CONCLUSIONES PERSONALES

Based on the various definitions of globalization, the concept and the phenomenon has been widely accepted but defined in a variety of ways. For example, Hadiz (2002) describes the economic dimensions of globalization as about “the growing internationalization of the processes of production and finance… [for] nation-states… [and] the forces of international capital” (p.249). That is, globalization brings economic benefits to society. Matsuura (2003) has linked trade and investment with technology “especially the way it has allowed the chasms of time and distance to be bridged” (p.11). The impact of technology, through enhanced communication, “opens up new opportunities for participation, empowerment, and communication” (p.11) and produces pervasive and deeply significant effects on the cultural and political dimensions of society.

Drawing on the above, this research project focuses on four aspects of globalization: economic, communication (technology), cultural, and political to map the influence of globalization in Thai society together with the social imaginary. The four aspects of globalization are discussed in detail below.

2.3.2.1 Economic Globalization

Economic globalization has been an important area of research since the 1960s and is increasingly about the changing social and political fabric of developing nations. According to Onyejekwe (2004), “the term globalization has been used to describe technological processes and advances that have made our world seem smaller… an aspect of this process (economic globalization) greatly refers to the inexorable integration of markets, nation - states, and technologies to a degree never witnessed before – in a way that is enabling individuals, corporations and nation-states to reach around the world farther, faster, deeper and cheaper than ever before” (p.26). Similarly, Shangquan (2000) described economic globalization as “the increasing interdependence of world economies as a result of the growing scale of cross-border trade of commodities and services, flow of international capital and wide and rapid spread of technologies” (p.1).

This project delves into how economic globalization is impacting on Thai society, and its benefits and the associated issues. Such issues include the Free Trade Agreements (FTA) and how economic competition has impacted on the country because this is the direct or the imagined effects for many people. Moreover, the questionnaire component of this project sought views about the likely impact of economic development in Thailand resulting from globalization and the links to social change. As Jaghoub and Westrup (2003) observed, globally interdependent economies introduce “new forms of relationship between the economy, state and society” (p.93) and this impacts on how people live in that society on a day to day basis.

2.3.2.2 Communication and Technology Globalization

The expansion of information and communication technologies has brought profound changes in people’s lives. For example, digital technology brings potential benefits with an emphasis on efficiency and convenience as a high priority. Face to face meetings have been replaced by digital interfaces (video conferencing, internet, mobile phones and so on). Also, globalized communication enables unprecedented and instantaneous access to information and has resulted in a rise in the international exchange of data (Hopper, 2007).

Communication and technology globalization has a tremendous impact on Thai society due to this rapid and massive expansion and this thesis attempts to investigate the significance of technology in developing knowledge and building social creativity.

Globalization makes technology and changes society because technological systems are socially produced and social production is culturally informed (Castells, 2001).

2.3.2.3 Cultural Globalization

There is a vast body of research on cultural globalization. Ela (2003) described cultural globalization as about “the exposure to others… [from] the changes in space, distance and time… [and that resultant] communication between inhabitants of the globe will be easier” (p.1). Hsiao and Wan (2006) linked global culture to “the concept of lifestyle… [and] with the rise of global consumerism” (p.363) from globalization. Furthermore, while “traditional factors of stratification, including wealth, income, educational attainment, occupation, status, and power, remain influential… lifestyle – generally considered a dimension of prestige – is increasingly important for an individual’s identity and social position” (Hsiao & Wan, 2006, p.363). Cultural globalization therefore reshapes the relationship between ways of life and social structure following on from other dimensions of globalization (such as technology and the internet).

Cultural globalization is important in this research project as it gives the opportunity to investigate the influence of globalized cultural change on Thai society and in turn its effects on a developing social imaginary. For the purpose of this thesis, the cross culture framework of Hofstede’s (1984) cultural dimensions has been adopted in order to assist in the identification of which aspects of Thai culture could be applied to social imaginary (more detail on this is provided in section 2.4).

2.3.2.4 Political Globalization

Political globalization is another important element in shaping social imaginaries. Jaghoub and Westrup (2003) have stated that “political globalization is basically related to the role of the state” (p.95) and Cerny (1997) described political globalization referring to “the shaping of the playing field of politics being increasingly determined not within insulated units (such as particular state) but rather deriving from complex multi-level games played on multi-layered playing fields, above and across as well as within state bounds” (p.253). In the Thai context, political globalization is seen in the outspoken protest for the country’s democracy that has been prominent in 2009-10 (and spectacularly so during May 2010).

Political globalization has brought new politicians with Western views and perceptions that highly influence future politics. It also shapes new ways of thinking for the citizens of

the country to become outspoken about their views of the country. This has recently been evident in protest about the return, or not, of former Prime Minister Thaksin to the country (and the political sphere). The highly publicized riots involving Red Shirts and Yellow Shirts illustrate the struggle over social change informed by political globalization. Such struggle is not unexpected as was observed by Pathmanand (2001) when nothing that while “globalization has advanced democratization in Thailand, [it] has also advanced the opponents of true democratization” (p.39).