lesson 3 culture part 5

World Culture : 

World Culture Lesson 3 Part 5

Emerging World Culture : 

Emerging World Culture Cultures are disappearing, we are becoming somewhat more homogeneous. Will/is a world culture emerging? The flow of information – telephones, satellites, computers (internet). The flow of people – transportation, migration (emigrant v. immigrant). The flow of goods – growing global economy (globalization) the driving force behind an emerging world culture. (The World is Flat) We could also say that there is more diffusion than ever before and certain inventions have aided this process.

Conflict Approach : 

Conflict Approach Ward Churchill – On the Justice of Roosting Chickens Global economy is dominated by the U.S. (and a few other nations). Any emerging culture is based on the American consumer lifestyle more than anything else. The free-market system/profit driven economy/capitalism is a creation of Western Europe and its descendents (US) and it is these societies forcing this system on the rest of the world (focus is on power).

Conflict : 

Conflict The global economy benefits those with the power to a much larger degree. In fact, benefits are received by some at the expense of others (sweatshops/child labor and Wal-Mart). Inequalities of power leading to injustices Thomas Friedman – The Lexus and the Olive Tree – 50% of people around the globe do not want this system forced upon them – they do not want their culture (olive tree) to be replaced by American consumerism (lexus). They do not want their lives controlled by international corporations owned by the West (Bolivia, Venezuela).

Conflict : 

Conflict Churchill argues that if you push this 50% hard enough – a percentage of those people will push back. He is trying to theorize about why some people hate the US enough to do something like 9/11. He never condones the action, but he is trying to understand it. Churchill argues that we need to look in the mirror – or look at US policy around the globe in order to understand this hatred. Look at the 3rd world and international corporations (controlled by the West), Palestinian/Israeli conflict. We should expect retaliation from those that feel oppressed.

Functional Approach : 

Functional Approach McDonalds theory – A correlation between the existence of the restaurant and war. Having the same econ. system may explain this correlation. If two nations are part of the same global econ., any conflict between them will fall short of war because it would be just too costly in regards to that common econ. system.

Functionalism : 

Functionalism Organic solidarity – the global economy, which is creating a global culture, is also creating an interdependent world. Many nations dependant on each other for their economic well-being. This results in a cohesion between nations that would not exist without the global economy.

Functionalism : 

Functionalism Mechanical solidarity – If various cultures have an econ. system in common this will result in some common values and beliefs – a common language is necessary – they would also share some symbols. In other words, a common economy between people leads to other commonalities and these cultural commonalities may serve to bond people together.