Class 12 Sociology Notes Chapter 6 (Globalisation and social change) – Social Change and Development in India Book

Detailed Notes with MCQs of Chapter 6: 'Globalisation and Social Change'. This is a crucial chapter as it connects contemporary India with broader world processes. For your government exam preparation, understanding the nuances of globalisation and its multifaceted impact on Indian society is vital.

Chapter 6: Globalisation and Social Change - Detailed Notes

1. Understanding Globalisation:

• Definition: Globalisation refers to the complex series of economic, social, technological, cultural, and political changes that have increased interdependence, integration, and interaction between people and companies in disparate locations. It signifies the intensification of worldwide social relations which link distant localities in such a way that local happenings are shaped by events occurring many miles away and vice versa.
• Key Characteristic: Increased flow and interconnectedness across national borders – involving capital, goods, services, technology, information, ideas, and people.
• Multi-dimensional: It's not just economic; it has significant political, cultural, and social dimensions.

2. Dimensions of Globalisation:

*   **a) Economic Dimension:**
    *   **Liberalisation:** The core driver, particularly in India since 1991. Involves reducing state control over the economy, opening up to foreign trade and investment. Key policies include:
        *   Reducing tariffs and import duties.
        *   De-licensing industries.
        *   Allowing Foreign Direct Investment (FDI).
        *   Privatisation of Public Sector Undertakings (PSUs).
    *   **Transnational Corporations (TNCs) / Multinational Corporations (MNCs):** Companies operating in multiple countries play a huge role. They control production, investment, and trade globally. Examples: Coca-Cola, Microsoft, Suzuki.
    *   **International Economic Organisations:** Institutions like the World Bank (WB), International Monetary Fund (IMF), and World Trade Organisation (WTO) shape global economic policies and often push for liberalisation (Structural Adjustment Programmes).
    *   **Outsourcing:** Contracting out business processes (like customer service, IT support) to other countries, often where labour is cheaper. India became a major hub for Business Process Outsourcing (BPO).
    *   **Impact on Employment:**
        *   *Positive:* Creation of new jobs, especially in the service sector (IT, BPO).
        *   *Negative:* Job losses in previously protected industries unable to compete; increased insecurity in the unorganised sector; decline in traditional employment. Rise of contract labour.
    *   **Impact on Agriculture:** Increased exposure to global markets, leading to price volatility. Concerns over seed patents (e.g., Monsanto), decline in subsidies, leading to farmer distress in some regions. Shift towards cash crops.
    *   **Impact on Small Producers/Industries:** Difficulty competing with cheaper imports and large TNCs, leading to closures or struggles for survival.

*   **b) Political Dimension:**
    *   **Role of the State:** Debate exists – Has the state become weaker due to the influence of global markets and international organisations? Or has its role merely changed, focusing more on facilitating market operations and managing global interactions?
    *   **Rise of International & Regional Organisations:** Increased importance of bodies like the UN, WTO, EU, ASEAN, SAARC in coordinating actions and setting norms.
    *   **Global Governance:** Challenges like climate change, terrorism, pandemics require international cooperation, highlighting the need for, yet difficulty in achieving, effective global governance.
    *   **Non-State Actors:** Growing influence of NGOs, international pressure groups, and social movements operating across borders.

*   **c) Cultural Dimension:**
    *   **Cultural Homogenisation:** Fear that global culture (often perceived as Western/American) will overwhelm local cultures, leading to uniformity. Examples: Spread of fast food chains (McDonald's), global media (Hollywood, MTV), Western fashion. Sometimes termed 'McDonaldization' or 'Cocacolonization'.
    *   **Cultural Heterogenisation / Glocalisation / Hybridisation:** Global influences interact with local cultures, creating new, mixed forms. Local cultures adapt and modify global trends. Examples: McAlloo Tikki burger in India, Indian adaptations of Western music (Indi-pop), Bollywood incorporating global themes and techniques, Hinglish.
    *   **Role of Media & Communication:** Satellite TV, internet, social media accelerate cultural exchange and the spread of ideas and images globally.
    *   **Consumption Patterns:** Rise of consumer culture, brand consciousness, shopping malls, changing lifestyles.
    *   **Impact on Traditions & Family:** Changes in marriage practices (love marriages, inter-caste/inter-religious marriages), changing family structures (more nuclear families), potential erosion or reassertion of traditional values in response to global influences. Impact on youth culture, aspirations.

3. Globalisation in the Indian Context:

• Historical Context: India has historically been connected to the world (trade routes, colonialism). Contemporary globalisation, however, is marked by the post-1991 economic reforms.
• Uneven Impact: Globalisation has not affected all sections of Indian society equally.
  • Beneficiaries: Skilled professionals (IT, management), urban middle and upper classes, large corporations.
  • Negatively Affected: Unorganised sector workers, small farmers, tribal communities facing displacement due to large projects (often linked to global investment), small-scale industries.
• Regional Disparities: Some regions (major cities, coastal areas) have benefited more than others (rural hinterlands, less developed states).

4. Social Change Linked to Globalisation:

• Work & Livelihood: Shift from stable, long-term employment to flexible, often insecure work (gig economy, contract labour). Increased migration for work (internal and international).
• Consumption & Lifestyle: Emergence of a new middle class with higher disposable income and aspirations shaped by global trends. Increased availability of consumer goods.
• Culture & Identity: Complex interplay – assertion of local/regional/caste identities alongside adoption of global cultural elements. Diasporic communities play a role in cultural exchange.
• Social Movements: Rise of movements both embracing aspects of globalisation (e.g., demanding access to global markets) and resisting it (e.g., environmental movements against TNCs, farmer protests against WTO policies, movements for cultural preservation).

5. Key Debates:

• Is globalisation primarily beneficial (promotes growth, efficiency, cultural exchange) or detrimental (increases inequality, erodes culture, undermines state sovereignty)?
• Does it lead to convergence (societies becoming similar) or divergence (differences being maintained or even accentuated)?
• Who controls the processes of globalisation?

Conclusion for Exam Prep:

Globalisation is an ongoing, complex, and contested process with profound and uneven impacts on Indian society. Be prepared to analyze its economic, political, and cultural dimensions, understand its specific manifestations in India post-1991, and critically evaluate its consequences for different social groups, leading to significant social change. Remember the keywords: Liberalisation, TNCs, WTO, Outsourcing, Homogenisation, Glocalisation, Uneven Impact.

Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs):

1. The significant acceleration of economic globalisation in India is primarily associated with policy changes initiated in:
   (a) 1947
   (b) 1965
   (c) 1991
   (d) 2004
   Answer: (c)

2. The term 'Glocalisation' in the context of cultural globalisation refers to:
   (a) The complete replacement of local culture by global culture.
   (b) The mixing of global and local cultural elements to create new forms.
   (c) The resistance of local cultures to any global influence.
   (d) The dominance of Asian cultures over Western cultures globally.
   Answer: (b)

3. Which international organisation plays a key role in setting rules for international trade and often advocates for liberalisation?
   (a) UNICEF
   (b) WHO
   (c) WTO (World Trade Organisation)
   (d) UNESCO
   Answer: (c)

4. The practice of companies hiring external organisations, often overseas, to perform specific business tasks like customer support is known as:
   (a) Privatisation
   (b) Disinvestment
   (c) Outsourcing
   (d) Nationalisation
   Answer: (c)

5. Which of the following is often cited as a negative economic consequence of globalisation for certain sectors in India?
   (a) Growth of the IT and BPO sectors.
   (b) Increased availability of consumer goods.
   (c) Difficulty for small-scale industries to compete with cheap imports.
   (d) Increased Foreign Direct Investment (FDI).
   Answer: (c)

6. The debate around the political impact of globalisation often involves discussion about the changing role of the:
   (a) Family
   (b) Nation-state
   (c) Caste system
   (d) Village panchayat
   Answer: (b)

7. The fear that globalisation might lead to a uniform global culture, often dominated by Western influences, is termed:
   (a) Cultural Hybridisation
   (b) Cultural Relativism
   (c) Cultural Homogenisation
   (d) Cultural Pluralism
   Answer: (c)

8. TNCs (Transnational Corporations) are characterized by:
   (a) Operating solely within one country's borders.
   (b) Being owned and managed exclusively by the government.
   (c) Having operations and assets in multiple countries.
   (d) Focusing primarily on non-profit activities.
   Answer: (c)

9. The impact of globalisation on Indian society is best described as:
   (a) Uniformly positive across all regions and social groups.
   (b) Uniformly negative across all regions and social groups.
   (c) Having no significant impact on social structures.
   (d) Uneven, benefiting some groups and regions more than others.
   Answer: (d)

10. Which aspect is NOT typically considered a primary dimension of globalisation as discussed in the chapter?
    (a) Economic integration
    (b) Political interdependence
    (c) Cultural exchange
    (d) Geological shifts
    Answer: (d)

Study these notes carefully, focusing on the interconnectedness of the different dimensions and their real-world impact on India. Good luck with your preparation!