Ways in which people can influence and respond to changes associated with globalisation

Reflect and think analytically about the role of citizens, government, and corporations in an increasingly globalised society GLOSSARY▪ N/A

Read the text excerpt ‘Conclusion: Australia and globalisation’. Identify how Australian citizens, the

government, and corporations contributed to changes in Australian society because of globalisation.

Debate whether the changes are a good or bad thing for Australian society.

Read the ‘Beyond borders: Politics’ handout and respond to the focus activities.

How can people bring about change related to globalisation?

Identify the change resulting from the following examples: Citizens can protest, join a union, join an NGO,

vote differently, form one-issue independent parties, etc

Governments can introduce tariffs and protectionist policies, establish carbon targets, etc

Corporations can downsize, move labour offshore and influence cultural change

What can be done after change associated with globalisation has occurred? Citizens can reduce water usage, buy a hybrid car, pay

more for locally-produced goods, boycott corporations employing unethical practices such as slave labour

Governments can introduce fiscal stimulus package, introduce new legislation, laws or policy (e.g. Anti-Terrorism Act 2005, tighter regulation on quality of goods/services)

Corporations can develop niche markets and support local industry

What are some other responses?

Read the material relating to ‘Global Organisations’ (eg, United Nations and World Vision) and Fairtrade (eg, ‘Child labour’ and ‘Money makes the world go around’).

Choose a similar issue and discuss how people, like yourself, can influence and respond to negative effects of globalisation. e.g. NSW town of Bundanoon banned the sale of

commercially bottled water. e.g. TAS town of Coles Bay banned plastic bags at the

check-out