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Questions: 1.Critically discuss how globalisation has reconfigured contemporary Australian society. 2.Provide a basic definition of SCOT and then critically discuss how this concept can be used to study the meanings and social interpretations acquired by a specific everyday artefact. 3.Using the concept of interconnectedness critically discuss why we as individuals find it difficult to reduce our ecological footprint in our daily lives 4.Critically discuss why deviant underconformity and deviant overconformity behaviour is still accepted in contemporary Australian society. Answers: 1.Globalisation is related to the highly increase in the flow of communication, people, information and capital between different nations. The concept of globalisation is mainly related to the world which is interdependent and interconnected. The process which is related to the increase in the interconnection between different societies can also be termed as globalisation. The increase in the flow of different commodities between countries is another major effect of globalisation. Advances in the technology, abandonment of trade routes by land and the rise of the global capitalism are major changes caused by globalisation (Arvanitakis, 2016). Globalisation also causes an exchange of culture between different countries as the flow of people increases. There are many advantages that of globalisation and the connection that is formed between countries. Cosmopolitanism which refers to the richer culture and increase in the diversity of nations is the major advantage of globalisation. The world has become a much smaller place as the citizens of the different countries are connected with each other. Free trade is another major effect that is caused by globalisation in the countries. This factor helps in the exchange of goods between the various countries and the living standards of the people also become higher. The process of globalisation has negative effect on the nations as well. The exploitation of the developing nations with the help of free trade is a major disadvantage of globalisation (Arvanitakis, 2016). The decline of many countries have been caused due to globalisation and the rise that has happened in the number of multi-national organizations. The decline of nations can cause the loss of heritage and culture as well. The major changes that have occurred in the world due to social movements caused as a result of globalisation are, suffering of women, class problems, aboriginal equality, anti-war, gay rights, child labour. Globalisation also has many envi ronmental effects of the countries which have gone through this process. The economic growth of Australia has been affected by the globalisation (Arvanitakis, 2016). Australia had opened up its economy to the foreign investment and privatization had taken place on a large scale. The quality of life in Australia has increased after globalisation has occurred in the country. Globalisation has provided huge access to the foreign organizations and the investors so that they can conduct business in the country in a free manner and innovation can also be facilitated. The end of the law of protectionism has helped in making Australia a winner in the process of globalisation (Arvanitakis, 2016). 2.Social Construction of technology theory or SCOT is a concept that is related to the argument that human action is not determined by technology, rather technology is shaped by human action. The way by which technology is used cannot be totally understood without trying to understand the technology which is embedded in the social context. SCOT is mainly response that is provided to technological determinism and it is sometimes also called technological constructivism. SCOT mainly consists of those people who try to understand the main reasons related to rejection or the acceptance of the technology related to the social world (Arvanitakis, 2016). The explanation of the success related to a technology is sometimes not enough and the researchers need to analyse deeply that what are the criteria upon which the best technology is being defined. The researchers need to question the way by which the technology is defined. SCOT can just not be said as theory, it is mainly a methodology. Th e principles and steps related to the analysis of the failures and success of technology are formalized by SCOT. The theory of SCOT was introduced in the year 1984 by Pinch and Bijker. The problems and their relevant solutions are characterised with the help of different innovations that are constructed by stakeholders (Arvanitakis, 2016). SCOT mainly views the rise and development of technology as a process which is interactive in nature. SCOT can also be defined as the most interactive sociotechnical process that helps in the shaping of all the forms of technology. The sociology related to the technology and science are treated in a different manner in case of SCOT. The perspective of knowledge to be held as a social construction is mainly related to the advancement of technology in the modern world. The progress and advancement of science is related to the social forces which include, political, economic and psychological influences as well. Example of SCOT Bakelite The example of plastic Bakelite can be used to depict the ways by which the social forces can shape technology. Bakelite started as an artificial substitute of varnish in the early days of its invention. The product did not achieve success in the market and then the accidental dumping related to the different materials proved that it can be moulded in different ways. The innovation of this component led to the use of plastic for many other purposes which was not predicted by the company in the beginning. 3.Ecological footprint is related to the measure of load that is provided by a certain population on the nature. This mainly represents the area of land that is necessary so that the current level of the consumption of resource and the discharge by the population can be sustained. The demand that is placed by humans on the ecosystems of the Earth can be defined as ecological footprint. The Earth possesses a particular ecological capacity which helps in the regeneration and thereby to keep providing services and raw materials by recycling air, absorbing waste and cleaning soil. The ecological burden that is placed by humans can be measured against the natural capacity of Earth. If the overall burden of humanity is higher than the amount the Earth can absorb, then the ecological footprint of humans on the Earth is greater than 1. The different inhabitants of the Earth have different levels of ecological footprint and if the total ecological footprint is greater than 1, then it depicts that the ecological burden is being overshot (Arvanitakis, 2016). Interconnectedness is related to the process by which the parts of a particular system are connected with each other. The changes that occur in some part of the system can negatively affect the other parts. This process holds true for both the nature and humans as well. The humans are connected in many ways to the natural environment and the Earth as a whole. The different parts of nature are equally connected with each other. The concept of interconnection applies for the degradation of the environment or any type of natural disasters as well. Interconnectedness also includes the concept of interdependence. The way by which the different parts of a system are strongly united is related to the concept of interdependence. Humans are dependent on the various other species that are present in the nature and they receive their food from the animals and plants. It can be said that all the parts of the nature are connected and dependent on each other. The degradation occurring in some part s will have immense effect on all the other parts as the entire ecosystem is affected. The most difficult task for the human species is to adjust to the nature and trying to control their ecological footprints. For example, the over usage of land by humans has led to the cutting down of trees and this has resulted in soil erosion and many other problems (Arvanitakis, 2016). 4.Sports is considered as a social constructed activity which is mainly supposed to enforce many number of normative traits. The key terms related to sport can be deviance, under conformity, over conformity, sexuality and homophobia. Deviance is related to sports in such a way so that it is viewed as a way by which deviant behaviour can be reduced. The idolisation of some of the sportsmen is also related to this factor. Under conformity in sports is related to the rejection of the various social norms that are related to the particular sport. The different activities include, use of drugs, which consists of both illegal and legal usage, example Lance Armstrong. Unsanctioned violence is another major factor related to under conformity in sports, example, Australian Swimming Team London Olympics. The abuse and sexual assault related any type of sport, example, Rugby League Players. Over conformity or over acceptance is another behaviour related to sports. The game is above everything else, for example extreme adherence (Arvanitakis, 2016). The distinction offered through sport is another factor of over conformity. Injury and pain is a part of the game and accepting the social norms without any question. Gender is another major factor that affects sports in all way. The factors related to gender problem that affect sports are, sexuality, homophobic, social construction of which gender plays which sport and hegemonic masculinity. Deviant over conformity is related to the vulnerability of the athletes to the demands that are made by his group which is combined with the desire related to the reaffirmation or gain of the group membership which is a major factor in this case. Deviant under conformity is related to the actions that are taken by the sportsperson by ignoring the norms related to sports. Violence has been a major part of the Australian sports community related to sport ethic. The violence is related to the insecurities that the players have in the sports where high performance is required. The expressions that are related to violence are different in the cases of different genders. The physicality of the sportsmen is also important in creating the excitement and drama and special bonds between the female and the male athletes. Under conformity is also exhibited by the Australian players related to different sports where they tend to reject the rules and involve in cheating (Arvanitakis, 2016). The illegal drug addiction of the players is also a negative behaviour that is depicted by the Australian players in some situations. Reference Arvanitakis, James.Sociologic: Analysing Everyday Life and Culture. 2016.