Chapter 9 - Globalisation :Important Questions and Answers

List of Questions and Answers

1.Why was the Mandal Commission setup? What was its main recommendations?

Ans:
The Mandal Commission was set up to investigate the extent of educational and social backwardness among various sections of Indian society and recommend ways of identifying these "backward classes".
Its main recommendations were :

  • Reserving 27 per cent of seats in educational institutions and government jobs for these groups.
  • Land reform, to improve the conditions of the OBCs.

2.How has state capacity received a boost as a consequence of globalization? Explain.

Ans:

  • Globalisation results in an erosion of state capacity, that is, the ability of government to do what they do.
  • All over the world, the old "welfare state" is now giving way to a more minimalist state that performs certain core functions such as the maintenance of law and order and the security of its citizens.
  • In place of the welfare state, it is the market that becomes the prime determinant of economic and social priorities.
  • The entry and the increased role of multinational companies all over the world leads to a reduction in the capacity of governments to take decisions on their own.
  • The state continues to discharge its essential functions (law and order, national security) and consciously withdraws from certain domains from which it wishes to.
  • The use of enhanced technologies available at the disposal of the state to collect information about its citizens. Using this information, the state is able to rule better. Thus, states become more powerful than they were earlier as an outcome of the new technology.

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3.Discuss the Political consequences of Globalisation.

Ans:
Globalisation results in an erosion of state capacity, that is, the ability of government to do what they do.

  • The state has minimum core functions such as the maintenance of law and order and the security of its citizens. However, it withdraws from many of its earlier welfare functions directed at economic and social well-being.
  • In place of the welfare state, it is the market that becomes the prime determinant of economic and social priorities.
  • The entry and the increased role of multinational companies all over the world leads to a reduction in the capacity of governments to take decisions on their own.
  • The primacy of the state continues to be the unchallenged basis of political community.
  • The old jealousies and rivalries between countries have not ceased to matter in world politics.
  • State capacity has received a boost as a consequence of globalisation, with enhanced technologies available at the disposal of the state to collect information about its citizens.

4.Explain any four cultural consequences of globalisation.

Ans:

  • Globalisation affects us in our home, in what we eat, drink, wear and indeed in what we think.
  • Globalisation lead to the imposition of Western culture on the rest of the world.
  • The culture of the politically and economically dominant society leaves its imprint on a less powerful society, and the world begins to look more like the dominant power wishes it to be.
  • This is dangerous not only for the poor countries but for the whole of humanity, for it leads to the shrinking of the rich cultural heritage of the entire globe.
  • Cultural consequences of globalisation are not always negative. Some external influences can reduce or increase our choices. They sometimes modify our culture without overwhelming the tradition.For example burger is no substitute for a masala dosa and, therefore, does not pose any real challenge. It is simply added on to our food choices. Also blue jeans, on the other hand, can go well with a homespun khadi kurta.
  • This clothing combination of kurta and jeans has been exported back to the country that gave us blue jeans so that it is possible to see young Americans wearing a kurta and jeans.

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5.Show with the help of one example that globalisation has affected the dress culture of India.

Ans:

  • An example of globalisation on culture is the popularity of a burger or blue jeans, some argue, has a lot to do with the powerful influence of the American way of life.
  • The culture of the politically and economically dominant society leaves its imprint on a less powerful society, and the world begins to look more like the dominant power wishes it to be.
  • This is dangerous not only for the poor countries but for the whole of humanity, for it leads to the shrinking of the rich cultural heritage of the entire globe.
  • Cultural consequences of globalisation are not always negative.For example clothing combination of kurta and jeans has been exported back to the country that gave us blue jeans so that it is possible to see young Americans wearing a kurta and jeans.

6. What is worldwide interconnectedness?

Ans: Worldwise interconnectedness is the connection between each other for various kinds of flow like ideas moving from one part of the world to another, capital shunted between two or more places, commodities being traded across borders, and people moving in search of better livelihoods to different parts of the world.

7.Which of the statements are TRUE about globalisation?
a. Globalisation is purely an economic phenomenon.
b. Globalisation began in 1991.
c. Globalisation is the same thing as westernisation.
d. Globalisation is a multi-dimensional phenomenon.

Ans: (d). Globalisation is a multi-dimensional phenomenon.

8. Which of the statements are TRUE about the impact of globalisation?
a. Globalisation has been uneven in its impact on states and societies.
b. Globalisation has had a uniform impact on all states and societies.
c. The impact of globalisation has been confined to the political sphere.
d. Globalisation inevitably results in cultural homogeneity

Ans: a. Globalisation has been uneven in its impact on states and societies.
d. Globalisation inevitably results in cultural homogeneity

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9.Which of the statements are TRUE about the causes of globalisation?
a. Technology is an important cause of globalisation.
b. Globalisation is caused by a particular community of people. c. Globalisation originated in the US.
d. Economic interdependence alone causes globalisation.

Ans: a. Technology is an important cause of globalisation.
c. Globalisation originated in the US.

10. Which of the statements are TRUE about globalisation?
a. Globalisation is only about movement of commodities
b. Globalisation does not involve a conflict of values.
c. Services are an insignificant part of globalisation.
d. Globalisation is about worldwide interconnectedness.

Ans: b. Globalisation does not involve a conflict of values.
d. Globalisation is about worldwide interconnectedness.

11.Which of the statements are FALSE about globalisation?
a. Advocates of globalisation argue that it will result in greater economic growth.
b. Critics of globalisation argue that it will result in greater economic disparity.
c. Advocates of globalisation argue that it will result in cultural homogenisation.
d. Critics of globalisation argue that it will result in cultural homogenisation.

Ans: b. Critics of globalisation argue that it will result in greater economic disparity.
d. Critics of globalisation argue that it will result in cultural homogenisation.

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12.How has technology contributed to globalisation?

Ans:

  • The invention of the telegraph, the telephone, and the microchip in more recent times has revolutionised communication between actors in different parts of the world.
  • In the beginning with printing coming it laid the basis for the creation of nationalism.
  • The ability of ideas, capital, commodities and people to move more easily from one part of the world to another has been made possible largely by technological advances.
  • State capacity has received a boost as a consequence of globalisation, with enhanced technologies available at the disposal of the state to collect information about its citizens.