Saint Ferdinand College COLLEGE OF ARTS & SCIENCES Sta. Ana St., City of Ilagan, Isabela 3300 (078) 624-2125 THE CONTEMPORARY WORLD LESSON 1- Introduction to the Study of Globalization Time Frame: Midterm- Week 1 & 2 LEARNING OUTCOMES: At the end of the lesson, you should be able to: a. b. c. Agree on a working definition of globalization for the course; Differentiate the competing conceptions of globalization; and Narrate a personal experience of globalization ENGAGE Before we start our lesson, you should read the story A Story: Gio, Latif, and the Laska below or watch it on Youtube using the link www.youtube.com/watch?v=0AS65c10pJA and answer the following questions: 1. 2. 3. 4. Who is Gio? Who is Latif? Do you think their friendship would last without communication? How did globalization reunite Gio and Latif? A Story: Gio, Latif, and the Laksa When Gio was a second-year international affairs student in a university in Cebu City, he obtained funding to join the school team participating in an international Model UN competition in Sydney, Australia. At the height of the competition, Gio made plenty of new friends and became particularly close to Latif from the Malaysian team. The two first started talking when Latif asked Gio where he was from. Upon discovering that the Gio was from the Philippines, Latif lit up and declared that he was a big fan of Filipino actors Jericho Rosales and Kristine Hermosa. Gio was pleasantly surprised to learn that Latif had seen every episode of the ABS-CBN telenovela Pangako sa 'Yo (l'The Promise"). The show had aired on Malaysian TV a few years back, and its two stars had developed a modest following. Ashamed that he did not know as much about Malaysia as Latif knew about the Philippines, Gio asked Latif what his country was like. Latif, he discovered, was from a Muslim university in Kuala Lumpur. Gio asked him what he liked best about living in 'IKL," and Latif immediately mentioned the food. Latif explained that in Kuala Lumpur, one can find Chinese, Indian, and Malay cuisines. He told Gio that this assortment of foodways was the result of how the British reorganized Malaysian society during the times. The British did little to change the way of life of the who were the original residents, but brought in Chinese laborers to work in the rubber plantations and tin mines, and Indians to help manage the bureaucracy and serve as the initiat professions core of a potential middle class. One of the ways that these groups were identified was through their foodways. According to Latif, Malaysia eventually became famous for these cuisines which can be found in the various “hawker centers” across the nation's cities and towns. These food stands are located in outdoor food parks where locals and tourists taste the best of Malaysia, from nasi lemak to laksa. Gio interrupted Latif and asked, “What is laksa?” He felt more ashamed at his lack of knowledge. "Ahh.. let me show you it is and how it is prepared!" replied Latif The next day, Latif took Gio to a Malaysian restaurant a few blocks away from the university Gio was surprised to discover that Malaysian food was readily available in Sydney. Having noticed this, Latif explained to his Filipino friend that over the years, as more and more Malaysian students moved to Sydney to study, Malaysian restaurants followed suit. Soon after, they were catering not only to these students, but to Australia-born “Sydneysiders” as well, whose culinary tastes were becoming more and more diverse. Gio finally had his first taste of laksa—a rice noodle soup in a spicy coconut curry sauce. He found the flavors intense since like most Filipinos, he was not used to spicy food. However, in deference to his friend, he persisted and eventuality found himself enjoying the hot dish. After the meal, Go and Latif went to a nearby café and ordered “flat whites” – an espresso drink similar to latte, which is usually served in cafés in Australia and New Zealand. Both knew what flat whites were since there were Australian-inspired cafés in both Kuala Lumpur and Cebu. The new friends promised to stay in touch after the competition, and added each other on Facebook and Instagram. Over the next two years, they exchanged e-mails and posts, congratulated each other for their achievements, and commented on and liked each other's photos. Latif sent his mother's recipe Gio and the latter began cooking Malaysian food in his home. A few years after graduation, Gio moved to Singapore, joining many other overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) in the city-state. The culture was new to him, but one thing was familiar: the food served in Singapore was no different from the Malaysian food he had discovered through Latif. He would later learn from Singaporean colleagues that the island country was once part of the British colony of Malay and the postwar independent Federation of Malaysia. Singapore, however, separated from the Federation in August 1965 and became a nationstate. Today, they may be two distinct countries in this part of the world, but Singapore and Malaysia still share the same cuisine. After he settled down in his apartment, Gio sought out and found a favorite taksa stall in Newton Hawker Center He would spend his weekends there with with friends eating laksa and other dishes. One Saturday, while Gio was checking his Facebook feed along the very busy Orchard Road—Singapore's main commercial road—he noticed that Latif had just posted something 5 minutes earlier. It was a picture from Orchard Road. Surprised but also excited, Gio sent Latif a private message. Latif replied immediately saying that he too had moved to Singapore and was, at that moment, standing in front a department store just a few blocks away from where Gio was. The two friends met up, and after a long hug and quick questions as to what each was up to, they ducked into a café and renewed their international friendship...by ordering a pair of flat whites. *** Gio and Latif's story is fictional but very plausible since it is, in fact, based on the real-life experience of one of the authors. It was through such friendships that one was able to appreciate the meaning and impact of globalization. We begin our definition of globalization with this narrative to illustrate how concrete the phenomenon is. The story shows how globalization operates at multiple, intersecting levels. The spread of Filipino TV into Malaysia suggests how fast this popular culture has proliferated and criss-crossed all over Asia. The Model UN activity that Gio and Latif participated in is an international competition about international politics. Gio met Latif (a Malaysian involved in the model UN) in Sydney, a global city that derives its wealth and influence from the global capital that flows through it. Sydney is also a metropolis of families of international immigrants or foreigners working in the industries that also sell their products abroad. After the two had gone back to their home countries, Gio and Latif kept in touch through Facebook, a global social networking site that provides instantaneous communication across countries and continents. They preserved their friendship online and then rekindled this face-to-face in Singapore, another hub for global commerce, with 40 percent of the population being classified as "foreign talents." What other hints of globalization did you find in the story? EXPLORE AND EXPLAIN Our discussion should begin with this intuitive sense that something is happening, and it is not affecting everyone in the same way. Gio’s story is a very privileged way of experiencing global flows, but for other people, the shrinking of the world may not be as exciting and edifying. For example, it is very common for young women in developing countries to be recruited in the internet as “mail-order brides” for foreign men living in other countries. After being promised a good life once married to a kind husband in rich city, they end up becoming sexual and domestic servants in foreign lands. Some were being sold off by their “husbands” to gangs which run prostitute rings in these cities. Like Gio, they too have experienced the shrinking of the world, albeit negatively. Governments that decide to welcome the foreign investments on the belief that they provide jobs and capital for the country offer public lands as factory or industrial sites. In the process, poor people living in these lands, also called urban poor communities,” are being evicted by the government. The irony is that these people forcibly removed from their “slums” are also the labor force sought by foreign companies. They had to be kicked out of their homes, and then told that they could take an hour or two of bus travel for minimum-wage work. Because different people encounter globalization in a variety of ways, it is deemed useful to ask simple questions like: “Is globalization good or bad? Is it beneficial or detrimental?” WHEN DID GLOBALIZATION BEGIN? THE HISTORY OF GLOBALIZATION For some people, this global phenomenon is inherent to human nature. Because of this, some say globalization begun about 60,000 years ago, at the beginning of human history. Throughout time, human societies’ exchanging trade has been growing. Since the old times, different civilizations have developed commercial trade routes and experienced cultural exchanges. And as well, the migratory phenomenon has also been contributing to these populational exchanges. Especially nowadays, since traveling became quicker, more comfortable, and more affordable. This phenomenon has continued throughout history, notably through military conquests and exploration expeditions. But it wasn’t until technological advances in transportation and communication that globalization speeded up. It was particularly after the second half of the 20th century that world trades accelerated in such a dimension and speed that the term “globalization” started to be commonly used. What is Globalization? The Information and Communication Technology (ICT) revolution, the free flow of information-based and knowledge-based economies, the growing integration with the global economy of the national economy, and the market economy, is the key to globalization. So globalization is the process by which the free market economy is ensured all over the world. In this process, foreign companies are doing trade throughout the world. That’s why you can get all the foreign products at a minimal price from your doorstep. It is also a mechanism of mutual interaction and interconnection that initiates coordination and interaction between governments, institutions and peoples of different nations. The driving force of this approach is international trade and investment, and its main supporting force is information technology. Environment, culture, political system, economic development and progress, and human and social progress; It has a clear effect on everything. Although research on globalization has literally begun, this matter must be quite ancient. Although globalization is broadly used since 1970 but globalization as a concept we can find from ancient times, people have been shown to participate in international trade. Although there was no general policy then. The history of globalization begins from thousands of years ago, in the middle Ages, the Silk Road was used to trade China with Europe through Central Asia. Features of Globalization From the above discussion, we also find some features of globalization. These are1. Integration of Economies 2. Liberalization 3. Privatization 4. Free Trade 5. Interconnectedness 1. Integration of Economies The integration of economies throughout the world is necessary for interaction and integration among people, companies, and governments worldwide. It is a process in which agreements are done among the countries within a particular geographic region for reducing tariff barriers to ensure a free flow of goods and services. 2. Liberalization To ensure integration of economies among the countries it is necessary to implement the process of liberalization in their own countries. Like integration of economies, liberalization also is a process by which a country reform their economic policies for open their market to all. It ensures freedom of the entrepreneurs for the establishment of any kind of legal trades or industries in their own countries or abroad. 3. Privatization After liberalization, it’s time for privatization. Without liberalization there is no existence of privatization. Privatization refers to the transfer of ownership of any property, corporation or business or services from government to the privately owned sectors. Globalization would not be possible without LPG. Here L refers to Liberalization, P for Privatization and lastly G for Globalization. It can be said that liberalization and Privatization are the precondition of globalization. 4. Free Trade It refers to free flow trade among the countries without tariff barriers. Free trade can be possible when some countries within a same geographic region sign an agreement for the free trade among their countries. 5. Interconnectedness It provides us a framework to explore the world through interaction with different people, animals, nature by using several technological tools without any kind of barriers. History of Globalization Globalization is not a new phenomenon. Today’s globalization has developed through the different phases which are started from ancient time. Human being always moved from one place to other place with the purpose of trade. They exchanged goods, skill and ideas with other people from the history. Silk Road I have already mentioned that China used the Silk Road for their trade to Europe through Central Asia. Around 1st Century BC, Silk Road was first introduced to the Roman Empire. Throughout history Eurasia is one of the important paths for communication and trade which links from china. This route or path is called today as Silk Road. Through this road, people share their knowledge, ideas, culture, and beliefs. Trader along with this road not only attached to trade but also intellectual and cultural exchange. Silk was a more expensive and luxurious product that was traded between east and west through this road. Besides silk, there were many products that were traded such as textiles, spices, grain, vegetables, and fruits, etc. Spice Trade Trade of spice was happened from the 7th to 15th centuries by the Islamic merchants in the Middle East. Islamic merchants traded spice from the Middle East to East Asia. The main purpose of that trade was to spread the Islamic religion. As a result of this initiative you can see a country like Indonesia where the most population is a Muslim majority. The dominating product of Islamic trade was spice. Spice was traded mainly through sea and they were very much focusing on international trade in medieval age. Age of Exploration From the 15th to the 18th Century was the era of exploration. During this time the exploration of the Europeans connected the East and the West. Columbus’s discovery of America is believed to have begun the journey of modern globalization. At this time, three things were mainly focused on. These are called as 3C 1. Christianity Christianity represents western civilization. Based on this notion, Western society sought to spread their religion throughout the world and had many successes. 2. Civilization Christianity was one of the means of reaching Western civilization all over the world. As we look at the countries of Africa and Asia, we can see that there are many areas where Christianity is particularly prevalent. Although their Ethnic Identity is different. Western civilization is perfect and the rest of religion or culture is barbaric. In order to establish this idea, they imposed their culture on these backward countries. 3. Commerce Now the question is why did they impose their religion or culture on others? The answer is trade. If you consider Western civilization to be superior, their practical products will attract you. Almost every civilized society is now accustomed to wearing western clothing and others. Their real purpose was to ensure that western trade was forever. What are the Four Phases in the History of Globalization? To understand globalization better, you need to be aware of every phase of it. Then you will understand exactly how globalization has become today’s globalization. There are mainly four phases of globalization. These are: First Phase in the History of Globalization The first phase of globalization began primarily from the 19th century onwards and continued until the beginning of the First World War, which means 1914. As a result of the industrial revolution, Great Britain influenced the world through their trade. Inventions such as steam engines, industrial weaving machines, and more accelerated trade worldwide. The global trade began in the true sense from this period. Prior to this phase, the growth rate of world trade on average 3% per year. However, since the Industrial Revolution, global trade increased by 6% and subsequently increased by 14%. During this time, trade in these countries, besides England, France, Portugal, USA, had increased greatly. But England was all around. That is to say, England took huge advantage in this phase of globalization. Then came the First World War (1914) and all the countries close their borders again. Global trade was fall down again. Great Depression Since the First World War, there has been a gradual shift in each country, and world trade has become limited. The result was a recession which was also called as Great Depression. The recession began in the 1929 and ended at the end of the decade of 1930. It is a long-lasting and widespread recession of the twentieth century. In the 20th century, the Great Depression was used as an example of the collapse of the global economy. The recession began in the United States after the stock market collapsed on September 4, 1929. Later on October 29, 1929, the news spread to the global stock market, known as Black Tuesday. Global GDP declined by about 15% between 1929 and 1932. In some economies was recovered in the middle of the 1930s, the effects of the Great Depression on the economy of many countries continued until the beginning of World War II. Then after World War II, world trade almost stopped. However, this is not the end of globalization. Second and Third Phase in the History of Globalization After World War II, another new chapter in globalization was launched under the leadership of USA and World trade has increased again. This time, Iron Curtain divided the whole world into two parts – the USA led on one end and USSR led on the other. But in 1989, the iron curtain was broken and globalization gaining a rapid boost. The EU’s Free Trade and USA’s rapid increasing of trade at the beginning of the 1950 helped strengthen the global economy. On the other hand USSR increase their global trade in similar to USA but using centralized planning rather than free trade. This time, the world economy returns to its old rhythm. Export once again increase to 14% of global GDP which was achieved in the 1914. Ever since the collapse of the Soviet Union, free trade has been rampant throughout the world. The World Trade Organization is created to promote free trade around the world. Fourth Phase In the History of Globalization The world we are living in now is actually the fourth phase of globalization. The two powers that govern the current world now are the USA and the other is China. Now the Internet is the main driving force of globalization. Now we talk more about digital economy such as Ecommerce, digital-services, 3D printing and so on. However, negative globalization is also expanding, such as the adverse effects of climate change on earth, crossborder cyber attacks, terrorism, etc. The best scholarly description of globalization is provided by Manfred Steger who described globalization the expansion and intensification of social relations and consciousness across world-time and across world-space. Expansion refers to both the creation of new social networks and the multiplication of existing connections that cut across traditional political, economic, cultural, and geographic boundaries. These various connections occur at different levels. Social media, for example, establish new global connections between people, while international groups of non-governmental organizations (NGOs) are networks that connect a more specific group – social workers and activists – from different corners of the globe. In the story, Gio was able to join a Model UN competition because his university was part of an international network. Intensification refers to the expansion, stretching, and acceleration of networks. Not only are global connections multiplying, but they are also becoming more closely-knit and expanding their reach. For example, there has always been a strong financial market connecting London and New York. With the advent of electronic trading, however, the volume of trade increases exponentially, since traders can now trade more financially integrated, the intensified trading network between London and New York may expand and stretch to cover more and more cities. It is not only in financial matter that you can find these connections. In 2012, when the monsoon rains flooded much of Bangkok, the Honda plant making some of the critical car parts temporarily ceased production. This had a strong negative effect on the parts being imported from Thailand. Not only was it unable to reach the sales targets it laid out, but the ability of the service centers nationwide to assist Honda owners also suffered. As a result, the Japanese car company’s global profits also fell. The final attribute of this definition relates to the way people perceive time and space. Steger notes that “globalization processes do not occur merely at an objective, material level but they also involve the subjective plane of human consciousness. In other words, people begin to feel that the world has become a smaller place and distance has collapsed from thousands of miles to just a mouse-click away. If globalization represents the many processes that allow for the expansion and intensification of global connections, globalism is a widespread belief among powerful people that the global integration of economic markets is beneficial for everyone, since it spreads freedom and democracy across the world. For anthropologist Aljun Appadurai, different kinds of globalization occur on multiple and intersecting dimensions of integration that he calls “scapes”. Ethnoscape – refers to global movement of people. Mediascape – about the flow of culture. Technoscape – circulation of mechanical goods and software. Financescape – denotes the global circulation of money. Ideoscape – the realm where political ideas move around. EXAMPLES OF GLOBALIZATION (CONCEPT MAP) Because of trade developments and financial exchanges, we often think of globalization as an economic and financial phenomenon. Nonetheless, it includes a much wider field than just flowing of goods, services or capital. Often referred to as the globalization concept map, some examples of globalization are: Economic globalization: is the development of trade systems within transnational actors such as corporations or NGOs. Financial globalization: can be linked with the rise of a global financial system with international financial exchanges and monetary exchanges. Stock markets, for instance, are a great example of the financially connected global world since when one stock market has a decline, it affects other markets negatively as well as the economy as a whole. Cultural globalization: refers to the interpenetration of cultures which, as a consequence, means nations adopt principles, beliefs, and costumes of other nations, losing their unique culture to a unique, globalized supra-culture; Political globalization: the development and growing influence of international organizations such as the UN or WHO means governmental action takes place at an international level. There are other bodies operating a global level such as NGOs like Doctors without borders or Oxfam; Sociological globalization: information moves almost in real-time, together with the interconnection and interdependence of events and their consequences. People move all the time too, mixing and integrating different societies; Technological globalization: the phenomenon by which millions of people are interconnected thanks to the power of the digital world via platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, Skype or Youtube. Geographic globalization: is the new organization and hierarchy of different regions of the world that is constantly changing. Moreover, with transportation and flying made so easy and affordable, apart from a few countries with demanding visas, it is possible to travel the world without barely any restrictions; Ecological globalization: accounts for the idea of considering planet Earth as a single global entity – a common good all societies should protect since the weather affects everyone and we are all protected by the same atmosphere. To this regard, it is often said that the poorest countries that have been polluting the least will suffer the most from climate change. References: Lisandro E. Claudio, Patricio N. Abinales 2018. The Contemporary World. C & E Publishing, Inc. Prince Kennex Reguyal Aldama 2018. The Contemporary World. REX Book Store, Inc https://youmatter.world/en/definition/definitions-globalization-definition-benefits-effectsexamples/ https://education.nationalgeographic.org/resource/globalization Name: ______________________________________________ Score: _________ Course, Year & Section: ________________________________ Date: __________ ELABORATE AND EVALUATE Learning Activity: The World Made Closer In this activity, you are to see the actual application of globalization on the different aspects of daily life such as politics, music, sports, film, celebrity and disaster. 1. Answer the following questions: a. 2. 3. 4. Enumerate at least three of the most recent songs you have listened to. Where did they originate? Identify the nationality of the writer and/or artist for each music. b. What gadgets or devices do you usually use to listen to music? c. Where were these gadgets/devices made? Where is the company based? d. How did you access these music? Did you purchase them online or listen to them through Youtube, Spotify, and other channels? In your own words, how would you define globalization? How have you experienced globalization? Is globalization good or bad? Defend your answer.
