CURS Factori economici particulari semnificativi n procesul globalizrii

Se poate considera c de cteva decenii exist un nou stadiu n dezvoltarea economiei capitaliste, un nou tip de capitalism dezvoltat la scar global. Acesta poate fi descris prin apel la mai muli factori economici particulari. Firete, factorii n cauz sunt strns legai ntre ei, dnd natere unui proces pe care l putem aprecia ca fiind organic. de exemplu, un telefon mobil este important (dac nu chiar decisiv n zilele noastre) din punct de vedere economic, att ca produs finit, n sine, ca obiect ce este cumprat de anumii oameni pentru a fi posedat de ei, dar i ca un facilitator de contacte / tranzacii economice, de schimb de informaii financiare etc. cu alte cuvinte ca mediu de afaceri sui generis. n plus, factorii economici ce vor fi evideniai n continuare sunt individualizai doar din raiuni pedagogice, cci ei fac parte dintr-un complex funcional ce cuprinde i ceilali factori semnificativi: politici, culturali, sociali, demografici etc. Dac e s plecm de la concepia n aceast privin a lui Giddens, principalii factori economici care au favorizat procesul de globalizare sunt urmtorii: Dezvoltarea tehnologiilor informaiei i ale (tele)comunicaiilor: nlocuirea tehnicii analogice cu cea digital n transmiterea informaiei; comunicaiile prin cablu i prin satelit; telefonia mobil; internetul etc. Efectele acestui proces sunt economice, financiare, dar i politice, culturale, sociale, chiar antropologice; la modul general, aceste efecte au fost descrise David Harvey prin comprimarea spaiului i a timpului (space-time compression). o Un exemplu: Some of the most gripping events of the past two or three decades - such as the fall of the Berlin Wall, the violent crackdown on democratic protesters in China's Tiananmen Square and the terrorist attacks of 11 September 2001- have unfolded through the media before a truly global audience. Such events, along with thousands of less dramatic ones, have resulted in a reorientation in people's thinking from the level of the nation-state to the global stage.

Individuals are now more aware of their interconnectedness with others and more likely to identity with global issues and processes than was the case in times past. (Giddens 130) Apariia unui tip nou de economie, caracterizat alternativ ca prin expresii ca societate postindustrial, societate informaional, societate bazat pe cunoatere sau noua economie ceea ce presupune o economie lipsit de greutate (weightless economy Quah), n care decisiv valoarea informaional sau cognitiv inclus n produsul finit i, ntr-o msur descresctoare, materia prim propriu-zis). o Iat cum definete Quah conceptul de weightless economy: By the weightless economy, I mean that part of the economy comprising the following four categories: 1. Information and communications technology (ICT), including the Internet. 2. Intellectual property, including not only patents and copyrights but more broadly, namebrands, trademarks, advertising, financial and consulting services, health care (medical knowledge), and education. 3. Electronic libraries and databases, including new media, video entertainment, and broadcasting. 4. Biotechnology, which includes carbon-based libraries and databases, as well as pharmaceuticals. (Quah 1) apariia unei astfel de economii nu ar fi fost posibil fr configurarea unui nou tip de individ care s susin, prin consum, producia i comercializarea unor asemenea produse, a unor oameni care s i desfoare propria via prin(tre) acestea: o The emergence of the knowledge society has been linked to the development of a broad base of consumers who are technologically literate and eagerly integrate new advances in computing, entertainment and telecommunications into their everyday lives. (Giddens 132)

o Trebuie remarcat faptul c individul-consumator este i un efect i totodat i o cauz a economiei capitaliste globale actuale, fiind un element care accelereaz procesul evoluiei acesteia. o Exist unele teorii care situeaz n zona consumului esena procesului globalizrii. Dup Edward Comor, the edifice of the contemporary political economy is, in fact, built on the grounds of a consumptiondependent framework. In the context of the contemporary globalization project, this frameworks construction is secured more through consumerist identities than workplace satisfactions, more as a result of acquisitive aspirations than civic achievements. (Comor X) 1. Acelai autor adaug: Despite the ecological implications of our systemic compulsion to produce and consume evermore, and the geopolitical ramifications of this dynamic (involving a deepening dependency on both oil and cheap labour), consumption itself arguably has become the core indice of not just individual success but also national development. Capitalist consumption - as a historically constructed way of thinking, acting and relating - constitutes an essential but contradiction-laden institution. Its core agent - the muchvaunted sovereign consumer - is ideally free to do virtually anything except withdraw from consuming. After all, if that choice were acted upon, the edifice would collapse. (Comor X) 2. Astfel c, n viziunea lui Comor, devine justificat s ne ntrebm dac asistm la crearea unei global civil society sau a unei global consumer society, cu alte cuvinte dac ceea ce susine procesul globalizrii este existena unei contiine politice cosmopolite i democratice sau faptul c avem de-a face cu resorturi de tip consumerist abil speculate i ntreinute. Apariia unui nou mod de desfurare a afacerilor i de a nelege competitivitatea economic, bazat pe cooperare / colaborare cu alte firme n atingerea scopului propus (n dauna unei independene totale), ca i pe apartenena decisiv la reele economico-financiare:

o In order to be competitive in globalizing conditions, businesses and corporations have restructured themselves to be more flexible and less hierarchical in nature. Production practices and organizational patterns have become more flexible, partnering arrangements with other firms have become commonplace and participation in worldwide distribution networks has become essential for doing business in a rapidly changing global market. (Giddens 132) o Un exemplu: alianele realizate de companiile de transport aerian: Star Alliance, Skyteam etc. dezvoltarea companiilor transnaionale, i.e. a companiilor care i desfoar activitatea n mai mult de dou ri. Aceste devin n multe cazuri factori de decizie mai importani dect multe dintre ri, condiionnd i chiar subordonnd politicile economice ale acestora (introducerea de modificri legislative: economice, sociale, legate de mediu etc.). o Pentru a nelege ce determin aceast stare de lucruri, oferim un citat din Giddens: Some 500 transnational corporations had annual sales of more than $10 billion in 2001, while only 75 countries could boast gross domestic products of at least that amount. () In fact, the combined sales of the world's largest 500 transnational corporations totalled $14.1 trillion - nearly half of the value of goods and services produced by the entire world. (Giddens 133) o Condiionarea apare i n sens opus, n msura n care falimentul unei singure companii transnaionale puternice poate duce la reacii n lan, antrenarea unei ntregi crize economice locale, regionale, naionale sau chiar globale. Vezi, n acest sens, falimentul Lehman Brothers, a patra banca din SUA la momentul respectiv (dar care oferea servicii financiare la nivel global) din 2008, care a dus la declanarea unei crize la nivel mondial, ale crei efecte le resimim nc i astzi. o Un rol fundamental n acest proces de dezvoltare a companiilor transnaionale l joac (cf. Giddens) existena a aa-numitelor global commodity chains lanuri globale de producie, i.e. faptul c pentru realizarea unui produs finit concur mai multe etape de producie care se realizeaz n ri diferite, n funcie de profitabilitatea producerii acestora n locaiile respective (materiile prime, costul i calificarea

pentru mna de lucru, reeaua de transport, facilitile economicofinanciare etc.) existena unei economii electronice din ce n ce mai dezvoltate, care modific structural economia clasic. o aspecte semnificative: posibilitatea de a te informa despre existena unor ageni i activiti economice (accesul la informaia economic); posibilitatea de a contacta practic instantaneu acele entiti din aproape toat lumea care pot susine propria activitate economic, pe toate palierele, de la uniti de extracie a materiilor prime, operatori de transport, organe statale intermediare, firme de angajare personal, firme de consultan economic i financiar, comercializarea produselor finite etc.; posibilitatea de a face publicitate produselor n toate regiunile globului printr-un sistem de plat electronic deosebit de facil. o Un aspect extrem de important este tocmai sistemul de plat electronic, care conecteaz bnci, firme, clieni, instituii ale statului etc.

Teme recapitulative: Dai exemple de efecte ale procesului de dezvoltare accelerat a tehnologiilor informaiei i comunicaiilor n varii domenii. Ce nseamn o economie lipsit de greutate? Prezentai i comentai un caz concret viznd legtura dintre o companie transnaional i politicile la nivel naional

Bibliografie:

Edward A. Comor, Consumption and the Globalization Project : neo-imperialism and the annihilation of time, Palgrave MacMillan, Houndmills / New York, 2008 Anthony Giddens, Sociology, 6th edition, revised and updated with Philip W. Sutton, Polity Press, 2009 Ray Kiely, Industrialization and Development, UCL Press, London, 1998

Danny T. Quah, The Weightless Economy in Growth, The Business Economist, Vol. 30, No. 1, pp. 4053, March 1999 (se gsete la adresa: http://econ.lse.ac.uk/~dquah/)