Globalisation will reduce the relevance and
power of countries as the world becomes ever
more integrated
Globalisation reduces cultural diversity
Evidences
The increasing power of TNCs
The rise of a global
consumer culture and loss
of local & national identity
Transformationalists
Globalisation is a process that
cosntantly forces countries and
governments to adapt and
change in uncomfortable ways
Evidences
Formation of the EU
to maintain Europe's
power
USA and UK reaction
to the 2008 global
financial crisis
Sceptics
Globalisation is not really global: it
simply maintains existing global
economic power centres (the USA,
Europe & Japan) and excludes
developing regions such as Africa
Evidences
85% of world trade is still
between developed countries
Increasing divide between
rich & poor
Globalisation is nothing
new and continues to
funnel wealth to those
already rich
Global Media Corporations
Large TNCs in various areas of the media / entertainment
including TV, music, films, newspapers and magazines - have a
key role in spreading and influencing cultural values and in
cultural globalisation
Four companies - Universal, EMI, Warner
Music & SonyBMG own 80% of the world
music market
Argue that people are not
forced to consume their
programmes, but they dominate
most media outlets that there is
very little alternative
Some argue that media conglomerates have stifled
diversity by transmitting the same products
worldwide
'Who wants to be a Millionaire?' was
India's number one TV show in 2008
Very 'Western' dominated -
Disneyfication
Glocalisation
Adapting a local product to suit
local culture & markets
Use of tech such as internet to
maintain long-distance cultural
contacts
Media
Bollywood
Mumbai-based
Hindi-language film
industry - a play on the
word Hollywood, with the
B coming from Bombay
Mixture of Hollywood and
Broadway glamour and Indian
culture
Characteristics of Hollywood
musicals but with distinctive
Indian ‘slant’
Western pop and pure classical
dance numbers together
'Conservative' - no kissing
due to Indian cultural
values
Spreading influence due
to migration
Food
McDonald's
Starbucks
2012 - multi-million $ campaign
to cater to ingrained cafe culture
in Europe
Britons like lattes but find the
Starbucks version too watery, so
British baristas add a free extra shot
In France: use French cheeses,
mustards & meats; preserving local
architecture
Possible cultural outcomes
of an interconnected world
Westernisation
One global culture
Globalisation destroys local
cultures and leads to
increased cultural
homogeneity
Global Mixing
Hybrid Cultures
Mixing creates new
hybrid cultures such as
Afro-Germans or British
Bhangra music
Cultural Layers
Global + national + local
A people share a global cultural
worldview but maintain their
national and local identities
(three cultural layers)