W3. What is globalization?

What is globalization?

Information sociology_2015048995_Yeonju Heo.

 

 

1. Summary 

In this article, Roland Robertson and Kathleen E. White detail what globalization is, the development process of concepts and the point of discussion. Globalization is general and specific because it deals with many aspects and many different parts of the world. This article does not cover the specific topics contained in globalization, but deals with the global framework of globalization.

 

There were many attempts to analyze the concept of globalization clearly and systematically. But globalization is essentially a controversial concept. Some of the arguments are due to differences of perspective of the world. There are many differences when one country defines globalization to another world.

 

In the late 1970s and early 1980s, globalization was discussed in anthropology and sociology as well as religious studies. But by the late 1980s and early 1990s, the definition of globalization was not complete. And the scope of the political and intellectual discourse was narrow. After the Berlin Wall collapsed in 1989, the term 'globalization' began to spread. There was a split between those who took an economic position on globalization and those who took a broader perspective. In the late 1990s, the anti-globalization movement took place. Also, there has been a perception that protests against capitalism globalization are part of globalization. But, focusing on the capitalist aspect of globalization, the social side was neglected.

 

Globalization has economic, political, and cultural aspects as well as social aspects. One aspect isn't more important or less important than the other, All aspects are important. Globalization also includes environmental aspects. The environment and the attention of human to environment are also included in globalization.

 

At the conclusion of this article, the essence of this article on globalization is evident. Globalization increases global connectivity and awareness. Globalization focuses on national politics, global politics, individuals, and human beings. And Globalization is comprised of culture, society, politics, and economics. The authors insist it is important not to specify globalization. What is important about globalization is not the definition of what it is but the recognition of globalization.

 

 

 

2. New, interesting or unusual items I learned

 

When I first received the question, "What is globalization?", I tried to define globalization only in terms of cultural aspects - foods, movies, musics, and Korean Wave, etc. During the discussion, I got to know that globalization included a lot of things-economic, political and social aspect-(as the name 'global') through the opinions of other students. However, I was in a state of confusion because I couldn't define the globalization and clarify it clearly. As I read this article, I got an answer to the confusion. It became clear answer to me that globalization cannot be clearly defined.

 

This article also mentions glocalization. I didn't summarize that part because I could not completely understand that. But there were something impressive things. We can think that 'local' and 'global' as both sides of the same coin, not as the opposite. I thought glocalization and globalization were the opposite. Because I thought globalization is something in particular becomes common thing. On the contrary to this, I thought glocalization is the general thing becomes specific thing. So I was confused to learn these two concepts together. But now I understand these two concepts as both sides of the coin.

 

 

 

3. Discussion

In this article, we saw people in developing countries refuse to accept the definition of globalization defined by the privileged societal contexts. So, when we need a clear definition of globalization, can we define globalization? Can the definition of globalization that is unacceptable in developing countries be true definition of globalization?