GECCON
INTRODUCTION TO GLOBALIZATION
I.
OVERVIEW
This module gives an overview of the concept of globalization. Current situation shows that globalization is a
thriving topic today. Students needed to know how globalization can help us understand ourselves, our
experiences, our communities, our country and our culture. The Contemporary World addresses the challenge
by offering a practical guide that integrates content with examples capturing the essence and elegance of theory
in the straight forward manner.
Globalization is not very easy to define. Its meaning varies depending to whose perspective it is. Many scholars
gave and tried to formulate its definitions. This resulted in different sometimes contradicting views about the
concept. It also encompasses a multitude of processes that involves the economy, political systems and culture.
Social Structures therefore, are directly affected by globalization.
This chapter reveals variety of perspectives using different metaphors for better understanding of the concepts
related to it.
II.
TARGETED COURSE LEARNING OUTCOME
CLO1. Define the meaning of globalization and differentiate the competing conceptions of
globalization.
CLO2. Identify the underlying philosophies and theories of the varying definitions of globalization.
CLO3: Apply the actual concept of globalization in the different aspects of day to day life.
III.
TARGETED TOPIC LEARNING OUTCOME
At the end of the module students be able to:
1.
Explain the meaning and concept of globalization.
2.
Identify the different theories related to globalization
3.
Analyze the concept of globalization through conceptual metaphors; and
4.
Apply the concepts of globalization in daily life.
IV- ASSESSMENT
1.
Students be able to answer the prepared essay questions.
2.
Students be able to summarized important concepts related to globalization.
3.
Students be able to interview an OFW and make a reflection paper and write insights about the
respondent’s experience.
DEFINING GLOBALIZATION
GLOBALIZATION
-
“Borderless world”
the expansion and intensification of social relations and consciousness across world time and across
world-space.
-
all those processes by which the people of the world are incorporated into a single world society.
2 types of definition for Globalization
1.
Broad and inclusive -
“Globalization means the onset of the borderderless world”. (Ohmae, 1992)
If one uses such, it can include a variety of issues that deal with overcoming tradition boundaries. However, it
does not shed light on the implications of globalization due to its vagueness.
2.
Narrow and exclusive – are better justified but can be limiting, in the sense that their application adheres
to only particular definitions.
“ The characteristics of the globalization trend include the internationalizing of production, the new international
division of labor, new migratory movements from South to North, the new competitive environment that
accelerates these processes, and the internationalizing of the state…making states into agencies of the
globalizing world”. ( Robert Cox)
No matter how one classifies a definition of globalization, the concept is complex and multifaceted as the
definitions deal with either economic, political, or social dimensions.
A more recent definition was given by Ritzer (2015) , Globalization is a transplanetary process or a set of
processes involving increasing liquidity and growing multi directional flows of people, objects, places, and
information as well as the structures they encounter and create that are barriers to, or expedite those flows.
METAPHORS OF GLOBALIZATION
In order for us to better understand the concept of globalization, we will utilize metaphors. Metaphors make
use of one term to help us better understand another term. In this case, the states of matter –Solid—liquid—
will be used.
The epoch that preceded today’s globalization paved way for people, things and information and places to
harden over time. Consequently, they have limited mobility ( Ritzer, 2015).
“Solidity”- refers to the barriers that prevent of make difficult the movement of things. They could either be
natural or man- made. Examples of natural solids are landforms and bodies of water. Made made barriers
include Great Wall of China, and the Berlin Wall. An imaginary line such as nine dash-line of the People’s
Republic of China is an example of the modern man-made solid. This creates limited access to Filipino
fishers to the West Philippine Sea ( formerly called South China Sea).
Liquid as a state of matter takes the shape of its container. However, liquids are not fixed.
LIQUIDITY therefore, refers to the increasing ease of movement of people , things information and places in
the contemporary world.
Characteristics of liquid according to Zygmunt Bauman:
1.
Today’s liquid phenomena changes quickly and their aspects spatial and temporal are in continuous
fluctuation.
2.
In liquid phenomena, the movement is difficult to stop. For example, videos uploaded to Facebook are
unstoppable once they become viral.
3.
The forces of liquid made political boundaries more permeable to the flow of people and things.
Liquidity and solidity are in constant interaction. However, liquidity is the one increasing and proliferating
today. Therefore the metaphor that could best describe globalization is liquidity. Liquids do flow ( Apparaudi,
1996; Rey & Ritzer, 2010). The literature of globalization makes use of the concept of flow.
FLOWS
--- are movement of people, things places and information brought by the growing porosity of global limitations
(Ritzer, 2015
Examples: different foreign cuisines being patronized and consumed by the
globalized. (sushi, ramen, kimchi, hamburger, French fries etc.)
Filipinos. Foods are being
THEORIES OF GLOBALIZATION
Homogeneity – refers to the increasing sameness in the world as cultural inputs, economic factors and political
orientations of societies expand to create common practices, same economies and similar forms of government.
It is often linked to cultural imperialism.
CULTURAL IMPERIALISM- this means a given culture influences other cultures.
For example, the dominant religion in our country is Christianity, which was brought to us by the Spaniards.
Ritzer (2008) coined the term “ Mcdonaldization”- refers to the process by which Western societies are
dominated by the principles of fast food restaurant. It involves the global spread of rational systems such as
efficiency, calculability predictability and control.
Heterogeneity - refers to the differences because of either lasting differences or of the hybrids or combinations
of cultures that can be produced through the different transplantery processes. Heterogeneity in culture is
associated with cultural hybridization.
Example: glocalization, (as global forces interact with local factors or a specific geographic area, the “ glocal”
is being produced. Roland Robertson (1992).
1.
WORLD SYTEM THEORY
World Systems Theory posits that there is a world economic system in which some countries benefit while others
are exploited. The big idea was that the global system had a stratified structure on inequality based on
institutionalized exploitation. This implied that the whole system was the proper unit of analysis, not national
societies, and that development and underdevelopment had been
structured by global power relations for centuries.
World System Theory
-CORE: rich & developed states
-PERIPHERY: poor & dependent states
-SEMI-PERIPHERY: the ‘in-between; semi-industrialised states
2.
THEORY OF THE GLOBAL SYSTEM
- The model involves TNPs at three levels:
-the economic, whose agent is transnational capital;
-the political, whose agent is a transnational capitalist class (TCC);
-the cultural-ideological, whose agent is cultural elites.
3. NETWORK SOCIETY
-“techno logistic” approach to globalization or ”Age of information” or “informationalism”
-digital connectivity and empowerment of the internet and the World Wide Web
-Generation Z or Gen Z (also known as iGeneration or iGen and Post-Millennials
4. LIBERALISM
is a political and moral philosophy based on liberty, consent of the governed and equality before the law.
Liberalism is a defining feature of modern democracy, illustrated by the prevalence of the term ‘liberal democracy’
as a way to describe countries with free and fair elections, rule of law and protected civil liberties.
5. POLITICAL REALISM
The highlights of this theory is power (the heart of politics)
-Importance of sovereign states (balance of power, dominant state at a particular moment; consequent interests)
-Stressing the uneven nature of globalization
6. MARXISM
Marxism is a method of socioeconomic analysis that uses a materialist interpretation of historical development,
better known as historical materialism, to understand class relations and social conflict as well as a dialectical
perspective to view social transformation.
It emphasizes class relations/conflict
-Production, distribution, (social class) emancipation
-Excessive emphasis on class (conflict)
7. CONSTRUCTIVISM
Constructivism is a theory in education that recognizes the learners' understanding and knowledge based on
their own experiences. Trans planetary connectivity due to the importance of symbols, language, interpretations
in constructing the social world.
8. POST MODERNISM
The theory that emphasizes
universality, morality and truth.
relativity, subjectivity, and individualism. It critique universalist notions of
9. FEMINISM
The theory that criticizes the marginalization and subordination of women in the society. According to the study,
(Rios, 2005) women are poorer than men in every state, regardless of education or geographic location.
10. ECLECTICISM
This theory does not hold rigidly into single paradigm or set of assumptions but instead draws into multiple
theories.
ORIGINS AND HISTORY OF GLOBALIZATION
How did globalization start? This section discusses the origin and history of globalization.
Hardwired
According to Nayan Chanda (2007), it is because of our basic human need that made globalization possible.
Therefore, one can trace the beginning of globalization from our ancestors in Africa who walked out from
the continent in the late Ice Age. This long journey finally led them to all known continents today, roughly 50,000
years. Chanda mentioned that commerce, religion, politics and warfare are the urges pf people toward a better
life.
4 aspects of Globalization:
1.
Trade
2.
Missionary work ‘
3.
Adventure
4.
Conquest
Cycles
For some globalization is a long term- cyclical process and thus, finding its origin will be a daunting task.
What is important is the cycle that a globalization has gone through
( Scholte,2005). Subscribing to this view suggest adherence to the idea that other global ages have
appeared. There is also a notion that this point of globalization will soon disappear and reappear.
Epoch
Ritzer (2015) cited Therborn’s (2000) six great epoch of globalization. These are also called “waves” and
each has its own origin. The following are the sequential occurrence of the epoch.
1.
Globalization of religion (4th
2.
-7th centuries)
3.
European Colonial Conquest (late 15th century)
4.
Intra- European wars
5.
Heyday of European Imperialism ( mid 19th century to 1918)
6.
Post World War II
7.
Post Cold War Period
( late 18th to early 19th century)
Events
Specific events are also considered as part of the fourth view in explaining the origin of globalization. Several
points can be treated as start of globalization. Gibbon(1998) argued that Roman conquest centuries before
Christ were its origin. Rosenthal(2007) gave premium to voyages of discovery --- Christopher Columbus’s
discovery of America in 1492, Vasco da Gama in the Cape of Good Hope in 1498 and Ferdinand Magellan’s
rediscovery of the Philippine archipelago in 1521.
The recent years could also be regarded as the beginnings of globalization with reference to specific
technological advances in transportation and communication. Some examples include the first transatlantic
telephone cable( 1956), transatlantic television broadcast (1962) founding of modern internet in (1988) and
terrorist attack in Twin Towers in New York ( 2001). Certainly with this view, more and more specific events
will characterize not just the origins of globalization but also more of its history.
Broader, More Recent Changes
Recent changes comprised the fifth view. These broad changes happened in the last half of twentieth century.
Scholars point out to these three notable changes as the origin of globalization that we know today. They
are as follows:
1.
The emergence of United States as the global power ( Post World War II)
2.
The emergence of multinational corporations ( MNC’s)
3.
The demise of the Soviet Union and the end of Cold War
GLOBAL MIGRATION
As a global phenomenon, people are moving just about everywhere. Global migration can be understood as a
cause and effect relationship, though the causes are as numerous as their effects. People move across
international borders for a variety of reasons including safety, natural disaster, political conflict, education, family,
career, and economic betterment.
Migrants- a person who moves from outside their country of origin. These migrants are sometimes categorized
into “vagabonds” and “ tourist”( Bauman, 1998).
Vagabonds- are on the move because they have to be. They are not faring well in their home countries and
are forced to move in the hope that their circumstances will improve.
Tourist- on the other hand, are on the move because they want to be and they can afford it.
Refugees- are vagabonds forced to flee their home countries due to safety concerns. (Haddad,2003)
Asylum seekers - are refugees who seek to remain in the country to which they flee.
Labor Migration- is driven by push factors ( lack pf employment opportunities in home countries) as well as
pull factors ( work available elsewhere). It involves the flow of less-skilled and skilled workers, as well as
illegal migrants who lived in the margins of the host society ( Landler,2007).