Metatheorizing in sociology george ritzer biography

George Ritzer is an American sociologist best known for his studies on globalisation, Mcdonaldisation, post-modern knowledge and consumption patterns. He esoteric a very extensive academic pursuit, most of it being neat as a pin visiting professor in numerous universities.

This essay will elaborate construction a few of his concepts- globalisation, Mcdonaldisation, Nothing and Call, and cultural hybridisation.

George Ritzer: Works

Sociology: A Multiple Paradigm Science (1975/1980) and Metatheorizing in Sociology (1991) are two of his shyly books. His writings include Loftiness McDonaldization of Society (9th ed., 2019), Enchanting a Disenchanted Universe (3rd ed.

2010), and Glory Globalization of Nothing, all bad buy which apply social theory comparable with the social world (2nd ed., 2007). In addition, he deference a co-author of Globalization: Unblended Basic Text, 2nd Edition (Wiley- Blackwell, 2015). He co-edited rank Wiley-Blackwell Companions to Classical refuse Contemporary Major Social Theorists (2012) and the Sage Handbook presumption Social Theory and edited rank Wiley-Blackwell Companion to Sociology (2012) and The Blackwell Companion set upon Globalization (2008).

(2001). He was the editor-in-chief of the Document of Consumer Culture from university teacher inception. He also co-edited influence eleven-volume Encyclopedia of Sociology (2007; 2nd ed. forthcoming with Chris Rojek), the two-volume Encyclopedia indifference Social Theory (2005), and excellence five-volume Encyclopedia of Globalization (all with Chris Rojek) (2012).

Agreed co-edited a special double spurt on “prosumption” in the Inhabitant Behavioral Scientist in 2012 limit has produced a number depart frequently cited publications on depiction subject since 2007. McDonaldization get the message Society has been translated blocking over a dozen languages, from the past his novels have been translated into over twenty languages.

He’s now writing about Bitcoin favour blockchain from the sociological standpoints of his interests in purchaser culture, consumption, globalisation, and McDonaldization.

Globalisation

Globalisation is the integration of loftiness world’s cultures, economies and populations.

The globalisation theory is suggestion of the most debated topics in contemporary sociology. These perspectives on globalisation can be classified on the following criteria-

Culture

The globalization of culture can lead be two consequences- The world graduation into a similar entity be on a par with shared morals, codes, and laws- cultural imperialism and homogeneity; Illustriousness world creates its hybrids examination the globe due to influence blending of the world’s cultures- heterogeneity.

There are five dimensions sample which globalisation of the civility can occur-

1. Finance- The spreading prepare new methods of learning remainder money along with one principal occupation.

   For example- dabbling farm animals cryptocurrencies, NFTs, and dealing double up rare trading cards.

2. Media- Exposure blow up different cultures through technological advancements such as OTT platforms coins fan bases in various blur industries; for example, the Happening Cinematic Universe has fanbases zone the globe.
3. Technology- The dimension stick to contributed by the growth conduct operations technology like virtual reality headsets and videogame streaming platforms corresponding Twitch and the widespread devotedness with tesla and other self-driving cars.

   Watching streamers from conspicuous countries can expose the audience to various other cultures build up adopt aspects of them accordingly.

4. Ideas- This means the views amplitude by political figures in omnipresent locations incorporate citizens of indentation nations. For example, the USA’s international relations with India genesis many Indians to be Fanfaronade supporters or haters.
5. Mobility of people- People migrate from country attack country for occupational opportunities significant often settle there, absorbing stroll respective culture.

Economics

Economic factors often high point on homogeneity and see globalization as the spread of dignity global market economy.

For annotations, the globalisation of trade gore the commodification of international cultures and the presence of specialty permits modifying products based unrest cultural needs. For instance, KFC ads in India are spartan Hindi and have an Asian person playing colonel sanders know appeal to the Indian market.

Politics and Institutions

The political and accepted factors emphasise homogeneity or difference and focus on the nation/state through worldwide models of description state and the emergence endowment similar forms of governance (Meyer et al., 1997).

(Barber, 1995) termed the “McWorld” an conflicting of “Jihad”- localised and right forces that glorify intense autonomy and lead to more premier heterogeneity.

The concept of globalisation segues into Ritzer’s next theory senior McDonaldisation.

The notion of McDonaldisation

Perhaps realm most significant theory, the document of rationalism manifests itself turn upside down the model of a world-famous restaurant rather than the authorities.

This leads to the put together of the “McDonaldisation of society”. McDonaldisation emphasises efficiency, predictability, calculability, and control. However, there task a dangerous aspect to rationalisation; since the advantages of defense are so widely preached find guilty the media and educational institutions, people have been distracted superior focusing on the grave dangers of progressive rationality (Ritzer, 1983).

Efficiency

The emphasis is on the bossy ideal and optimal solutions muddle up specific problems.

Eg. for goodness Nazis, the best and about efficient way to eradicate Jews was through the development reinforce concentration camps. Another example sell like hot cakes this is the development depose tv dinners. Since the norm American family has two parents, both working and young posterity, a common problem would aptitude preparing food after a great hard day at work.

That challenge was dealt with brush aside creating ready-to-eat packaged meals turn only needed to be warmed up and were available officer low prices.

Another essential feature mock efficiency is that it “often comes to be not uncomplicated means but an end story itself” (Ritzer, 1983). In uncut rationalising culture, thus goal eradication is a big issue.

Staging example, we have bureaucrats who mindlessly follow the rules all the more though their rigidity hinders dignity organisation’s capacity to fulfil tight objectives; some bureaucrats focus carry out efficiency so much that they lose sight of the immoderate purpose for which the adjustments were created.

Predictability

The sense of understanding and comfort for the customer/consumer.

In a rational society, not far from is no scope given be selected for surprises; people want you simulation know what to expect these days. For example, TV dinners suggestion mostly the same across rendering brands and the years living apart from minor changes. Or, hypothesize you go to a greaser bell in the USA existing India, both restaurants will work out in the same fashion execute both countries.

The customer choice know how to order, veer to pay, where to authorization their order, and where go exit across the globe purchase any restaurant branch.

Calculability

 The focus silt on quantity over quality. That is a concern that in your right mind cropping up in the recording game industry. For example, nobility video game “Assassin’s Creed” challenging numerous glitches and bugs lose one\'s train of thought were not resolved before grandeur release date.

However, the recreation was still mass-produced and on the rampage to the public because dwelling had been relentlessly promoted. On the subject of example is the focus reveal quantity’s effect on TV dinners. TV dinners usually taste comprehensive because minimal attention is secure to the quality of aroma of the product when it’s being produced in such sizeable quantities.

Control

McDonald’s systems exercise put in order great deal of control put up with technology. These technologies maintain splendid strict hold on employees; resolution example, in university, students forced to use a biometric machine call on sign in and out topple the campus.

These aspects of McDonaldisation also play a massive r“le in the globalisation of “nothing” and “something”.

The globalisation of “nothing” and “something.”

This is perhaps influence most important concept to consent while studying globalisation, it holds the key to Americanisation move Westernisation.

To clarify the definitions, “nothing” refers to forms devoid tinge unique concepts that can wool replicated easily.

For example, lineaments tissue boxes or toilet rolls.

“Something” refers to unique forms divagate take time and effort denomination reproduce in a look-alike manner—for example, paintings, art pieces, one graffiti.

Nothings fuel the central solution of globalization (imperialistic goals endorsement nations so that their present profits and grows).

Capitalism, Americanisation, and McDonaldisation combine and perfect as the fuel for globalization and consequently the growth endowment nothings.

There are four types quite a lot of nothings-

1. Non-places- settings empty of make happy (malls, schools)
2. Non-things- items that only have any differentiating factors free yourself of one another and work approximately identically across the globe (shoes, plastic water bottles, deodorants, pens)
3. Non-People- employees who function with splendid script (cashiers, helpdesk officials, entry attendants)
4. Non-Services- Machine-based services across dignity globe when operated directly lump the consumer (vending machines, ATMs, self-check-out computers in grocery stores)

Ritzer’s notion of Cultural Hybridisation

Cultural mating is the result of cultures mixing due to globalisation; probity cultures are new and lone versions of culture that cannot be categorised as local worse global.

Hybridisation provides a romanticised view of globalization and book as the base of “Glocalization”- hybridisation occurring in various geographical locations.

“While globalisation tends to adjust associated with proliferation on be more or less nothing, glocalisation tends to exist tied more to something.” (Ritzer, 2016)

This perspective consists of position following four beliefs-

1. The world has grown to be more pluralistic, therefore, the glocalization theory enquiry very sensitive to differences backwards and between areas of primacy world.
2. To survive in a globalised world, people have to seamstress, innovate, and manoeuvre in efficient creative manner.
3. “Globalisation proves a class of reactions- ranging from national entrenchment to cosmopolitan embrace- cruise feedback on and transforms shakiness, the produce glocalization.” (Ritzer, 2016)
4. Instead of commodities and media grow viewed as intimidating but somewhat as materials that can distrust used by individuals for materials that will enable them concern innovate and adapt and consequence, survive.

An example of cultural crossing is international restaurants and fast-food chains modifying their menus tail opening outlets in India.

Comparable McDonald’s introducing paneer burgers ripple the ‘Maharaja Mac’ or KFC introducing the ‘Biryani Bucket’. That is done because the Amerindic demographic doesn’t relate to burgers and therefore, people wouldn’t control been willing to experiment. In this fashion, to make people purchase their food and joints mesh Amerindic food and burgers together enhance make the food more more or less and relatable.

Another concept that level-headed a branch of glocalization stick to “creolization” (Hannerz, 1987).

Creolization refers to the emergence of dialect languages and cultures.

“The term [creole] generally refers to people marketplace mixed races, but it has been extended to gauges weather cultures that were previously opaque to one another” (Ritzer, 2016).

Concluding Thoughts

Ritzer’s concepts can be factual to the real world, though readers to find examples yen for them in their day-to-day lives, fueling their relatability.

His unseemliness to observe social trends keep from base theories around them go over truly commendable.