The University of San Francisco USF Scholarship: a digital repository @ Gleeson Library | Geschke Center Doctoral Dissertations Theses, Dissertations, Capstones and Projects 2008 Interpreting globalization : memory to understanding Arvind Ramakrishnan Follow this and additional works at: https://repository.usfca.edu/diss Part of the Education Commons Recommended Citation Ramakrishnan, Arvind, "Interpreting globalization : memory to understanding" (2008). Doctoral Dissertations. 243. https://repository.usfca.edu/diss/243 This Dissertation is brought to you for free and open access by the Theses, Dissertations, Capstones and Projects at USF Scholarship: a digital repository @ Gleeson Library | Geschke Center. It has been accepted for inclusion in Doctoral Dissertations by an authorized administrator of USF Scholarship: a digital repository @ Gleeson Library | Geschke Center. For more information, please contact [email protected]. The University of San Francisco INTERPRETING GLOBALIZATION Memory to Understanding A Dissertation Presented to The Faculty of the School of Education Department of Leadership Studies In Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree Doctor of Education by Arvind Ramakrishnan San Francisco May 2008 Table of Contents ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS............................................................................ (v) FOREWORD and DEDICATION…………………………………………. (vi) PREFACE: I Begin with Babel............................................................................................... 1 CHAPTER ONE: STATEMENT OF RESEARCH I Challenge a Canard Introduction…………………………………………………………...... 6 Statement of Research Topic…………………..………………………. 6 Background of Research Topic…………………………….…………... 8 Significance of Study…………………………………………………… 9 Summary and Upcoming Text………………………………………….. 11 CHAPTER TWO: COUNTRY BACKGROUND OF RESEARCH PARTICIPANTS Design of a Diaspora Introduction……………………………………………………………... 14 Background of India………………………………….............................. 14 Economic………………………………………………………... 16 Social…………………………………………………………….. 18 Political…………………………………………………………... 19 Background of China…..………………………………………………… 20 Economic………………………………………………………… 23 Social…………………………………………………………….. 24 Political…………………………………………………………… 26 Background of Mexico……………………………………………………. 29 Economic…………………………………………………………. 32 Social……………………………………………………………… 33 Political……………………………………………………………. 34 Summary and Upcoming Text……………………………………………. 35 CHAPTER THREE: REVIEW OF LITERATURE Entering an Ensemble Introduction………………………………………………………………. 37 Globalization - Content Based Literature………………………........…… 38 The Ensemble of Globalization…………………………………… 38 A New Note of Globalization Includes Immigration……………... 39 Immigration: Policy, Voluntary versus Involuntary……………… 42 (i) The Role of Language – Globalization’s Manana……………….. 44 The Role of Culture – American Twilight Jam……………………. 45 From Twilight to New Light………………………………………. 47 Anthropological and Historical Literature…. ……………………………. 47 Introduction to an Interpretive Orientation on Globalization……. 47 Contribution of Anthropology – Understanding the Term Culture.. 48 Initial Interpretation in Anthropology……………………………... 49 Globalization in India – No Phones to Cell Phones.......................... 51 Globalization in China - No Roads to Capitalist Roaders……….. 52 Globalization in Mexico – One Party to Multi-Party……………… 53 To Summarize: Globalization as a Human Expression……… 54 Identity and Social Systems………………………………….................... 54 Language and Text……………………………………………………….. 56 Being and Imagination…………………………………………………… 56 Summary…………………………………………………………………. 57 CHAPTER FOUR: RESEARCH PROCESS Finding a Framework Introduction……………………………………………………………… 59 Cultural Grounding for Research Conversations…………………………. 61 Conceptual Framework…………………………………………………... 64 Hope……………………………………………………………………… 65 Imagination……………………………………………………………….. 67 Action…………………………………………………………………….. 68 Understanding…………………………………………………………….. 69 Ethics……………………………………………………………………… 71 Entrée and Research Sites…………………………………....................... 73 Identifying Participants………………………………………................... 74 Research Categories and Research Questions……………………………. 78 Data Collection: Conversations…………………………………………… 79 Data Collection: Personal Journal………………………………………… 80 Data Collection: Documents………………………………………………. 80 Data Analysis……………………………………………………………… 81 Critical Hermeneutic Orientation of Data Collection and Analysis............ 82 Text Creation……………………………………………………………… 83 Example of Context, Data Collection, and Analysis………………………. 84 Language and Translation…………………………………………………. 85 Pilot Study………………………………………………………………….. 85 Background of Researcher………………………………………………… 85 Summary of the Research and Upcoming Analysis………………………. 86 CHAPTER FIVE: DATA PRESENTATION, PRELIMINARY ANALYSIS I Gel My Globe Introduction……………………………………………………………….. 88 (ii) Fall of 2006……………………………………………………………… 88 Chapattis to Policies………………………………………………. 89 Summer of 2007…………………………………………………………... 94 China’s New Dawn……………………………………………….. 95 India’s New High-Noon…………………………………………... 100 Mexico’s New Shining-Moon……………………………………. 105 Theory and Preliminary Analysis of Conversation Text…………………. 109 Hope……………………………………………………………….. 109 Imagination………………………………………………………… 110 Action……………………………………………………………… 111 Ethics and Understanding…………………………………………. 111 Concluding Comments and Upcoming Text………………………………. 112 CHAPTER SIX: SECONDARY ANALYSIS I Hedge a Hiatus Introduction……………………………………………………………… 113 Hope-I Crossed the Desert………………………………………………... 116 Mimesis and Poiesis……………………………………………… 116 Narrative Identity………………………………………………… 117 Time and Emplotment……………………………………………. 119 Imagination- A Senator in Turban?.............................................................. 120 Appropriation…………………………………………………….. 120 Stories and Narratives – An Aura of Possibility………………….. 122 Action- I Speak English Too………………………………………………. 123 Communicative Rationality and Social Space……………………. 123 Social Imagery and Community…………………………………... 125 Ethics- I Didn’t Take Your Job…………………………………………… 126 Politics of Ethical Memory and Ethics of Remembrance………… 127 Care and Identity…………………………………………………. 128 Praxis………………………………………………………………. 130 Understanding- Am I Still Alien?................................................................. 132 History, Tradition, and Fusion of Horizons……………………….. 132 Understanding Globalization - Immigration, Language, Culture…. 134 Summary and Upcoming Text…………………………………………….. 137 CHAPTER SEVEN: FINDINGS, IMPLICATIONS, FUTURE RESEARCH I Illuminate an Imagination Introduction……………………………………………………………….. 138 Summary of Findings……………………………………………………… 138 Reform and Assessment-Implications for a Social Model of Globalization..140 Third Global Generation of US………………………………………… 140 Power of Many……………………………………………………. 141 (iii) Collective Voices of Freedom……………………………………... 142 Role of Policy Makers…………………………………………….. 142 Conclusion and Suggested Areas for Further Research…………………… 144 Disconnect………………………………………………………… 145 Ideology-Based Solutions………………………………………….. 147 Multiple Meanings………………………………………………… 148 Neo-Globalization…………………………………………………. 149 Epilogue…………………………………………………………………… 151 Who Is Your Neighbor?..................................................................... 152 Hi Neighbor!..................................................................................... 152 Do You Need Me to Water your Lawn while You Are Away?........ 152 Come Over for Dinner!...................................................................... 153 Good-bye!......................................................................................... 153 BIBLIOGRAPHY………………………………………………………............... 154 Journals and Books………………………………………………... 154 Internet Sources and Media Documents…………………………… 167 APPENDIXES……………………………………………………………………. 168 APPENDIX A: Letter of Invitation and Research Questions……... 168 APPENDIX B: Letter of Confirmation………………………….… 170 APPENDIX C: Thank You and Follow-Up Letter………………... 171 APPENDIX D: Transcript of Pilot Conversation…………………. 172 APPENDIX E: Human Subjects Approval Regarding Research…. 177 (iv) Acknowledgements I thank my doctoral advisor and dissertation chair Dr. Ellen Herda for helping me to create a new journey through these many years of academic work. Through hundreds of conversations with Dr. Herda, a resonant voice arose and that voice leads me on in this new beginning. On this pathway, I began to change how I see myself, who I believe the other to be, and how I act, thereby reflecting upon oneself as another. This orientation has opened a horizon of possibilities through an ontological appreciation by moving beyond an act of application toward one of creating relationships in my life and career. I further thank my dissertation committee members, Dr. Patricia Mitchell and Dr. Susan Katz, for their guidance and valuable insights toward my research, which I personally feel could open up a global dimension in my on-going education and future endeavors. (v) Foreword The following passage describes the Statue of Liberty and appears on a plaque at the base of the statue. In this passage, the statue herself is the speaker. Give me your tired, your poor, Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free, The wretched refuse of your teeming shore. Send these, the homeless, tempest-tossed, to me: I lift my lamp beside the golden door. (Emma Lazarus, from “The New Colossus,” 1883) Dedication I dedicate this study to those who have experienced the phenomenon of globalization,