SOA 1061st Edition Lecture 30Outline of Last LectureI. Where Have We Been? Where Are We Going?II. Social ChangeIII. Causes of Social ChangeIV. The “McDonaldization of Society”V. Features of Rational Society Outline of Current LectureII. Features of Rational SocietyIII. Irrationality of RationalityIV. GlobalizationV. Tenets of NeoliberalismCurrent LectureFeatures of Rational Society● Efficiency-- everything is pre-packaged● Predictability-- same Big Mac everywhere● Calculability-- quantity over quality● Non human technology-- Machines take over human duties● Control over uncertainty-- people that help you at McDonalds just push buttons and have a script○ war on terrorism● We live in a rational society○ just changed political parties and no one got shot● Rationality doesn’t necessarily mean good● Features of a rational society are also in McDonalds● School curriculum has all factors of rationality○ standardized testing, structured curriculum● Other things today that have all factors of rationality: voting, supermarkets and self checkouts, booking flights, online bankingIrrationality of Rationality● What are some of the ways rationalization leads to irrational outcomes?○ large lecture classes (walmart of education)■ cheaper and more efficient but not the best○ self checkouts at stores cost people their jobs● We are encouraged to be rational but Ritzer disagrees○ large lecture classes are not better○ unhealthy food and bad health○ alienating work○ multi tasking○ shopping for deals○ war on terrorGlobalization● Globalization-- process through which people's lives all around the world are economically, politically, environmentally, and culturally interconnected.● Factors contributing to globalization○ communication networks○ transportation advances○ neoliberal economic policies● Containerization-- shipping with huge containers on trains, semi trucks, and ferry boatsTenets of Neoliberalism● Free markets-- facilitate trade and ease flow of capital● Deregulation-- reduce size of government and its regulation of business● Reduce social benefits-- government provided health care, public education, public transportation and welfare● Privatization-- selling of publicly owned and operated services to private, for profit
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