METAPHORS OF GLOBALIZATION

Metaphors can be used to provide vivid and imaginative descriptions of globalization, helping to convey
complex ideas and generate deeper understanding. In our case, the states of matter—solid and liquid—
will be used.

SOLID AND LIQUID

The epochs that preceded today's globalization paved way for people, things, information, and places to
harden over time. Consequently, they have limited mobility (Ritzer, 2015). The social relationships and
objects remained where they were created.

SOLIDITY

It refers to the barriers that prevent or make difficult the movement of things. Furthermore, solids can
either be natural or man-made.

LIQUIDITY

Liquid, as a state of matter, takes the shape of its container. Moreover, liquids are not fixed. Liquidity,
therefore, refers to the increasing ease of movement of people, things, information, and places in the
contemporary world.

SOLIDITY AND LIQUIDITY

Liquidity and solidity are in constant interaction. However, liquidity is the one increasing and
proliferating today. Therefore, the metaphor that could best describe globalization is liquidity. Liquids
do flow and this idea of flow (Appadural, 1996; Rey and Ritzer, 2010) will be the focus of the next
discussion.

FLOWS

Flows are the movement of people, things, places, and information brought by the growing "porosity" of
global limitations (Ritzer, 2015).
Prepared by:

Jenny B. Decano

BEED 1B