Lesson 18 — Activity 1: Social Interdependence
Completion requirements
Lesson 18 — Activity 1:
Social Interdependence
Social Interdependence
Warm Up
In this activity, you will examine the global
social interdependence
that has developed, especially in the last 20 years of the 20th century.
Technology has made communication and travel around the world easier. More efficient phone services, airplanes that can travel long distances in short times, and the Internet have all led to greater opportunities for people all over the world to communicate with each other.
This phenomenon
has occurred for several reasons. During the 20th century (from
January 1901 to December 2000), large numbers of people left their home
countries and immigrated to other nations. At first, the only contact
most of these immigrants had with their former homelands was through
letters and, later in the century, phone calls. Today, families and
friends can cheaply and easily call each other, e-mail, text message, and
use the Internet to see each other as they talk. If they can afford it,
they can fly to each other's countries to visit.
Today, many
people who live in Canada travel great distances for pleasure. For
example, countries such as Mexico, Cuba, the Dominican Republic, and the
southern United States are popular winter holiday destinations because
of their warm weather and beaches. Some who have retired spend their
winters in warmer places knowing that they can stay in touch easily with
their friends and families or even have their friends and family
members visit them.
The global economy often requires people to communicate with others in their company's offices in other parts of the world. This can be done through conference calls in which several people can speak with and hear each other at the same time. Teleconferencing allows people in offices all over the world to share conversations, documents, and images with each other. Before modern air travel, crossing an ocean by ship took weeks. Now a company can employ people in other countries to do work for them abroad to eliminate the need to travel.
This phenomenon has occurred for several reasons. During the 20th century (from January 1901 to December 2000), large numbers of people left their home countries and immigrated to other nations. At first, the only contact most of these immigrants had with their former homelands was through letters and, later in the century, phone calls. Today, families and friends can cheaply and easily call each other, e-mail, text message, and use the Internet to see each other as they talk. If they can afford it, they can fly to each other's countries to visit.
Today, many people who live in Canada travel great distances for pleasure. For example, countries such as Mexico, Cuba, the Dominican Republic, and the southern United States are popular winter holiday destinations because of their warm weather and beaches. Some who have retired spend their winters in warmer places knowing that they can stay in touch easily with their friends and families or even have their friends and family members visit them.
The global economy often requires people to communicate with others in their company's offices in other parts of the world. This can be done through conference calls in which several people can speak with and hear each other at the same time. Teleconferencing allows people in offices all over the world to share conversations, documents, and images with each other. Before modern air travel, crossing an ocean by ship took weeks. Now a company can employ people in other countries to do work for them abroad to eliminate the need to travel.
People use social networking sites such as
Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and LinkedIn to connect with each other. There is also the interaction that
occurs when people play games with each other on the Internet. To form
relationships with all the people in your network is not possible, but
you will do this with some of them.
All these situations lead inevitably to some people connecting with each other socially. This has always happened, but because of technology, it occurs more often and is more likely to continue. An individual's social circle is no longer restricted to one's immediate community; it can now circle the globe.
People use social networking sites such as Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and LinkedIn to connect with each other. There is also the interaction that occurs when people play games with each other on the Internet. To form relationships with all the people in your network is not possible, but you will do this with some of them.
All these situations lead inevitably to some people connecting with each other socially. This has always happened, but because of technology, it occurs more often and is more likely to continue. An individual's social circle is no longer restricted to one's immediate community; it can now circle the globe.
What Others Have Said ...
"One
of the main driving forces of globalization, or at least the thing that
greatly facilitates this global interdependence, is technology. Because
of computers and advances in the transportation of people and data,
goods and services can be seamlessly and easily transferred around the
world. With the technological capabilities we have today, people in a
faraway lands do not have to wait days or weeks to communicate with each
other and exchange items. These sorts of global transactions can occur
instantly, in real time."
~ Posted by W. W. Norton on February 18, 2015 in "Globalization, Peter Kaufman, Popular Culture and Consumption, Theory"
What Others Have Said ...
"One
of the main driving forces of globalization, or at least the thing that
greatly facilitates this global interdependence, is technology. Because
of computers and advances in the transportation of people and data,
goods and services can be seamlessly and easily transferred around the
world. With the technological capabilities we have today, people in a
faraway lands do not have to wait days or weeks to communicate with each
other and exchange items. These sorts of global transactions can occur
instantly, in real time."
~ Posted by W. W. Norton on February 18, 2015 in "Globalization, Peter Kaufman, Popular Culture and Consumption, Theory"
Self-check!
Try This!
Try the question below on your own first, and then click on
the tab to check your answer! You may look back at the lesson to find
the answer.
What types of technologies have made it easier for us to communicate with people all around the world?
- phone services
- airplanes that can travel long distances in short times
- the Internet
- teleconferencing
- social networking sites