INTERNATIONAL OLYMPIC ACADEMY 7th JOINT - IOA

1. Issues and Dimensions of Globalization
Globalization is characterized as a set of dynamic
interdependencies in the global scope, changing in time and spatial
scope embracing multiple actors at the national, international,
transnational and supra-national levels (see Held, 2002; Held et al,
1999). As touched upon above, although there are differences between
argument and approach to analyze globalization phenomena (see
Appendix Table 1), most of the differences derive from the
epistemological stance, where analysts dominantly give priority either
to economics or cultural elements. Held et al (1999) and Cochrane and
Pain (2000) divide schools of thought into three types: 1) globalists;
2) skeptics; and 3) transformationalists. Whereas there are much more
in-depth and varieties of argument within these categories, each
approach emphasizes a certain element and practice of the dimension
of ‘globalization’ that can capture the overall debate on globalization.
The first account of the globalist or hyperglobalizer is to see
globalization as a real and tangible phenomenon and as an inevitable
path of development. Hyperglobalists argue that the development of
capitalism and information and communication technology accelerate
economic globalization, according to which international agencies,
transnational private corporations and economic and financial players
exercise influence on ‘national’ policies and policy-making practices
that lead to the denationalization of economies in consequence the
power of transnational corporations and international financial
institutions increases at the expense of the regulatory and policymaking
capacity of governments (see Fukuyama, 1992; Khor, 2001;
Gray, 1998). In terms of cultural globalization, hyperglobalizers
analyze the convergence of global culture and marginalization of
nation-state influences identities, life-styles and the consumption
behavior of people. The global diffusion and homogenization of
national culture are represented by such keywords as
‘Americanization’, ‘McDonalization’ or ‘Coca-colonization’. This
uniformity of lifestyles and cultural symbols is marked by the
modernizing force of American popular culture, Western
consumerism or the mega-event of the Olympics or the soccer World
Cup, where local cultures and national identities are replaced with the
production and distribution of these forces (see Jameson, 1998).
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