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"The distributional effects of globalisation are a most controversial issue. The integration of product and factor markets is often considered to increase income inequality on the national as well as on the international level. This paper summarizes the empirical findings on this topic. It is shown that globalisation per se does not intensify inequality. However, to what extent less developed countries benefit from economic integration depends mainly on the internal constitution of these countries in political and economic respect." (author's abstract)

Examines Indian TV commercials to shed light on emergent aspects of the culture of globalization in light of the increasing number of multinationals in India. It is argued that the media formerly defined/reproduced private life in India as a small upper-caste, middle-class market, but globalization & liberalization have prompted changes in portrayals of desire in advertising, in order to convey messages to lower castes whose norms have traditionally been viewed as immoral. The discussion is framed within the context of the onset of globalization, increasing reliance on indigenous traditions within politics, & the 1980s establishment of TV broadcasting as an area that crosses language/literacy barriers. An overview of the evolution of advertising in a protected economy explores the impact of the recent prominence of Hindu nationalist politics; TV's influence on contemporary society; & its link to gender domination. Several commercials are described to illustrate the creation of new types of gendered consumers & representations of the middle class as a form of self-identification associated with a power that is both unifying & divisive. 43 References. J. Lindroth

The issue of how globalization processes contribute to social inequality is studied; in addition, the emergence of political resistance to globalization processes is examined. An overview of how economic, cultural, & environmental forms of globalization foster social inequality is presented. It is contended that traditional liberal thought has emphasized the role of the nation-state in resolving social inequality. However, it is claimed that the aforementioned forms of globalization illustrate the nation-state's inability to properly intervene. In addition, the popular assertion that social inequality is best treated by raising political discussion & mobilization from a national to a global level is rejected. Moreover, it is demonstrated that such escalation permits the resurgence of localist social & political movements. Although the willingness of global & local movements to serve the interests of egalitarianism is questioned, it is concluded that democratic & social justice movements must be negotiated within this matrix of global & local processes. 43 References. J. W. Parker