertaining. The fact that you write of both the positive and negative effects of globalisation gives your blog a sense of sincerity and honesty. Nice work.
ReplyDeleteHi Kate,
ReplyDeleteI really like your blog post and how you use your own understanding of globalisation to introduce the concept. I also think that it your structure of the post is good. I would have liked for there to be some pictures, a video or links to make the blog post more interesting to look at.