Globalisation Notes
Globalisation
Convergence Theories
– Kerr et al 1960
– Hardt & Negri
– Ritzer
– Hyperglobalists
• Varieties of Capitalism
• Forces drawing EU towards US model
• Forces pulling EU apart
Convergence Theories
“Globalisation is the integration of product markets as a consequence of removing trade barriers; internationalisation of financial markets stimulated by deregulation restrictions on capital flows, cross-border spread of technological advances and transnational organisation of production by multinational companies”
Kerr et al 1960 (Industrialism & the Industrial Man)
• The industrial society knows no national boundaries; it is destined to be a worldwide society (Kerr et al, 1960)
The first attempt to formulate a convergence theory would be by Clark Kerr et al. whose “main argument was that the world’s employment regimes would experience a certain convergence to greater uniformity” (Frege, 2013, p. 12).The central driving force for this convergence was seen to be the pressure of new technologies, which was central to the logic of industrialism. Other forces were the push of progress, education, equality and the power of comparisons. (Kerr, 1960).
Kerr further argued that the emerging common model would match the Anglo-American pattern of the time which they called “pluralistic industrialism”. This they defined as a system in which employers and unions developed increasingly effective and non-conflictual bargaining relationships, making detailed state regulation unnecessary.
It is worth noting that Kerr conceded that different employment relations patterns within “pluralisitic industrialism” could co-exist for some time. Factors promoting continued diversity were persistence of particular actor strategies, the imprint of national culture and existence of distinctive industrial cultures.
One of the main critiques of this theory is it highlights the Cold War mentality of American social science in that the “the US was seen as the technological
Convergence Theories
– Kerr et al 1960
– Hardt & Negri
– Ritzer
– Hyperglobalists
• Varieties of Capitalism
• Forces drawing EU towards US model
• Forces pulling EU apart
Convergence Theories
“Globalisation is the integration of product markets as a consequence of removing trade barriers; internationalisation of financial markets stimulated by deregulation restrictions on capital flows, cross-border spread of technological advances and transnational organisation of production by multinational companies”
Kerr et al 1960 (Industrialism & the Industrial Man)
• The industrial society knows no national boundaries; it is destined to be a worldwide society (Kerr et al, 1960)
The first attempt to formulate a convergence theory would be by Clark Kerr et al. whose “main argument was that the world’s employment regimes would experience a certain convergence to greater uniformity” (Frege, 2013, p. 12).The central driving force for this convergence was seen to be the pressure of new technologies, which was central to the logic of industrialism. Other forces were the push of progress, education, equality and the power of comparisons. (Kerr, 1960).
Kerr further argued that the emerging common model would match the Anglo-American pattern of the time which they called “pluralistic industrialism”. This they defined as a system in which employers and unions developed increasingly effective and non-conflictual bargaining relationships, making detailed state regulation unnecessary.
It is worth noting that Kerr conceded that different employment relations patterns within “pluralisitic industrialism” could co-exist for some time. Factors promoting continued diversity were persistence of particular actor strategies, the imprint of national culture and existence of distinctive industrial cultures.
One of the main critiques of this theory is it highlights the Cold War mentality of American social science in that the “the US was seen as the technological