THE
CONTEMPORARY
WORLD
Zemalyn Gutierrez-Ronda, MA
Globalization
“
Globalization involves the
broadening and
deepening of
interdependencies
among peoples and state
(Con, 2011:6)
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Globalization
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Theories
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World Systems Paradigm
▪
Capitalist world system is divided into three categories:
1. Core - powerful and developed centers (Western Europe,
North America and Japan)
2. Periphery - those regions that have been forcibly
subordinated to the core through COLONIZATION (Latin
America, Africa, Asia, Middle East and Eastern Europe)
3. Semi – periphery – states and regions that were in the
core and are moving down or those in the periphery and
are moving up
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World Systems Paradigm
▪ Immanuel Wallerstein
▪ Globalization is not a recent phenomenon but as virtually
▪
synonymous with the birth and spread of capitalism, c.
1500.
▫ It is not at all new process but something that is just
continuing and evolving.
Capitalism - an economic and political system in which a
country's trade and industry are controlled by private
owners for profit, rather than by the state.
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Global Capitalism
▪
Globalization is a new stage in the evolving system of world
capitalism.
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New global production and financial system
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Rise of processes that cannot be framed within the nationstate/interstate system
▪
Robinson: theory of global capitalism involving three planks:
transnational production, transnational capitalists and
transnational state: class relations
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The Network Society
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Technology and technological change instead of capitalism
▪
Manuel Castells, The Rise of the Network Society
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New economy:
1. Informational, knowledge based
2. Global, production is organized on a global scale
3. Networked, productivity is generated through global
network
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Space, Time, and Globalization
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Giddens “time-space distanciation”
▫ The intensification of worldwide relations which link distant
localities in such a way that local happenings are shaped by
events occurring many miles away and vice versa
David Harvey – time-space compression (produced by the very
dynamics of capitalist development”
Sassen’s “The Global City” – proposes a new spatial order is emerging
such as London, New York and Tokyo – sites of specialized services
for transnationally mobile capital that is so central to the global
economy
Robert Robertson “Glocalization” – ideas about home, locality and
community have been extensively spread around the world
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Misconceptions
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Globalization vs Internationalization
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▪
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Globalization refers to global
economic integration of many
formerly national economies into
one global economy, mainly by
free trade and free capital
mobility, but also by easy or
uncontrolled migration.
Includes a gamut of human
activities that do not require
reference to a state’s national
border.
One
▪
▪
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Internationalization refers to the
increasing importance of
international trade, international
relations, treaties, alliances, etc.
Inter-national, of course, means
between or among nations.
Includes activities by entities
such as corporations, states,
international organizations, and
even individuals with reference to
national borders and national
governments
Many
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Globalization vs Liberalization
▪
Liberalization is the removal of barriers and restrictions imposed by national
governments so as to create an open and borderless world economy.
▪
Globalization is realized when national governments “reduce or abolish
regulatory measures like trade barriers, foreign – exchange restrictions, capital
controls and visa requirements” (Scholte)
▪
Problem with this misconception:
▫ Confines the study within the debate concerning the neoliberal
macroeconomic policies: pro and anti
▫ Political implication – neo-liberalism is the only available policy
framework for a truly global world.
▫ Debate about the pros and cons of laissez faire has been happening for
centuries
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Globalization vs Universalization
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Universalization denotes a process of spreading various objects,
practices and experiences to the different parts of the planet
Globalization is when things, values and practices spread to the
different parts of the planet.
Implication: Homogenization of culture, politics, economy and laws.
Destroys indigenous practices and cultures.
When Western modernity spreads and destroys – Westernization
Issues arising from this misconception:
▫ Universalization is not a new feature of world history.
▫ Westernization is not the only path that can be taken by
globalization
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Maps
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Thanks!
Any questions?
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