2. The Shrinking World - Globalisation: Week 3
Over the latter half of the twentieth century the world has undergone irreversible change altering the course of history primarily as a
result of globalization. Globalization means a more connected world, higher levels of international trade (rise of the free market
economy), cultural exchange and technology on an unprecedented level at speeds never thought possible. Thus leading to many in
the academic, business and political sectors hailing Globalization as a force which has positively improved the lives of countless
individuals across the globe.
NGO groups including the well renowned Occupy Movement are part of the growing voice against Globalization who feels that
instead of being a force meant to aid the presence of slavery and labor camps in the modern world two remanets of the colonial era.
It has merely replaced them in a new subtle manner. Creating a situation where the wealthiest nations exploit those on the periphery
for their own advantage via economic and institutional means including economic sanctions (WTO/IMF) or the imposing of treaties
urging cooperation (coercion). Another group openly opposed to globalisation, capitalism and economic colonialism are the
Zapatistas of Mexico who refuse to be completely reshaped of influenced by these process and instead choosing to hold true to their
own worldview. The Zapatistas of Mexico also highlight another issues associated with globalization the fact that it is rapidly
eroding unique cultures and traditions around the world in a deliberate attempt to establish one dominate worldview which draws
heavily on western traditions.
(Quijano 2000, Grosfoguel 2002) One of the most powerful myths of the 20th century was the notion that the elimination of colonial
administrations amounted to the decolonization of the world. This led to the myth of the “postcolonial “world. The multiple global
structures put in place did not evaporate with the political demonization of the periphery. We continue to live under the same
“colonial power matrix”.
Furthermore globalisation has also affected travel and as a result has loosened many of the restrictions which once prevented most
of the population from moving from travelling. However it actually only allows to move at will whereas the opposite is true for the
majority of people despite the reduced costs. Globalization has redefined our concept of our borders themselves due to this many
nation states have heavily securitising their borders simultaneously creating a increasingly borderless world, this has meant that
although travel is more realistic for some in extreme cases entire populations typically from third world nations (global south)
affected by extreme poverty or devastated by war have instantly become refugees no longer able to return to their homeland but are
also unwanted by other nation states. These people known collectively as the global poor are often portrayed as unnecessary mouths
to feed who pose a threat to the economic and social structure of the nations they are trying to seek refuge in The entire situation is
exacerbated by individuals who only seek to make a profit out of tragedy via human trafficking.

3. Neoliberalism Politics and Society – Week 4
The rapid advance of capitalism within the international market and its near universal adaptation by the majority of the worlds
powers as their preferred economic system has drastically redistributed the world wealth. Unsurprisingly as a consequence
Neoliberalism throughout the fifties peaking in the sixties and remerging in the present is political school of thought which places a
strong emphasis on the strength of the economy and believes in minimal government involvement or responsibility has in turn
become more prominent especially in western nations. A direct result of this has aided in the acceleration of process namely
increasing privatisation where areas once presided over by the state such as education and health are no longer under the
responsibilities of the government, adding to the damage caused by the dismantling of the welfare state the state continues to
relinquish its responsibilities to its general population key basic liberties and freedoms are being abolished.
Harvey (2007 n.p.) ‘Neoliberalization has not been very effective in revitalizing global capital accumulation, but it has succeeded remarkably well in restoring,
or in some instances (as in Russia and China) creating, the power of an economic elite. The theoretical utopianism of neoliberal argument has, I conclude,
primarily worked as a system of justification and legitimation for whatever needed to be done to achieve this goal.’
This has led many nation states to no longer view their populous as a collective whose decisions impact the general well-being of the
state and the people instead it has been replaced by the state looking at its population as individuals a backing up a prevailing idea
associated with Neoliberalism which is that society is divide up into only two groups productive independent consumers and those
who are unable to participate in the economy viewed as having little value at all.
Ross (2012 n.p.) ‘In neo-classical economic theory, it is claimed without evidence that people are basically self-seeking, that they want above all the satisfaction
of their material desires: The ultimate objective of mankind is economic growth, and that is maximized only through raw, and lightly regulated, competition. If
the rewards of this system are spread unevenly, that is a necessary price. Others on the planet are to be regarded as either customers, competitors or factors of
production. ‘
Not only has the gradual shift towards a more neoliberal style of government resulted in the mechanisms of power being retained
and firmly consolidated by the wealthy along with reducing the overall quality of life of the ninety to ninety nine percent population
creating a ever more competitive, unequal society emphasising individualism. The rise of the neoliberal state has also successfully
fouled millions into thinking that by supporting apparently liberal neoliberal policies they are participating in a modern democracy
thus serving the duel purpose of ensuring that the elite’s powerbase stays intact whilst simultaneously quelling the masses in this
case then democracy has been sold or marketed as the perfect, modern and sole system for creating a society where all are treated
justly regardless of wealth or status in other words it has created the illusion of equality.

4. The Clash of Civilizations Week 6:
The ongoing debate of whether a clash of civilizations between the East and the West exists is centred on the idea that both are
looking to consolidate their dominance globally the goal being the establishment of a new world order dictated by the victor.
However to imagine this as merely an armed conflict fails to account for the political, cultural, historical and religious aspects. On
one side are groups who firmly believe the world is embroiled in a global struggle. They cite the September 11 attacks on the United
States and the ongoing war on terror as a prime example of the severity and reality of this ongoing conflict between the Christian
West and the Islamic East. Alternatively there are groups and individuals representing the scholarly and political communities who
oppose the whole concept. Stating that those who believe in the existence of this conflict are misappropriating the historical period of
the crusades or are influenced by a dated Cold War or mentality providing little relevance to the modern world nor does it offer a
good framework to understanding the world we are all a part of today.
Aside from the fear of further reprisals or attacks from terrorist organisations emerges the debate around whether the adaptation of
multicultural policies has been a success helping to create a more culturally diverse, aware, increasingly diverse and egalitarian
society. Or whether it has backfired generating more problems such as cultural intolerance, religious difference ultimately do little to
reshape society. The failure or success of multiculturalism is directly related to the issues surrounding the influx of foreigner's
typically from the developing world to the developed world. It is precisely this new source of mass immigration which has led to the
unfounded and irrational fear held by the white/European majority in Western nations of being overrun and outnumbered
significantly aiding the re-emergence of these negative xenophobic attitudes into mainstream society towards anything associated
with the other.
Dueck & Reimber (p.63) ‘Boutique multiculturalism accepts differences in dress, food, or worship. But the moment the sacred values of a particular ethnic or
religious community become public, the toleration ends.’
Lastly this supposed conflict between the East and the West also incorporates the struggles associated with gender relations and
roles in society. A relevant example of this is the events surround the French government’s controversial attitude towards the
wearing of the burqa or hijjab by Muslim women in public. This example highlights how intolerance has led to extremism on both
sides where you have the French and other western governments infringing basic rights and freedoms by legitimising radical laws
targeting Muslim women who wear the religious headdress and in contrast this has driven more and more individuals to wear the
burqa as a form of open and direct protest against these authorities when formally it was only a small majority that normally would
wear the burqa. Western authorities have followed this up using it to justify their intervention into the national affairs of other
nations painting themselves as acting on behalf of all women in the name of equality thinking themselves liberators.

5. Reference List
Bartels. M. L, 2009, Unequal Democracy the Political Economy of the New Gilded Age, Princeton University Press.
Beck. U, Sznaider. N & Winter. R, 2003, Global America The Consequences of Globalisation, Liverpool University Press.
Berberoglu. B, 2009, Class and Class Conflict in the Age of Globalization, Lexington Books.
Chomsky. N, 2011, Profit Over People: Neoliberalism and Global Order, Seven Stories Press.
Duveck. A, & Reimer. S. K, 2009, Peaceable Psychology, A: Christian Therapy in a World of Many Cultures n.p.
Erckel. S, 2009, Marxist and Neo-Marxist Theories on Class, Books on Demand.
Harvey. D, 2007, A Brief History of Neoliberalism, Oxford University Press.
Huntington. P. S, 2007, The Clash of Civilizations and the Remaking of World Order, Simon and Schuster.
Kim. D. K & Im. J. H, 2007, East meets west Civilisational encounters and the spirit of capitalism in east Asia volume 15 of social sciences in Asia, BRILL.
Hermann. T & Laue. V, 1987, The World Revolution of westernisation : the twentieth century in global perspective, Oxford University Press.
Mcgraw. H & Kerbo. H. R, 1996, Social Stratification and Inequality : Class conflict in historical and comparative perspective.
Parekh. C. B, 2002, Rethinking Multiculturalism: Cultural Diversity and Political Theory, Harvard University Press.
Stephan. A, 2007, The Americanisation of Europe Culture diplomacy and Anti- Americanism, Breghahn Books.
Tracy. D. J & Ragnow Marguerite, 2004, Religion and the Early Modern State: Views from China, Russia, and the West Volume 5 of Studies in Comparative Early
modern History, Cambridge University Press 2004.
Ross. C 2012, The Leaderless Revolution: How Ordinary People Will Take Power and Change Politics in the 21st Century , Blue Rider Press.