Post #2: Banter About Globalization (or all the things that went through my head after reading Castell’s article)

     The public sphere is the place where people come together as citizens, to articulate their autonomous views and perhaps even have an effect on society in this way (Castells, 2008).

     

     As defined by Manuel Castells in his article “The New Public Sphere”, globalization is the process that constitutes a social system with the capacity to work as a unit on a planetary scale in real or chosen time”. Incidentally, it is our modern communication technologies which aid in connecting people and making globalization an everyday phenomenon. Globalization is a part of this ‘public sphere’;  assuming that communication networks form a public sphere, this means that our digital era of internet networks and mass media can be included in this.

     

     Castells tries to argue within his article that there is, indeed a global civil society, which is inclusive of this public sphere. He then lists four types of actors of this global civil society. But I am not going to go into all of those, I’d rather just go into two: social movements, and public opinion. These two really interest me because I don’t know about you (yes YOU, whoever happens to be reading this), but whenever I hear the term ‘globalization’, I think of the fact that I’m in Europe, and where ever I go, there is at least one McDonald’s, Starbucks, Subway, or other American fast food enterprise a stone’s throw away. However, having the ability to buy some storefront in another country, on another continent, is not the only example of globalization. Before I continue, think, for a moment, of what comes to mind when you hear the term 'globalization'. 

     

     Social movements are a big contribution to a globalized society, and they are definitely more successful with the social networks we have today. Castell’s article actually mentions one group known as The Zapatistas, who formed a social movement that was opposed to the economic, cultural, and social effects of globalism; NAFTA (the North American Free Trade Agreement) was their main platform example. Though they may not have had all the social media resources of Youtube and Twitter at their disposal. obviously they were able to make a big enough impression that they are a relevant example in the world of academia. Then, there is public opinion which, by my perception, is along the same caliber as social movements; public opinion can be displayed through social movements, as well as on social network outlets such as Facebook, Youtube, a blog hosting website, etc. Although grassroots movements such as the Zapatistas’ still do form, and have the potential to greatly impact society, the social media we have today allows one person to express their opinions to hundreds, even thousands, of viewers, with just a laptop, or perhaps a webcam.  

    

      Of course, this is not to say that social movements cannot benefit from social media in the same way. One example is Courage Campaign, http://www.facebook.com/CourageCampaign an online grassroots network that works to push progressive change, and empower those who want to see it happen. Based out of California, this online network is powerful in that it links all social movements with similar interests together; this organization takes on multiple ‘progressive’ platforms, and thus makes whatever social movements it supports even stronger. Of course these issues are mainly based in the United States, but if nationwide organizations can do this, then why can’t international organizations? And in fact, they have. Last year there was the international Kony Campaign, with release of a canvassing video by Invisible Children, another non-profit organization, to promote the arrest of Joseph Kony, a war criminal, by the end of 2012. This campaign was big on my campus; there were posters everywhere, rallies, and viewings of the film. However, the first place I found out about this movement? Facebook.

     

     My point is, after reading Castell’s article, I really began to realize just how limitless people really are in regards to speaking their opinion, and forming alliances (and potential movements) with those people concerned with the same issues. Perhaps I would agree that globalization on the commercial level (i.e. that Dutch McDonald’s around the corner) is not such a great thing, but the fact that people all over the planet with an internet connection can express their opinion, and create a global community… that is indeed a great thing.