Post on 28-Dec-2015
The Study of GeographyWhy it Matters??
Globalization:Globalization:
• The increasing interdependence The increasing interdependence and interconnectedness of and interconnectedness of placesplaces globally.globally.
Geography Defined: “earth writing,” study of the earth, “why of where”
Implications of Globalization
• The stretching of global connections, relations and networks
• Making them faster and more intense.
• Increasing awareness about the world.
Interdependence of Places
• Place have become increasingly interdependent.
• Caused by a set of interrelated forces or processes that we call globalization.
• Globalization helps to extend and deepen linkages between sets of places (and peoples)
Why Geography Still Matters
• Questions of POWER: Global flows are managed in particular place(s)
• Global flows generate uneven spatial impacts.
• Human Geography has become more rather than less important.
World-system• CORE - Industrialized, market-oriented countries
– Western Europe, North America, Japan, Australia.
• PERIPHERY - Poor, ex-colonial nations– Kenya, Bolivia, Pakistan, etc.
• SEMI-PERIPHERY - Partially industrialized
ex-colonial nations (both exploited and exploiter)
—South Africa, Brazil, Mexico, South Korea, etc.
Not regional geography approach
• Country-by-country, or region-by-region
• Examines internal geography of each world region.
• Does not adequately show connections between regions (basis of globalization)
Systematic geography approach
Through human geographic lenses:• Population geography• Cultural geography • Economic geography• Urban geography • Political geography • Some environmental geography
Population geography
• Growth in Periphery
• “Graying” in Core
• Resulting changes in migration patterns
• Causes and consequences of forced migration.
Cultural geography
• Relationship between place & cultural identity.
• Cultural homogenization (Americanization) from globalization?
• Yet cultural differences across places are becoming significant?
Economic geography
• Rising economic interdependence among places.
• Local responses in turn affect globalization.
• “Glocalization” a better term than globalization?
Political geography
• Economics supposedly eroding significance of borders.
• Ethnic minorities feel they deserve states of their own.
• States under attack from above (global economics) and from below (ethnic communities).
• Yet states are still powerful, and can respond.
Urban geography
• Different types of cities in core and periphery.
• How globalization affects cities. Are they still needed in the information age ?
• Strong reasons for cities to still exist.
Watershed momentin human history
Dramatic changes in social, cultural, political, economic relations at the…
• Global scale
• State (national) scale
• Regional scale
• Local scale
• Scales interrelate, affect each other
Changes since 1990
• Collapse of Soviet Union, end of Cold War.
• Rise of local ethnic/religious nationalism.
• New forms and locations of warfare.
• Communications revolution (Internet).
• Massive increase in economic globalization.
Collapse of Soviet bloc
• Changes in former Soviet Union and allies.
• Changes in the developing world.
• Changes in the U.S., now without a powerful enemy.
Rise of ethnic nationalism• Soviet, Yugoslav breakups.
• Minority ethnic groups looking to end majority “oppression.”
• Increased local/ethnic identity as reaction to impersonal globalization.
• Increased ability to survive as smaller country.
Communications revolution
• Only 50 websites in 1992; 2.5 billion + today.
• Internet makes world more connected, yet in more specialized niches.
• Can be used for globalization from
above, or from below.
New forms andlocations of warfare
• Smaller, more brutal wars.
• Military technologies more efficient, usually not made by combatants.
• Freelancers can wage war
• Physical distance or borders no longer protected
• Terrorist groups/Extremists creating havoc worldwide
Economic Globalization
Country 1 Country 2
From above (elites)
Frombelow
Globalization from above• Globalization from the top down
• Increasing power of corporations through internationalizing of production and marketing.
• Financial markets transcend national
boundaries.
• Telecommunications spreads ideas, cultures
Players in globalizationfrom above
• Governments and elites in every country
• Multinational corporations
• International agencies (UN)
• Global trade/finance agencies– World Bank,IMF, WTO
Globalization from below
• Globalization from the bottom up.
• Greater economic interdependence eroding governments?
• Increasing influence of local scale to affect global policies: “Think Globally, Act Locally.”
• Easier communications among those at the bottom?
Players in globalizationfrom below
• Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) —Greenpeace, Amnesty Int’l, etc.
• Alliances of communities with a common concern, linked through Internet.– Seattle WTO protests, 1999
• Some international agencies