World Sociology Essay, Research Paper

According to Malcolm Waters globalisation is a social process where the geographical restraints recede as the cultural values recede and society does not even realise they are receding. This basically means that the boundaries between countries are disappearing and everything is becoming more interdependent and interconnected.

George Ritzer is a sociologist who studied globalisation but he preferred to call it ‘McDonaldisation´ or ‘westernisation´, as he believed it was about the spread of western and American culture across the globe, not about cultures from all societies. So globalisation according to Ritzer is immediately about western cultures, not the equal spread of values.

Globalisation is a very important factor in modern society. Some sociologists believe it is a good thing, whereas some believe that nothing good can come out of it. Sociologists such as Anthony Giddens believe that globalisation is having a positive effect on society. They would say that it is bringing people together, there is becoming a standardisation throughout the world. This links in with the modernisation theory, where sociologists such as Walt Rostow would argue that due to globalisation undeveloped countries will have more of a chance to develop. With more multi-national companies there will be a greater chance for these countries to mature through the five stages, set by Rostow, to evolve into developed countries.

Max Weber would also agree with this, he would say that due to globalisation, undeveloped countries will be able to accelerate the developing process, by adopting the ‘correct´ cultures and values. Globalisation is their main chance of developing.

However, some sociologists would strongly disagree with this theory. Leslie Sklair, a sociologist who has negative view of globalisation, believes it is just another way for the rich west to exploit the third world countries. He believes there is a transitional class, which consists of the most powerful people in society. He believes that the multinational companies are the ‘Transitional Capitalist Companies´. They have the power and the wealth to exploit these countries as much as they want. Leslie Sklair would agree with sociologists such Rodney and Frank in saying that globalisation is helping to make the poorer countries even more dependent on the west. The ‘Dependency Theory´. Rodney believed that third world countries were not undeveloped by underdeveloped. He argued that this was an even worse situation to be in because they will never develop. He would argue that the rich west countries are exploiting the third world countries.

Another sociologist who would agree with this is Frank. He believed that globalisation will not have many benefits for the third world countries and the only way the third world countries will have chance of developing is if they cut al ties with the west. This theory is arguing that globalisation will not have many benefits for the less developed countries, but just increased benefits for the western countries, allowing to exploit them even further.

However, there are some criticisms of the globalisation theory itself. Some sociologists have argued that some countries such as Iraq and Iran have rejected globalisation and turned their backs on the rich west countries cultures and values.

In conclusion, globalisation is not about society as a whole but about individual multinationals who exploit and use people and countries as they choose. Globalisation has more benefits for multinationals than it does for undeveloped countries, it allows them to push their cultures and values deeper into society. And according to Frank makes undeveloped countries even more dependant for aid and trade. The debt which these third world countries owe means that no matter how globalised society becomes they will always be in debt to the west and no matter how many small benefits there are this will never change, these countries will always be exploited.