While these processes are based on facts, the discourses surrounding the term globalization are actually not. This means that globalization should not automatically be equated with neoliberalist economics and should not be imagined as making the nation-state concept obsolete (Kelly 1999). Thus it can be theorized that this discourse is open to change and interpretation, thereby leading to a wider set of alternative views regarding the term globalization.
Various alternative views regarding globalization can be offered, which signal significant departures from traditional views. One such view has to do with regarding the nation-state as still being in existence and in control of world affairs. The state's continued role can be observed for example in the various intergovernmental organizations in existence, which are created and regulated by state actors. Another view has to do with the notion of global civil societies, in which social movements such as environmental groups, feminist organizations, labor unions and so on, have begun functioning on a global scale in order to bring public awareness to their causes. Global civil societies have helped the notion of democratic globalization to foster in contrast to the more traditional economic globalization (Kelly 1999).
It can be argued that the conflicting global-local dichotomy so favored by scholars should be replaced by the notion of relationality...
The different social scales of production should not be viewed mutually exclusively. Scholars should thus not view these scales separately and should not regard one as being more important than the other. Instead scholars should be encouraged to observe the relations scales share with each other. Political, economic, cultural, and social processes instead of scales should be studied and researched upon. These processes can also be studied across scales rather than within any specific scale. Through such study and research it can be seen that globalization does not necessarily supplant the locality in terms of power and influence. At the same time it can be seen that the locality has had to adjust to the growing impact of globalization.
The modern phenomenon of globalization has been a point of fascination for societies across the world for several years now. While many welcome the qualitative changes brought by it, others are highly wary of the positive impact upon the world it potentially has to offer. It is therefore necessary to understand through the social theoretical framework exactly what globalization means and what impact it has had upon the world. It is hoped that a middle ground can be reached between the two polarizing views regarding it.
References
Kelly, PF, 1999, "The geographies and politics of globalization," Progress in Human Geography, vol. 23, no. 3, pp. 379-400.
