Postmodernism & Globalisation (AQA A Level Sociology): Revision Note

Globalisation

• Postmodernism is an intellectual movement that emerged since the 1970s, influencing many areas of society

• Postmodernists argue that:

  • we now live in a postmodern society that is unstable, fragmented, media-saturated global village where image and reality blur

  • identity is shaped by what we consume rather than fixed roles such as class, gender, or occupation

  • postmodernism marks a fundamental break from modernity, not a continuation

What is globalisation?

• The world is becoming increasingly interconnected and interdependent, so that it is more accessible than it was in the 1990s

• Albrow (1996) defines globalisation as all the processes that integrate people across the world into a single society

• Waters (1991) defines globalisation as a social process that reduces the constraints of geography on economic, political, social, and cultural life

Micro-level impacts

• Martell (2010) states that for individuals, physical distance and time zones matter less

• Digital technology has replaced physical space with virtual space, allowing people anywhere in the world to interact instantly

• People can now share the same online space at the same time, regardless of location

Macro-level impacts

• Globalisation means that goods, money, people, services, culture, crime, disease, news, and ideas now move across borders at unprecedented speed

• Once separate societies are now deeply interconnected and interdependent

• Local lives are increasingly shaped by events and decisions thousands of miles away

Causes of globalisation

• Technological change – instant communication, faster travel, and a 24-hour global economy

• Economic change – growth of transnational corporations (TNCs), global production chains, worldwide markets

• Political change – decline in the power of nation-states, rise of global organisations (e.g., UN, EU), and influence of TNCs over political elites

• Cultural and identity change – increased mixing of cultures; hybrid identities in fashion, food, and lifestyle; cheap travel, tourism, and migration make cultural diversity the norm

Postmodernist view

• Globalisation is largely positive – it creates a global consumer class in both developed and developing countries

• People have a wider range of choices to construct a hybrid global identity

Marxism & postmodernity

• Some Marxists, such as Jameson (1984) and Harvey (1989), agree with postmodernists that society has changed significantly and moved from modernity to postmodernity

• However, they argue that postmodern society is not a complete break from the past — it is simply the latest stage of capitalism

• Jameson and Harvey claim that globalisation and cultural change are shaped by capitalism’s need to make profits and maintain inequality

Flexible accumulation

• Harvey sees capitalism as a constantly changing system, developing new technologies and ways of organising production to increase profits

• Postmodernism emerged from the 1970s economic crisis, which led to a shift from Fordist mass production to post-Fordist flexible accumulation

• This involves:

  • producing for niche markets

  • greater variety and customisation of products

  • faster turnover of styles, fashions, and technology

• Flexible accumulation relies heavily on information and communications technology to organise global production and trade

• It creates a culture of consumerism, where goods are frequently replaced

  • E.g., the fashion, music, sports, and gaming industries constantly change to keep consumers buying

Globalisation and capitalism

• Globalisation benefits capitalism by:

  • opening new markets, sources of labour, and raw materials

  • allowing TNCs to move production to low-wage countries

  • spreading consumer lifestyles globally

• Postmodern culture — through branding, advertising, and media — promotes the idea that identity is built through what we buy

Politics and progress

• Harvey and Jameson argue that flexible accumulation has weakened working-class unity, replacing it with individualism

• Traditional socialist movements (e.g. trade labour movement, social democratic parties in Europe) have declined, while new social movements (e.g., environmentalism, feminism, LGBTQ+ activism, and anti-racism) have grown

• Marxists believe these groups could unite in a 'rainbow alliance' to challenge capitalism

Evaluation of the Marxist view of postmodernity

Strengths

• Explains the adaptability of capitalism

  • Marxist theories of postmodernity show how flexible accumulation helps capitalism evolve and survive economic crises

• Recognises the role of culture in maintaining inequality

  • This view highlights the culture of constant consumption, which fuels profit-making for corporations

  • This process reinforces capitalist values and contributes to widening the gap between the wealthy and the less affluent

Criticisms

• Postmodernists argue that Marxism is outdated

  • It still relies on the Enlightenment belief in objective truth and progress through overthrowing capitalism

  • However, political opposition to capitalism is now fragmented into many separate social movements, making a unified revolution seem unlikely