1. Class 12: Globalization and Governance & Intro to Theories
Sociology 2
Copyright © 2008 by Evan Schofer
Do not copy or distribute without permission

2. Announcements Intro to “theories of globalization”
Readings for next week
Topic: Globalization and Governance
Looking at the politics of globalization; and global politics!

3. Upcoming Readings
Readings for next week address theories of globalization
Note: readings are dense/hard. They are written by academics and for academics. I’ll help you get through them
Issue: What is a “theory”?
Type #1: A specific claim or argument that leads to empirical predictions
Example: Economic law of “supply and demand”
A theory… (“laws” are just theories that work well)
Claim: prices reflect equilibrium of supply and demand
We can “test” this theory with experiments…

4. Theories
Type #2: A theory is a set of general imageries about how the world works
“Big ideas” that guide researchers and help to generate specific (Type 1) theories
Example: Marxist theory: not just a single prediction
Marxism combines:
1. Observations about the nature of capitalism
e.g., base/superstructure; exploitation of labor
2. Identification of important dynamics
e.g., dialectics, shift from feudalism to capitalism, etc.

5. Theories Marxism combined:
3. Development of new concepts
e.g., Alienation, false consciousness
4. Complex predictions about the future
e.g., capitalist revolution, socialism
5. Normative evaluations
This broader kind of “theory” is useful because it generates a rich description of the world
And produces many specific claims to be tested
But, it isn’t easy to prove “right” or “wrong”.

6. Theories of Globalization
Some major views on the international system:
1. Modernization theory
2. World Systems Theory
And “dependency theory”, a common variant
3. “World Polity Theory”
Also called “neo-institutional theory”
4. Realism
5. Various responses to Realism
“Complex Interdependence”, others…

7. Background: Modernization Theory
An evolutionary theory predicting how societies develop
See Chirot and Hall article on WST…
Argument: All societies naturally pass through certain stages of development
All societies start out as “traditional” hunter-gatherers
Then, they develop agriculture; towns & cities grow
Eventually, they become “modern” industrial societies
Movement from one stage to the next is driven by things like population growth & new technologies
Society becomes more complex; greater division of labor.

8. Responses to Modernization Theory
Chirot, Daniel and Thomas D. Hall “World-System Theory.”
Frank, Andre G “The Development of Underdevelopment.”
World-system theory: Seeks to explain why many countries have failed to modernize
(Oversimplified) argument: Wealthy countries in the global economy are exploiting poor ones
Poor countries are trapped in a state of “underdevelopment”
Readings: Chirot, Frank

9. Responses to Modernization Theory
Meyer, J., J. Boli, G. Thomas, and F. Ramirez “World Society and the Nation-State.”
Jepperson, R “The Development and Application of Sociological Neoinstitutionalism.”
World Polity Theory: Seeks to explain why poor countries look surprisingly similar to rich ones
Similar governments, education systems, etc.
(oversimplified) Argument: Part of globalization is the rise of a global culture
Global culture shapes the actions of people & governments… leading to surprising amounts of global conformity.

10. Globalization and Governance
Definitions:
Governance: Ruling, governing, or managing
Sovereignty: Supreme power over a body politic; freedom from external control (Webster)
Related term: autonomy

11. Globalization and Governance
Issue #1. Economic globalization poses new challenges for national governance:
Due to globalization, it may be harder for states to control markets, multi-national corporations, etc.
And, states may be constrained in policy choices
Ex: The golden straightjacket
Issues to reflect on: Is state sovereignty in decline? Is the state becoming irrelevant?

12. Globalization and Governance
2. Economic globalization may shift the balance of power within countries
Issue: Will free markets result in the dominance of conservative parties?
Or, will globalization eventually spur a strong response from the left?
Related issue: Who supports globalization and who opposes it?
Will globalization generate strong counter-movements?

13. Globalization and Governance
3. In addition to economic globalization, there has also been globalization of governance
International treaties and organizations (e.g. the WTO) increasingly govern what goes on in the world
Issue to reflect on: Is this good or bad?
Some argue that globalized governance is the only way to control a global economy
Others fear the concentration of power in global institutions, and the demise of the nation-state.
Issue to reflect on: Who should be involved in global governance?
Citizens? Government leaders? MNCs? Protest groups?

14. Globalization and Governance
4. In addition to globalization of economy and governance, there is also globalization of citizen organizations, protest, and social movements
This is often referred to as global civil society
Questions:
Does global civil society wield much power?
Can it counteract the power of global capital?

15. Key Players in Global Governance

16. Video: Commanding Heights
Issue: Who “writes the rules” of global governance?
Episode 3, Chapters 15-end