I' David Held: Globalization Schools of Thought

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I. David Held Globalization Schools of
Thought II. Major Areas of Debate
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• Discussion
• Globalization Debate first paragraph, page 2
• Hyperglobalizers, Skeptics, and
  Transformationalists which author best
  represents which school of thought?

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Hyperglobalizers Whats the basic thrust of this
perspective on globalization? Is it tied to any
particular political position about globalization?
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• The Hyperglobalization School of Thought
• Globalization as primarily economic in
  naturebut with broad effects in other areas
• Global competition is a central reality for all
  players
• New rules of the gameprotectionism, labor
  rigidities, traditional social welfare programs
  seen as outdated and counter-productive

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• The Hyperglobalization School of Thought
• The demise of the nation stateor at least its
  weakening
• New actors transnational corporations, industry
  organizations, empowered individuals, etc.
• An unleashed capitalism transforming the world
• Globalization as reducing global inequality

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The Hyperglobalization School of
Thought Different normative or evaluative
positions exist How would a neoliberal vs. a
Marxist hyperglobalizer differ?
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Skeptics Whats the basic thrust of this
perspective on globalization? Is it tied to any
particular political position about globalization?
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• The Skeptical School of Thought
• Internationalization rather than globalization
• Governments remain central and basically in
  control
• The distinctiveness of the current era is
  disputed
• Globalization as tending to reinforce
  inequalities
• Tendency toward fragmentation into
  civilizational or other blocs

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• The Skeptical School of Thought
• Globalization a convenient rationale for
  implementing unpopular policies
• Fundamentalism and aggressive nationalism likely
  to challenge the hyperglobalizer utopia
• Limits of interdependence

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The Skeptical School of Thought Different
normative or evaluative positions exist How
might these positions differ?
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Transformationalists Whats the basic thrust of
this perspective on globalization? Is it tied to
any particular political position about
globalization?
How does Barber exemplify this school of thought?
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• The Transformationalist School of Thought
• Contemporary globalization is unprecedented
• Operates at many levels and in all domains
• Globalizations future trajectory remains
  uncertain
• Many new actors at all levels
• New non-territorial forms of economic and
  political organization

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• The Transformationalist School of Thought
• The future of globalization will depend on many
  processes, including what forms of global
  governance emerge
• Alternative globalization projects

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The Transformalist School of Thought Different
normative or evaluative positions exist How
might these positions differ?
Useful review table on p. 10
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Frank Lechner Globalization Debates 1) Is
globalization a process or a project? 2) Is
globalization really something new under the
sun? 3) Is globalization good or bad?
Examine Globalization 101 reading
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Frank Lechner Globalization Debates 4)
Explaining globalization hard or soft
factors? 5) Globalizations political effect
demise or revival of nation-state? 6) Does
globalization produce cultural sameness
(homogenization) or difference? Other questions
we should be asking?