NCERT Solutions for Class 12 Sociology Social Change and Development in India Chapter 6: Globalisation and Social Change

Chapter at a glance

Exercises

Answer

(Sample answer on cinema; students may choose another topic.)

Topic: Indian cinema

1. Global audience and markets – Indian films are now released simultaneously across the world; the Indian diaspora (in the USA, UK, Gulf, Australia) is a major market. Overseas box-office earnings are significant. Films like RRR, Baahubali and Dangal have done well internationally (e.g. Dangal in China; RRR’s Oscar for “Naatu Naatu”).
2. Themes and settings – many films are set abroad, with NRI characters and global lifestyles (e.g. Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge, Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham), targeting both diaspora and urban audiences.
3. Technology – use of global technology: digital filming, VFX, Dolby sound; collaboration with foreign technicians and studios; Indian VFX studios work for Hollywood.
4. Foreign investment and production – Hollywood studios (Disney, Fox, Sony) produce and distribute Indian films; corporatisation of the industry; multiplexes replaced single screens.
5. OTT platforms – Netflix, Amazon Prime and others have changed how films and series are made and watched; Indian content reaches global viewers and Indians watch global content (Korean dramas, Hollywood) — showing two-way cultural flows.
6. Influence of Hollywood – in style, genres (action, superhero), music and marketing; remakes of foreign films.
7. Glocalisation – Hollywood films are dubbed into Hindi, Tamil, Telugu and other languages; global formats are adapted locally.
8. Concerns – cultural homogenisation, decline of small regional films and single-screen cinemas, consumerism.

Thus globalisation has made Indian cinema more global in reach, technology and finance, while also creating a hybrid culture.

Sample — cinema: globalisation has given Indian films a worldwide (especially diaspora) audience and overseas earnings, themes set abroad, global technology and VFX, investment by foreign studios and multiplexes, OTT platforms with two-way cultural flows, Hollywood influence and dubbing of foreign films into Indian languages (glocalisation) — creating a hybrid culture, though with fears of homogenisation and the decline of small cinemas.

Answer

1. Liberalisation – removal of government controls over trade, investment and industry; reduction of tariffs; privatisation; market-friendly policies. India adopted liberalisation in 1991.
2. Transnational corporations (TNCs) – companies that produce goods or market services in more than one country (e.g. Coca-Cola, Samsung, Microsoft, Tata). They are a key feature, with global networks of production and sales.
3. Electronic economy – banks, corporations, fund managers and individual investors can shift funds internationally with the click of a mouse; global financial markets operate 24 hours, linked by computers. This also makes economies vulnerable to sudden crises.
4. Weightless (knowledge) economy – an economy in which products have their base in information — computer software, media and entertainment, internet services — rather than physical goods. The knowledge economy is one in which much of the workforce is involved not in physical production but in design, development, technology, marketing, sales and services.
5. Globalisation of finance – integrated global financial markets; huge amounts of money flow across borders.
6. Global communications – the revolution in information and communication technology (internet, mobile phones, satellites) has made the world interconnected, enabling outsourcing (BPOs, call centres) and global production chains.
7. Movement of people – increased migration of workers and professionals.
8. Role of international organisations – WTO, IMF, World Bank set rules of trade and finance.

A globalised economy is marked by liberalisation of trade and investment, the dominance of transnational corporations, an electronic economy with instant global movement of funds, a weightless/knowledge economy based on information and services, globalised finance, a communication revolution enabling outsourcing, migration of people, and rules set by bodies like the WTO and IMF.

Answer

Globalisation has led to a much greater flow of cultures across countries. Its impact can be understood in several ways:

1. Homogenisation – some argue that all cultures will become similar (homogeneous), dominated by Western, especially American, culture — through films, TV, fast food (McDonald’s, KFC), fashion (jeans) and brands. This is seen as a threat to local cultures.
2. Glocalisation – others argue that global culture mixes with local culture (global + local): foreign firms adapt to local tastes (e.g. MTV and Star TV using Indian languages and music, McDonald’s selling vegetarian and Indian-style burgers).
3. Hybridisation – new cultural forms emerge from mixing (e.g. Indian remix music, fusion food, Indian English, “Hinglish”).
4. Revival of local and traditional culture – sometimes globalisation strengthens local identities: global interest in yoga, Indian food, classical music and Ayurveda; regional TV channels and festivals have grown.
5. Consumer culture – emphasis on consumption, shopping malls, brands and lifestyles; consumption becomes a marker of identity and status.
6. Corporate culture – a new work culture in companies (team-building, performance, long hours, corporate identity).
7. Gender and culture – global ideas of women’s rights and gender equality spread, but also commodification of women in media and beauty contests; there have been debates and protests (e.g. against Valentine’s Day by conservative groups).
8. Threats to indigenous cultures and languages – smaller communities may lose their languages, crafts and traditions.
9. Cultural flows are two-way – Indian films, food, yoga and spirituality have spread worldwide.

Globalisation affects culture through homogenisation (spread of Western/American culture), glocalisation and hybridisation (mixing of global and local forms), revival of local traditions, the rise of consumer and corporate culture, new debates on gender, threats to indigenous languages and crafts, and two-way flows such as the global spread of Indian films, food and yoga.

Answer

Glocalisation refers to the mixing of the global with the local. It is a strategy often adopted by foreign firms when dealing with local traditions in order to enhance their commercial prospects, and also a process of cultural mixing.

Examples: - Foreign TV channels like Star, MTV, Channel V and Cartoon Network use Indian languages and Indian content; MTV found that Indian audiences preferred Indian music. - McDonald’s sells vegetarian burgers (McAloo Tikki) and no beef or pork in India; Domino’s and Pizza Hut offer paneer and tandoori toppings. - Global brands celebrate Indian festivals in advertisements; global formats of reality shows (e.g. Kaun Banega Crorepati, based on Who Wants to Be a Millionaire) are adapted locally.

Is it only a market strategy? - Yes, partly: MNCs adopt glocalisation primarily to increase profits and capture markets, by appealing to local tastes and identities. It is a commercial calculation, not a genuine respect for local culture. Global companies may use local symbols only superficially.

Is genuine cultural synthesis taking place? - Yes, also: Glocalisation is not just imposed by companies; local people also actively adapt, reinterpret and mix global culture with their own, creating new hybrid cultural forms — e.g. Indian pop and remix music, fusion food (Chinese-Indian “Manchurian”, “Maggi masala”), Bollywood’s adaptation of global styles, Hinglish. Local cultures are not passive; they absorb what suits them and reshape it. - Cultural flows are two-way: Indian culture also influences the world.

Conclusion: Glocalisation is both — a market strategy of MNCs and a process of genuine cultural synthesis/hybridisation in which local cultures actively engage with global culture. However, unequal power means that global corporations often have greater influence.

Glocalisation is the mixing of the global with the local, e.g. MTV and Star TV using Indian languages, and McDonald’s selling the McAloo Tikki. It is partly a profit-driven market strategy of MNCs, but genuine cultural synthesis is also taking place as local people actively adapt and mix global culture into new hybrid forms (remix music, fusion food, Hinglish), though global corporations retain greater power.

Topic checklist

• ☒ Impact of globalisation on a chosen area (Q 1)
• ☒ Features of a globalised economy (Q 2)
• ☒ Globalisation and culture; glocalisation (Q 3, 4)

Total questions answered: 4 of 4