Chapter 1 Understandings of Globalization Unit 1 To

Chapter 1 – Understandings of Globalization Unit 1 – To what extent should globalization shape identity?

Course Description Globalization is a process that is making the world’s citizens increasingly interdependent economically, socially, politically, environmentally, and technologically. In the Grade 10 Social Studies program students will explore multiple perspectives on the origins of globalization and the local and national impact of globalization on lands, cultures, economies, human rights, and quality of life. Students will examine the relationships among globalization, citizenship and identity to enhance skills for citizenship in a globalizing world.

What is Globalization? • • • Globalization is… A process of becoming more globally interconnected (world-wide) The building of ties within and among the peoples of the world. A process that is making the world’s citizens increasingly interdependent economically, socially, politically, and through technology

What is Globalization?

Concept Card – Globalization On the blank side write: globalization On the lined side: the definition

Factors…. What global (world) factors are contributing to globalization? Let’s focus on the positive (+) Post – it Activity

How did we do that? By speaking our mind we express. . Point of View – when we speak about what we know based on our individual identities. We all have different points of view because we have all had, to some degree, different experiences of the world. Throughout the text, you will encounter a variety of points of view…take them for what they are.

How did we do that? By speaking our mind, we presented our Perspective – when we speak about what we know based on our collective identities. A perspective conveys a world view of a cultural group, faith, age category, economic group, or language group.

Why would I care about what other people think? Canada is a pluralistic society. This means that our history has helped us learn to value the many perspectives of the many groups of people within our society. It is important to we respect individual points of view, but also what groups have to say from their collective perspectives.

It’s all about diversity… • • • Respect for diversity goes hand-in-hand with respect for point of view and perspective. This respect for diversity in Canada encourages the development of a vibrant, democratic, society. By learning about a variety of points of view and perspectives about globalization, you will understand the issues far better.

Who does it affect? A frog in a pot on the stove will not realize that the temperature is slowly increasing. The frog will quietly sit there – perhaps feeling a little warm – until it is half cooked. Globalization works in a similar way. It slowly creeps up on you. Ever so gradually it changes what you do, how you live, what you love, and who you are.

Drawn to Technology Inuit children and teenagers playing video games in a games room in Baker Lake, Nunavut. By these adolescents being drawn into this technology, they are being affected by cultural influences that come from outside of their Inuit Community. These video games might have been designed in Montréal, Canada or Tokyo Japan. This cultural globalization affecting people.

Perspectives On Globalization l As we begin to explore Unit 1 of Perspectives on Globalization, you will have an opportunity to think about the many ways that globalization affects your life and your identity. You can begin to form an opinion about the degree to which you want globalization to affect who you are and who you will become. This might lead to you thinking of the negative (-) side to globalization.

Understandings of Globalization Chapter Focus: To what extent does globalization influence my life? Chapter Issue: To what extent does globalization influence my life? In order to answer these questions, we need to take a closer look at economic, social, and political forms of globalization.

How does Globalization affect Economic Aspects of People’s Lives? It is a sunny Saturday afternoon that draws you outside before your shift at Home Depot. You pop by your favourite boutique to pick out a snazzy pair of earrings for your best friend’s birthday. Then you stop by Walmart to find a reasonably priced pair of jeans. After grabbing a burger at Wendy’s, you rush to catch the bus to work on time.

Global Trade l l For almost as long as people have lived in communities, they have taken part in longdistance trade. Using their economic skills, the people traded for things they needed. Unless you have made the conscious choice to buy clothes that are only made in Canada, then you buy items that originate in other countries.

Global Trade l l International trade networks now extend across the planet. Globalization has created the international economy that makes these products available to you. In 2004 along, Canada exported $429 billion worth of goods and services. In the same year, we imported $363 billion worth of goods and services.

Global Trade l The import and export of goods and services is only the simplest form of global integration of the world’s economies. Globalization has reinvented the way companies operate in our world.

Assignment One – Origin of items l l In order to better understand how globalization affects economic aspects of your life, you are being asked to make a list of the items that you have used or had contact with since you woke up this morning. Once you have made this list, you will then need to research or later look at the labels on these items to see where they originated.

of l l We were introduced to the idea of globalization. We defined point of view and perspective. We discussed how globalization affects the economic aspects of people’s lives. You completed the origin of items assignment…what was that all about?

Question for Inquiry Chapter Focus: To what extent does globalization influence my life? Section One: How does globalization affect economic aspects of people’s lives?

Global Trade l l l For almost as long as people have lived in communities, they have taken part in longdistance trade. Using their economic skills, the people traded for things they needed. The import and export of goods and services is only the simplest form of global integration of the world’s economies.

Global Trade l l Globalization has reinvented they way companies operate in our world. One form of economic globalization that is directly affecting people’s lives: the growth of transnational companies.

Transnational Companies l l Globalization has allowed the expansion of thousands of companies. Instead of operating in one country, they operate in many countries. Some of these companies produce goods while others are retail operations – they sell goods and services to the public.

Transnational Companies l l l When you think of the major companies that provide you and your community with goods and services, many of them are international retailers such as Wal-Mart. Any corporation that operates in two or more countries is a transnational company. Examples: Wal-Mart, Mc. Donald’s, Blockbuster, Home Depot, Burger King, etc.

Transnational Companies l l l The desire for profit by these companies and the demand from consumers allows for these corporations to expand into new markets. By operating at a larger scale, they can make more money To make their expansions possible, they have worked to change world market regulations.

The Wal-Mart Phenomenon Wal-Mart an American department store chain, arrived in Canada in 1994 when it purchased 122 former Woolco stores. In little more than a decade, it grew to 288 stores in this country. Dedicated to providing the lowest prices on products and services, Wal-Mart has been admired by many for its business strategies.

The Wal-Mart Phenomenon By 2005, Wal-Mart had a market share of almost 52 percent of the department store retail trade in Canada. In other words, more than half of all sales in department stores took place in this one chain – Wal-Mart.

The Wal-Mart Phenomenon Keep in mind that success in the marketplace is only one criterion forming an opinion about a company. You might also consider its dealings with its employees, its effects on communities, or its effects on your identity. As you read the handout, think about why people’s opinions about Wal-Mart vary.

Wal-Mart comes to town - A closer look l l l The possibility of getting a Wal-Mart in town has generated great controversy within communities across Canada and the US. Why do people get so vocal about this possibility? Read what three of them have to say and complete assignment three – due at the end of class today or it becomes homework!

Globalization & Social Aspects of Society Section 2 focus question: How does Globalization affect social aspects of people’s lives?

Globalization & Social Aspects of Society l l A society is a group of people who form an ordered community centred on kinship, an ideology, a religion, a language, or a particular world view. This does not mean that everyone within a society is the same or that they all think alike.

Globalization & Social Aspects of Society l l l Even in small societies, people fall into different groupings. They have different perspectives based on their age, gender, household, and ethnic heritage. In traditional societies, though, most interactions are with other people in the community, so people tend to share the a similar world view.

Globalization & Social Aspects of Society l l l Within larger societies, members often have highly contrasting values. In Canada, the region in which you live hugely affects your world view. It means you might identify with both Albertan and Canadian society. You may also identify with people of your own age, people from a particular cultural group, or people who share your interests.

Globalization & Social Aspects of Society l l Other forces can affect who you are. A sudden event such a winning a million dollars, could turn your life upside down. Some forces are just as powerful but harder to see. Globalization is one such force. Over time, globalization has been slowly changing who are you.

Globalization Affecting Who You Are l l l Globalization is more than the mere transfer of goods – it is also the transfer of culture. The clothing you wear, the music that you listen to, the movies and television shows you watch – these are all part of the social dimension of your life. It is highly likely that globalization has affected your choices in all four areas.

Globalization Affecting Who You Are l In 2005, Teenaged girls in Edmonton, Alberta; London, England; and Hong Kong, china, were all imitating the clothing worn by international pop stars in the music videos they watched and the international teen magazines they read.

Globalization Affecting Who You Are l In 2005, teenaged boys in Tokyo, Japan; Rio de Janeiro, Brazil; and Calgary, Alberta, were also responding to global media influences. Many saw what they wanted to be on Much. Music and in American T. V. shows such as The O. C.

Did you know. . l Born in France and raised in America, jeans have hugged the frames of icons for years. It hasn’t always been this way – at one point, denim was simply a faux pas, rather uncool, if you will. Then came the 1950 s, teenage rebellion, and a young stunner named James Dean. Denim was the quintessential item for revolt, and some schools even banned them.

Globalization Affecting Who You Are l l l Now consider music. Do you listen to music created by international artists? You are one of the many Canadian teens that are downloading music from the Internet daily. The globalized computer network means that you can get music as easily from South Africa as you can from Canada.

Globalization Affecting Who You Are l l l Think about the movies you watched in the last month. How many were made outside of Canada? Globalization often affects how movies are made. For example, some films are made in more than one country, feature stars from a variety of countries, and get their funding from more than one source.

Television and its Impacts l l Information technologies such as television, radio, and the Internet have dissolved our sense of cultural boundaries. Television in particular, has crept into every living room. It is difficult, now, to get away from it.

The TV Affect on Social Identities The Dazzle of TV Land: The most obvious power of television is its ability to capture our attention. According to some experts, television removes the viewer’s consciousness from the immediate social and physical environment, often for extended periods of time.

The TV Affect on Social Identities l l l Anthropologists point out an effect of television on cultures: when people watch television, they fail to participate in and sustain, the living culture around them. Reflected in the light of television’s dazzle, traditional ways of communicating can seem dull. There is a distinct risk that generations drawn to the television screen will lose a critical aspect of their cultures.

Globalization via Television l l Now that you know how television can work against traditional cultures, you can better understand why it is a powerful globalizing force, deeply affecting societies both positively and negatively. Some people say that TV is harmless entertainment. Others argue that televisions is the most powerful medium in the world today.

Globalization via Television l l l TV has helped create what Canadian Marshall Mc. Luhan called “the global village. ” In 1964, Mc. Luhan foresaw that virtually everyone in the world would become connected through television. The world would shrink, he said, bringing people together, as in a village. In the 1960 s, televisions were a luxury, quite rare in most countries in the world. Mc. Luhan understood the potential of this technology to change us.

Globalization via Television l l Today approximately one billion television sets entertain us in homes around the world. Since the 1980 s, access to television increased rapidly throughout Asia and the Arab world.

Control of the Airways l l l Increased communication is not, in itself, such a bad thing. A problem occurs when you think about who controls the message. If American-owned multinational media companies own the airwaves, it means that a largely American message gets broadcast all over the world.

Control of the Airways l l A dilemma arises when the values of Americans, broadcast via television, conflict with the values of the people watching the program. People may end up valuing the American lifestyle, and rejecting their own traditional cultures.

Control of the Airways l l l Some national governments screen what media are allowed into their countries. Islamic leaders in government blamed foreign television for spreading “corrupt” Western culture. International television was exposing Iranians to the liberal values of the West. This was a problem for a society that wished to maintain its traditional values and culture.

Globalization Affecting Political Aspects of Society l Question for Inquiry Section 3: How does globalization affect political aspects of people’s lives?

Globalization + Political Aspects l l We have touched on the ways that globalization can affect the social and economic dimensions of your life. It can be a little harder to see the ways that globalization can affect the political dimension of your life.

Political Decision Making l l l Let us begin by looking at how globalization can affect the highest level of political decision making in our country. The influence can come in the form of international political pressure. For example, our government representatives must abide by international trade agreements that government has signed with other countries.

Political Decision Making l l Government representatives make political decisions to take part in military, peacekeeping, and humanitarian ventures because of events taking place far beyond our borders. Canada belongs to global organizations such as the United Nations, the G 8 (group of 8) countries, and NATO.

Political Decision Making l l l Leaders of the countries in these groups hold meetings to address international economic, social, and political issues. Sometimes global problems can be resolved only through the co-operation of many countries. Canada’s political leaders attempt to meet Canada’s obligations to provide assistance to people in need whenever they are in the world.

Political Decision Making l l Yet we can look at this in a different way. Our government representatives act only because of pressure from people like you who care about what goes on the in the world. On December 26 2004, an earthquake on the Sumatra faultline caused a tsunami and flooding that took the lives of more than 150 000 people in Southeast Asia.

Political Decision Making l l l Within hours, Canadians were glued to the televisions and computers. We heard some stories and saw the news clips that flashed onto our screens. Our reaction was swift. Active citizens began donating funds and calling on our political representatives to take action. The quick reaction of governments everywhere was political globalization at work.

Did you know. . l Canadian citizens contributed $137 million to aid tsunami victims. The federal government kept its promise to match these donations.

Global Political Change l l Political globalization can affect more than humanitarian efforts. It can even influence the form of government that the citizens of a nation choose for themselves. This is the globalization of political ideas. Democracy is an example of a political idea that has been spreading from country to country for centuries.

Global Political Change l l l Those who support democracy believe it boosts people’s standards of living and improves the ethics of government. They believe that democracy brings people freedom: freedom to choose their government, freedom to make personal choices, freedom from government control. In 2005, of the world’s 193 countries, 118 were considered electoral democracies.

Global Political Change l l The gradual adoption of democracy by more and more countries over time is a form of globalization. As societies are exposed to the political ideas of others, they adopt some of them.

East Timor l Let’s take a look at a political movement in East Timor that achieved political change, partially thanks to the globalization of the media and information technologies.

Student Activism in East Timor l l For nearly 4 centuries, the Portuguese ruled the tiny island country of East Timor. Then, in 1975, while the world looked the other way, the Indonesian army invaded East Timor and stayed. For years, nothing was done. The world’s attention was focussed elsewhere. Then the citizens of East Timor began to protest.

Student Activism in East Timor l l l Students became very active in campaigning to convince the Indonesian military to leave all along believing in peaceful protest. In 1991, an event caught the world’s attention – it was the Sana Cruz massacre. On November 12, the occupying Indonesian army gunned down hundreds of East Timorese students who were demonstrating peacefully.

Student Activism in East Timor l l l 271 were killed, 382 were wounded, and 250 disappeared. The Indonesian government finally agreed to allow the United Nations to run a referendum in East Timor in 1999. 88% of East Timorese citizens voted for independence. And on Sunday, May 19 th, 2002, tens of thousands of East Timorese citizens celebrated their freedom!

Independence Achieved l In the years following, the citizens of East Timor have created a democratic government of their own choosing.