Globalization by

An Aeon essay, looking at six different narratives of the nature and effect of globalization.

theory_of_knowledge — 2024-03-04 16:06:52 UTC

UNPACKING THE SOURCE First, what are students’ thoughts on the effects of globalization? Which of the six narratives does this most closely align to? Do they agree with the author that these are each “narrative contains some truth but does not tell the whole truth”? How does applying a ‘fox-like approach’ help us to ‘embrace multiple perspectives’? Should we become ‘foxes’ in all areas of knowledge?

Key terms Fox vs. hedgehog, Perspectives, Polarization, Truth

A long BBC article, considering whether national boundaries need to be rethought to help cope with the pressures of mass-migration.

theory_of_knowledge — 2024-03-04 16:08:52 UTC

UNPACKING THE SOURCE Why does Gaha Vince refer to political borders as ‘inventions’? How is the climate crisis putting pressure on the world’s current borders? What are the arguments for viewing the world as a ‘global commonwealth of humanity’ - and is this a viable mindshift for people to make? How and why does Vince suggest we rethink our ‘national pride’? Overall, ask students if they agree with the following statement: In order to create a more harmonious and fully functioning world, we need to “clear from our mind the idea of people being fixed to a location they were born in, as if it affects your value as a person or your rights as an individual.”

KEY TERMS Borders, Cleanly defined, Invention, Livability limits, Meaningless, Controlling vs. managing, Reinvent, Power, Divisive tribalism

An Aeon animation, portraying US immigration as rings on a developing tree.

theory_of_knowledge — 2024-03-04 16:10:10 UTC

UNPACKING THE SOURCE This is a rather beautiful way of portraying immigration numbers, showing them as the thickening rings of a growing tree. Is this a helpful way of communicating the reality of this political issue? What insight (if any) do we gain from this that we don’t from looking at straight statistics? Why do you think the creators of this animation chose to represent immigration in the form of a tree – and how does that influence the way we process the data?

KEY TERMS Political data-visualisation

A Big Think article, considering whether we should redraw the world map, to better reflect power and influence in the 21st century.

theory_of_knowledge — 2024-03-04 16:10:50 UTC

UNPACKING THE SOURCE How familiar is this map to them - and why might it seem rather strange (or, depending on their cultural background, familiar!)? What has driven the ‘cartographic rectification’ of this map? Why does the article say that “no world map is totally right”, and that the center of any map is “a matter of purely subjective choice”? Which version of the world is more valid - and why? Overall, are all map projections equally valid (and equally flawed) when it comes to accurately representing the world?

KEY TERMS Normal, Vertical representation, Cartographic rectifications, Perspective, True center of the world

A New Statesman article, which looks at how and why the real time statistics site ‘Worldometer’ became such a popular site, and the reliability of the data it provides.

theory_of_knowledge — 2024-03-04 16:11:04 UTC

UNPACKING THE SOURCE This short video gives a great overview about how graphs are being used and misused to represent the pandemic, and specific elements that we need to be aware of when we use them to understand what’s going on. Overall, how can data visualizations be manipulated in order to spin the knowledge they communicate? How can we guard against being misled?

KEY TERMS Visual data, Y and X axes, Scales

A Slate article, considering how the most significant modern borders are the ones that demarcate different brands of mobile phone.

theory_of_knowledge — 2024-03-04 16:11:35 UTC

UNPACKING THE SOURCE What determines borders, and do they matter?

KEY TERMS Borders, Globaloney, Transcend

A Guardian article, considering whether it's more correct to now refer to 'globalisation' as 'glocalisation.'

theory_of_knowledge — 2024-03-04 16:21:57 UTC

A Guardian article by Gordon Brown, in which he highlights the dangers of a nationalistic outlook for global policy-makers.

theory_of_knowledge — 2024-03-04 16:25:51 UTC

A Conversation article, looking at the Red Sea Crisis, and how it creates a crisis for global commodities.

theory_of_knowledge — 2024-03-04 16:27:26 UTC

A Guardian article, looking at how Egypt's nomad visas are luring foreign workers, but creating inequality.

theory_of_knowledge — 2024-03-04 16:28:12 UTC

A Guardian photo-essay by Lucien Migné, looking at the work of marginalised groups around the world whose livelihoods have remained largely untouched by the modernisation of work

theory_of_knowledge — 2024-03-04 16:28:18 UTC

A Guardian article, investigating how garment workers in places such as El Salvador have lost out on $4bn of severance pay.

theory_of_knowledge — 2024-03-04 16:28:29 UTC

A Conversation article, investigating how human labour is powering the rise in AI.

theory_of_knowledge — 2024-03-04 16:28:38 UTC

A Guardian article, looking at how garment workers in Bangladesh face violent reprises when they ask for fairer pay and conditions.

theory_of_knowledge — 2024-03-04 16:28:44 UTC

A Big Think 'strange maps' article, looking at a scheme to create five global superstates in the 1920s.

theory_of_knowledge — 2024-03-04 16:31:09 UTC

A Big Think article, in which Michael O'Sullivan argues that globalization is doomed.

theory_of_knowledge — 2024-03-04 16:32:10 UTC

A Guardian article, arguing that globalization is contributing to greater inequality around the world.

theory_of_knowledge — 2024-03-29 08:00:37 UTC

An Economist article, arguing that globalization may not be responsible for income inequality.

theory_of_knowledge — 2024-03-29 08:01:39 UTC

A Guardian book review, considering whether we need to reassess the concept of money, and its role in society.

theory_of_knowledge — 2024-05-02 13:21:42 UTC

UNPACKING THE SOURCE How does removing the term ‘money’ from our personal lexicon help us to understand the way the economy works more effectively?

KEY TERMS Widespread idea, Valid explanation, Counterintuitively, Evidence-based conversation

theory_of_knowledge — 2026-06-08 10:14:23 UTC

Check out our key concepts here, which will help you to apply a critical thinking lens to this topic, and articulate your ideas about it. These concepts are highlighted.