Key Issue 3: Why are different Places Similar? Scale: From local to global Space: Distribution of features Connections between places

Globalization vs. local diversity Globalization pulls the world together Internet has made us a global community Local Diversity pushes us to be unique Express cultural traditions and economic practices This push and pull can lead to conflict, what could they be? Political, economic, and pollution to name a few

Scale: From Local to Global Globalization: a force or process that involves the whole world and results in making something worldwide in scope The scale of the world is shrinking in that a person, object or idea can interact with other persons, objects or ideas The world, therefore, is becoming more uniform (though we may becoming more diverse at a local scale)

Economic globalization is facilitated by TNCs (transnational corporations) and free market politics (e.g. WTO) TNCs conduct research, operate factories and sell products beyond where their HQs are located TNCs and modern technology allow money, materials & ideas to spread globally Specialization occurs often making places economically different

Globalization often leads to uniform preferences Uniform preferences lead to uniform cultural landscapes Fast food restaurants, automobiles, tennis shoes, coca-cola, etc. Local religion, language & cultural beliefs are threatened with extinction Often leads to a backlash Though the globalization of technology may promote diversity too (Welsh & Gaelic channels via satellite)

Connections Between Places The world is shrinking. Space-Time Compression reduction in time it takes to diffuse something to a distant place as a result of improved communications and transportation systems. In 1800 A.D. people (and culture) traveled using the same methods as in 1800 B.C. Today, people can travel more quickly and culture can spread without explorers and settlers Hub-and-spoke system Computers & telecommunications -Spatial interaction includes all kinds of human interaction (freights, commuting, telecommunications, migration) - Pre-1800s: foot, animal and sailing

Barriers Physical (Oceans) Cultural (language) Political (borders) Distance decay-diminishing in importance and eventual disappearance of a phenomenon with increasing distance from its origin Friction of Distance ($/time to overcome the distance) Friction of distance = cost ($/time) of overcoming distance - Has the internet removed the reality of distance decay? Has it ended the need for geography? - Physical & resource diversity: bananas from the tropics and oil from Saudi Arabia - Unequal economic system provides pools of laborers suitable for different tasks (e.g. Silicone Valley & Mexico’s maquiladoras) - Economies of Scale: Ford’s Model Ts - Comparative advantage describes the tendency for economies to produce just what they do best rather than trying to produce everything that they do better. The US is better served by putting its resources into hi-tech fields and buying clothing from China than trying to produce everything.

DIFFUSION

Spatial Diffusion A process by which a characteristic spreads across space from its origin (the hearth) to another location over time. Diseases, technological innovations, political movements & musical fads It’s not random but a function of geographic principles & statistical probabilities (e.g. distance & amount of contact) Statistical probabilities (distance, amount of resistance, degree of contact, etc.)

Diffusion Relocation Expansion Hierarchical Contagious Stimulus

Relocation diffusion Spread through physical movement of people Languages to Western Hemisphere Spanish, English, French & Portuguese Diffusion of nationally issued Euros AIDS spread through relocation diffusion urban centers (1980s to 1993) Islam to North Africa, Spain Foods to and from New World Diffusion without an increase in frequency

Expansion diffusion “Snowball” method of diffusion Spread from person to person in place Diseases through Western Hemisphere Democracy from U.S. to France

Which type of diffusion does A represent? Which type of diffusion does B represent? A Expansion B Relocation

Note that expansion diffusion can occur at the relocation point Note that expansion diffusion can occur at the relocation point. For example, tortillas were brought to the US through relocation diffusion, but are spreading throughout the US through expansion diffusion too. The difference between expansion diffusion and relocation diffusion has to do with what happens at the point of origin. In expansion diffusion, what is being diffused remains at the point of origin, often becoming more intense. With relocation diffusion, what is being diffused evacuates the point of origin and moves on.

Expansion Diffusion Three processes: 1.Hierarchical 2.Contagious 3.Stimulus Which type of diffusion is the spread of Islam? The Spread of Islam is an example of contagious diffusion

1. Hierarchical diffusion Among levels of a hierarchy Usually top-down Based on cities or organizations

Hierarchical effects DISCUSSION: * What are the large cities in your state or province which would first be impacted by a diffusion process spread by hierarchical effect?

Hierarchical Effects DISCUSSION: * Is the diffusion in this time frame only from large to medium cities?

DISCUSSION: * Does hierarchical effect mean that someone in a small city is guaranteed to encounter the idea, innovation, or disease only after it has spread first to medium cities?

2. Contagious diffusion Person-to-person contact Widespread and rapid Distance-decay effect

Contagious Diffusion-Walmart

Standing on the shoulders of giants 3. Stimulus diffusion Standing on the shoulders of giants The spread of an underlying principle even though the characteristic appears to fail to diffuse. In other words, diffusion in which one people receives a culture element from another but gives it a new and unique form Features of Apple’s iPhone and iPad have been adopted by their competitors