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WEEK 8: Globalisation

GLOBALISATION

Globalisation explores the social relations and increasing integration of connections between people and places across the globe and over time.[1] Although we think of it as a recent phenomenon by studying the past it is evident it is not anything new. 

Paul James explains that globalisation is a series of interactions and relationships that are uneven and relational.[1] James also emphasises that globalisation exists over space, bigger than just regional, and is complicated being both organised or messy.[1] The article also illustrates different form of globalisation:

  • Disembodied globalisation: People moving and interacting across the world    

  • Agency-extended globalisation: Movements of objects and materials over the world, including trade and objects of exchange or communication  

  • Embodied globalisation: The process of sharing ideas globally, such as philosophy, science, language, religion

  • Object-extended globalisation: Movement of agents of institutions, such as states

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As the article states it is evident that globalisation is very different in today's society to what it would have been back then as a result of social media and large cooperation.[1] Additionally globalisation is often thought of as an economic and capitalist process thus not often associating it with ancient civilisations.[1] However it is evident that connections between peoples over vast distances did occur and they were significant as seen through trade or the spread of religion. Obviously it is much easier in today's society to have global connections and the spread of both material goods and ideal. I think as a result of this the impressive nature of globalising processes such as religion are lost. 

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'The Great Flood' 

I personally find the sharing and spread of stories throughout cultures fascinating. One such story that is evident amongst an incredible widespread of cultures is the notion of a 'Great Flood'. A significant number of regions including: Greece, Rome, Mongolia, Korea, Arnhem land, Maori, Samoa, Egypt, and many many more make reference to a flood in some sense.[2] It was amazing to see the extent of cultures that all share in having a story centring around a large destructive flood.[2] 

 

By examining and comparing mythology suggestions about globalisation arise through the sharing of stories/traditions.[3] In the example of the Great Flood it can be suggested that there was an actual event that occurred and the myth was passed down through generations that continued to pass the story on to different cultures. Or similarly no event occurred and the myth was able to travel through interactions and sharing ideas over time and in different places. The question is to what extent globalisation played in the vast cultural spread of the story of the great flood? We can assume as it has ties to religion the globalising process is closely linked to this story and through comparative mythology we can attempt to find the origin of certain legends and from this examine embodied globalisation (or the movement of ideas globally). 

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Bibliography

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