An accessible and comprehensive introduction to key concepts in globalization written by leading authors in the field
In the comprehensively revised Third Edition of Globalization: A Basic Text, distinguished researchers and authors George Ritzer and Paul Dean deliver an up-to-date introduction to major trends and topics related to the study of globalization. The book includes accessible and rigorous material on the key theories and major topics in globalization, as well as modern developments like the rise of populism and far-right political groups, Brexit, migration and backlash to it, trade negotiations, social media and the spread of misinformation, climate change, social justice issues, and COVID-19.
The new edition includes a greater focus on the structures of inequality that encourage or discourage global flows. Additionally, new examples and sources from Central and South America, Africa, and Asia are used to illustrate key concepts, and round out the international coverage of book. Throughout, the authors use clear and helpful metaphors including solids, liquids, gases, and flows to introduce and explain the complex nature of globalization in an engaging and understandable way.
Readers will also benefit from the inclusion of:
- A thorough introduction to globalization and related processes, including imperialism, colonialism, development, and westernization
- An exploration of neoliberalism, including its roots, principles, criticisms, and Neo-Marxist alternatives
- A practical discussion of global political structures and processes, as well as global economic flows of production and consumption
- A concise treatment of negative global flows and processes, including dangerous imports, diseases, crime, terrorism, and war
- Analysis of the changing nature of globalization and de-globalization, and the social movements and technological developments driving these changes
- More images, charts, and graphs to help illustrate and highlight the concepts contained in the book
Perfect for advanced undergraduates studying globalization across sociology, political science, geography, anthropology, and economics, Globalization: A Basic Text, Third Edition will also be essential reading for students taking courses in culture, economy and inequality, and migration taught from a global perspective.
Table of Contents
About the Website xi
List of Figures xii
Preface xiii
1 Globalization I 1
Liquids, Flows, and Structures
Some of the Basics 2
From Solids to Liquids (to Gases) 3
Flows 6
Heavy, Light, Weightless 9
Heavy Structures That Expedite Flows 11
Heavy Structures as Barriers to Flows 16
The Winners and Losers of Global Flows 18
On the Increasing Ubiquity of Global Flows and Structures 20
Thinking About Global Flows and Structures 21
Chapter Summary 23
2 Globalization II 31
Some Basic Issues, Debates, and Controversies
Is There Such a Thing as Globalization? 32
Is it Globalization, Transnationalization, or Regionalization? 35
If There is Such a Thing as Globalization, When Did it Begin? 36
Globalization or Globalizations? 43
What Drives Globalization? 47
Does Globalization Hop Rather than Flow? 48
If There Is Such a Thing as Globalization, Is It Inexorable? 49
Who Controls Globalization? 51
Does Globaphilia or Globaphobia Have the Upper Hand? 53
What, if Anything, Can Be Done About Globalization? 57
Chapter Summary 59
3 Globalization and Related Processes 67
Imperialism, Colonialism, Development, Westernization, Easternization, and Americanization
Imperialism 68
Colonialism 72
Development 75
Westernization 77
Easternization 80
Americanization 81
Comparisons with Globalization 92
The Era of the “Posts” 93
Chapter Summary 95
4 Neoliberalism 105
Roots, Principles, Criticisms, and Neo-Marxian Alternatives
The Historical Context of Neoliberalism 106
Neoliberalism: The Basic Principles 111
Critiquing Neoliberalism 118
Neoliberalism: The Case of Israel 124
The Death of Neoliberalism? 125
Neo-Marxian Theoretical Alternatives to Neoliberalism 126
Chapter Summary 130
5 Global Political Structures and Processes 139
On Political Processes and Flows 140
The Nation-State 141
“Imagined Community” 147
Changes in Global Nation-State Relations 149
Global Political Developments and Structures 160
Regional Political Organizations 163
Global Governance 164
Civil Society 167
Chapter Summary 173
6 Structuring the Global Economy 181
Before Bretton Woods 182
Bretton Woods and the Bretton Woods System 184
The End of Bretton Woods 194
Regional Economic Integration and Free Trade 199
Other Economic Organizations 207
The Role of Emerging Economies 208
The Multinational Corporation (MNC) 209
The Myth of Economic Globalization? 212
Chapter Summary 213
7 Global Economic Flows 219
Production and Consumption
Global Trade Flows 220
Global Value Chains 222
Increasing Competition for Commodities 231
The Economic Impact of the Flow of Oil 232
Race to the Bottom and Upgrading 235
Outsourcing 237
Financial Globalization 239
Corporations, People, and Ideas 243
Consumption 246
Chapter Summary 253
8 Global Culture and Cultural Flows 261
Cultural Differentialism 263
Cultural Hybridization 272
Cultural Convergence 276
Sport: A Case Study for Global Culture 287
Chapter Summary 293
9 High-tech Global Flows and Structures 301
Technology, Mass Media, the Internet, and Social Media
Technology, Time-Space Compression, and Distanciation 302
Mass Media 311
The Internet and Social Media 318
Chapter Summary 332
10 Global Flows of People 341
Migration, Human Trafficking, and Tourism
Migrants 342
Migration Flows 345
Human Trafficking 369
Tourism 372
Chapter Summary 374
11 Global Environmental Flows 383
Modernization and Environmental Flows 385
Differences among Nation-States 387
Global Climate Change 388
Other Environmental Problems 399
Global Responses 404
Framing Global Responses 413
From Lightness to Heaviness in Environmental Flows 416
Collapse 416
Chapter Summary 417
12 Negative Global Flows and Processes 427
Diseases, Dangerous Imports, Crime, Terrorism, War
Borderless Diseases 429
Dangerous Imports 435
Crime 438
Terrorism 443
War 453
The Impact of Negative Global Flows on Individuals 462
Chapter Summary 463
13 Global Economic Power and Inequality 471
Class Inequalities and Global Cities
Class Inequality 472
Global Cities and the Rural-Urban Context 487
Chapter Summary 502
14 Global Power and Inequalities II 509
Race, Ethnicity, Gender, and Sexuality
Power and Inequality 510
Race and Ethnicity 519
Gender and Sexuality 532
Chapter Summary 543
15 Dealing With, Resisting, and the Futures Of, Globalization 553
Dealing with Globalization 554
Resisting Globalization 568
Social Movements and Alter-Globalizations 574
The Futures of Globalization 585
Chapter Summary 588
Appendix 595
Anthropology 596
Sociology 596
Political Science 597
Economics 598
Geography 600
Psychology 601
Literary Criticism (Postcolonial) 602
Other Fields 603
Glossary 607
Index 619
