Globalisation

Introduction:

Globalization is a very complex issue "buzzword" and many people have their own definitions.

Lubbers & Koorevaar (1998, internet) argue that Globalization is "a complex concept that involves both political, economic, and social-cultural changes". Scheuerman (2002, internet) defined the globalization as "free market", "economic liberalization", forms of political, economic, and cultural life "westernization" or "Americanization", "Internet Revolution" and "global integration". Others argue that Globalization is the result of advances in communication, transportation, and information technologies (encyclopedia online article). Some argue that "...the absence of borders and barriers to trade between nations" (Ohmae, 1995, internet), and others argue "...the processes through which national states are crossed and undermined by transnational actors" (Beck 2000, cited in Gane, 2001). Scholte (2000, book p85) has argued that at least five broad definitions of 'globalization'. "Globalization as internationalization, liberalization, universalization, westernization or modernization, deterritorialization(or as the spread of supraterritoriality)". Held (1999, cited in internet, book p51) defined globalization as a "process (or set of processes) which embodies a transformation in the spatial organization of social relations and transactions - assessed in terms of their extensity, intensity, velocity and impact - generating transcontinental or inter-regional flows and networks of activity".

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This definition according to Scholte, offers the possibility of a clear and specific definition of globalization "the notion of supraterritoriality (or trans-world or trans-border relations)" (Scholte, 2000, book).

History:

- Robertson (1992, cited in sociologyonline, internet), suggests that processes of globalization pre-date modernity and modern societies. He identifies 5 phases of globalization, 1) Germinal: (Europe) 1400-1750, 2) Incipient phase (Europe) 1750-1875, 3) Take-off phase (1875-1925), 4) The struggle for hegemony phase (1925-69) and 5) The uncertainty phase (1969-90s).

- Giddens (1999, cited in Gane, 2001), states that 'Globalization is political, technological and cultural, as well as economic. It has been influenced, above all, by developments...