What is this thing called globalisation?

1. What is this thing called globalisation? Göran Collste

4. Examples of previous global processes, movements, institutions: • The Roman Empire ...  • The Church; from a Jewish sect to a global church (St Paul) • Islam, 630 - …. • Colonialism

6. Science  • Culture • ICT • Finance • Religion • ....

7. New World Bank-commissioned report warns the world is on track to a “4°C world” marked by extreme heat-waves and life-threatening sea level rise. Adverse effects of global warming are “tilted against many of the world's poorest regions” and likely to undermine development efforts and goals. Bank eyes increased support for adaptation, mitigation, inclusive green growth and climate-smart development

12. Present globalisation: 1970- • Economic globalisation (growth of companies transcending national borders, global financial market) • ICT – Internet • Global media • Tourism • SaskiaSassen: “Losing control”

13. Francis Adams and Satya dev Gupta writes: • “As the twentieth century comes to a close, the modern system of independent states is being transformed. National governments are gradually losing control over domestic economic and political affairs. Separate national economies are being replaced by a single, integrated global economy and basic political functions, which traditionally have been the province of national authorities, are being delegated to international institutions including transnational corporations. The twin processes of economic and political integration have fundamentally altered our world order” (The Political Economy of Globalisation)

14. Theories of globalisation • Anthony Giddens: globalisation is a consequence of modernity • (The Consequences of Modernity) • Premodern societies: • Unity of time and space • Social relations imbedded in the local society (ex carpenters etc) • Modernity • “Disembedding of social systems” (market economy) • Money “symbolic tokens” • Forces behind modernity: capitalism and nationalism • ….transcending borders = globalisation (consequence of modernity) • Possible to control?

15. Theories of globalisation • Roland Robertson: Globalisation is a cultural process • Globalization. Social theory and global culture. • The driving forces since 16th Century: world religions, enlightenment…the common nominator: “globality” the world is one • Last decades: a common awareness about common risks = global humanity • Parallel processes: localisation, I e the increased awareness of the local (traditions, values, symbols) and globalisation = glocalisation

16. Theories of globalisation • Malcolm Waters: Globalisation: multiple of processes • Globalization • Globalisation is a combination of economic, political and cultural processes • 1. Economic globalisation: • global trade, TNCs, financial market etc • 2. Political globalisation: • a reaction of economic + • Global political awareness, ex human rights • Global environmental protection • 3. Cultural globalisation • Consumption, news media, tourism, religion etc • Difference between internationalisation: nations interact • and globalisation: geographical territories have lost meaning

17. Theories of globalisation • Zygmund Bauman: Globalisation means polarisation • Globalization: The Human consequences • Globalisation implies polarisation: the new elite= the globals (business, media, academic..) • “the locals” groups outside of globalisation, poor and powerless • “glocalisation” = when societies sink in despair, poverty and marginalisation parallel to globalisation

18. Theories of globalisation • Ulrich Beck: The need for global politics • What is Globalisation? • Beck distinguishes between: • Globality: we already live in a worldwide society (trade,IT, environment, media, UN, NGOs etc) • Globalism: a neoliberal political ideology saying that we should welcome the restriction of the political sphere in the age of economic globalisation • Globalisation: complicated social networks and processes of interdependence • Beck’s question: how to avoid the development towards a world market society without a world state? There is a need for transnational states (ex EU)

19. Theories of globalisation • David Held: The need for global democracy • Democracy and the global order • Globalisation implies that the authority of national state is undermined – increased influence of supranational organisations; WTO, IMF etc • The sovereignty and autonomy of states are diminishing – • There is a need for a “cosmopolitan national law”

20. Globalisation, def • processes and relations (social, economical, political, cultural etc) that are • transcending national borders, that • link distant places and peoples and that • are spontaneous rather than the result of political decisions.

21. Challenges • Pan-Africanism: • An African uses the native language, dress, traditions and values • Islamism: • Followsharialaws, dress according to Muslim tradition etc

22. Globalisation: Implications for ethics? • Knowledge of the distant person • Interdependence • Range and impact of ourchoices..

23. Present crises are global... • Hunger crises • Financial crises • Climate crises

24. Global inequality • 1 billion lack clean water • 2.4 billion have insufficient sanitary equipment • 1.2 billion earn less than $1/day • Poorest 1/5: 1960 2.3% of total wealth 1990 1.4% Poorest 582 million earn $146 billion 200 persons earn $1042 billion 3 top billionaires own more than the combined GNP of all the least developed countries with 600 million people

26. The Number of Undernourished is Increasing

27. GNP/capita $ Norberg 2007

28. Inkomst/capita $ UNDP 2003