Key Issue 3 Why are different Places Similar

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

• Barriers – Physical (Oceans) – Cultural (language) – Political (borders) – Distance decaydiminishing in importance and eventual disappearance of a phenomenon with increasing distance from its origin – Friction of Distance ($/time to overcome the distance)

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)

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 (1980 s 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?

• 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?

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

Hierarchical effects

Hierarchical Effects

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

Contagious Diffusion-Walmart

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 i. Phone and i. Pad have been adopted by their competitors