Globalisation and identity

Paper 4 – Globalisation: Key Debates, Concepts and Perspectives

Objective

Explore globalisation and identity while addressing the Cambridge A‑Level syllabus strands:

• Globalisation, Power & Politics
• Globalisation, Poverty & Inequality
• Globalisation, Media & Religion
• Globalisation, Migration & Crime
• Globalisation & Identity

1. Introduction

Globalisation is the accelerating integration of societies through rapid flows of ideas, goods, capital, people and information across national borders. It reshapes how individuals and groups understand themselves and their place in the world.

2. Core Concepts

• Global flows – movement of capital, commodities, information, people and culture.
• Transnationalism – sustained social ties that cross national boundaries (e.g., migrant networks, diaspora).
• Diaspora – dispersed communities that retain a shared sense of origin.
• Hybridisation – blending of cultural elements to produce new forms.
• Homogenisation – convergence of local cultures towards a dominant (often Western) model.
• Neoliberalism – market‑oriented policies that drive many global flows.
• Media ownership & control – concentration of media in multinational conglomerates, state‑owned broadcasters, and the regulatory regimes that shape them.

3. Syllabus‑Aligned Sub‑Sections

3.1 Globalisation, Power & Politics

• Supranational institutions – WTO, IMF, World Bank set trade, fiscal and regulatory rules that limit national policy autonomy.
• State sovereignty – tension between national control and global governance (e.g., Brexit, “digital sovereignty”).
• Transnational social movements – climate activism (Fridays for Future), #MeToo, digital campaigns that bypass traditional state channels.
• Media ownership – concentration of news and entertainment in a few global corporations (e.g., Disney, Comcast, BBC World Service) influences agenda‑setting and political discourse.

3.2 Globalisation, Poverty & Inequality

• Core‑periphery model – wealth concentrates in core nations; peripheral states supply cheap labour and raw materials.
• Neoliberal austerity – structural‑adjustment programmes often deepen inequality in the Global South.
• Giddens’ “global divide” – gap between those who can access and shape global flows and those excluded.
• Gendered dimension of poverty – women in peripheral economies face a “double burden” of unpaid care work and low‑paid informal employment, widening gender gaps.

3.3 Globalisation, Media & Religion

• Traditional vs. new media – legacy outlets (newspapers, TV, radio) vs. internet‑based platforms (YouTube, TikTok, streaming services).
• Media effects models – agenda‑setting, cultivation, uses‑and‑gratifications, reception theory. Note the shift:
  • Agenda‑setting on legacy media is top‑down; on algorithmic platforms it is driven by data‑curated feeds.
  • Cultivation is strongest for high‑frequency TV consumption; fragmented online consumption produces multiple “cultures of reception”.
• Religion as a source of social change – global Pentecostal networks, transnational Islamic activism, and digital evangelism shape political mobilisation (e.g., climate justice campaigns led by faith groups).

3.4 Globalisation, Migration & Crime

• Push‑pull factors – economic disparity, conflict, climate change.
• Transnational practices – remittances, “home‑sending” (cultural exchange), dual citizenship.
• Identity outcomes – “third‑culture kids”, hybrid diaspora identities, political mobilisation in host and home countries.
• Transnational organised crime – drug routes, human trafficking, illegal wildlife trade facilitated by cheap transport and weak border controls.
• Global drug‑policy regimes – UN‑based conventions, regional enforcement bodies, and their uneven impact on peripheral societies.
• Cyber‑crime – identity theft, ransomware, online radicalisation; global reach of digital networks.
• Regulatory challenges – jurisdictional limits; need for international cooperation (INTERPOL, EU Cybercrime Directive).

3.5 Globalisation & Identity

Identity is examined at three inter‑related levels:

• Personal identity – self‑perception, aspirations, personal narratives.
• Social identity – group memberships (ethnicity, religion, nationality, diaspora).
• Global identity – sense of belonging to a worldwide community (environmentalist, digital citizen).

Key processes influencing identity:

1. Media consumption – exposure to global cultures via TV, internet and social media.
2. Migration & transnational networks – maintaining ties with home while adapting to host societies.
3. Consumer culture – global brands as identity markers.
4. Political activism – participation in global movements (climate justice, human rights).
5. Religion – transnational faith communities and secular‑religious negotiations.

4. Theoretical Perspectives on Globalisation and Identity

5. Media – Ownership, Control & Effects

5.1 Ownership & Control

• Concentration in a handful of multinational conglomerates (e.g., Disney, ViacomCBS, Tencent) creates “media empires” that can set global agendas.
• State‑owned broadcasters (BBC World Service, Al Jazeera) retain editorial influence in their home countries while reaching global audiences.
• Regulatory regimes differ: the EU’s Audiovisual Media Services Directive, the US FCC’s ownership caps, and emerging data‑privacy laws (e.g., GDPR) shape who controls content.

5.2 Traditional vs. New Media

• Traditional – newspapers, television, radio, film; often subject to national licensing and editorial standards.
• New – internet, social‑media platforms (YouTube, TikTok, Instagram), streaming services; user‑generated content, algorithmic curation, and cross‑border data flows.

5.3 Media Effects Models (with syllabus link)

5.4 Media Representations

6. Religion – Social Order, Change & Global Influence

• Social order – Durkheim: religion provides a collective conscience and social cohesion.
• Secularisation – decline of institutional religion in many Western societies, rise of “spiritual but not religious” identities.
• Revivalism – Pentecostalism, Islamic revival movements gain global reach via satellite TV, streaming services and social media.
• Gender & feminism – debates over women’s leadership, hijab controversies, and intersectional media representations.
• Post‑modern pluralism – coexistence of multiple faiths; hybrid religious identities (e.g., “Christian‑pop”, “Islamic‑fashion”).
• Religion as a source of social change – faith‑based NGOs lobbying for climate policy, global interfaith coalitions promoting human‑rights campaigns.

7. Case Studies (minimum two per exam question)

• British Asian Youth – negotiate British, Indian and global pop‑culture identities through music, fashion and online communities.
• K‑pop Fans Worldwide – adopt Korean language and aesthetics while retaining local practices; illustrate hybridisation.
• Refugee Diasporas in Europe – maintain homeland traditions, create hybrid community spaces, engage in transnational political activism (e.g., Syrian diaspora lobbying EU policy).
• Digital Influencers from Nigeria – blend Afro‑beat with Western memes; shape a global youth identity and demonstrate media‑ownership dynamics on platform economies.
• Hollywood vs. Bollywood Media Ownership – compare US studio conglomerates (Disney, Warner Media) with Indian film industry’s mix of family‑owned studios and emerging multinational investors; shows how ownership influences cultural representation.
• Global Pentecostal Networks – televangelism and social‑media churches (e.g., “Hillsong”, “Saddleback”) mobilise believers across continents, linking religion to political activism.
• West African Drug Trafficking Routes – illustrate how global drug‑policy regimes affect peripheral societies and create illicit identity economies.

8. Implications for A‑Level Examination (Paper 4)

When answering a question, use the following analytical structure:

1. Define key terms (e.g., globalisation, identity, poverty, media, religion).
2. Map the syllabus – briefly note which of the five strands the question engages.
3. Present two (or more) theoretical perspectives – link each to the question and to your case studies.
4. Introduce appropriate case studies – ensure at least two, covering different strands (e.g., media ownership & religion).
5. Evaluate each perspective – scope, empirical support, limitations, relevance to the case(s).
6. Conclude with a balanced judgement that directly answers the prompt.

9. Suggested Diagram (for revision)

10. Summary

Globalisation is a multi‑dimensional process that re‑configures power relations, economic structures, cultural practices, media landscapes and religious expressions. While some scholars stress homogenising forces, others highlight local agency, hybridisation and the emergence of new global identities. Mastery of the core concepts, the five syllabus strands, key theoretical lenses and a range of real‑world examples equips students to critically evaluate how global processes shape who we are and how we relate to one another.