GLOBALIZATION October 16th

Globalization What is it? What causes it? What are its effects? How is it similar to/distinct from Americanization?

Globalization: Various Strands.... economic integration foreign investment trade macroeconomic policy labour market integration integrated production processes political integration EU, NAFTA WTO, OECD, IMF NORAD, NATO, UN cultural integration cultural homogenization

Globalization: Causes technology interlinkages between strands – economic integration creates incentives to create cultural integration Coca-Colonization – cultural integration creates demand for economic integration political globalization as a “political project” expand the scope of markets

Globalization: Effects Retribalization vs. McWorld power of the state – up, down and out power of various groups in society polarization additional power resources for some marginalized groups

Americanization and Globalization... distinction similarities (from a Canadian perspective) – Americanization is similar to globalization similar constraints on public policy/role of government – globalization is similar to Americanization globalized culture is heavily American “race to the bottom”

Americanization and Globalization... distinction similarities (from a Canadian perspective) different implications asymmetry of continental integration (overemphasizing globalization) cultural paranoia (overemphasizing Americanization)

Americanization/Globalization and the Canadian Political Context Canada cannot make decisions as if it exists in isolation effects of globalization/Americanization – direct effects – symbolic effects these processes may have major effects simply because Canadian policy-makers and public believe they are having these effects central elements of the political landscape