The Globalization of Nothing

by Ritzer, George

• ISBN13: 9780761988069
• ISBN10: 0761988068
• Format: Hardcover
• Copyright: 2003-08-01
• Publisher: Pine Forge Press

Summary

" The Globalization of Nothing is one of the most original analyses of forces operating in the world today. Ritzer presents a new thesis'”indeed a grand narrative-- on the dynamics of globalizaton. The production and distribution of "nothing" or social formations that are centrally conceived, controlled and comparatively devoid of distinctive content represents a new way to address many of the issues raised by postmodern theory (without all of the jargon and anti-science rhetoric) and world systems theory (without the hoped for collapse of capitalism). It is critical but not shrill. It forces the reader to look at the contemporary work in a new way. The book is highly readable and engaging. It has something to say to the scholar, student, and layperson." --Jonathan Turner, University of California, Riverside " The Globalization of Nothing is a brilliant essay that develops revolutionary ideas based on sharp, penetrating observations. This book is truly the product of a "sociological eye." I do no exaggerate when I use the term "revolutionary." The author presents a phenomenon--or set of phenomena--that stretch sociology's phenomenological field. . . . After you become aware of nothing, you need to rethink the world and the way you look at it." --Heran Vera, University of Florida, Gainesville "The book makes a clear, interesting, and compelling argument and it certainly contributes to our understanding of modern culture and society." --Celestino Fernández, University of Arizona "The author does an excellent job in describing and explaining nothing, something, grobalization, glocalization, globalization, and their interrelations. Examples are drawn closely from life. They are touchable and po

Author Biography

George Ritzer is Distinguished University Professor at the University of Maryland, where he has also been a Distinguished Scholar-Teacher and won a Teaching Excellence Award. He has also won a Distinguished Contributions to Teaching Award from the American Sociological Association

Table of Contents

Preface

Acknowledgments

1. Nothing: A Brief (No Need to be Lengthy) Introduction

Nothing

An Illustrative Excursion to the Movies

Nothing (and Something): Further Clarification

Nothing Is Nothing

In Defense of Nothing

The Production of Nothing

2. Conceptualizing Nothing (and Something)

Unique-Generic, One-of-a-Kind-Interchangeable

Local Geographic Ties-Lack of Local Ties

Specific-to-the-Times-Relatively Time-less

Humanized-Dehumanized

Enchanted-Disenchanted

How Does This Relate to Globalization?

Objective, or Are They?

3. Meet the Nullities

Non-Places (and Places)

Non-Things (and Things)

Non-People (and People)

Non-Service (and Service)

The Relationship Between Forms of Nothing (and Something)

4. Globalization

Glocalization and Grobalization

Glocalization

Grobalization

Some Complexities

5. Grobalization-Glocalization and Something-Nothing

The Grobalization of Something

The Grobalization of Nothing

The Glocalization of Nothing

The Glocalization of Something

Expensive, Globally Available Types of Nothing

Loose Cultural, Tight Structural Models

What About the Local?

Why Now?

Which Comes First: Nothing or Its Grobalization?

6. The Ultimate Example of Nothing and Its Grobalization? Large-Scale Consumption Sites on the Internet

Some Important Caveats

Back to the Main Argument

Meet the Nullities on the Internet

Large-Scale Consumption Sites on the Internet as Non-Places

The Non-Things for Sale on Large-Scale Consumption Web Sites

Non-People on Those Large-Scale, Internet Consumption Sites

Non-Services on Those Large-Scale Consumption Web Sites

Globalization

7. A Few (by Necessity) Concluding Thoughts on Nothing (and Its Globalization)

The Increase in Nothing! The Decline in Something?

The Positive Side of Nothing and Its Spread

The Negative Side of the Spread of Nothingness

Grobalization and Loss

Explaining the Gap

Nostalgia?

Changes Over Time

How Can We Make So Much Out of So Little?

Making Something Out of Nothing on the Internet

The Economics of Nothingness

A Lot of Nothing Is Still Nothing

8. Concluding Thoughts on Globalization (and Nothing)

Grobalization Versus Glocalization

Can the Local Be Resuscitated?

The Globalization of Nothing and September 11, 2001

Consumption and Beyond

The Role of Brands

Responding to the Grobalization of Nothing

Appendix: Nothing-Theoretical and Methodological Issues

Nothing: Previous Work

Some Modern Methodological (Epistemological) Problems

Modern Concepts in a Postmodern Age

Salvaging a (Semi-) Modern Approach

A (General) Standpoint Theory

Alternative Perspectives

Potential Criticisms

Rational Choice?

Are Consumers Judgmental Dopes?

Notes

Index

About the Author