How different theories approach these ‘domain questions’ will reveal something
of the core ontological and epistemological claims of each theory. Recall that there
is not a single ‘theory of globalization’ but many theoretical discourses. These tend
to be grounded in broader theoretical traditions and perspectives, such as Marxism,
Weberianism, functionalism, postmodernism, critical and feminist theory, and
involve a number of distinct approaches to social inquiry, such as cultural studies,
international relations, post-colonial studies, literature and so on. However, most
theories draw on the distinctive contributions and traditions of multiple disciplines.
Indeed, one of the most refreshing hallmarks of globalization studies is its interdisciplinary
– nay, transdisciplinary – character; a renewed holistic approach to the
study of social structure and change. The traditional borders between disciplines
have become blurred in both theories and empirical studies on globalization.