Global+interactions+at+the+local+level

=Global Interactions at the Local Level=
 * Distinguishing between Globalization and Glocalisation.**

"//The growing interdependence of countries worldwide through the increasing volume and variety of cross-border transactions, and of// //international capital flows, and through the more rapid and widespread diffusion of technology."//
 * Globalisation:**

//**Glocalisation:**// //A term that was invented to emphasize that the globalisation of a product is more likely to succeed when the product or service is adapted// //specifically to each locality or culture in which it is marketed.//

A comparison between Globalisation and Glocalisation in the manufacturing sector. Geographically dispersed || Production for local or regional markets Geographically concentrated || • Population and Market Size
 * || Globalisation || Glocalisation ||
 * Organisation || Worldwide. || Concentrated in the Triad (EU, North America and Japan - traditionally the world' s largest market. ||
 * Locational Requirements || Comparative advantage and economies of scale || Depressed regions of major international trade blocs, where there is a cheap source of labour ||
 * Labour and management || Foreign managers in senior ranks; spatial division of labour || Very difficult for foreign managers to reach senior ranks. ||
 * Market || Production for world markets
 * Factors Affecting the Adoption of Globalization**
 * Often, products require a minimum population before they can be offered to the people of a geographical location.
 * Areas with low populations therefore will lack the necessary market size and population for a product to sell well.
 * This is typical for global brands. Starbucks, for example, would not open in a small village in North India.

• Government policy and ideology
 * Communist countries such as Cuba and North Korea minimize private ownership, increasing self sufficiency.
 * This makes the country isolated and anti-globalized.
 * Capitalist countries such as the U.K. do the opposite and hence create an atmosphere that increases globalization.

• Levels of communication
 * TV, Internet, mobile network, film, media
 * Communicating via these methods requires advanced levels of communication.
 * Without proper infrastructure, transport links, and Internet connectivity; global companies will offer less products, be less advertised and also less heard about.
 * For example, poor communication levels would prevent Walmart from offering online shopping in the North Pole or the Amazon rainforest.

• Education level
 * High levels of education tend to make an area more globalized.
 * Global companies in the area have access to better, educated workers.
 * Also, these educated inhabitants of the area will have good jobs and hence more disposable income to spend on the global products. They also will be knowledgeable of the companies and their products

• Level of development
 * Development impacts the provision of globalized goods in a country.
 * Less developed countries like Rwanda are relatively poor with a low GDP per capita.
 * As a result, citizens will have very low disposable incomes. Hence, fewer global brands like GAP or Starbucks will be offered.

• Taxation and protectionism
 * A tax is a compulsory transfer of funds from an individual/firm to the government. Countries use this as a protectionist measure to protect their local firms from foreign competition.
 * Companies always aim at maximizing their profits. Hence, locating in regions with high tax rates will
 * reduce their profits. To gain profits, they will have to increase their prices which may make them unattractive.
 * Other protectionist measures such as tariffs and quotas have a similar effect on global brands.

• Corruption
 * Kleptocratic governments such as Afghanistan are very corrupt with bribes being a very common incidence.
 * This creates a terrible business atmosphere and
 * discourages global firms from locating in such regions.
 * This makes the country less globalized

What is the global civil society?
 * This is the arena of collective action by independent organisations or groups, based on shared interests, purpose and value.
 * The global civil society is heterogeneous (it is comprised of liberal, democratic, and peaceful groups on one side and illiberal, anti-democratic and violent groups on the other side)
 * Members of the global civil society may be large or small organisations
 * e.g OXFAM or AfriCare

Case study- Civil Society, Shell and Ogoniland, Nigeria (P.397-398) UNEP Ogoniland Oil Assessment Reveals Extent of Environmental Contamination and Threats to Human Health Nigeria Ogoniland oil clean-up 'could take 30 years'
 * Describe the role of civil societies in raising awareness of local and global environmental, social and cultural issues.**
 * 1) LOCAL ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES
 * Nigeria gains most of its revenues from Oil (80% of Exports and 90% of Government revenue)
 * SHELL is the main multinational oil company on the site (Niger Delta)
 * Civil societies such as Greenpeace, The Body Shop International, Friends of the Earth and Chaos Communication decided to raise awareness of the environmental degradation caused by Shell in an article titled “Dear shell, This is the truth. And it stinks”(P.397)
 * Issues raised by Greenpeace and the other Civil societies
 * Pollution of Niger Delta water bodies due to oil spills. This kills fish and reduces the fish stocks for the Ogoni people (occupants of the Niger Delta) who are mainly fishers and farmers
 * Atmospheric pollution due to burning of oil and the use of machinery during oil drilling
 * Land pollution: Besides fishing, farming is the other activity that the Ogoni people rely on to survive. Destroying the land puts pressure on their source of income

2. GLOBAL ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES Issues raised include:
 * Friends Of the Earth published a report called “HIDDEN IMPACTS”, which illustrates how overconsumption of resources of superpowers (e.g Europe) results in global land conflicts
 * Land is a very limited resource and it is usually taken for granted
 * Most industrialised countries consume more than their fair share of land
 * Governments should think of ways of fighting land depletion
 * 38% of the World’s land is used for agricultural activities. Invention of new techniques has led to more large-scale farming which leads to land scarcity

3. SOCIAL ISSUES The Global Fund -Harm Reduction among Injecting Drug Users
 * The Myanmar Anti-Narcotics Association (MANA) works to reduce HIV among drug users who use needles
 * They raise awareness about behavioural risks
 * They provide clean needles in order to avoid needle-sharing
 * Free testing and counselling
 * Therapy for those who want to discontinue drug abuse

4. CULTURAL ISSUES Case Study: Survival International
 * Survival International is a civil society that campaigns to preserve the rights of indigenous people and uncontacted tribes
 * They aim at allowing these tribes to:
 * Keep the land they inherited from their ancestors
 * Maintain their traditional culture and practices
 * Decide whether they want to be globalised or not (by determining the pace of their involvement with the rest of the world

A. THE FAIRTRADE FOUNDATION
 * Examine the role of civil societies in supporting local economic activity and strengthening local cultural values.**
 * 1) SUPPORTING LOCAL ECONOMIC ACTIVITY
 * A concept that fights against exploitation of farmers
 * It ensures that producers in LEDC’s are paid a fair value for their crops
 * They enforce an ethical treatment of workers
 * The products which bear the Fair-trade mark are more expensive than the normal products of the same quality because the farmer or producer has been paid a higher amount of money.
 * People still purchase them in the name of charity

B. STRENGTHENING LOCAL CULTURAL VALUES Case Study- The Sahaastitwa (Co-existence) Project Aim- Strengthening Local Cultures to Build Harmony in Nepal
 * This is a project that was funded by the European Commission and was implemented in 20 districts of Nepal
 * The role of the Sahaastitwa project is to:
 * To contribute to social harmony in Nepal
 * To reduce intercultural tensions
 * To build the capacity of cultural producers in Nepal in order to improve their cultural products in Nepal and abroad
 * To encourage the use of culture as a vehicle for development

Definitions:
 * Discuss the position held by anti‑globalization groups.**
 * Anti-globalization: a “reaction towards the loss of distinctiveness and sovereignty” (IB Syllabus)
 * Anti-globalization movement (AGM): A general term used to describe a wide range variety of pressure protestors, lobbyists and pressure groups. (Nagle and Cooke 385)

CASE STUDIES: A. THE AMISH By: media type="youtube" key="_CeT32qxUK0" width="394" height="284"media type="youtube" key="vrWOih3xKXQ" width="375" height="285" B. OCCUPY WALL-STREET (OWS)
 * Formed by a disagreement between the Anabaptist group in Switzerland (1693)
 * Migrated to US in the 18th Century
 * Largest population found in Ohio (about 55,000)
 * They are famous for their attempt at avoiding globalisation
 * To an extent, they succeeded in avoiding it but there are loopholes
 * How do the Amish avoid globalisation?
 * Rejecting the use of machinery; they prefer to work in groups (anti-individualism)
 * Dressing in the traditional fashion (plain and simple), they rejected modern way of dressing
 * using traditional tools and traditional methods of transports (horses and carriages)
 * Refusing to use electricity (must be self-generated)
 * Using computers, phones or televisions
 * Not engaging in direct communication
 * Marrying within the community and avoiding interactions with outsiders
 * Speaking their native language only
 * Aspects where the Amish failed to avoid globalisation are:
 * Working outside their community due to expensive land prices and increasing population
 * Trading with outsiders by means of souvenir shops to increase their income
 * Some groups have allowed the use of cars
 * Some groups know how to speak English
 * At age 16, members are sent out there into the world and are given a choice to decide whether they want to remain a part of the Amish community (90% stay)

Sources 1. Cooke and Garret Nagle. Geography Course Companion. Oxford: University press. Singapore, 2011 2.  3.  4. 