Chapter 11: Conclusion - The Historical Perspective
- Globalization has a complex history; it is very hard to pinpoint a single date of origin.
- Globalization calls for some sorting through of the inevitability aspects: at what
juncture did the process become essentially self-sustaining?
- Contemporary culture tends to exaggerate recent change to argue that far more
transformation is occurring than is actually the case, to minimize continuities from
earlier points in time.
- The history of globalization may invite a more nuanced view of the whole
process than most globalization theories have emphasized. Breaking it into
constituent parts before recombining the whole = good approach.
- Some elements of globalization go far back, but there are connections between then
and now Migration and disease transmissions are the most obvious aspects that
begin to set a trans-regional stage early on. Extensive and regular trade have a
slightly later origin, but it developed intensely enough several centuries ago. Cultural
and political globalization become more decisive in the later 19th century, but full
environmental globalization is a recent product.
- Current globalization reflects recent policies and technologies, but also
interweaves the many strands that began to take shape early on; blending of
trade with culture for example.
- History also shows the fluctuating quality of globalization; it has not moved forward
steadily.
- Polls show that 53-79% of all people in the world oppose globalization. Economic
globalization is widely feared because it brings so much inequality, but cultural
globalization is even more resented on grounds of loss of identity. Only political
globalization wins support.
- All phases of globalization have left some groups feeling they were losing
control or being challenged. But the process has marched forward anyway, but
amid interruptions and ongoing regional disagreements did take place.
- In this contemporary era, we have to figure out how best to express these concerns.
- At every stage, globalization has benefited some people, while harming others.
- Environmental globalization has also appeared on the problem list.
- The tension between globalization and nationalism has not been resolved yet.
- Globalization is not an abstraction; it has affected what people in many regions
ate, what kind of education they sought, what diseases they might contract, etc. It
has stimulated a sense of adventure and the excitement of encountering different
cultures, while also creating a sense that risks were too great and that one’s own way
of thinking about things must be protected from outside contagion. It has defined key
political issues. The daily meanings of globalization are more important now than
ever before, but they are not brand new. The emergence of globalization over time
is a story of changes people have encountered in many aspects of life, of new
stimulus and new anxiety alike. This mixture continues to unfold.
- Globalization has a complex history; it is very hard to pinpoint a single date of origin.
- Globalization calls for some sorting through of the inevitability aspects: at what
juncture did the process become essentially self-sustaining?
- Contemporary culture tends to exaggerate recent change to argue that far more
transformation is occurring than is actually the case, to minimize continuities from
earlier points in time.
- The history of globalization may invite a more nuanced view of the whole
process than most globalization theories have emphasized. Breaking it into
constituent parts before recombining the whole = good approach.
- Some elements of globalization go far back, but there are connections between then
and now Migration and disease transmissions are the most obvious aspects that
begin to set a trans-regional stage early on. Extensive and regular trade have a
slightly later origin, but it developed intensely enough several centuries ago. Cultural
and political globalization become more decisive in the later 19th century, but full
environmental globalization is a recent product.
- Current globalization reflects recent policies and technologies, but also
interweaves the many strands that began to take shape early on; blending of
trade with culture for example.
- History also shows the fluctuating quality of globalization; it has not moved forward
steadily.
- Polls show that 53-79% of all people in the world oppose globalization. Economic
globalization is widely feared because it brings so much inequality, but cultural
globalization is even more resented on grounds of loss of identity. Only political
globalization wins support.
- All phases of globalization have left some groups feeling they were losing
control or being challenged. But the process has marched forward anyway, but
amid interruptions and ongoing regional disagreements did take place.
- In this contemporary era, we have to figure out how best to express these concerns.
- At every stage, globalization has benefited some people, while harming others.
- Environmental globalization has also appeared on the problem list.
- The tension between globalization and nationalism has not been resolved yet.
- Globalization is not an abstraction; it has affected what people in many regions
ate, what kind of education they sought, what diseases they might contract, etc. It
has stimulated a sense of adventure and the excitement of encountering different
cultures, while also creating a sense that risks were too great and that one’s own way
of thinking about things must be protected from outside contagion. It has defined key
political issues. The daily meanings of globalization are more important now than
ever before, but they are not brand new. The emergence of globalization over time
is a story of changes people have encountered in many aspects of life, of new
stimulus and new anxiety alike. This mixture continues to unfold.
