Studies in Multicultural Societies DIFFERENT PEOPLES ONE WORLD

Studies in Multicultural Societies DIFFERENT PEOPLES, ONE WORLD Multicultural Societies as a Subset of Globalization HARI SRINIVAS ROOM: I-312 / 079 -565 -7406

Defining Globalization There are three aspects to the definition of “Globalization”: The first is a compression of time and space 2. The second is social, political, economic, and cultural interconnections and interdependencies 3. The third is the global scale – beyond the national level 1.

Defining Globalization Globalisation could involve all these things!

Is this Globalization?

Before Globalization One way to approach this: think about the world before globalization • Distance mattered—space often measured in time • Territorial boundaries more or less kept things in and out • Society and culture had spatial referents • Everything had its “place” (literally)

After Globalization In a globalizing world: • Distance becomes almost irrelevant (the end of distance) • Boundaries are increasingly permeable. • Groups and cultures increasingly don’t have a territorial basis (deterritorialization) • A new kind of non-physical “place” is emerging (supraterritoriality) Political, economic, social and cultural changes

What is happening? 1) Whole world interconnected - interdependence of all parts of world 2) Intensification of world-wide phenomena 3) Trans-national relations - erosion of national boundaries 4) “Domino effects” - events have long-distance ramifications e. g. September 11

What is happening? 5) Alteration of space - distances shortened - technological changes 6) Alteration of time - things happen quicker 7) Sense of “globality” / Global consciousness - experience all places as interdependent - “the whole planet” - “the whole of humankind”

Why is globalization happening? • Expansion of international commerce • Rising importance of private capital flows • Increasing travel and migration • Increased communication and interaction between peoples

Why is globalization happening? Last 30 years: - Electronic communications technology - Cheap air travel - Spread of capitalism after fall of Communism in late 1980 s - Development of a truly “global” capitalism

Integration of Societies �Made possible by: Technology Communication networks Internet access Growth of economic cooperation – trading blocs (EU, APEC, NAFTA, etc. ) Collapse of ‘communism’ Movement to free trade

Globalization dimensions: POLITICS � Globalization undermines sovereignty of states i. e. undercuts power of a state to control things in its territory Economically: 1) power of TNCS 2) forces of world market Politically: 1) International bodies and law e. g. United Nations, European Union 2) Global protest movements e. g. Greens Culturally: 1) Cultural influences from all over world 2) Trans-national media – public opinion

Globalization dimensions: SOCIAL RELATIONS �social relations transformed from purely local or national to more “global” �communications technologies; travel technologies �dispersal of populations across globe: �migrations and diasporas

Trans-national social connections - public life: trans-national business relationships - private life: relatives & friends in different countries; inter-marriage between national groups, etc. Multiple, non-national affiliations and identities Cosmopolitanism: a person’s identity is decoupled from the nation-state

Globalization dimensions: CULTURE Emergence of a “global culture”? What might this look like? Positive: whole world shares same ideas and values? World Cup, Olympic Games Negative: local cultures destroyed?

Globalization dimensions: CULTURE Westernisation / Americanisation of the world Domination of American consumer brands: Mc. Donalds, Nike, Coca-Cola, Gap Global cultural homogenisation - Same consumer goods everywhere - Same ways of thinking everywhere

Globalization dimensions: CULTURE 1) People in local cultures reinterpret global culture products in light of their own values & interests 2) Global culture is always limited by local cultures 3) Mixtures of global and local cultures: - process of glocalization - local becomes global - global becomes local 4) Perceived threats to local identity: - strong assertion of local identity

Globalization dimensions: CULTURE 1) No culture is ever ‘pure’ - Always a mixture of influences 2) Previously separate cultures come into contact with each other 3) Globalization = Complex mixtures of cultures - multi-cultural societies

Globalization dimensions: CULTURE Globalization of religion: - other options than the “local” religion - religious syncretism: mixing and matching - New Age religions: bits of Christianity, Hinduism, Buddhism, Taoism, Celtic paganism & witchcraft, etc. Globalization of food: - “fusion cuisine” e. g. French-Japanese, Anglo-Indian Globalization of music: - “World music” - Buddhist-techno, Spanish rap, Hungarian rock

“Glocalization”? ! Ad Globalization ap tat ion Local Cultures n i io t a z Cu m sto A combination of the words "globalization" and "localization" used to describe a product or service that is developed and distributed globally, but is also fashioned to accommodate the user or consumer in a local market.

Creates multi-cultural societies Globalization Destroyes multi-cultural societies

Amartya Sen: Normative Debates (Good vs. Bad) 1. Whether globalization is westernization or “amercanization” 2. Whether globalization fairly benefits the poor 3. Whether the institutional infrastructure of globalization is adequate

Contact me … Resources, websites, ideas, notes will be available online: www. gdrc. info/sms/ Send me an email anytime! Hari Srinivas hari. srinivas@kwansei. ac. jp IMPORTANT: When you send an email, please always put “[ZEMI]” in the subject line!