DEFINING GLOBALIZATION
The reality and omnipresence of globalization makes us see ourselves as
part of what we refer to as the “global age” (Albrow, 1996). The internet for
example, allows a person from the Philippines to know what is happening to the
rest of the world simply by browsing Google. The mass media also allows for the
connections among people, communities, and countries around the globe.
Globalization encompasses a multitude of processes that involves the
economy, political system, and culture.
According to Thomas Larsson (2001), globalization pertains as “the process
of world shrinkage, of distances getting shorter, things moving closer. It pertains
to the increasing ease with which somebody on one side of the world can interact,
to mutual benefit with somebody on the other side of the world”.
On the contrary, some see it as occurring through and with regression,
colonialism, and destabilization.
The literature on the definitions of globalization revealed that definitions could
be classified as either (1) broad and inclusive or (2) narrow and exclusive.
An example of broad and inclusive definition is “globalization means the
onset of the borderless world” provided by Ohmae (1992). On the other hand,
Robert Cox defined globalization as “the characteristics of the globalization trend
includes 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”.
The definition of Globalization depends on the perspective of the one who
defines the term. For instance, if one sees globalization as positive, the person
can say that it is a unifying force. On the other hand if it is deemed as creating
greater inequalities among nations, globalization is negatively treated.
Metaphors of Globalization
To fully understand the multifaceted phenomenon of globalization,
metaphors will be used. In our case, the states of matter – solid and liquid – will
be used.
1. Solidity. This refers to the barriers that prevent or make difficult the
movement of things. Solids can either be natural or man-made. Examples
of natural solids are landforms and bodies of water. Man-made barriers
include the Great Wall of China and the Berlin Wall. An imaginary line
such as the nine-dash line used by the People’s Republic of China in their
claim to the South China Sea.
2. Liquidity. This refers to the increasing ease of movement of people
things, information, and places in the contemporary world. The
characteristics of liquid phenomena are those movements which are
difficult to stop.
e.g. Videos uploaded on Youtube and Facebook
Internet Sensations
Dynamics of Local and Global Culture
The movement or global flows of culture tend to increase more even before.
However there are three (3) perspectives on global cultural flows;
1. Cultural Differentialism. It emphasizes the fact that cultures are
essentially different and are only superficially affected by global flows.
2. Cultural Hybridization. This approach emphasizes the integration of local
and global cultures.
3. Cultural Convergence. This approach stresses homogeneity introduced by
globalization.
- CULTURAL IMPERIALISM happens when one culture
imposes itself on and tends to destroy at least parts of another
culture.