GLOBALIZATION

1
GLOBALIZATION

• October 16th

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Globalization

• What is it?
• What causes it?
• What are its effects?
• How is it similar to/distinct from
  Americanization?

3
Globalization Various Strands....

• economic integration
• foreign investment
• trade
• macroeconomic policy
• labour market integration
• integrated production processes
• political integration
• EU, NAFTA
• WTO, OECD, IMF
• NORAD, NATO, UN
• cultural integration
• cultural homogenization

4
Globalization Causes

• technology
• interlinkages between strands
• economic integration creates incentives to create
  cultural integration
• Coca-Colonization
• cultural integration creates demand for economic
  integration
• political
• globalization as a political project
• expand the scope of markets

5
Globalization Effects

• Retribalization vs. McWorld
• power of the state
• up, down and out
• power of various groups in society
• polarization
• additional power resources for some marginalized
  groups

6
Americanization and Globalization...

• distinction
• similarities (from a Canadian perspective)
• Americanization is similar to globalization
• similar constraints on public policy/role of
  government
• globalization is similar to Americanization
• globalized culture is heavily American
• race to the bottom

7
Americanization and Globalization...

• distinction
• similarities (from a Canadian perspective)
• different implications
• asymmetry of continental integration
  (overemphasizing globalization)
• cultural paranoia (overemphasizing
  Americanization)

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Americanization/Globalization and the Canadian
Political Context

• Canada cannot make decisions as if it exists in
  isolation
• effects of globalization/Americanization
• direct effects
• symbolic effects
• these processes may have major effects simply
  because Canadian policy-makers and public believe
  they are having these effects
• central elements of the political landscape