Sociological Theories of Globalization - Term Paper Example

SOCIOLOGICAL THEORIES OF GLOBALIZATION By Student’s Name Code + Name of Course Professor/Tutor Institution City/State Date Sociological Theories of Globalization Scholars examine different sociological phenomena through theories to explain the influence of society to individuals and vice versa (Giddens, Duneier & Appelbaum 2003, pg. 3). The scholars use sociological theories to explain the way society influences people, and at the same time describe and explain social phenomena. A social phenomenon such as globalization is reforming the study of the social world and human culture (Axford 2013, pg. 7). The meaning of globalization and the theoretical tools for understanding the phenomenon has generated different views from scholars. The academic literature on the subject has proliferated, similarly to particular studies of the globalization effects on certain regions, countries and ethnicity and gender. Some scholars study specific issues and challenges as they relate to globalization while others theorize the nature of the globalization process. Two theories, which examine the globalization process comprising the world-system theory and the network society, are explored. Theory of World-system Several scholars consider the global-system theory as the first theory of globalization. According to Arrighi, the global-systems assessment as a unique sociological concept came about at least fifteen years before the process of globalization became a topic of interest of study (Arrighi 2005, pg. 33). The distinctive aspect of the theory is not that it has existed over the current globalization concepts; rather the model and its formulator, Wallerstein Immanuel inclines to consider the process as old and links it with conception and growth of capitalism (Wallerstein 1974, pg. 49). Immanuel’s concept shares with other globalization theories an assessment of globalism, which has lately encompassed the whole universe over the previous five hundred eons. Wallerstein explained that the theory is based on the proposition that the appropriate assessment system of the macro-social research within the contemporary universe is not state or society, but rather the bigger system of history, under which the groups lie. The consumerist global-economy, which came about in Europe many years ago and expanded over the next years, absorbing the present mini-systems processes, networks of production and establishing markets finally introduced all individuals worldwide to its sensibleness. Thus, by 19 century end the only historical system, which had accommodated the entire planet, was the world capitalist system (Wallerstein 1974, pg. 33). A major framework of the global-system is the separation of the universe into a few hierarchical organized and geographically grounded zones. Firstly, is the core-powerful and established centres, initially embraced in West Europe and subsequently stretched to encompass Japan and North America. The next is the margin, comprising the areas that have been placed to the core forcefully by colonialism. The determinative capitalist world-system eras encompassed the East of Europe, Asia, Latin America, the Middle-East and Africa. Next is the half-margin, comprising of the countries, which were formerly in the centre and are moving downwards the hierarchy, or the countries previously in the margin and going up. Principles stretch to the margin to the semi-margin, to the middle, as every area plays a role that relates to the global disintegration of labour that generates this primary exploitation and disparity framework. A different major attribute of the theory is the immanence as well as the system’s centrality and the inter-state rivalries to the model’s sustenance. Immanuel’s model fails to consider the centrality of states or its system as superior as a main constituent of a bigger international system does. Different structural elements in the theory are cyclic patterns of crisis and development, different profane tendencies including growth, increased industrialization and tussles of commodification and major influences for controlling the model. Some people do not consider the approach of the world-system as a globalization theory but an alternate world society theory. The theorist has in some way dismissed the globalization idea. According to him, the matters, which are often referred when talking of capitalism, are never entirely present, as they have endured for about four hundred years. Immanuel has considered the last twentieth and early twenty-first century transformation from the global-syetm logic as a switch part in the system. He analyses the transitional element as the period of change within the global-model, a change whereby the consumerist system will be changed to a new thing (2000, pg. 250). In the assessment, the scheme has ventured into a fatal disaster that lends to a new and hesitating past structure by 2050. Wallerstein’s statement on system’s end could be termed as a social transformation in the globalization age steady with his theory of world-systems. The Network Society The trilogy by Castells Manuel, ‘The Expansion of the Network System’ signifies a ‘technologic’ model of globalization. Whereas his theory resembles with the world-system approach an assessment of the global-system and its properties, is not the entrepreneurial development logic but that of technology transformation, which is regarded as a fundamental exercise for determining the numerous processes of globalization (Castell 1998, pg. 23). The theory has been linked closely with the globalization concept as demonstrating an emerging era of information. In the theory, two systematic distinct procedures interacted in the later 20-century to culminate in growth of the theory. A particular one was the up rise of emerging ICT in specific, the Internet, signifying a fresh paradigm of technology and culminating in an emerging mode of development, which Castells calls ‘informationalism.’(Castell 1998, pg. 31). The next was capitalist retooling through the technology’s power and giving way to a new model of ‘information capitalism.’ The new model is what Castells and others have alternately called the ‘emerging economy’. The new economy is knowledge, informational-grounded, global in level and structured meaning that output is produced via worldwide systems of connection. The international economy description is a system having the ability to work as an entity of the current period or at its moment on a global platform and constituting international financial markets, globalization, the growth of international production systems, and the exclusive expansion of technology. A major institution of the emergent budget is the global business that the theorist considers as the frontline of an overall social organization category, which is the society system. The issue comprises an emergent structural sense grounded on the theory that connects with the new technology theory. The framework category of social alignment is demonstrated in diverse types in different institutional and traditional contexts. In the view of Castell, ‘the networked initiative uses the informational tradition in the global economy. It changes signs into merchandises through knowledge processes (Castell 1996, pg. 188). Castells continues to posit that the huge transnational companies image as central frameworks moving the worldwide economy as ‘outmoded’ and needs to be substituted with the rising global systems of firms and of firm’s sub-parts being the basic type of organization of the non-official, word-based economy’ (1998, pg. 207). Castells perceives an association between forces of production and culture in the information development model because of the uniqueness of the representative model and the use of information technology. Certainly, the approach can be regarded as an economic and cultural globalization model. Humans have shifted from a spoken imperative before civilisations to the alphabetical imperative and finally to an audio-visual model of signs and perceptions. Within the global era, which gives path to incorporating many styles of communication into a collaborating unit comprising the development of the language that combines into one system (verbal, audio-visual or written) modalities of human interaction. The communication occurs along compound points in an international framework, essentially changing the communication attributes, which subsequently interact decisively modifying culture because individuals do not consider reality in the same way as language. He continues saying, people do not live in a global village, instead in tailored cottages, internationally created and spread domestically (1996, pg. 370). In this regard, the Internet creates an emerging representative setting, international in its spread, which guarantees ‘virtuality.’ A major concept of the theory, which takes the picture is the concept of space-time flows concepts. With the flowing of space, alternates for the universe of regions, time is eliminated in the new communications system, by programming the history, current and future to relate with each other in a similar message. While the normative world-systems approach is decidedly important of what the theory conceives of as globalization, the theorist is additionally optimistic on the projections developed by the international network culture. Nevertheless, a major topic is the universe disintegration into the population units sections changed on to the emerging systems of technology system and those marginalized or turned off, lending way to the digital split. To sum up, scholars have examined different sociological phenomena through theories to explain the influence of society to individuals and vice versa. The meaning of globalization has culminated in different theoretical models for understanding the phenomenon. The world-system theory postulated by Immanuel Wallerstein considers globalization as a phenomenon that is almost linked with the conception and stretch of capitalism in the world. A major element of the global-system is the separation of the universe into three major geographical grounded tiers i.e. the core, the periphery and semi-periphery. Manuel Castells’ ‘Network Society’ signifies a ‘technological’ model of globalization, which represents globalization as an emerging ‘age of information.’ Whereas the world-systems approach is distinctly important of what the theory conceives of to being globalization, the theorist (Castells) shows more optimism on the prospects brought by the global network model. Reference List Arrighi, G 2005, ‘Globalization in world-systems perspective.’ Critical globalization studies, pp. 33-44. Axford, B 2013. Theories of globalization. United Kingdom: Polity. Castells, M 1996. The Rise of the Network Society. Vol. I of the Information Age: Economy, Society, Culture. Oxford: Blackwell. Castells, M 1998. End of Millennium. Vol. III of The Information Age: Economy, Society, Culture. Oxford: Blackwell. Giddens, A, Duneier, M & Appelbaum, RP 2003. Introduction to sociology. Norton. Wallerstein, I 1974. The Modern World System, Vol. I. New York: Academic Press. Wallerstein, I 2000, ‘Globalization or the age of transition?’ International Sociology, Vol. 15, no. 2, pp. 249–65. Read More