lecture 6

PR 1450Introduction to Globalization: 

PR 1450 Introduction to Globalization Lecture 6 Theories of globalization II historical perspectives Chris Rumford

The origins of globalization: 

The origins of globalization No one can say exactly when globalization began But most social scientists agree that processes of globalization have been going on for a long time, many centuries in fact Thinking about the history of globalization is important, not least because it challenges the idea that globalization must be very recent and driven by economic and technical developments

Global moments: 

Global moments Alex MacGillivray (2006: 15-21) identifies five key moments (key decades) over the past 500 years. At these moments globalization took a great leap-forward; the Iberian carve up (1490 – 1500) the Britannic meridian (1880-90) Sputnik world (1955-65) the global supply chain (1995–2005) thermo-globalization

Iberian carve-up (1490 – 1500): 

Iberian carve-up (1490 – 1500) Spain and Portugal dominated long-distance trade backed up with support of the Pope start of colonial competition in the world spread of printed word

Britannic meridian (1880-90): 

Britannic meridian (1880-90) British Empire leading imperial power enforced global Gold Standard international meridian created possibility of modern time zones and round-the-world shipping

Sputnik World (1955-65): 

Sputnik World (1955-65) Sputnik 1 – first artificial satellite Cold war world decolonization in Third World led USA and Soviet Union to struggle for influence throughout the world period of rapid economic growth birth of Green Movement

Global supply chain (1995–2005): 

Global supply chain (1995–2005) supply-chains of multi-nationals connect East and West the world is interconnected by mobile phone and internet like never before world-wide social movements question the free global market hottest decade since records began

Thermo-globalization Twenty years in the future?: 

Thermo-globalization Twenty years in the future? climate change leading to rising temperatures first four planetary contractions not predicted the fifth is predictable in its impact on economics and society (e.g. Stern Review) Read a summary of the Stern Review on the BBC website http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/6098362.stm

Roland Robertson: 

Roland Robertson Now we can turn to the work of Roland Robertson, one of the most influential thinkers on globalization Robertson’s work emphasises the historical dimensions of globalization He traces the existence of global consciousness back to the ancient world of the Romans

Romans go global: 

Romans go global The Romans understood the interconnected nature of the known world The Roman historian Polybius saw that by conquering vast portions of the world Rome had created ‘complex interrelations between hitherto unconnected people, events and places’ (Robertson and Inglis, 2004: 41) According to Polybius, the affairs of Italy and Africa are connected with those of Asia and Greece and constitute an ‘organic whole’

Rome: global city: 

Rome: global city Like global cities of today, Rome contained peoples from all over the world By the first century AD Rome had trade links with China, India, Malaysia Rome was the ‘emporium of the world’

Is globalization really ancient?: 

Is globalization really ancient? Robertson and Inglis aim to show that a global consciousness developed very early in history Not everyone would agree with this historical account of globalization For example, Wallerstein draws a distinction between the world empires of the ancient world (based on military domination) and the more recent capitalist world system (Holton, 2005: 34)

Robertson’s five phases of globalization: 

Robertson’s five phases of globalization Phase 1 – Germinal C15th – mid C18th centring on Europe: voyages of exploration and colonialism growth of nation-state challenges pre-modern world of empires development of Gregorian Calendar

Phase 2 - Incipient: 

Phase 2 - Incipient mid C18th – 1870s rapid spread of nation-state and system of international relations admission of non-European world to international system International exhibitions e.g. Great Exhibition at Crystal Palace 1851 International Red Cross established 1863

Phase 3 – Take-offWhen did the Olympic Movement adopt this familiar flag?: 

Phase 3 – Take-off When did the Olympic Movement adopt this familiar flag? 1870s – 1920s crystallization of international system of nation-states growth of global communications: telephone, telegraph, radio, aeroplane global competitions e.g. Olympics, Nobel Prizes World War I world time: Greenwich meridian and 24 time zones (1884)

Phase 4 – Struggle for hegemony: 

Phase 4 – Struggle for hegemony 1920s – 60s globe-wide conflicts (WWII and Cold War) potential for global catastrophe (nuclear war) League of Nations (1910); UN (1945) increased interest in humanity: holocaust and Hiroshima development of superpowers and Third World

Phase 5 - Uncertainty: 

Phase 5 - Uncertainty 1960s – present end of Cold War global consciousness: ‘one world’, ‘fragile earth’ space flights and moon missions development of global communications technology environmental movements role of IMF and World Bank

Concluding comments: 

Concluding comments According to Robertson and others globalization is a ‘long-run process of diffusion across borders and boundaries, moving outward from multiple sources and centres’ (Holton, 1998: 49). Scholte (2005: 117) emphasises that ‘when conceived as the rise of transplanetary and supraterritorial social connections, globalization is mainly new to contemporary history’. It is easy to see that the debate on the origins and history of globalization is very much alive. The debates are not just relevant to our understanding of the past - looking at the history of globalization also encourages us to think about the future: Is further globalization inevitable? Can globalization be reversed? What forces of de-globalization exist?

References: 

References Holton, R. 1998: Globalization and the Nation-State (Palgrave) Holton, R. 2005: Making Globalization (Palgrave) MacGillivray, A. 2006: A Brief History of Globalization (Robinson) Robertson, R. 1992: Globalization: Social Theory and Global Culture (Sage) Robertson, R. & Inglis, D. 2004: ‘The global animus: in the tracks of world consciousness’ Globalizations 1(1) Scholte, J.A. 2005: Globalization: A Critical Introduction (2nd Edition) (Palgrave)