THE CONTEMPORARY WORLD INTRODUCTION TO THE STUDY OF GLOBALIZATION Learning Objectives • write a personal definition of globalization based on a concept map • differentiate the competing conceptions of globalization • identify the underlying philosophies of the varying definitions of globalization Why do you need to study the world? THE CONTEMPORARY WORLD – INTRODUCTION TO THE STUDY OF GLOBALIZATION DEFINITION • Globalization is a wide variety of phenomena, including a process, a condition, a system, a force, and an age. • Globalization itself is a fragmented, incomplete, uneven, and contradictory set of social processes. • Globalization is ambiguous, complex, and uncertain. THE CONTEMPORARY WORLD – INTRODUCTION TO THE STUDY OF GLOBALIZATION DEFINITIONS increasing global interconnectedness expansions and intensification of social relations across world-time and world-space a complex range of processes, driven by a mixture of political and economic influences the swift and relatively unimpeded flow of capital, people, and ideas across national borders THE CONTEMPORARY WORLD – INTRODUCTION TO THE STUDY OF GLOBALIZATION “ DEFINITION Globalization is the increased interconnectedness and interdependence of peoples and countries. It is generally understood to include two inter-related elements: (1) the opening of international borders to increasingly fast flows of goods, services, finance, people and ideas; and (2) the changes in institutions and policies at national and international levels that facilitate or promote such flows. - WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION (WHO) THE CONTEMPORARY WORLD – INTRODUCTION TO THE STUDY OF GLOBALIZATION DEFINITION ” Globalization is a multidimensional phenomenon involving economics, politics, culture, ideology, environment, and technology. - MANFRED B. STEGER Photo: Peterson Institute for International Economics Globalization refers to how the world has become more connected economically, politically, socially and culturally over time. THE CONTEMPORARY WORLD – INTRODUCTION TO THE STUDY OF GLOBALIZATION CRITICISMS •REJECTIONISTS •SCEPTICS •MODIFIERS THE CONTEMPORARY WORLD – INTRODUCTION TO THE STUDY OF GLOBALIZATION CRITICISMS REJECTIONISTS • Rejectionists call for de-globalization. • They dismiss the utility of globalization as an analytical concept. • According to them, globalization is incorrect, imprecise, or exaggerated. THE CONTEMPORARY WORLD – INTRODUCTION TO THE STUDY OF GLOBALIZATION CRITICISMS SCEPTICS • Emphasize the limited nature of globalization. • According to them, the world economy is not a truly global phenomenon, but one CENTERED on Europe, eastern Asia, and North America. • They also assume that globalization is primarily an economic phenomenon. THE CONTEMPORARY WORLD – INTRODUCTION TO THE STUDY OF GLOBALIZATION CRITICISMS MODIFIERS • According to them, globalization has often been applied in a historically imprecise manner. • They disagree with the understanding that this process is a recent and novel phenomenon. THE CONTEMPORARY WORLD – INTRODUCTION TO THE STUDY OF GLOBALIZATION PROCESSES • Globalization as an economic process • Globalization as a political process • Globalization as a cultural process THE CONTEMPORARY WORLD – INTRODUCTION TO THE STUDY OF GLOBALIZATION PROCESSES Globalization as an economic process • the changing nature of the production process • the internationalization of financial transactions • powerful transnational corporations (TNCs) with subsidiaries in several countries • development of trade systems • • • • global financial crises income inequalities disproportional wealth climate change, pollution, depletion of natural resources, deforestation, destruction of ecosystems, loss of biodiversity THE CONTEMPORARY WORLD – INTRODUCTION TO THE STUDY OF GLOBALIZATION PROCESSES Globalization as a political process • politics is the crucial category upon which rests a proper understanding of globalization • need for effective global governance structures as a consequence of various forces of globalization THE CONTEMPORARY WORLD – INTRODUCTION TO THE STUDY OF GLOBALIZATION PROCESSES Globalization as a political process • • • • prospects for global governance fate of the modern nation-state principle of state sovereignty growing impact of intergovernmental organizations, non-government organizations, social movements • impact of globalization on human rights • manage and prevent political conflict among the countries • devise regulations regarding wars, immigration, pandemics, climate change THE CONTEMPORARY WORLD – INTRODUCTION TO THE STUDY OF GLOBALIZATION PROCESSES Globalization as a cultural process • “Globalization lies at the heart of modern culture; cultural practices lie at the heart of globalization.” • Does globalization increase cultural homogeneity, or does it lead to greater diversity and heterogeneity? Does globalization make people more alike or more different? • Hybridization – the processes of cultural mixing • cultural globalization is ‘American in origin and content’ THE CONTEMPORARY WORLD – INTRODUCTION TO THE STUDY OF GLOBALIZATION PROCESSES Globalization as a cultural process • increase in human exchanges such as migration, expatriation or traveling • customs and habits shared among local communities • trading of commodities • electronic capabilities to produce and disseminate information • millions of people are interconnected thanks to the power of the digital world via social media platforms THE CONTEMPORARY WORLD – INTRODUCTION TO THE STUDY OF GLOBALIZATION IDEOLOGY • Globalism deserves to be recognized as a separate ideological family. • Ideology is used to refer to a new ‘science of ideas’(idea-ology). • Ideology is an action-oriented belief system; or an interrelated set of ideas that in some way guides or inspires political action. THE CONTEMPORARY WORLD – INTRODUCTION TO THE STUDY OF GLOBALIZATION CLAIMS Globalization is about the liberalization and global integration of markets. • Both proponents and opponents of globalization agree that the driving force today is markets, which are suborning the role of government. THE CONTEMPORARY WORLD – INTRODUCTION TO THE STUDY OF GLOBALIZATION CLAIMS Globalization is inevitable and irreversible. • “Globalization is happening, it’s going to happen. It does not matter whether you like it or not, it’s going to happen.” THE CONTEMPORARY WORLD – INTRODUCTION TO THE STUDY OF GLOBALIZATION CLAIMS Nobody is in charge of globalization. • concept of the ‘self-regulating market’ • idea of ‘leaderlessness’ THE CONTEMPORARY WORLD – INTRODUCTION TO THE STUDY OF GLOBALIZATION CLAIMS Globalization benefits everyone (. . . in the long run). • The idea of ‘benefits for everyone’ is usually unpacked in material terms such as ‘economic growth’ and ‘prosperity’, but also draws on the powerful socialist vision of establishing an economic paradise. THE CONTEMPORARY WORLD – INTRODUCTION TO THE STUDY OF GLOBALIZATION CLAIMS Globalization furthers the spread of democracy in the world. • There exists a clear correlation between a country’s level of economic development and successful democracy. THE CONTEMPORARY WORLD – INTRODUCTION TO THE STUDY OF GLOBALIZATION CONCLUSION “ Globalization is a wonderful opportunity, but also a profound responsibility. - FORMER US PRESIDENT BILL CLINTON THE CONTEMPORARY WORLD – INTRODUCTION TO THE STUDY OF GLOBALIZATION REFERENCES MAIN READING/S: Steger, M. B. (2005, February). Ideologies of globalization. Journal of Political Ideologies, 10(1), 11-30. Steger, M. B. (2014). Approaches to the Study of Globalization. In M. B. Steger, P. Battersby, & J. M. Siracusa, The SAGE Handbook of Globalization (2014 ed., Vol. 1, pp. 7-22). SAGE Publications, Inc. ADDITIONAL READING/S: Heywood, A. (2013). Politics (4th ed.). London: Macmillan Education Limited. Khan Academy. (2019). Introduction to Globalization. https://www.khanacademy.org/humanities/whp-origins/era-7-the-great-convergenceand-divergence-1880-ce-to-the-future/75-global-interactions-betaa/a/read-globalinteractions-and-institutions-beta Maka Language Consulting. (2014, April 14). Globalization explained: Q&A with Manfred Steger. https://www.makaitalia.com/en/globalization-explained-q-with-manfred/ Scholte, J. A. (2007). Defining globalization. Clm.economía, 10, 15-63. Youmatter. (2020, October 6). Globalization: Definition, Benefits, Effects, Examples – What is Globalization? https://youmatter.world/en/definition/definitions-globalization-definitionbenefits-effects-examples/ THE CONTEMPORARY WORLD – INTRODUCTION TO THE STUDY OF GLOBALIZATION What are your personal experiences to globalization in your everyday lives?
