GLOCALIZATION
The Conceptual Promise of Glocalization: Commonality and Diversity
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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
JOHN
CAFRENE. BAPRM 42567
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