GLOCALIZATION

GLOCALIZATION

 

The Conceptual Promise of Glocalization: Commonality and Diversity *

This concept was given rather extensive treatment in Robertson (1994) and Robertson (1995) and is central too much of my current work (e.g., Guilanotti and Robertson, 2001; Robertson, 2002). One of the main points of the article was to maintain that the widespread fear that local cultures are being overwhelmed by global, allegedly homogenizing processes, was unwarranted insofar as the diffusion between and across sociocultural formations of any set of ideas or values must of necessity adapt to particular, local circumstances. Otherwise they could not "stick" (unless imposed by military force and surveillance); in any case, my own experience in this regard is especially interesting, insofar as, from my perspective.

The concept of glocalization "came from" Japan and yet, on the other hand, it has only recently arrived in Japan. This is indeed a paradigm case, not without irony, of the global circulation of an idea involving its adaptation to its own point of origin - as if it were new to the latter. It may well be that similar ideas are to be found in other parts of East Asia and, indeed, other parts of the world; in fact I suggest that the general idea of ongoing processes of glocalization has been historically ubiquitous on the global scale.

The dynamics of glocalization involve a number of established themes in the human sciences, among them diffusion theory and the diffusion of innovations. Here emphasis is placed upon the potential or actual fit between the Trans local and the local. Another vital aspect of the dissection of the dynamics of glocalization is that of cross-societal emulation. In brief, the latter topic involves the ways in, and the degrees to, which - in our time-nation-states differentially adopt or reject features of other societies. Indeed this might well be designated as the primary aspect of long-term globalization-one that has become globally institutionalized in terms of various "league tables" concerning which nation-state is "best" or " worst" in a particular domain education, sport, social welfare, crime, and so on.

Indeed we should move to these complex questions before more serious work is undertaken with respect to the buzzword-theme of globalization. To put it all too briefly and simply, the problematic of globalization/glocalization is one of the most salient themes of our time and is of particular concern, or should be, to those involved in pedagogy.

BY

KIMATI ELITRUDAH. BAPRM 42582