SOC 10007 Understanding the modern world
Globalisation and Rationalisation
Introduction The era of modernity, began and flourished in the late nineteenth century and the early twentieth century. In every language, the meaning of ‘modern’ would mean up to date or contemporary. In sociology, it was referred to as the ‘Great transformation’, a term which reflects the enormous magnitude of change that took place (Polanyi, 1973). The main features of modernity were growth of productive capabilities, efficient food production, and the replacement of agriculture by industrial manufacturing, as the dominant form of productive activity. Modernity saw the development of new political ideas, such as liberalism, conservatism and of scientific and technical innovation. Religious doctrines declined as the process of secularisation emerged, with science, truth and progress as the new faith.
The two modernisation processes I will focus on are: Globalisation and Rationalisation. This case study, analysing the impact of these two social processes, will involve an interview with a family member, in which a series of questions will be asked in relation to the topics. I will use a series of open ended questions. I will send a copy of my questions in an email to the interviewer and have a paper copy with the questions and answers.
Literature review
Globalisation refers to the fact that we all increasingly live in one world, so that we become more interdependent in areas political, economic, financial, cultural, and social, with productivity and international distribution of labour (Giddens, A 2009). It was stimulated by the analyses of global media by Marshall McLuhan, who coined the term 'Global Village'. The dynamics of globalisation have made the world grow smaller and countries have become increasingly interlinked. Its dimensions operate at both the global level and local level at the same time. The use of satellite
References: Bilton, T, Bonnett, K, Jones, P, Lawson, T, Skinner, D, Stanworth, M, Webster, A 2002, Introductory Sociology, 4th edn, Palgrave Macmillan, New York. <http://onlineres.swin.edu.au.ezproxy.lib.swin.edu.au/932339.pdf> Giddens, A, 2009 Chapter 4 Globalisation and the changing world in Sociology, 6th edn, Polity, Cambridge, pp. 125-151. < http://onlineres.swin.edu.au.ezproxy.lib.swin.edu.au/742187.pdf> Kloska, A, 2015 Unpublished interview for SLSS 101 Case Study, Swinburne Online, South Australia, 11 January. Pakulski, J 2011 Chapter 18 Globalisation, power and social movements in J Germov & M Poole, Public sociology: an introduction to Australian society, Allen & Unwin, Crow’s Nest NSW, Ch. 18, pp. 350-371. < http://onlineres.swin.edu.au.ezproxy.lib.swin.edu.au/932408.pdf> Ritzer, G, 2001 Chapter 2 Irrationality of Rationality in Explorations in the Sociology of Consumption: Fast food, credit cards and casinos, pp. 23-25. <http://web.a.ebscohost.com.ezproxy.lib.swin.edu.au/ehost/ebookviewer/ebook?sid=7552e84c-e262-49ce-9236-66d83174d889%40sessionmgr4002&ppid=pp_23&hid=4214&vid=0&format=EB>