1. Distinctions of North and South
Primarily, the main distinction between North and South is that the former is
considered as the rich world while the latter is known as the poor world. In terms
of their socioeconomic status, the North is considered as a stable and privileged
world while, the South is deemed as a lower-class world since it still continues to
face a lot of societal and economic problems such as poverty, hunger, and
diseases. Lastly, the South world is economically dependent on the North world
since the latter holds most of the manufacturing industry in the globe.
2. Describe:
a. History of Politics:
Global politics is a field that explores the study of world politics as well as
economic developments. It applies to the whole world by global means, and
politics relating to the governance of a certain region or country. Global
Politics deals with how politics is practiced on a broader and more nuanced
scale, which is the entire world. It focuses on how each state, transnational
entities, non-governmental bodies, and other non-state related figures
influence world politics. In short, it aims at preserving international order
across borders across the globe. In reaction to the Second World War and
the Cold War (between the Soviet Union and the United States and their
respective allies), this global politics has come about to avoid the same
unintended losses in the future. Even up to this century, however,
international order is still questioned, as more state and non-state actors
follow and emphasize their own interests. They thus generate conflicts of
interests and viewpoints that contribute to the disintegration of world politics.
b. Global Governance
Global governance is a collective movement of different actors around the
world that aims to manage complex issues and to carry-out practical steps for
cooperative problem-solving. It is composed not of only one active group but
an assembly of several working international organizations that originally has
individual delimited power. However, by bringing forth this Global
Governance, these limitations have been stretched further to cater to the
issues, interests, and conflicts that the individual organizations seem not able
to resolve themselves. It has an objective to prevent any catastrophic events
that pose a threat to society (e.g., another declaration of World War) by
providing a platform for solving international conflicts and have agreements
for the states involved. In a more general way, Global Governance aims to
provide concerted action to address pressing transnational problems at the
intersection of peace, security, and justice that happens across borders
worldwide.
3. Asian Regionalism
Asian Regionalism is a formalized economic cooperation and economic contracts
of a handful of states particularly in the Asian continent, designed to facilitate or
strengthen regional economic integration. This was toughened and also further
fortified as a result of the 1997/98 crisis which greatly challenged the Asian
countries and pushed them to cooperate and create economic relationships for
the greater good. Although the progress of regionalism was sluggish, Asia’s
economic rise became unprecedented after several years. Asia’s astonishing
success has given the continent a prominent role in the world economy and
remarkably decreased its economic dependence on the rest of the world. In
short, Asian Regionalism is an outcome of economic collaboration that has built
the bridges to connect Asian economies together as well as to the rest of the
world. As a consequence, it provided the countries in Asia an opportunity to
sustain the region’s growth, improve stability and reduce inequality in the world of
economy.
4. Decision to join ASEAN (with example and justification)
In my opinion, I believe that the decision of the Philippines to join the ASEAN is
an excellent one. The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) is one of
the country’s cornerstones on its foreign and trade policies. After the country
signed the agreement of the ASEAN Free Trade Area (AFTA) in 1992, it has
created a lot of opportunities for the economy of the Philippines to expand and to
be known in the region. Specifically, it has been observed that there is a
substantial increase in trade and investments within the country which created a
wide choice of goods for consumers thus supporting local businesses to expand
overseas. Some examples of which is the expansion of San Miguel
Corporation and Julie’s Bakeshop in Southeast Asia particularly in Indonesia.
Second, joining the said organization enabled our neighboring countries and our
country as well to travel across borders easily and much cheaper than before.
Last October 2017, during the 23rd ASEAN Transport Ministers Meeting,
members signed several agreements to enable visa-free travel to the ASEAN
member states. With this, our country will be now more accessible due to the
reduction of travel costs and requirements thus, resulting in the growth of our
tourism economy. Third, the country has availed the assistance ASEAN
Humanitarian Assistance Center (AHA) when disasters strike the Philippines. Out
of thirteen (13) major calamities that the AHA has responded since its
establishment in 2009, seven (7) of which are accounted for the Philippines
including the disaster brought by typhoon Yolanda. Furthermore, even though the
AHA is focused on helping countries that are affected by natural calamities, out of
solidarity, it has helped our fellowmen during the chaotic times in Marawi. Lastly,
the country’s education has also benefited from its membership in the regional
association. In fact, our country has become one of the subsidiaries of the $10
Million Scholarship Program that aimed to support post-secondary students and
mid-career professionals from Southeast Asia last August of 2017 sponsored by
Canada’s Foreign Affairs and also from National University in Singapore.
Therefore, joining the ASEAN was a great and bold move for the Philippines as it
is one of the reasons behind our country’s stability throughout the years.