Social Media and Its Relation to Social Tensions | LSE

Summary

The video explores the complex impact of globalization on societies, highlighting both its potential to exacerbate instability and foster cooperation. It examines how global dynamics, such as populist protests, inequality, and intra-state conflicts, can drive violence and unrest. Key examples include the Arab Spring, where social media played a critical role in uprisings, and the Ebola outbreak, which revealed the need for global collaboration to address health crises. The video emphasizes the dual nature of globalization, both as a disruptive force and a catalyst for international cooperation and crisis management.

Takeaways

• 😀 Globalisation is a powerful and dynamic force, often disruptive, that can undermine economic practices and social networks.
• 😀 Populist protests are one reaction to the bewildering impact of globalisation, but they can also lead to violence and conflict at the international level.
• 😀 Social media and new technologies can amplify the challenges of globalisation by mobilising new audiences and escalating conflicts.
• 😀 The end of the Cold War reduced inter-state wars but created conditions for intra-state conflicts, including armed separatist movements.
• 😀 Violence within states can be driven by greed (resource access) or grievance (discrimination or exclusion of social groups).
• 😀 Rising inequality, often linked to rapid economic growth in emerging economies, can exacerbate social tensions and lead to conflict.
• 😀 The democratisation movements in North Africa and the Middle East (starting in 2011) show how globalisation can amplify instability and civil war.
• 😀 Structural unemployment, especially among youth, and authoritarian governance policies were key drivers of the protests that toppled governments in Tunisia and Egypt.
• 😀 In Syria, the rise of terrorist groups like ISIS, aided by social media, exacerbated the conflict and drew in foreign military forces.
• 😀 The Ebola outbreak in West Africa in 2014 demonstrated how globalisation can lead to cross-border health crises, but also foster international cooperation to contain the spread.
• 😀 The global response to the Ebola outbreak involved collaboration between countries and organizations, such as China, the United States, and the World Health Organisation, to curb the epidemic and prevent a wider spread.

Q & A

How does globalisation act as a disruptive force?

Globalisation can undermine prevailing economic practices, social networks, and sometimes even threaten the stability of states by introducing new dynamics that disrupt established systems.

What are some of the reactions to the impact of globalisation?

One key reaction is populist protest, which reflects the bewildering and disruptive impacts of globalisation on local economies and societies.

How can new technologies and social media contribute to conflict?

New technologies and social media platforms can magnify issues by reaching large audiences and mobilising people, often escalating tensions and leading to violence or conflict.

What is Mary Kaldor's view on the impact of the Cold War's end?

Mary Kaldor suggests that while the end of the Cold War reduced inter-state warfare, it created conditions conducive to the rise of intra-state conflicts, such as civil wars.

What are the two primary motivations behind sustained violence within states?

The two primary motivations are greed (the desire for resources by a specific group) and grievance (discrimination, persecution, or exclusion of a group). These can lead to violent uprisings or armed separatist movements.

Can you give an example of a separatist movement mentioned in the script?

The Kurdish separatist movement in Turkey and its neighboring states is mentioned as an example of a group challenging state authority, motivated by both greed and grievance.

How does rising inequality contribute to conflict?

Rising inequality, often a result of rapid economic growth, can exacerbate social tensions, creating a fertile ground for conflict as marginalized groups may feel disenfranchised or oppressed.

What role did social media play in the Arab Spring uprisings?

Social media played a crucial role by facilitating communication, spreading news, and mobilising protests that contributed to the fall of authoritarian regimes in countries like Tunisia and Egypt.

How did the Syrian civil war escalate after the initial protests?

As protests against the Assad regime escalated into violence, terrorist groups like ISIS entered the conflict, while regional powers, such as Turkey and Russia, as well as Western military advisors, became involved.

What global response was triggered by the Ebola outbreak in West Africa?

The Ebola outbreak prompted a global response with financial and medical support from countries like China, the United States, and European nations, as well as international bodies like the UN's World Health Organization, which helped control the epidemic.