Chapter 2 Identity and the Forces of Globalization

To what extent do identity and the forces of globalization shape each other? Glocal: Things that happen at a global level affect things that happen at a local level and things that happen locally affect things that happen globally.

What are some forces of globalization? TRADE TRANSPORTATION COMMUNICATION MEDIA

Trade as a Globalizing Force People trade with one another to obtain goods and services that are: Not available in their own region Better quality or less expensive Different from goods produced at home

Trade as a Globalizing Force Transnational corporations and international trade Also called a multinational corporation a transnational is a company that is based in one country while developing and manufacturing its products, or delivering its goods and services, in more than one country.

Trade as a Globalizing Force Transnationals and globalization Position 1: Transnational corporations play an important part in the globalization process. In many countries they provide training and jobs for people who would have no work otherwise. Position 2: Jobs are “low level” positions requiring little skill and with few opportunities for advancement. Profits earned go to the country where the company has its headquarters.

Transportation as a Globalizing Force Transportation is essential for trade Containers revolutionized the shipping industry in the 1950’s Containers are often called the building blocks of the global village. The development of passenger jets also meant that people could move around the world much more quickly and easily.

Communication Technology as a Globalizing Force The computer revolutionized the way information flows. Digital technologies have sparked advances in computers and other devices.

Communication Technology The Internet and the World Wide Web The internet is a network that connects millions of personal computers around the world. Because of the WWW personal and business interactions are now global.

The Media as a Globalizing Force The web has become a medium used to broadcast and gather information, do things like banking, shopping, taking courses, conducting research, playing games, blogging, listening to music, watching videos and simply communicating.

The Media as a Globalizing Force Media concentration and convergence Since the 1980’s two trends have developed – media concentration and media convergence. “Concentration” refers to a trend that concentrates ownership of newspapers and other media in the hands of a few large corporations. “Convergence” refers to the use of electronic technology to integrate media such as newpapers and T.V. with the internet.

Identity and Economic Dimensions of Globalization Fairtrade Bananas Economies of Scale – savings that come from producing, using, and buying things in large quantities. Production costs such as wages are closely monitored. Banana Wars Chiquita and the U.S.A. versus Caribbean banana exporters.

Identity and Some Environmental Dimensions of Globalization Earth Summit – how to encourage economic development while protecting the environment. Agribusiness – large scale agriculture such as transnational banana farms. To create large farms means large forests must be cut down which leads to soil erosion and flooding. It also destroys the natural habitat of plants and animals – reducing biodiversity.

Identity and Some Social Dimensions of Globalization Cheap bananas are appealing to Canadian consumers but come at a cost: Low wages for workers Unsafe working conditions No safety training Working through chemical spraying No toilet/sanitation facilities Workers who try to change conditions are often fired and/or blacklisted and even attacked.

Displacing Indigenous Peoples The need for large tracts of land to create banana plantations has also meant that Indigenous peoples were often displaced – forced off their land. Unable to continue their traditional way of life, some began working on the plantations, while others were forced to move to cities, where they often live in poverty (Lubicon Cree).

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