Globalization: Cliché or Explanation of Global Change? What is globalization?/How should it be conceptualized? Does contemporary globalization represent a novel condition? Is globalization associated with the demise, the resurgence or the transformation of state power? In what other locations/scales does power/sovereignty reside? Does contemporary globalization impose new limits to politics? How can globalization be civilized and democratized?

Jihad v. McWorld Benjamin Barber

Elements of McWorld

Elements of Jihad

Elements of Tradition (v. Modernity ) Religion/ Non-material Values Local/National Identity National/Local Mobilization Communal Loyalty Emphasis on Unique History Defense of Territory Landscape Preservation (esp. symbolic) Materialism/Material Values Amorphous Identity Economic/Cultural Imports Individual Ambitions Universal Experience Connections with nongroup members Imported Elements

The Clash of Civilizations? Samuel Huntington

Huntington’s Civilizations

Clash of Civilizations Major Thesis

Huntington’s Proposals

Amartya Sen Critique Morally offensive and destructive –Simplified: Culture is much more than religion- we are multi-dimensional. –Classification supercedes the possibility that we chose our own identities –Stereotyping is morally gross –Classification is divisive Amartya Sen Critique of Huntington

Politically Destructive: –If we chose our own identifications we can make political associations based on different identities Pakistan/Bangladesh Poverty –We also might chose to make ethical, not identity based associations Amartya Sen Critique of Huntington

Ignores diversity of traditions within “civilizations” –Muslims and other traditions in India “Western” appropriation of tolerance ignore diversity of this cultural trait Ignores major global interactions in science, technology, mathematics and literature over past millenia Amartya Sen Critique of Huntington

Far reaching effects: –Gives exaggerated commanding voice to religious leaders –Causes self-identification of non-western world as “the other” at the expense of freedom to chose among many identities –Focuses on what divides v. what unites; fuels alienation –Interferes with positive work of identifying solutions to inqualities without losing technological and economic opportunities

Doreen Massey Lecture