Globalization has a significant impact on ethnographic research in several ways, influencing both the methods and the focus of the research. Here are some key impacts:
1. Access to Diverse Communities
- Increased Movement of People: Globalization has led to increased migration, urbanization, and transnational networks, which means ethnographers can study diverse, diasporic, and hybrid communities across national borders. This broadens the scope of ethnographic research, allowing for the study of global interactions and cultural exchanges.
- Virtual Communities: With the rise of the internet and social media, ethnographers can now engage with communities that exist in virtual spaces, which were previously inaccessible. This has led to the development of “digital ethnography,” where researchers study online behaviors, virtual identities, and online cultures.
2. Changing Social and Cultural Contexts
- Cultural Hybridity: Globalization promotes the blending of cultures through the exchange of ideas, goods, and practices. Ethnographers must account for hybrid identities and practices that result from the mixing of local and global influences. This complicates the task of distinguishing “local” traditions from those shaped by global forces.
- Economic and Political Influence: Globalization also brings economic, political, and technological changes to local communities, which can alter social structures, values, and practices. Researchers must consider how global economic systems (e.g., capitalism, neoliberalism) influence local customs, labor practices, and identities.
3. Reflexivity and Positionality
- Increased Awareness of Power Dynamics: With the interconnected world, ethnographers are more aware of how their own position (as outsiders or insiders) can influence the research process. They must critically examine their role and the power imbalances between researcher and participants, especially in a global context where Western researchers may study non-Western communities.
- Ethical Concerns: The global context raises ethical dilemmas around representation, exploitation, and consent. Researchers must navigate the complexities of global inequalities, ensuring they do not perpetuate harm or misrepresentation of marginalized groups.
4. Interdisciplinary Approaches
- Broader Research Questions: Globalization has led to the emergence of new interdisciplinary fields like global studies, migration studies, and cultural anthropology that blend ethnographic research with other methodologies, including those from economics, sociology, and political science.
- Multisited Ethnography: Ethnographers often conduct multisited research to understand how global processes affect multiple locations. This involves studying global flows, such as the movement of commodities, ideas, and people, across various sites and understanding how these global processes are localized.
5. Ethnographic Methods
- New Data Collection Tools: As a result of globalization, ethnographers are now utilizing digital tools such as online interviews, social media analysis, and virtual participant observation. These methods allow for the exploration of new sites of social life that are not bound by physical proximity.
- Challenges of Authenticity: The spread of mass media and global communication technologies can create issues around authenticity. When researching cultures that are constantly interacting with global media, ethnographers may question what constitutes “authentic” cultural practices or identities.
6. Global and Local Tensions
- Local Resistance to Global Forces: In some cases, ethnographers study how local communities resist or adapt to the pressures of globalization, including efforts to preserve cultural traditions, local languages, or autonomy. This can reveal tensions between global homogenization and the desire for cultural preservation.
- Cultural Commodification: The commercialization of culture (e.g., through tourism or mass media) can result in the commodification of local traditions, leading to conflicts between maintaining cultural integrity and catering to global markets.