GLOBALIZATION
In our times,
globalization has occurred to be the most dominant theme of intellectual endeavours. The great intensity and velocity of
globalization process has affected the human social life in its all conceivable manifestations across the globe, though the degree of impact differs from one society to another. Although globalization is a multidimensional historical process, yet the socio-cultural aspects are the most pronounced than any other aspect and than ever before. In fact, this is precisely the reason why globalization has drawn attention of intellectuals the world over.
The globalization can be defined as a process leading to the emergence of a global cultural system which differs with world-system, merely encompassing the economic inter-connectedness of nation-states. Yet, inter-societal interaction remains the central basis of globalization.
The globalization is a multi-dimensional and composite process, as stated earlier, however, it has three major theoretical aspects or arenas as under:
(a) The economy arena
(b) The polity arena
(c) The cultural arena
Anthony Giddens (1990) argues that globalization is the direct consequence of modernization making a difference between modernity and globalization. For him modernity and postmodernity are culturalistic while globalization an economic phenomenon. Giddens adds, to the modernity, the process of time-space distanciation as the chief constituent feature of globalization. Thereby he means the extension of temporal & spatial distance of social
relationship.
Globalization can be explained in terms of a consciousness category too. Waters (1995) defines globalization as a social process in which the constraints of geography on social and cultural arrangements recede and in which people become increasingly aware that they are receding.
Globalization, being a composite process, results from the convergence of a series of developments. They include: inter-connected economies, revolutionary technological advances, religious exchanges, ecological crises, humanistic concerns, global military systems, world health crises, global political systems and movements etc.
Stretching, thus, socio-cultural relations across nation-states in an unifying manner is globalization. The astonishing advancement in the field of communication technology, particularly, is the prime propelling force behind it.