I. Globalization: Homogenization or Heterogenization?

A. Homogenization

1. Expansion of money, commodities, and capitalism makes us like one another
2. Mauss, Marx: capitalism destroys traditional relations of mutual dependence, community values

B. Heterogenization

1. Globalization allows us to appreciate cultural difference
2. Ethnic tourism, art, food
3. Issues of taste, selection, hierarchy: who defines what differences are valuable?

 

II. Definitions: modernity and globalization

A. Modernity

1. Capitalism
2. Literacy
3. Technological progress
4. Urbanization
5. Commodification

B. Globalization: increase in quantity, frequency, and importance of circulation of people, money, goods, and ideas around the world

1. Centuries old
2. Transportation, communication
3. Ideology of globalism

 

III. Modernization and World systems theory

A. Two key questions

1. How do political and economic relations shape how we relate to each other?
2. How do these shape culture, both "traditional" and "modern"?

B. Modernization theory (stages theory)

1. W.W. Rostow, 1960s, Politics and the Stages of Growth (1971)
2. Five set stages

a. Traditional society
b. Preconditions for take-off
c. Take-off
d. The drive to maturity
e. High mass consumption

3. Optimistic, evolutionary view of modernization

C. World systems theory

1. World consists of mutually related parts, first and third worlds connected through exploitation
2. Immanuel Wallerstein, The Modern World System (1974)
3. Dominant core: industrial production and distribution, strong states
4. Subordinate periphery: raw materials, weak states
5. Semi-periphery
6. Unequal exchanges allow core to develop
7. Miskito Indians and turtles off the coast of Nicaragua
8. Problem: Doesn't explain how peripheries can become part of core

 

IV. Wallerstein's Theory of Culture

A. Marx: infrastructure produces superstructure
B. Wallerstein: core exports culture to periphery

 

For more information, contact:  aleshkow@holycross.edu