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Part 1
1. Briefly discuss some of the features of globalisation.
Globalisation is a multifaceted process that has transformed the way societies, economies, and
cultures interact across the world. It is marked by increasing interdependence among nations and has
led to profound changes in communication, trade, and cultural exchange. Several defining features
illustrate the complexity and impact of this phenomenon.
Interconnectedness and Acceleration of Change
One of the central features of globalisation is the accelerating interconnectedness of nations through
economic integration, mass media, and modern transportation systems. This process has intensified
since the early 1990s due to revolutionary developments in technology and the global economy,
particularly influenced by free-market capitalism and political shifts such as the end of the Cold War
(APY3705, 2015).
Compression of Time and Space
Globalisation has also been described as a "compression of time and space," referring to how
advancements in communication technologies and transport have significantly reduced the barriers
of distance and time. Instantaneous digital communication allows for the rapid flow of ideas, goods,
and services across borders, linking disparate regions into a single, dynamic global system
(APY3705, 2015).
Cross-Border Flows and Cultural Interaction
The process facilitates the movement of people, technology, finance, media, and ideologies across
national boundaries. These flows contribute to both cultural homogenisation and diversification, as
local societies adopt, adapt, or resist global influences. Such cultural exchanges often challenge
traditional practices, necessitating more complex, multi-sited ethnographic studies to understand the
new global contexts (APY3705, 2015).
Economic Integration and Inequality
Economic integration is another defining element, wherein global supply chains and financial
markets link distant communities in networks of mutual dependence. However, this integration is
uneven and has exacerbated global inequalities. While it generates wealth in some regions, it often
does so at the expense of others, as seen in practices like low-wage labor and e-waste dumping in
poorer countries (APY3705, 2015).
Challenges and Contradictions
Globalisation also brings contradictions and challenges. While it dissolves traditional borders
through technological and economic connectivity, it simultaneously reinforces them through policies
and economic divisions. Moreover, it can lead to environmental degradation, cultural clashes, and
deepen the digital divide if access to opportunities is unequally distributed (APY3705, 2015).
Part 1
1. Briefly discuss some of the features of globalisation.
Globalisation is a multifaceted process that has transformed the way societies, economies, and
cultures interact across the world. It is marked by increasing interdependence among nations and has
led to profound changes in communication, trade, and cultural exchange. Several defining features
illustrate the complexity and impact of this phenomenon.
Interconnectedness and Acceleration of Change
One of the central features of globalisation is the accelerating interconnectedness of nations through
economic integration, mass media, and modern transportation systems. This process has intensified
since the early 1990s due to revolutionary developments in technology and the global economy,
particularly influenced by free-market capitalism and political shifts such as the end of the Cold War
(APY3705, 2015).
Compression of Time and Space
Globalisation has also been described as a "compression of time and space," referring to how
advancements in communication technologies and transport have significantly reduced the barriers
of distance and time. Instantaneous digital communication allows for the rapid flow of ideas, goods,
and services across borders, linking disparate regions into a single, dynamic global system
(APY3705, 2015).
Cross-Border Flows and Cultural Interaction
The process facilitates the movement of people, technology, finance, media, and ideologies across
national boundaries. These flows contribute to both cultural homogenisation and diversification, as
local societies adopt, adapt, or resist global influences. Such cultural exchanges often challenge
traditional practices, necessitating more complex, multi-sited ethnographic studies to understand the
new global contexts (APY3705, 2015).
Economic Integration and Inequality
Economic integration is another defining element, wherein global supply chains and financial
markets link distant communities in networks of mutual dependence. However, this integration is
uneven and has exacerbated global inequalities. While it generates wealth in some regions, it often
does so at the expense of others, as seen in practices like low-wage labor and e-waste dumping in
poorer countries (APY3705, 2015).
Challenges and Contradictions
Globalisation also brings contradictions and challenges. While it dissolves traditional borders
through technological and economic connectivity, it simultaneously reinforces them through policies
and economic divisions. Moreover, it can lead to environmental degradation, cultural clashes, and
deepen the digital divide if access to opportunities is unequally distributed (APY3705, 2015).
