Globalization

GEORGE RITZER is Distinguished University Professor at the University of Maryland, USA. He is author of numerous books including The McDonaldization of Society (9th ed., 2019) and editor of The Blackwell Encyclopedia of Sociology (2007) and The Wiley Blackwell Encyclopedia of Globalization (2012). PAUL DEAN is Associate Professor of Sociology and Social Justice at Ohio Wesleyan University, USA. He is an award-winning teacher and researcher in areas including globalization, social inequality, economic sociology, social movements, race and ethnicity, and the scholarship of teaching and learning. He is co-author with George Ritzer of Globalization: A Basic Text (2nd ed. 2015).

• Preface xiiAbout the Companion Website xiii1 Globalization 1Conceptualization, Origins, and HistoryConceptualizing Globalization 3From “Solids” to “Liquids” 4“Flows” 7“Heavy” and “Light” 8“Heavy” Structures that Expedite “Flows” 10“Heavy” Structures as Barriers to “Flows” 12Subtler Structural Barriers 16Origins and History of Globalization 17Hardwired 17Cycles 18Phases 18Events 19Broader, More Recent Changes 20Chapter Summary 23Discussion Questions 24Further Reading 24References 252 Theorizing Globalization 29Imperialism 30Colonialism 32Development 33Americanization 35Anti‐Americanism as a Global Process 37Neoliberalism 38Neoliberalism: Basic Ideas 41The Neoliberal State 42Critiquing Neoliberalism: Karl Polanyi 43Contemporary Criticisms of Neoliberalism 44Neo‐Marxian Theories 46Transnational Capitalism 46Empire 48Chapter Summary 51Discussion Questions 53Further Reading 53References 543 Structuring the Global Economy 58Before Bretton Woods 59A Prior Epoch of Globalization 59Economic Development During and After WW     II 60Bretton Woods and the Bretton Woods System 61General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT) 63World Trade Organization (WTO) 64International Monetary Fund (IMF) 65World Bank 67The End of Bretton Woods 69Changes in, and Critiques of, Bretton Woods‐Era Organizations 70Other Important Economic Organizations 74The Role of Emerging Economies 75The Multinational Corporation (MNC) 76The Myth of Economic Globalization? 79Chapter Summary 80Discussion Questions 81Further Reading 81References 824 Global Economic Flows 85Trade 86Trade Surpluses and Deficits 86Global Trade: Economic Chains and Networks 87Global Value Chains 88T‐Shirts 88iPhones 90Conventional, Hybrid, and Electric Automobiles 91Increasing Competition for Commodities 92The Economic Impact of the Flow of Oil 93Oil Wealth 94Race to the Bottom and Upgrading 96Upgrading in the Less Developed World? 96Outsourcing 98Financial Globalization 100The Great Recession 100Consumption 104Consumer Objects and Services 106Consumers 106Consumption Processes 106Consumption Sites 107Global Resistance 107Chapter Summary 108Discussion Questions 109Further Reading 109References 1095 Global Political Structures and Processes 113On Political Flows 114The Nation‐State 115Threats to the Nation‐State 116Global Flows 116Universal Human Rights 117Sustainability and Liquid Sovereignty 118In Defense of the Nation‐State 119“Imagined Community” 120Changes in Global Nation‐State Relations 122The European Union and Brexit 122China 125United Nations (UN) 126United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) 127United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) 127Global Governance 127Civil Society 130International Non‐Governmental Organizations (INGOS) 134Chapter Summary 137Discussion Questions 138Further Reading 139References 1396 High‐Tech Global Flows and Structures 143Technology, Media, and the InternetTechnology, Time–Space Compression, and Distanciation 144Space‐Based Technologies 146Robots and Economic Production 147Leapfrogging 148Mass Media 151Media Imperialism 152New Global Media 153Thinking About the Global Media 154The Internet and Social Media 156Online Social Networking 157Bitcoin and Blockchain 159The Internet in China 161The Fight for Global Internet Governance 163Social Media and Social Movements 164Chapter Summary 166Discussion Questions 167Further Reading 167References 1687 Global Culture and Cultural Flows 171Cultural Differentialism 173Civilizations 173Cultural Hybridization 177Muslim Girl Scouts 179Appadurai’s “Landscapes” 180Cultural Convergence 182Cultural Imperialism 182Deterritorialization 184World Culture 184McDonaldization 186McDonaldization, Expansionism, and Globalization 188Beyond Fast Food 189The Globalization of Nothing 191Cricket: Local, Glocal, or Grobal? 192Chapter Summary 193Discussion Questions 194Further Reading 194References 1958 Global Flows of Migrants 198Migrants 199Migration 200Flows of Migrants to and from the United States 203Undocumented Mexican Migrants to the United States 203Increased Law Enforcement 205Flows of Migrants into and within Europe 208Brexit and British–EU Migration 208Undocumented Migration Across the Mediterranean into Europe 209Flows of Migrants in Asia 211The Case Against the Backlash to Undocumented, or “Illegal,” Immigration 213Remittances 215Diaspora 218Chapter Summary 220Discussion Questions 221Further Reading 221References 2229 Global Environmental Flows 225Modernization and Environmental Flows 227Differences Among Nation‐States 229Global Climate Change 230Rising Sea Levels 231Loss of Biodiversity 232Threats to Food Security 233Global Warming and Health 233Other Environmental Problems 234Destruction of Natural Habitats 235Decline of Fish 235Decline in Fresh Water 236The Paradox of Bottled Water 237Toxic Chemicals 238Population Growth 238Global Responses 239Sustainable Development 239Multilateral Agreements 241Carbon Tax 242Cap‐and‐Trade 243Carbon Neutrality 243Alternative Fuels and Power Sources 244A Technological Fix? 245Economic Issues 245Opposing Environmentalism 246Collapse 246Chapter Summary 247Discussion Questions 249Further Reading 249References 25010 Negative Global Flows and Processes 253Dangerous Imports, Diseases, Terrorism, WarDangerous Imports 255Borderless Diseases 256HIV/AIDS 256Ebola Virus 257Tropical Diseases in Europe 258Terrorism 258War 265Global Military Structures 268Drones and Other Technology 269Information War, Trolls, and Fakes News 270Cyber‐War 272The Impact of Negative Global Flows on Individuals 273Chapter Summary 274Discussion Questions 275Further Reading 276References 27611 Economic Power and Inequality 280Class Inequality and Global CitiesClass Inequality 281Inequality in the World System 282Trends in Economic Inequality 283“The Bottom Billion” 286Conflict Trap 286Natural Resources Trap 287Trap of Being Landlocked with Bad Neighbors 288Bad Governance Trap 288Summary 289Growing Global Inequality in Health and Healthcare 290Global Digital Divide 291Global Cities 292Global Cities in the World Economy 292Changes in the Network of World Cities 294Global Slums and Gentrification 295Chapter Summary 299Discussion Questions 300Further Reading 300References 30112 Global Inequalities II 303Inequalities of Race, Ethnicity, Gender, and SexualityDefining Majority–Minority Relations 304Majority–Minority Relations in a Global Context 304The Social Construction of Race, Ethnicity, Gender, and Sexuality 307Intersectionality 309Race and Ethnicity 310Ethnic Conflict and Genocide 313The Latin Americanization of Race and the Value of Whiteness 314Gender 316Gender and the Economy 317Global Care Chains 321Responding to and Resisting Global Minority Status: The Case of Women 322Sexuality 323Chapter Summary 325Discussion Questions 326Further Reading 327References 32713 Dealing with, Resisting, and the Future of Globalization 331Dealing with Globalization 332Dealing with the Global Economy 332Protectionism 332Fair Trade 335Helping the “Bottom Billion” 337Dealing with Political Globalization 338Accountability 339Transparency 339Resisting Globalization 340Local Resistance 342The Global Rise of Populism 343Social Movements 345The Movement for Global Justice and Democratization 346Social Movements and the Global Boomerang 348World Social Forum 349Is the Resistance to Globalization Significant? 350The Futures of Globalization 350A “Mad Max” Scenario 352Chapter Summary 353Discussion Questions 354Further Reading 355References 355Index 359