Globalisation: a geographical process
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The image of the ‘blue planet’ seen from space offers a powerful vantage point that helps us to comprehend the world as just one location. Globalisation is a geographical process that is concerned with the world becoming compressed into a single place. From space, you can see no political borders, no countries. Spaceship Earth is one geographical location. Globalisation is the greatest of all geographical processes and it goes far beyond economics to include topics such as music, food and language - almost everything. Only Numpties think that globalisation is just about Starbucks and McDonald's. |
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Making ConnectionsA Geographical way of understanding globalisation is that it is about making connections between places on a global scale.
Today, more and more places around the world are connected to each other in ways that were previously unimaginable. So, not only are more connections being made between places across the globe but also the quality and variety of these connections has ushered in a new era of global thinking that has profound economic, cultural and political implications. Electronic globalisation is one of the most staggering developments in global connectivity. The World Wide Web is a British innovation that now connects people and places in ways that were simply unthinkable only two decades ago. However, we should take care to remember that global connections amount to more than surfing the Internet. We live in an age where tourism has become one of the world’s largest industries. The growth in long-haul travel means that considerable numbers of relatively affluent tourists are able to connect with other people and places across the globe. The complex nature of global connectivity has been discussed by Arjun Appadurai who, in 1996, identified five types of global flows that serve to connect places around the globe. His work has profoundly influenced the way geographers have come to understand the processes associated with globalisation. |
Today’s accelerated global connectivity means that globalisation is characterised by time-space compression, where technologies of transport and communication have been able to overcome the often-vast distances that previously separated one place from another. Here, it is important to note that time-space compression is a partial and selective process that privileges some people and places at the expense of others. Whilst a technological élite may choose to upgrade to a faster broadband Internet connection, millions of the world’s poorest people do not have access to domestic electricity, let alone can plug into the Internet. Although many are excluded from the benefits of globalisation, few of the world’s citizens remain unaffected by the global interdependence brought about by a complex world of global connections. Appadurai’s Five Global Flows
Ethnoscapes – movements of people, including tourists, economic migrants, refugees and business travellers.
Finanscapes – global money flows often driven by interconnected currency markets, stock exchanges and commodity markets. Ideoscapes – the global spread of ideas and political ideologies. For example, Greenpeace has become a worldwide environmental movement. Mediascapes – the global distribution of media images that appear on our television screens, in newspapers and on radio. Technoscapes – the movement of technologies around the globe. For example, the ‘Green Revolution’ in rice cultivation. Together, each of these five flows contribute to a dynamic and changing global landscape. |
What is glocalisation?
Rio's Copacabana beach and a generic looking beach.
Generic space could be anywhere and nowhere. The generic is a universal concept that lacks particular features that could be experienced as unique. Places are real and much more interesting. They can have a brand image and are often bursting with engaging features that enable people to take pride in their locality.
Space is an important concept in Geography. Domestic space, wilderness, suburbia, parkland or down town - these are useful examples of generic space. Although space is supposed to be a theoretical idea, some people worry that globalisation is making some places turn generic.
Globalisation risks providing a very bland generic experience that lacks personality - think of how some international airports can all seem the same after a while. The monotony of a generic world presents a challenge to global corporations who do not wish to alienate their customers across the world. It is also a challenge for communities that don't want their town to lose their identity.
Space is an important concept in Geography. Domestic space, wilderness, suburbia, parkland or down town - these are useful examples of generic space. Although space is supposed to be a theoretical idea, some people worry that globalisation is making some places turn generic.
Globalisation risks providing a very bland generic experience that lacks personality - think of how some international airports can all seem the same after a while. The monotony of a generic world presents a challenge to global corporations who do not wish to alienate their customers across the world. It is also a challenge for communities that don't want their town to lose their identity.
