Globalization: a Critical Introduction, Second Edition

Total Page:16

File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb

Globalization: a Critical Introduction, Second Edition Globalization A Critical Introduction Second Edition Jan Aart Scholte GLOBALIZATION Also by Jan Aart Scholte ENCYCLOPEDIA OF GLOBALIZATION (co-editor, forthcoming) CIVIL SOCIETY AND GLOBAL DEMOCRACY (forthcoming) CIVIL SOCIETY AND GLOBAL FINANCE (editor) CIVIL SOCIETY VOICES AND THE INTERNATIONAL MONETARY FUND CONTESTING GLOBAL GOVERNANCE: Multilateral Economic Institutions and Global Social Movements (co-author) INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS OF SOCIAL CHANGE Globalization A Critical Introduction Second Edition Jan Aart Scholte © Jan Aart Scholte 2000, 2005 All rights reserved. No reproduction, copy or transmission of this publication may be made without written permission. No paragraph of this publication may be reproduced, copied or transmitted save with written permission or in accordance with the provisions of the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988, or under the terms of any licence permitting limited copying issued by the Copyright Licensing Agency, 90 Tottenham Court Road, London W1T 4LP. Any person who does any unauthorized act in relation to this publication may be liable to criminal prosecution and civil claims for damages. The author has asserted his right to be identified as the author of this work in accordance with the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988. First edition 2000 Second edition 2005 Published by PALGRAVE MACMILLAN Houndmills, Basingstoke, Hampshire RG21 6XS and 175 Fifth Avenue, New York, N.Y. 10010 Companies and representatives throughout the world PALGRAVE MACMILLAN is the global academic imprint of the Palgrave Macmillan division of St. Martin’s Press, LLC and of Palgrave Macmillan Ltd. Macmillan® is a registered trademark in the United States, United Kingdom and other countries. Palgrave is a registered trademark in the European Union and other countries. ISBN-13: 978–1–4039–0448–5 hardback ISBN 10: 1–4039–0448–0 hardback ISBN-13: 978–0–333–97702–6 paperback ISBN 10: 0–333–97702–5 paperback This book is printed on paper suitable for recycling and made from fully managed and sustained forest sources. A catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library. A catalog record for this book is available from the Library of Congress 10987654321 14 13 12 11 10 09 08 07 06 05 Printed in China Summary of Contents List of Boxes xi Preface to the Second Edition xiii Preface to the First Edition xvii Acknowledgements xix List of Abbreviations xx Introduction 1 PART I FRAMEWORK OF ANALYSIS 1 Globalization Debates 13 2 Defining Globalization 49 3 Globalization in History 85 4 Explaining Globalization 121 PART II CHANGE AND CONTINUITY 5 Globalization and Production: From Capitalism to Hypercapitalism 159 6 Globalization and Governance: From Statism to Polycentrism 185 7 Globalization and Identity: From Nationalism to Hybridization 224 8 Globalization and Knowledge: From Rationalism to Reflexivity 256 PART III NORMATIVE AND POLICY ISSUES 9 Globalization and (In)Security 279 10 Globalization and (In)Equality 316 11 Globalization and (Un)Democracy 348 12 (Re)constructing Future Globalizations 382 Conclusion 424 Bibliography 426 Index 477 v This page intentionally left blank Contents List of Boxes xi Preface to the Second Edition xiii Preface to the First Edition xvii Acknowledgements xix List of Abbreviations xx Introduction 1 Framework of analysis 2 Change and continuity 4 Normative and policy issues 6 PART I FRAMEWORK OF ANALYSIS 1 Globalization Debates 13 Main points of this chapter 13 Where to start? 15 Continuity or change? 22 Liberation or shackles? 29 What to do? 37 Conclusion 47 2 Defining Globalization 49 Main points of this chapter 49 Rise of the g-word 50 Starting premises for definition 52 Redundant concepts of globalization 54 A way forward 59 Qualifications 75 Conclusion 84 3 Globalization in History 85 Main points of this chapter 85 Intimations of globality: to the nineteenth century 87 Incipient globalization: to the mid-twentieth century 91 vii viii Contents Contemporary accelerated globalization 101 Conclusion 117 4 Explaining Globalization 121 Main points of this chapter 121 Contending theories 123 An eclectic synthesis 135 Conclusion 152 PART II CHANGE AND CONTINUITY 5 Globalization and Production: From Capitalism to Hypercapitalism 159 Main points of this chapter 159 Expanded commodification 161 Altered organization 177 Conclusion 183 6 Globalization and Governance: From Statism to Polycentrism 185 Main points of this chapter 185 The obsolescence of statism 188 The reconstructed state 192 Multi-scalar public governance 202 Privatized governance 214 (Global) civil society 218 Conclusion 221 7 Globalization and Identity: From Nationalism to Hybridization 224 Main points of this chapter 224 Globalization and the nationality principle 227 Plural national identities 231 Nonterritorial identities 239 Hybridization 252 Conclusion 254 8 Globalization and Knowledge: From Rationalism to Reflexivity 256 Main points of this chapter 256 Epistemology 258 Ontology 267 Contents ix Methodology 269 Aesthetics 273 Conclusion 274 PART III NORMATIVE AND POLICY ISSUES 9 Globalization and (In)Security 279 Main points of this chapter 279 Peace 281 Crime 284 Ecological integrity 285 Health 288 Poverty 289 Financial stability 294 Employment 296 Working conditions 300 Identity 304 Knowledge 306 Social cohesion 308 Conclusion 311 10 Globalization and (In)Equality 316 Main points of this chapter 316 Class inequalities 320 Country inequalities 325 Gender inequalities 334 Other inequalities 340 Conclusion 344 11 Globalization and (Un)Democracy 348 Main points of this chapter 348 The limits of statist liberal democracy 351 Citizen ignorance 355 Institutional process failures 361 Structural inequalities 371 Conclusion 380 12 (Re)constructing Future Globalizations 382 Main points of this chapter 382 General policy strategy 383 Enhancing human security 396 x Contents Enhancing social equality 404 Enhancing democracy 410 Towards implementation 417 Conclusion 421 Conclusion 424 Bibliography 426 Index 477 List of Boxes Core theses on globalization 8 Globalization debates in summary 47 Manifestations of globality in summary 74 Summary chronology of incipient globalization, 1850s–1950s 100 Summary indicators of accelerated globalization in contemporary history 117 Contending social explanations of globalization 135 Principal dynamics of globalization 153 Implications of globalization for production in summary 184 Implications of globalization for governance in summary 222 Implications of globalization for identity in summary 254 Implications of globalization for knowledge in summary 274 Globalization and (in)security in summary 312 Globalization and (in)equality in summary 345 Globalization and (un)democracy in summary 380 Towards more humane globalization 422 xi This page intentionally left blank Preface to the Second Edition Books on globalization date quickly in the early twenty-first century. It is only five years since the publication of the first edition, but rapid developments in the practice and research of globalization, as well as in my own thoughts and experiences of globality, have already necessitated a large-scale revision. In terms of concrete actions and trends, the first edition was completed only a few months after the anti-WTO protests in Seattle and before the subsequent upsurge of high-profile resistance against prevailing policy approaches to globalization. It was written before the striking militarization of globalization fuelled by the attacks of 9/11, wars in Afghanistan and Iraq, heightened disputes over nuclear proliferation, and intensified state surveil- lance of citizens. Moreover, it predated the Bush Administration’s retreat from multilateralism, the introduction of the euro, and the WTO impasse at Cancún. The intervening years have in addition brought further so-called ‘Post-Washington Consensus’ reforms of policies towards economic global- ization. Hence the book has required considerable updating to catch up with current events. Of course it is easy to overestimate the significance of the short-term beat of history. The immediacy of recent occurrences, crammed into our consciousness by 24/7 media saturation, can easily distract us from deeper, more pervasive, and more persistent features of social relations. Globalization is largely a matter of what the historian Fernand Braudel called the longue durée, the extended time frame of generations and centuries where the principal features and forces of societal development tend to reside (Braudel, 1958). Hence, although events of five years may put some aspects of globalization into sharper relief or a different light, it is unlikely that core attributes of the process would change in such a short period. Surface appear- ances of globality like the SARS health scare of 2003 come and go; the deeper trend of growing transplanetary social connectedness persists. Globalization still matters very much in 2005. Yes, certain calculations of a few types of global movements have of late shown a year-on-year decelera- tion. For example, foreign exchange turnover declined between 1998 and 2001 owing to developments such as the introduction of the euro, although these transactions had increased substantially again by 2004. The rate of foreign direct investment (FDI) inflows slowed for three years in 2001–3, although FDI too has since rebounded. In fact, almost all empirical indicators of globality have persisted and often risen further in significance since 2000. Daily life continues to be increasingly suffused with issues of global health,
Recommended publications
  • Germany's New Security Demographics Military Recruitment in the Era of Population Aging
    Demographic Research Monographs Wenke Apt Germany's New Security Demographics Military Recruitment in the Era of Population Aging 123 Demographic Research Monographs A Series of the Max Planck Institute for Demographic Research Editor-in-chief James W. Vaupel Max Planck Institute for Demographic Research, Rostock, Germany For further volumes: http://www.springer.com/series/5521 Wenke Apt Germany’s New Security Demographics Military Recruitment in the Era of Population Aging Wenke Apt ISSN 1613-5520 ISBN 978-94-007-6963-2 ISBN 978-94-007-6964-9 (eBook) DOI 10.1007/978-94-007-6964-9 Springer Dordrecht Heidelberg New York London Library of Congress Control Number: 2013952746 © Springer Science+Business Media Dordrecht 2014 This work is subject to copyright. All rights are reserved by the Publisher, whether the whole or part of the material is concerned, specifi cally the rights of translation, reprinting, reuse of illustrations, recitation, broadcasting, reproduction on microfi lms or in any other physical way, and transmission or information storage and retrieval, electronic adaptation, computer software, or by similar or dissimilar methodology now known or hereafter developed. Exempted from this legal reservation are brief excerpts in connection with reviews or scholarly analysis or material supplied specifi cally for the purpose of being entered and executed on a computer system, for exclusive use by the purchaser of the work. Duplication of this publication or parts thereof is permitted only under the provisions of the Copyright Law of the Publisher’s location, in its current version, and permission for use must always be obtained from Springer. Permissions for use may be obtained through RightsLink at the Copyright Clearance Center.
    [Show full text]
  • The Sorrows of Empire: Militarism, Secrecy and the End of the Republic Pdf, Epub, Ebook
    THE SORROWS OF EMPIRE: MILITARISM, SECRECY AND THE END OF THE REPUBLIC PDF, EPUB, EBOOK Chalmers Johnson | 400 pages | 27 Mar 2006 | Verso Books | 9781844675487 | English | London, United Kingdom The Sorrows of Empire: Militarism, Secrecy and the End of the Republic PDF Book The next biggest seller was Russia, selling 17 billion. Trivia About The Sorrows of Em It is not a pretty story. Reminding us of the classic warnings against militarism—from George Washington's farewell address to Dwight Eisenhower's denunciation of the military-industrial complex—Johnson uncovers its roots deep in our past. Dangerous Women 3. Strength of the street: Karachi - Kamran Asdar Ali. Share Tweet. I know, a crazy idea, but stick with me, if only to amuse me. It is here that the book reads with an anti-capitalist tome, which is relevant for the subject of exploitation yet so too would the command economy that helps to fund the military and constrains the populaces of the domestic and foreign people subjugated to rule. Sorrows of Empire, indeed. Oh, yeah, that's why It often has a lot of unnecessary detail, and lacks a clear structure. Johnson often conflates the economic lure of open trade with imperial coercion. Are we heading for a military takeover by the pentagon? Oh, and by the way, just in case you are ever asked. This is likely a reflection of the expansive nature of the history of the US empire. War on the waterfront - Peter Cole. Anybody who questions the concept of American Imperialism can put those to rest by reading this book.
    [Show full text]
  • New Millennium, New Perspectives UNU Millennium Series
    New millennium, new perspectives UNU Millennium Series Series editors: Hans van Ginkel and Ramesh Thakur The UNU Millennium Series examines key international trends for peace, governance, human development, and the environment into the twenty- first century, with particular emphasis upon policy relevant recommenda- tions for the United Nations. The series also contributes to broader aca- demic and policy debate concerning the challenges that are faced at the international level at the turn of the Millennium, and envisions potential for partnerships among states, international organizations, and civil soci- ety actors in collectively addressing these challenges. New millennium, new perspectives: The United Nations, security, and governance Edited by Ramesh Thakur and Edward Newman © The United Nations University, 2000 The views expressed in this publication are those of the authors and do not neces- sarily reflect the views of the United Nations University. The United Nations University 53-70, Jingumae 5-chome, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo, 150-8925, Japan Tel: +81-3-3499-2811 Fax: +81-3-3406-7345 E-mail: [email protected] http://www.unu.edu United Nations University Office in North America 2 United Nations Plaza, Room DC2-1462-70, New York, NY 10017, USA Tel: +1-212-963-6387 Fax: +1-212-371-9454 E-mail: [email protected] Cover design by Joyce C. Weston Printed in the United States of America UNUP-1054 ISBN 92-808-1054-5 Contents Tables and figures . vii 1 Introduction . 1 Ramesh Thakur 2 Security and governance in the new millennium: Observations and syntheses . 7 Edward Newman Security 3 The Security Council in the 1990s: Inconsistent, improvisational, indispensable? .
    [Show full text]
  • International Trends Analysis – Yearbook 2007
    Håkan Edström & Åke Wiss (eds.) International InternationalTrends Analysis Trends Analysis Yearbook 2007 Yearbook 2007 HÅKAN EdstrÖM & ÅKE Wiss (eds.) With an introduction to the ART-model ACTORS REGIONS THEMES FOI, Swedish Defence Research Agency, is a mainly assignment-funded agency under the Ministry of Defence. The core activities are research, method and technology development, as well as studies conducted in the interests of Swedish defence and the safety and security of society. The organisation employs approximately 1000 per- sonnel of whom about 800 are scientists. This makes FOI Sweden’s largest research institute. FOI gives its customers access to leading-edge expertise in a large number of fields such as security policy studies, defence and security related analyses, the assessment of various types of threat, systems for control and management of crises, protection against and management of hazardous substances, IT security and the potential offered by new sensors. FOI-R--2361--SE User Report Defence Analysis FOI ISSN 1650-1942 December 2007 Defence Research Agency Phone: +46 8 555 030 00 www.foi.se Division of Defence Analysis Fax: +46 8 555 031 00 FOI-R--2361--SE User report Defence Analysis SE- 164 90 Stockholm ISSN 1650-1942 December 2007 International Trends Analysis – Yearbook 2007 With an introduction to the ART-model Håkan Edström & Åke Wiss (eds.) 3 Titel Omvärldsanalys – Årsbok 2007 Title International Trends Analysis – Yearbook 2007. With an introduction to the ART-model Rapportnr/Report no FOI-R--2361--SE Rapporttyp Användarrapport Report Type User Report Sidor/Pages 202 pages Månad/Month December Utgivningsår/Year 2007 ISSN 1650-1942 Kund/Customer Forskningsområde 2.
    [Show full text]
  • 1 Introduction: Concepts of Globalization There Have Been
    Introduction to Luke Martell, The Sociology of Globalization, 2010, pre-publication version. Introduction: Concepts of Globalization There have been many trends in sociology in recent decades. These have varied from country to country. One was a concern with class and social mobility from the 1950s onwards, in part evident in debates between Marxists and Weberians. In the ‘60s and ‘70s feminists argued that such debates had marginalised another form of social division, gender inequalities. Feminism grew in influence, itself being criticised for failing to appreciate other divisions, for instance ethnic inequalities identified by those with postcolonial perspectives. In the 1980s this concern with differences was highlighted in postmodern ideas, and the power of knowledge was analysed by theorists like Michel Foucault. In the 1980s and ‘90s a more homogenising idea came to the fore, globalization. This also then went on to stress local difference and plurality. The themes of globalization were not new, but the word and the popularity of the idea really came to the fore in the 1980s (an early mention is in Modelski 1972). Why did globalization become a popular idea? One reason is the rise of global communications, especially the internet, which made people feel that connections across the world were flowing more strongly, speedily and becoming more democratic. With the end of the cold war it seemed that the bipolar world had become more unified, whether through cultural homogenisation or the spread of capitalism. People became more conscious of global problems, like climate change. Economic interdependency and instability were more visible. Money flowed more freely and national economies went into recession together in the 1970s and again 30 years later.
    [Show full text]
  • The American Led Globalization As the Main
    The American led Globalization as the Main Obstacle to the Development of Titulo Democracy in the Arab World and Africa Sharawy, Helmy - Autor/a Autor(es) Globalization of the periphery: The challenges of transnational migration for local En: development in Central America Buenos Aires Lugar CLACSO, Consejo Latinoamericano de Ciencias Sociales Editorial/Editor 2008 Fecha Sur-Sur Colección Globalización alternativa; Cooperación Sur-Sur; Democracia; Instituciones financieras Temas internacionales; Régimen político; Imperialismo; Hegemonía mundial; Medio Oriente; Países Árabes; África; Capítulo de Libro Tipo de documento http://bibliotecavirtual.clacso.org.ar/clacso/sur-sur/20100707032958/06shar.pdf URL Reconocimiento-No comercial-Sin obras derivadas 2.0 Genérica Licencia http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/2.0/deed.es Segui buscando en la Red de Bibliotecas Virtuales de CLACSO http://biblioteca.clacso.edu.ar Consejo Latinoamericano de Ciencias Sociales (CLACSO) Conselho Latino-americano de Ciências Sociais (CLACSO) Latin American Council of Social Sciences (CLACSO) www.clacso.edu.ar Sharawy, Helmy. The american led globalization as the main obstacle to the development of democracy in the arab world and Africa. En publicación: Globalization and the Washington Consensus: its influence on democracy and development in the south. Gladys Lechini (editor). Buenos Aires : CLACSO, Consejo Latinoamericano de Ciencias Sociales, 2008. ISBN 978-987-1183-91-3 Disponible en: http://bibliotecavirtual.clacso.org.ar/ar/libros/sursur/lech/06shar.pdf
    [Show full text]
  • “Studies of Military Sociology in the Context of Globalization and Its Contribution to the Transformation of the Indonesian National Defense Forces (Tni)”
    “STUDIES OF MILITARY SOCIOLOGY IN THE CONTEXT OF GLOBALIZATION AND ITS CONTRIBUTION TO THE TRANSFORMATION OF THE INDONESIAN NATIONAL DEFENSE FORCES (TNI)” AMARULLA OCTAVIAN Second Edition bab1-2 M&G ING_M7.indd 1 1/16/14 9:40 AM Towards a society with a superior military 2 bab1-2 M&G ING_M7.indd 2 1/13/14 9:26 PM For my precious ones: Anna, Jordy and Wildan 3 bab1-2 M&G ING_M7.indd 3 1/13/14 9:26 PM Second Edition 2012 Published by UI Press, Indonesia Copyright©2012, UIPress Editor : Deniek G. Sukarya Text Design : Taja Sukarya Graphic Design : PT. Sukarya & Sukarya Pandetama ISBN : 978-979-456-517-9 (paperback) The Military and Globalization: Studies of Military Sociology in the Context of Globalization and Its Contribution to the Transformation of the Indonesian National Defense Forces (TNI)/Amarulla Octavian All rights reserved Without limiting the rights under copyright reserved above, no part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in or introduced into a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form or by any means (electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise), without the prior written permission of both the copyright owner and the publisher of this book. Printed in Jakarta, Indonesia 4 bab1-2 M&G ING_M7.indd 4 1/13/14 9:26 PM Table of Content Remarks from Prof. Dr. Purnomo Yusgiantoro ...................................................................6 Foreword from Dr. Iwan Gardono Sujatmiko .....................................................................8 Preface from the Writer ......................................................................................................12
    [Show full text]
  • An Alternative Perspective to Govern Globalization
    EMBER 2005 FIRAT BAYAR SEPT PERSPECTIVE TO GOVERN GLOBALIZATION F. BAYAR AN ALTERNATIVE METU 2005 AN ALTERNATIVE PERSPECTIVE TO GOVERN GLOBALIZATION A THESIS SUBMITTED TO THE GRADUATE SCHOOL OF SOCIAL SCIENCES OF MIDDLE EAST TECHNICAL UNIVERSITY BY FIRAT BAYAR IN PARTIAL FULFILLMENT OF THE REQUIREMENTS FOR THE DEGREE OF DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY IN INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS SEPTEMBER 2005 Approval of the Graduate School of Social Sciences Prof. Dr. Sencer Ayata Director I certify that this thesis satisfies all the requirements as a thesis for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy. Prof. Dr. Atila Eralp Head of Department This is to certify that we have read this thesis and that in our opinion it is fully adequate, in scope and quality, as a thesis for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy. Assoc. Prof. Dr. Kemal Derviş Assoc. Prof. Dr. A. Nuri Yurdusev Co-Supervisor Supervisor Examining Committee Members (first name belongs to the chairperson of the jury and the second name belongs to supervisor) Prof. Dr. Atila Eralp (METU, IR) Associate Prof. Dr. A. Nuri Yurdusev (METU, IR) Associate Prof. Dr. Kemal Derviş (UNDP) Prof. Dr. Fikret Şenses (METU, ECON) Assistant. Prof. Dr. Galip Yalman (METU, POL) I hereby declare that all information in this document has been obtained and presented in accordance with academic rules and ethical conduct. I also declare that, as required by these rules and conduct, I have fully cited and referenced all material and results that are not original to this work. Name, Last name : Fırat Bayar Signature : iii ABSTRACT AN ALTERNATIVE PERSPECTIVE TO GOVERN GLOBALIZATION Bayar Fırat Ph.D., Department of International Relations Supervisor : Assoc.
    [Show full text]
  • Globalization and Global Politics a N T H O N Y M C G R E W ●● Introduction 16
    Chapter 1 Globalization and global politics ANTHONY MCGREW ●● Introduction 16 ●● Making sense of globalization 16 ●● Conceptualizing globalization 18 ●● Contemporary globalization 20 ●● A world transformed: globalization and distorted global politics 23 ●● Conclusion 29 Reader’s Guide of which are the focus of this chapter. In particular the chapter concludes that a conceptual shift in This chapter provides an account of globalization our thinking is required to grasp fully the nature of and its consequences for our understanding of world these transformations. This conceptual shift involves politics. Globalization is a long-term historical pro- embracing the idea of global politics: the politics cess that denotes the growing intensity of worldwide of an embryonic global society in which domestic interconnectedness: in short, a ‘shrinking world’. It is, and world politics, even if conceptually distinct, are however, a highly uneven process such that far from practically inseparable. It also requires rethinking creating a more cooperative world it is also a signifi- many of the traditional organizing assumptions and cant source of global friction, instability, enmity, and institutions of modern political life—from sovereignty conflict. Whilst it has important consequences for to democracy—since in a globalized world, power is the power and autonomy of national governments, no longer simply organized according to a national or it by no means prefigures, as many have argued or territorial logic. This chapter has two key objectives: to desired, the demise of the nation-state or of geopoli- elucidate and elaborate the concept of globalization; tics. Rather, globalization is associated with significant and to explore its consequences for our understand- transformations in world politics, the most significant ing of world politics.
    [Show full text]
  • Financial Systems and Economic Growth 1St Edition Pdf, Epub, Ebook
    FINANCIAL SYSTEMS AND ECONOMIC GROWTH 1ST EDITION PDF, EPUB, EBOOK Peter L Rousseau | 9781107141094 | | | | | Financial Systems and Economic Growth 1st edition PDF Book World Bank Group. It turns out that some disturbances observed in the financial sphere of the economy may exert very significant and long-term impact on the behavior of the real economy. Research and academic institutions, professional associations, and think-tanks aim to observe, model, understand, and publish recommendations to improve the transparency and effectiveness of the global financial system. Nevertheless, the analysis demonstrates that too big size of the financial sector, i. The basic operating premise here is that the transfers in question take place via unregistered channels because their background or purpose is illegal. The global financial crisis , which originated in the United States in , quickly propagated among other nations and is recognized as the catalyst for the worldwide Great Recession. If only that were true inside the Tory party, be that members or backbenchers. Statistically insignificant parameters on the money variable can also be associated with the hypothesis of the neutrality of money that is the lack of the impact of money supply on output. The highest rate of return of a given input is observed in the countries with a relatively low stock of that input. Although crises can be overcome by emergency financing, employing bailouts places a heavy burden on taxpayers living in the afflicted countries, and the high costs damage standards of living. As we will see in greater detail, IFFs contribute to preserving unequal power relations and to further weakening already weak state institutions.
    [Show full text]
  • US Military Globalization
    افغانستان آزاد – آزاد افغانستان AA-AA چو کشور نباشـد تن من مبـــــــاد بدین بوم وبر زنده یک تن مــــباد همه سر به سر تن به کشتن دهیم از آن به که کشور به دشمن دهیم www.afgazad.com [email protected] زبان های اروپائی European Languages http://www.counterpunch.org/2014/04/28/us-military-globalization/print US Military Globalization Interlocking Spheres of Influence by NORMAN POLLACK APRIL 28, 2014 History, at the least, is process, interrelations, multilayered, marked by continuities of social structure, wealth distribution, all in all, embedded in a framework of causation even when serendipitous outcomes pop up, none of which is to suggest a rigid deterministic pattern, but only that in the case of Obama, one can readily credit America’s protofascistic leanings over decades if not also centuries (war, intervention, racism, monopoly capital brought to a convergence), yet, despite prior historical trends, demand that he be held accountable for what occurs on his watch. Therefore, no free pass for overwhelming militarism, massive surveillance, policies favoring deregulation and wealth-concentration, contemptuous disregard for civil liberties and government transparency, and now, a foreign policy of exclusive global hegemony quite possibly surpassing that of his illustrious predecessors. What, in this context, is more criminal, the policies themselves, such as targeted assassination, regime change, a string of interventions–and the counterrevolutionary posture undergirding them, or, a nation and people, sharing complicity in their actuation and implementation, and more particularly, a morally bankrupt liberalism www.afgazad.com 1 [email protected] actively promoting them, with presumed radicals standing by in silence? Americans are implicated in deceit and denial, purchasing their comforts and self-righteousness at the expense of the collective human privation their military and paramilitary forces, their CIA operatives and private contractors, their support of repressive regimes and death squads have brought to much of the world’s population.
    [Show full text]
  • Luke Martell, the Sociology of Globalization, Second Edition, 2016
    Luke Martell, The Sociology of Globalization, Second edition, 2016 Pre-publication version of the introduction. Introduction: Concepts of Globalization There have been many trends in sociology in recent decades. These have varied from country to country. One was a concern with class and social mobility from the 1950s onwards, in part evident in debates between Marxists and Weberians. In the 1960s and 1970s, feminists argued that such debates had marginalized another form of social division, gender inequalities. Feminism grew in influence, itself being criticized for failing to appreciate other divisions, for instance ethnic inequalities, identified by those with postcolonial perspectives. In the 1980s, this concern with differences was highlighted in postmodern ideas, and the power of knowledge was analysed by theorists such as Michel Foucault. In the 1980s and 1990s, a more homogenizing idea came to the fore, globalization. This also went on to stress local difference and plurality. The themes of globalization were not new, but the word and the popularity of the idea really came to the fore in the 1980s (an early mention is in Modelski 1972). Why did globalization become a popular idea? One reason is the rise of global communications, especially the Internet, which made people feel that connections across the world were flowing more strongly and speedily, as well as becoming more democratic. With the end of the cold war, it seemed that the bipolar world had become unified, whether through cultural homogenization or the spread of capitalism. People became increasingly conscious of global problems, such as climate change. Economic interdependency and instability were more visible.
    [Show full text]