Chicken or Egg: Globalization and Democratization

Suggested Activities

Students investigate a possible reciprocal relationship between globalization and democratization by assessing both the extent to which globalization supports key conditions of democracy and human rights and, conversely, the extent to which democratization and respect for human rights contribute to globalization.

A. To what extent does increased globalization support democracy and human rights?

Introduction to indicators of democracy
Introduce the topic by asking students to identify the conditions or indicators of democracy. Encourage students to go beyond the facade of democracies with superficial indicators such as voting. For example, although the former USSR called itself a republic and allowed people the right to vote for the communist candidate of their choice, it was not an authentic democracy. After some discussion, help students develop, as a class or in groups, a list of foundational conditions for a truly democratic society; e.g., respect for human rights, freedom of the press, open nomination procedures.

Decide on the five most important conditions for authentic democracy
Form small groups and invite students to select the five most important conditions of an authentic democracy. Arrange for groups to present and defend their list to the rest of the class. After the presentations, ask students to reach a consensus on the top five conditions. Record them on a wall chart for future reference.

You may want to provide students with a fact sheet on conditions for democracy or a relevant textbook reading or a Web site. Ask students whether they think globalization supports or hinders democracy and human rights.

Research effects of globalization on democracy
Assign each group one of these countries: India, China, Japan, Korea, a Caribbean country, an African country, a Latin American country, Canada, the United States. Ask students to research the effects of globalization on democracy over the last 20 or so years. To meet the diverse learning needs of students, consider focusing students' research by providing a selection of print resources or appropriate Web sites (see References).

Suggest to students that they record information in a two-column chart similar to the one below. Label the left column "Conditions for authentic democracies" and the right column "Evidence of globalization's impact on democracy." The chart should have five rows, with each row labelled with one of the agreed-upon conditions recorded earlier on the wall chart.

Analyze effects of globalization on democracy
As students complete their research, encourage them to record specific evidence that suggests how globalization in their assigned country might have positively or negatively impacted each condition; e.g., does foreign ownership of the local press broaden or narrow access to relevant and representative information? Ask students to label evidence of positive impact with a "+" sign and negative impact with a "-" sign.

Write a position statement on effects of globalization on democracy
After groups have completed their research, invite them to reach a conclusion regarding the overall effect of globalization on democratization in their profiled country. Suggest that each group begin its presentation to the class with a clear position statement; e.g., Globalization has helped to strengthen/weaken democracy in [assigned country] over the past years as can be seen in ...

Justify your position on impact of globalization on democracy
After all the presentations, ask students to write a brief response to the question, "To what extent does increased globalization support democracy and human rights?"

You may want to adapt the charts and strategies in Justifying My Choice (Support Material) to structure and assess this activity.

B. To what extent does increased democratization and respect for human rights encourage globalization?

Decide on democracy's effects on globalization
Invite students to consider the converse relationship, namely whether greater democratization and respect for human rights can lead to increased globalization. Refer students back to the list of conditions for democracy.

Create a web of effects for democracy and human rights
As a class or in groups, invite students to create a web by placing the phrase "democracy and human rights" in the centre, surrounded by the various conditions for democracy. To meet diverse learning needs, you may want to limit or extend the list of conditions.

Starting at each of the conditions, draw two branches labelled "Potential support for globalization" and "Potential impediments to globalization." Invite students to suggest implications of the rise of globalization presented by each of the identified conditions. For example, giving more people the vote may fuel protectionist sentiments against foreign companies or, conversely, create the political will to open the country's borders to new opportunities that were previously closed. At this stage, encourage students to identify potential implications. Accept suggestions as long as they are plausible.

You may want to adapt the chart and strategies in Web of Effects (Support Material) to structure this activity.

Assemble or invite students to assemble news articles or online materials describing levels of globalization occurring in selected countries that have experienced increased democratization and respect for human rights over the past 20 years. Have students identify other countries that have not increased respect for human rights. Invite students to compare these examples, looking for evidence of the ways in which democratizing forces increase and/or impede globalization.

Take part in a U-shaped discussion
Invite groups of students to discuss the extent to which democratization contributes to globalization. You may want to organize students in a U-shape. Students who believe that democratization greatly contributes to globalization may locate themselves at one end of the U and students holding a strongly opposing view may locate themselves at the other end. Those students who think that democratization has a mixed effect on globalization locate themselves somewhere along the middle of the U.

You may want to refer to the strategies in U-shaped Discussion (Support Material) to structure this activity.