As the cartoon above suggests, workers all around the world are situated at the bottom of the power spectrum in the international economic world. Globalisation is a catch-all term, that nowadays seems to be relevant to every field of social science. It affects every part of the world and of our every day lives. This is not to say that the locality of our lives does not play a role in how we experience the globalising forces. Rather it leads us to analyse what globalisation exactly is, how it has been conceptualised in the academic debate and how it changes conditions for every one of us. This paper will firstly address the general question of globalisation, outlining the controversy and the different approaches to developments that are subsumed under the term globalisation. To assess in how far people on the ground, in this case workers, are active agents, it is important to consider what changes globalisation brings about for their specific environment, in this case the international labour market. Finally, it should be shown that globalisation is not an independent force that dominates us all, but one that is actively created by humanity and in which every one of us takes a little part to a certain extent.
Table of Contents
Introduction
The ambivalence of Globalisation
Effects on labour and identity – a global labour market?
Workers – passive participants or active agents?
Conclusion
Objectives and Topics
This paper examines the multifaceted nature of globalisation, specifically focusing on its impact on international labour markets and the shifting role of workers within this economic structure. It addresses the central research question of whether globalisation acts as an unstoppable, independent force or if it is a process actively negotiated and shaped by human agency, including consumers, workers, and nation-states.
- The ambivalence of globalisation and competing theoretical perspectives.
- The restructuring of global labour markets through contracting and export processing zones.
- The intersection of labour, identity, and the feminisation of production.
- The influence of transnational corporations (TNCs) versus national sovereignty.
- The potential for collective action and the role of global civil society in labor rights.
Excerpt from the book
Effects on labour and identity – a global labour market?
Companies that operate globally are not a new phenomenon in itself. What is new in the ‘era of globalisation’ is the strategy they pursue to maximise their profit. Due to an over-accumulation of production, the companies shift their priorities away from the intrinsic quality of the product and the actual value of it towards a more abstract commitment to brand and lifestyle selling, the consumption of ideas. The product itself becomes less important, what counts is the extrinsic value, socially constructed and spread as artificial need through manipulative marketing strategies. The internationally traded and manufactured products are adapted to the respective regional contexts (e.g. advertisements) thus provide a bridge between global standards and local patterns of consumption and meaning attribution. A perception of close distances is generated by calibrating the global and the local.
The shift of strategy implies a network of contracting, a multilevel process of production with labour being an exchangeable and marginal part. By contracting and “factory hopping” (Klein 2001) the companies avoid responsibilities for the actual producers of the goods they sell. The classic division of owners and workers is altered and the relationship between employer and employee is marked by alienation and multiple intermediary levels.
Summary of Chapters
Introduction: Provides a foundation for the discourse by situating workers within the power spectrum of the international economy and defining the scope of the study.
The ambivalence of Globalisation: Analyzes the diverse definitions of globalisation, distinguishing between the economic, political, and cultural dimensions while contrasting "Globalist" and "Sceptic" perspectives.
Effects on labour and identity – a global labour market?: Examines how multinational strategies, such as contracting and export processing zones, have restructured the labour market and influenced worker identity and gender dynamics.
Workers – passive participants or active agents?: Evaluates the capacity of workers and global civil society to exercise agency through resistance, trade unionism, and social movements against corporate dominance.
Conclusion: Synthesizes the argument that globalisation is not an abstract, unstoppable ghost, but a socially constructed process that allows for democratic intervention and the re-regulation of labour conditions.
Keywords
Globalisation, International Labour Market, Transnational Corporations, Labour Identity, Feminisation of Production, Agency, Export Processing Zones, Civil Society, Resistance, Social Contract, Economic Power, Deterritorialization, Trade Unions, Consumption, Capitalism.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the core focus of this research paper?
The paper explores the complexities of globalisation, focusing specifically on how it transforms the international labour market and affects the lives and identities of workers worldwide.
What are the primary themes discussed?
The central themes include the ambivalence of globalisation, the restructuring of labour through multinational strategies, the role of identity in work, and the tension between corporate power and civil society.
What is the central research question of the work?
The paper seeks to answer whether globalisation is an independent, dominating force or a process that humans can actively shape and influence through collective agency.
Which scientific approach does the author use?
The author adopts an anthropological perspective, critically evaluating sociological theories regarding economic and cultural global trends to understand how these manifest in the daily lives of workers.
What is covered in the main body of the text?
The main body investigates the dynamics of global trade, the shift to brand-based consumption, the emergence of export processing zones, and the historical development of labour repertoires in response to these changes.
Which keywords best characterize the work?
Key concepts include globalisation, transnational corporations, labour identity, the feminisation of production, and the concept of labour agency within the modern global economy.
What role do Export Processing Zones (EPZs) play in this analysis?
The paper highlights EPZs as "gated communities" and "lawless territories" that represent the negative consequences of globalised production strategies, specifically regarding worker rights and wage suppression.
How does the author view the potential for change regarding labour rights?
The author argues that while power dynamics are skewed in favour of capital, global civil society, trade unions, and social movements provide a viable counter-weight to negotiate a fairer social contract.
- Quote paper
- Sonja Meyer (Author), 2007, Globalisation, culture and work, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/116658
