Global Mobility

In preparation for the beginning of my MA, I've been reading two recommended texts: Zygmunt Bauman's Society Under Seige and Pierre Bourdieu's Firing Back. I haven't gotten too far in Bourdieu's book, but I'm about half way through Bauman's. Though the writing is not the easiest, I find myself getting pulled in since he uses real examples of how sociology and the world order work. Specifically he argues that our world has shifted: the space ("society") that used to be ruled by the nation-state is becoming increasingly disjointed. As global economics (supranational corporations and the "market") are ruling the world, the power of the nation-state is decreasing. This means that our society is becoming lost. Since I've not finished, I don't know yet what his solution is; he has only presented the problem.

One of the things that struck me about the most recent reading is the increasing importance of mobility. Though technology means that people can communicate and do business instantaneously, globalization also means that in order to be competitive, one must be willing to move and change. Bauman argues that since corporations inherently now move quickly to the location that most benefits them, people also need to be wiling to live this way. This means that when an opportunity arises, one needs to pick up and go. His main point is that this has divided the world: "capacity to move has become the major, perhaps the paramount stratifying factor of the emergent global hierarchy" (page 83). In other words, for the vast majority of the world population, moving or traveling at a moments notice is not possible - this increases the divide between the "haves" and the "have nots". He goes on the point out that 98 percent of the world never live outside of the country of their birth. This is not particularly surprising as moving out of one's country of birth is still a huge deal (in the future, this will become less of an anomaly). Even more striking is that 50 percent of people in Britain still live within 5 miles of where they were born. (statistics are from 2001). In some ways I find this hard to believe, but then you think about the general population. Sure, most of the people I know have moved at least 5 miles from where they were born, but I tend to know people that are highly educated and motivated, those that are in the upper part of the "global hierarchy". These people have the economic means and knowledge to go where the opportunities lie.

In short, get ready to move.

From what I've read, the consensus is that while my generation's parents may have began their lives expecting one, maybe two careers, my generation will not have that "privilege". I use quotes because each person has different views of if this is a good or bad thing. I personally view it as a positive thing - one must adapt and learn new things constantly to stay competitive (Bauman mentions this too). But, that also means that one is constantly having new experiences and new challenges. Hopefully gone are the days of sitting in a cubicle, pushing papers year after year. Long ago, I promised myself I would not do that job; I would find a job that involves being out in the world and hopefully making a difference. Maybe that sounds overly optimistic, but if one doesn't hope, the chances of what you want happening are dismal. There may be a lot wrong with the world, but that also means there is a lot to change. Dare I hope that I'll get some ideas on how? And in the process, if that means I have to move, so be it.