NCERT Class 12 Political Science Globalisation

Chapter 9

Globalisation

THE CONCEPT OF GLOBALISATION

Janardhan works in a call centre. He leaves late in the evening for work, becomes John when he enters his office, acquires a new accent and speaks a different language (than he does when he is at home) to communicate with his clients who are living thousands of miles away. He works all night, which is actually day time for his overseas customers. Janardhan is rendering a service to somebody who in all probability he is never likely to meet physically. This is hisdaily routine. His holidays also do not correspond to the Indian calendar but to those of his clients who happen to be from the US. Ramdhari has gone shopping to buy a birthday gift for his nine-year old daughter. He has promised her a small cycle anddecides to search the market for something he finds affordable as well as of reasonable quality. He finally does buy a cycle, which is actually manufactured in China but is being marketed in India. It meets his requirements of quality as well as affordability,and Ramdhari decides to go ahead with his purchase. Last year, Ramdhari on his daughter’s insistence had bought her a Barbie doll, which was originally manufactured in the US but was being sold in India.

Sarika is a first generation learner who has done remarkably well throughout her school and college life by working very hard. She now has an opportunity to take on a job and begin an independent career, which the women of her family had neverdreamt of earlier. While some of her relatives are opposed, she finally decides to go ahead because of the new opportunities that have been made available to her generation.

All three examples illustrate an aspect each of what we call globalisation. In the first instance Janardhan was participating in the globalisation of services. Ramdhari’s birthday purchases tell us something about the movementof commodities from one part of the world to another. Sarika is faced with a conflict of values partly originating from a new opportunity that earlier was not available to the women in her family but today is part of a reality that has gained wider acceptability. If we look for examples of th use of the term ‘globalisation’ in real life, we will realise that it is used in various contexts. Let us look at some examples, different from the ones that we have looked above:Some farmers committed suicide because their crops failed. They had bought very expensive seeds supplied by a multinational company (MNC).

An Indian company bought a major rival company based in Europe, despite protests by some of the current owners. Many retail shopkeepers fearthat they would lose their livelihoods if some major international companies open retail chains in the country. A film producer in Mumbai was accused of lifting the story of his film from another film made in Hollywood. A militant group issued a statement threatening college girls who wear western clothes.

These examples show us that globalisation need not always be positive; it can have negative consequences for the people. Indeed, there are many who believe that globalisation has more negative consequences than positive. These examples also show us that globalisation need not be only about the economic issues, nor is the direction of influence always from the rich to the poor countries.

QUESTION

1. Which of the statements are TRUE about globalisation?

a. Globalisation is purely an economic phenomenon.

b. Globalisation began in 1991.

c. Globalisation is the same thing as westernisation.

d. Globalisation is a multi-dimensional phenomenon.

2. Which of the statements are TRUE about the impact of globalisation?

a. Globalisation has been uneven in its impact on states and societies.

b. Globalisation has had a uniform impact on all states and societies.

c. The impact of globalisation has been confined to the political sphere.

d. Globalisation inevitably results in cultural homogeneity.

3. Which of the statements are TRUE about the causes of globalisation?

a. Technology is an important cause of globalisation.

b. Globalisation is caused by a particular community of people.

c. Globalisation originated in the US.

d. Economic interdependence alone causes globalisation.

4. Which of the statements are TRUE about globalisation?

a. Globalisation is only about movement of commodities

b. Globalisation does not involve a conflict of values.

c. Services are an insignificant part of globalisation.

d. Globalisation is about worldwide interconnectedness.

5. Which of the statements are FALSE about globalisation?

a. Advocates of globalisation argue that it will result in greater economic growth.

b. Critics of globalisation argue that it will result in greater economic disparity.

c. Advocates of globalisation argue that it will result in cultural homogenisation.

d. Critics of globalisation argue that it will result in cultural homogenisation.

6. What is worldwide interconnectedness? What are its components?

7. How has technology contributed to globalisation?

8. Critically evaluate the impact of the changing role of the state in the developing countries in the light of globalisation.

9. What are the economic implications of globalisation? How has globalisation impacted on India with regard to this particular dimension?

10. Do you agree with the argument that globalisation leads to cultural heterogeneity?

11. How has globalisation impacted on India and how is India in turn impacting on globalisation?

Please refer to attached file for NCERT Class 12 Political Science Globalisation