NCERT Solutions for Class 12 Political Science Contemporary World Politics Chapter 7: Globalisation

Chapter at a glance

Exercises

Answer

(d) Globalisation is a multi-dimensional phenomenon (economic, political and cultural).

4. is true.

Answer

(a) Globalisation has been uneven in its impact on states and societies.

1. is true.

Answer

(a) Technology is an important cause of globalisation.

1. is true.

Answer

(d) Globalisation is about worldwide interconnectedness.

4. is true.

Answer

(c) is false. It is the critics, not the advocates, who argue that globalisation leads to cultural homogenisation; advocates argue that it enriches cultures (heterogenisation).

3. is false.

Answer

Worldwide interconnectedness means that events, decisions and activities in one part of the world have consequences in distant parts, because countries and peoples are linked through various flows. It is the essence of globalisation.

Components (flows)

1. Ideas – moving from one part of the world to another (through media, internet).
2. Capital – investment carried across borders by companies and investors.
3. Commodities – goods traded across countries.
4. People – movement of people in search of better livelihoods (migration).

These flows create worldwide interconnectedness, which is sustained over time.

Worldwide interconnectedness is the linking of the world so that events in one place affect others far away; its components are flows of ideas, capital, commodities and people.

Answer

1. Communication – the telegraph, telephone and microchip revolutionised communication; today the internet, mobile phones and social media allow instant global contact.
2. Information – the internet allows information to move freely, enabling global knowledge sharing and e-commerce.
3. Transport – faster air and sea transport, container shipping lower costs and time, aiding movement of goods and people.
4. Finance – electronic banking allows capital to move across the world instantly.
5. Services – technology allows outsourcing of services (BPOs, IT services in India).
6. Awareness – people know about events and cultures across the world, creating a sense of global connection.

Just as printing laid the foundation for nationalism, information technology has laid the foundation for globalisation.

Technology – from the telegraph and telephone to the microchip, internet and mobile phones, plus fast transport and electronic finance – has made the flow of ideas, capital, goods and people across the world quick and cheap, laying the foundation of globalisation.

Answer

Erosion of state capacity

1. The welfare state is giving way to a minimalist state that concentrates on core functions – law and order, security of citizens.
2. The state withdraws from many welfare functions (subsidies, public sector), leaving them to the market; economic and social priorities are increasingly set by the market.
3. Multinational companies gain influence, reducing the government’s capacity to make decisions independently.
4. Pressure from international institutions (IMF, World Bank, WTO) through conditions.

State remains strong

1. The state continues to be the most important actor – it still performs essential functions (law and order, national security), and decides whether to globalise.
2. Political sovereignty has not weakened in core areas.
3. Technology has increased the state’s capacity to collect information about citizens and govern more effectively.

Evaluation: in developing countries, the retreat of the welfare state has sometimes hurt the poor (reduced subsidies, job losses), so states need to provide social safety nets. Globalisation does not make the state irrelevant; it changes its role.

Globalisation has pushed developing states from welfare roles towards minimal, market-friendly roles, increasing the influence of MNCs and international institutions; yet the state remains central, technology even strengthens it, and it must provide safety nets so the poor are not harmed.

Answer

Economic implications

1. Greater economic flows – trade in goods and services, investment and technology across countries; reduction of trade barriers (WTO).
2. Role of international institutions – IMF, World Bank and WTO influence economic policies.
3. Movement of people is restricted – developed countries guard borders with visa rules, unlike capital and goods.
4. Uneven distribution of benefits – growth for some, but critics say it increases inequality between and within countries; it may hurt farmers, workers and small producers.
5. Need for social safety nets to protect the weak.
6. Economic interdependence – crises spread quickly (2008 financial crisis).

Impact on India

1. Economic reforms of 1991 – liberalisation, privatisation, globalisation; removal of licences, reduced tariffs, foreign investment.
2. Higher growth rates; India became one of the fastest-growing economies.
3. IT and services boom – outsourcing, software exports, BPOs; growth of a middle class.
4. More consumer choice and foreign brands; growth of MNCs and Indian MNCs abroad.
5. Increased foreign exchange reserves and FDI.
6. Criticism – rising inequality, jobless growth, agrarian distress, competition for small industries; protests by trade unions and farmers.

Globalisation increases trade, investment and technology flows under institutions like the IMF and WTO, creating growth but uneven gains and greater interdependence; in India, the 1991 reforms brought faster growth, an IT/services boom, FDI and consumer choice, but also inequality, agrarian distress and pressure on small producers.

Answer

Partly agree.

Globalisation leads to cultural heterogeneity (enrichment)

1. External influences enlarge our choices and modify our culture without overwhelming tradition (e.g. jeans with kurta – the blue jeans and khadi kurta combination).
2. Mixing of cultures creates new, hybrid forms in music, food, fashion and films.
3. Indian culture – yoga, Bollywood, Indian cuisine – has spread worldwide.

Cultural homogenisation (threat)

1. Critics argue that globalisation imposes Western (American) culture – McDonaldisation – on the rest of the world, leading to the decline of local cultures, languages and traditions.
2. The dominant culture of rich countries spreads through media and MNCs.

Conclusion: globalisation produces both effects, but it is wrong to think it produces only homogeneity; often it leads to heterogeneity – a mixing and enrichment of cultures – with each society adapting external influences.

Partly – globalisation can spread Western culture (homogenisation), but it also enlarges choices and creates hybrid, enriched cultures (jeans with kurta, global spread of yoga and Indian food), so it often leads to cultural heterogeneity.

Answer

Impact of globalisation on India

1. Economic – 1991 reforms, high growth, FDI, IT and services boom, consumer goods and MNCs; but inequality, agrarian distress and job insecurity.
2. Political – greater role of markets; the state’s welfare role reduced; India’s voice in WTO and G-20 increased.
3. Cultural – global brands, food, music and fashion influence urban youth; concerns about loss of traditions; cultural mixing.
4. Resistance – left-wing protests (Indian Social Forum, trade unions, farmers against MNCs, opposition to patenting of neem) and right-wing objections to cultural influences (Valentine’s Day, western dress).

India’s impact on globalisation

1. Indian diaspora – millions of Indians work abroad; remittances; influence in IT and business worldwide.
2. IT and services – India is a global hub for software and outsourcing; Indian IT companies operate worldwide.
3. Indian MNCs – Tata, Infosys, Reliance, etc. invest abroad.
4. Culture – yoga, Ayurveda, Indian cuisine, films (Bollywood) and spirituality are popular globally.
5. Role in global governance – India shapes WTO negotiations, climate negotiations, G-20 and BRICS, representing developing countries.
6. Resistance forums – India hosted the World Social Forum (Mumbai, 2004), raising concerns about the negative effects of globalisation.

Globalisation has brought India growth, an IT boom, FDI and cultural change, along with inequality and resistance; India in turn shapes globalisation through its diaspora, IT services, Indian MNCs, cultural exports like yoga and films, its role in WTO/G-20/BRICS, and forums like the World Social Forum.

Topic checklist

• ☒ Concept and causes of globalisation (Q 1, 3, 4, 6, 7)
• ☒ Political, economic and cultural consequences (Q 2, 5, 8–10)
• ☒ India and globalisation (Q 9, 11)

Total questions answered: 11 of 11