Chapter 6: Globalisation and Social Change – NCERT Solutions

Q1 Choose any topic that is of interest to you and discuss how you think globalisation has affected it. (Example: Cinema/Entertainment)

Model Answer Focus: Impact of Globalisation on Work/Employment

Globalisation has dramatically transformed the nature of work in India:

Outsourcing (BPO/KPO): India became the “back office” of the world. Young Indians now work in call centers, adjusting their biological clocks to American or Australian time zones.
Service Sector Growth: There is a shift from manufacturing/agriculture to services (IT, hospitality, retail). This has created a new English-speaking middle class with high disposable incomes.
Gig Economy: The rise of global apps (Uber, Zomato) has created a “gig economy” where workers are “partners” without the security of permanent employment, health benefits, or pensions.
Global Migration: Professionals (nurses, engineers) can easily migrate to the Gulf or the West, creating a “brain drain” but also sending back massive remittances.

Q2 What are the distinctive features of a globalised economy? Discuss.

A globalised economy is characterized by increasing interconnectedness:

Liberalisation: The removal of trade barriers (tariffs/taxes) allowing the free flow of goods and services across borders.
Global Division of Labour: Production is split across countries. A car might be designed in Japan, parts made in China, assembled in India, and sold in Europe.
Transnational Corporations (TNCs): Huge companies (like Coca-Cola or Amazon) operate in multiple countries, often wielding more economic power than small nations.
Financial Flow: “Electronic money” moves instantly across the globe. Capital is invested in share markets globally (FDI/FII) and can be withdrawn just as quickly, making economies volatile.

Q3 Briefly discuss the impact of globalisation on culture.

Globalisation impacts culture in two opposing ways: Homogenisation and Hybridisation.

Cultural Homogenisation: The fear that the world is becoming the same (McDonaldisation). Local cultures are being wiped out by dominant Western/American culture (e.g., Hollywood movies, jeans, pop music dominating local traditions).
Cultural Hybridisation: The mixing of global and local. It’s not just adoption but adaptation.
Example: “Fusion Music,” “Indo-Chinese food,” or celebrating Valentine’s Day but with Indian values.
Revival of Tradition: Paradoxically, globalisation has also led to a resurgence of local identities (e.g., the popularity of Yoga globally or Ayurveda) as people try to hold on to their roots in a changing world.

Q4 What is glocalisation? Is it simply a market strategy adopted by multinational companies or is genuine cultural synthesis taking place? Discuss.

                Glocalisation (Global + Local) is the blending of global forms with local content. It refers to the strategy of foreign companies adapting their products to suit local tastes and culture.
            

Is it just a Market Strategy?

Yes, primarily: MNCs want profit. McDonald’s introduced the McAloo Tikki burger not because they love Indian culture, but because they needed to sell to a vegetarian population that doesn’t eat beef. Similarly, Star TV introduced “Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi” because western shows weren’t getting ratings.

Is it Cultural Synthesis?

To some extent: While driven by profit, it does create new cultural forms. The resulting product is neither purely foreign nor purely local (e.g., Remix songs). It allows local culture to survive but in a modified, commercialized form.