The Media and the Academic Globalization Debate : Theoretical
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The Media and the Academic Globalization Debate Theoretical Analysis and Critique Marko Ampuja Academic dissertation To be presented, with the permission of the Faculty of Social Sciences of the University of Helsinki, for public examination in the auditorium XII, University main building, on 4 September 2010, at 10 a.m. Väitöskirja esitetään Helsingin yliopiston valtiotieteellisen tiedekunnan suostumuksella julkisesti tarkastettavaksi yliopiston päärakennuksen auditoriossa XII (Unioninkatu 34, 3.kerros) lauantaina 4. syyskuuta 2010 kello 10. Publisher: Communication Research Centre CRC, Department of Social Research, University of Helsinki Author: Marko Ampuja Title of the Publication: Type of the Publication: The Media and the Academic Academic dissertation Globalization Debate. Theoretical Analysis and Critique. Keywords: Globalization, Media, Communications, Social Theory, Cultural Theory Publication Series: Media and Communication Studies Research Reports 2/2010 ISSN: ISBN: 1797-612X 978-952-10-6400-5 (paperback) 978-952-10-6401-2 (PDF) Printer: Electronic Publication: Helsinki University Print http://helsinki.fi/crc/julkaisut/index.html Helsinki 2010 Abstract This study offers a reconstruction and critical evaluation of globalization theory, a perspective that has been central for sociology and cultural studies in recent decades, from the viewpoint of media and communications. As the study shows, sociological and cultural globalization theorists rely heavily on arguments concerning media and communications, especially the so-called new information and communication technologies, in the construction of their frameworks. Together with deepening the understanding of globalization theory, the study gives new critical knowledge of the problematic consequences that follow from such strong investment in media and communications in contemporary theory. The book is divided into four parts. The first part presents the research problem, the approach and the theoretical contexts of the study. Followed by the introduction in Chapter 1, I identify the core elements of globalization theory in Chapter 2. At the heart of globalization theory is the claim that recent decades have witnessed massive changes in the spatio-temporal constitution of society, caused by new media and communications in particular, and that these changes necessitate the rethinking of the foundations of social theory as a whole. Chapter 3 introduces three paradigms of media research – the political economy of media, cultural studies and medium theory – the discussion of which will make it easier to understand the key issues and controversies that emerge in academic globalization theorists’ treatment of media and communications. The next two parts offer a close reading of four theorists whose works I use as entry points into academic debates on globalization. I argue that we can make sense of mainstream positions on globalization by dividing them into two paradigms: on the one hand, media- technological explanations of globalization and, on the other, cultural globalization theory. As examples of the former, I discuss the works of Manuel Castells (Chapter 4) and Scott Lash (Chapter 5). I maintain that their analyses of globalization processes are overtly media-centric and result in an unhistorical and uncritical understanding of social power in an era of capitalist globalization. A related evaluation of the second paradigm (cultural globalization theory), as exemplified by Arjun Appadurai and John Tomlinson, is presented in Chapter 6. I argue that due to their rejection of the importance of nation states and the notion of “cultural imperialism” for cultural analysis, and their replacement with a framework of media-generated deterritorializations and flows, these theorists underplay the importance of the neoliberalization of cultures throughout the world. The fourth part (Chapter 7) presents a central research finding of this study, namely that the media-centrism of globalization theory can be understood in the context of the emergence of neoliberalism. I find it problematic that at the same time when capitalist dynamics have been strengthened in social and cultural life, advocates of globalization theory have directed attention to media-technological changes and their sweeping socio- cultural consequences, instead of analyzing the powerful material forces that shape the society and the culture. I further argue that this shift serves not only analytical but also utopian functions, that is, the longing for a better world in times when such longing is otherwise considered impracticable. Acknowledgements As anyone who has undertaken work of this kind knows, its realization and completion requires much time, energy and dedication. Yet, luckily, no researcher is a solitary Robinson in a world of his own creation, just as it is false to think that such figures exist in the larger society. During the process that has led to the present thesis, I have benefitted immeasurably from the comments and criticisms that a number of people have kindly offered. First of all, I want to thank my supervisors Esa Väliverronen, Juha Siltala and Juha Koivisto, who read the chapters and commented on them, at times with encouragement and at times with clear-sighted criticism. All of them have been, in their own ways, a source of inspiration and intellectual stimulation, for which I will remain indebted. My warmest thanks to Peter Thomas who proof-read the manuscript and corrected the grammar and style of its language, together with giving me suggestions on how to refine arguments in different parts of the text. Many other colleagues and distinguished senior researchers have given their comments on the chapters and related papers that I have presented in seminars and workshops. Sometimes only a single well formulated observation is all that it takes to solve a problem. Among the reviewers and commentators that I want to thank are Graham Murdock, Leah Lievrouw, Terhi Rantanen, Tarmo Malmberg, Anu Kantola, Marja Jalava, Juha Herkman, Kaarle Nordenstreng and Hannu Nieminen. I am especially grateful to the pre-examiners of this work, David Hesmondhalgh and Andrew Calabrese, for their valuable recommendations. The Department of Communication at the University of Helsinki (since 2010 part of the Department of Social Research) has provided me with an excellent working environment. Besides those already mentioned, I want to express my gratitude to Leif Åberg and Ullamaija Kivikuru for their support and encouragement at different times of my studies and my research career. My thanks to fellow colleagues at the department, such as Lotta Lounasmeri, Yonca Ermutlu, Mervi Pantti, Vienna Setälä, Kari Karppinen, Laura Juntunen, Liina Puustinen, Ritva Levo-Henriksson, Sinikka Sassi, Johanna Sumiala, among others, for all the refreshing discussions that we have shared together. I have received funding for this study from the Finnish Cultural Foundation. The study was also made possible financially by the Doctoral School of Changing Communication (MUUVI), in which I was a doctoral student for several years. I want to thank both of these institutions and especially the directors of the latter, Risto Kunelius and Mikko Lehtonen. I have also received some smaller grants from the University of Helsinki. Finally, I owe my heartfelt thanks to my parents Esa and Eija-Riitta and my brother Raine for their unconditional support and humor in times of need. My deepest gratitude goes to my wife Outi and my daughter Heljä: your love and your presence in my life is the ultimate source without which this work would not have come to fruition. Marko Ampuja Helsinki, August 9, 2010 Table of Contents Abstract ..............................................................................................................................3 Acknowledgements ..............................................................................................................................4 PART I BACKGROUND AND THEORETICAL CONTEXTS ................................................................7 1 Introduction ..............................................................................................................................9 1.1 Approaching Globalization Theory .......................................................................... 13 2. The Rise of Academic Globalization Theory ............................................................................... 19 2.1 The Public and the Academic Dimensions of Globalization ............................22 2.2 The Complexity of Globalization Theory ............................................................... 24 2.3 Globalization and the “Spatio-Temporal Reformulation of Social Theory” .......30 2.4 Three Phases in the Academic Study of Globalization ..................................... 39 2.5 Theoretical Faultlines between “Transformationalists” and “Sceptics” ....... 42 3. Key Approaches to Media and the Question of Globalization .............................................. 51 3.1 The Concept of Media and its Problems .................................................................52 3.2 The Theoretical Plurality of Media Research ........................................................ 55 3.3 The Political Economy of the Media........................................................................ 58 Cultural and Media Imperialism ................................................................................ 68 3.4 Cultural Studies: from Cultural Materialism to Poststructuralism