Globalization

1
Globalization

• Throughout history, adventurers, generals,
  merchants, and financiers have constructed an
  ever-more-global economy.

Today, unprecedented changes in communications,
transportation, and computer technology have
given the process new impetus. As globally mobile
capital reorganizes business firms, it sweeps
away regulation and undermines local and national
politics.
Globalization creates new markets and wealth,
even as it causes widespread suffering, disorder,
and unrest. It is both a source of repression and
a catalyst for global movements of social justice
and emancipation.



2
Globalization of culture

• Technology has now created the possibility and
  even the likelihood of a global culture.
• The Internet, fax machines, satellites, and cable
  TV are sweeping away cultural boundaries.
• Global entertainment companies shape the
  perceptions and dreams of ordinary citizens,
  wherever they live.
• This spread of values, norms, and culture tends
  to promote Western ideals of capitalism.
• Will local cultures inevitably fall victim to
  this global consumer culture?
• Will English eradicate all other languages?
• Will consumer values overwhelm peoples sense of
  community and social solidarity?
• Or, on the contrary, will a common culture lead
  the way to greater shared values and political
  unity?
• 
  
  Globalpolicy.igc.org/globaliz

3
Emblem for globalization
McDonalds in Tokyo, Japan
McDonalds has become emblematic of globalization.
The Economist magazine uses the "Big Mac index"
(the price of a Big Mac) as an informal measure
of purchasing power parity among world
currencies.
Thomas Friedman suggested that no countries with
McDonald's would go to war with each other, a
"rule" broken by the American bombing of Serbia.
It remains a target of anti-globalization
protesters worldwide.
4
AntiMcDonalds demonstration Leicester Square,
London 2004

An anti-McDonald's leafletting campaign in front
of the McDonald's restaurant in Leicester Square,
London, during the European Social Forum season,
16 October 2004.
5
As the world's largest fast-food company,
McDonald's has been the target of criticism for
allegations of
- exploitation of entry-level workers,
- ecological damage caused by agricultural
production and industrial processing of its
products,
- selling unhealthy (non-nutritious) food,
- production of packaging waste,
- exploitative advertising (especially targeted
at children),
- contributing to suffering and exploitation of
livestock.
McDonald's historic tendency towards promoting
high calorie foods such as French fries has
earned it the nickname "the starchy arches".
6
Overconsumption
7


B N D
The more we consume, the less we live
8
Profits
9
Evaluation

• Globalization of CultureTechnology has now
  created the possibility and even the likelihood
  of a global culture. The Internet, fax machines,
  satellites, and cable TV are sweeping away
  cultural boundaries. Global entertainment
  companies shape the perceptions and dreams of
  ordinary citizens, wherever they live. This
  spread of values, norms, and culture tends to
  promote Western ideals of capitalism. Will local
  cultures inevitably fall victim to this global
  "consumer" culture? Will English eradicate all
  other languages? Will consumer values overwhelm
  peoples' sense of community and social
  solidarity? Or, on the contrary, will a common
  culture lead the way to greater shared values and
  political unity?
• 
  
  Globalpolicy.irg.org/globaliz
• Are a global culture and a common language
  compatible with local cultures and languages?
• McDonalds is one of the most powerful,
  influential, and well-known global companies.
  Like all corporations, their aim is to maximise
  their profits and power to benefit their wealthy
  shareholders. But their business also has an
  enormous effect on the daily lives of hundreds of
  millions of people. If you have ever eaten their
  food, worked in their stores, seen their ads, or
  faced their litter in the street, then your life
  has been influenced - but for whose benefit?
• (At Issue-Fast Food by Helen Steel and Dave
  Morris)
• http//www.mcspotlight.org/media/press/relea
  ses
• You want to file a suit against McDonalds
  company. Deliver the prosecutors speech in which
  he explains all the damage caused by the company
  on peoples health and on the environment.
• In an article Localizing Culture, Jeremy
  Seabrook says Globalization is a declaration of
  war upon all other cultures. Comment upon this
  statement.
• How far is the world threatened by the way we
  live?
• How far can Buy Nothing Day help to save the
  world?

10
Préparation de cours

• 1ère séance (différents groupes de recherche)
• Points de départ définitions de globalization
  
• Exemples historiques de adventurers,
  generals, merchants, and financiers
• Changements contemporains communications,
  transportation, and computer technology Quels
  changements? (Exemples)
• Aspects positifs et négatifs
• - création de nouveaux marchés et de nouvelles
  richesses
• - souffrances, pauvreté, troubles sociaux et
  politiques
• - revendications pour un monde plus juste,
  plus solidaire
• ( mouvements anti-mondialisation.)
• Aspects culturels et technologiques
• - développements des grands moyens de
  communication
• - culture globale et culture locale sont-elles
  compatibles?
• Aspects linguistiques rôle de langlais et des
  autres langues.
• Quelle place est faite aux langues dites
  minoritaires?

11
2e séance emblem of globalization

• Un exemple McDonalds.
• En quoi les chaînes de restaurants McDonalds
  symbolisent-elles la mondialisation?
• - Enumération de toutes les nuisances dont
  McDonalds est la cause.
• - Autres exemples de mondialisation
• magasins de luxe
• de vêtements, de
  chaussures (grandes marques Adidas, Nike,
  Reebok..)
• - Opposition des anti-mondialistes (Pourquoi?)
• En quoi la mondialisation profite-t-elle
  aux pays riches?
• Que faire pour permettre aux populations
  défavorisées de tirer profit de la
  mondialisation?
• (plus de subventions aux agriculteurs
• développement du commerce équitable
  par ex.)
• Interviews de militants
  anti-mondialistes

12
3e séance overconsumption

• 1- Opposition entre les pays développés
• et les pays en voie de développement
• Tiers-Monde / pays émergents
• 2- The most voracious consumers in the world
• Consommation et gaspillage / destruction
  de lenvironnement
• cf. The more we consume, the less we
  live
• Valeur symbolique du porc.
• 3- Modernisme poussé à lexcès
• Déshumanisation des habitants des pays
  modernes
• Robotisation de la vie
• Remise en cause du mode de vie des pays
  riches
• 4 - Conclusion
• Devise Give it a rest
• Sens du BND Buy Nothing Day

13
4e séance profits

• - Valeur symbolique du gros sac?
• (profits / / drug companies)
• - Pourquoi lhomme souffre-t-il tant?
• - Quels remèdes le docteur peut-il préconiser?
• - En quoi consiste lhumour du dessin?
• 5e séance évaluation