CONTEMPORARY WORLD’S LESSON GUIDE

(Prince Kennex Reguyal Aldama of The Contemporary World)

I-DEFINING GLOBALIZATION
Human beings have encountered many changes over the last century especially in their
social relationships and social structures. Of these changes, one can say that
globalization is a very important change, if not, the “most important”. The internet allows
a person from Philippines to know what is happening to the rest of the world simply by
browsing Google. The mass media also allows for connections among people,
communities, and countries all over the globe (Aldama, 2018).

So what is globalization? It may appear to have an easy answer. However, many

scholars gave and tried to formulate its definitions but resulted in different and
sometimes contradicting views about the concept.

Broad and inclusive definition- globalization means the onset of the borderless world
(Ohmae 1992). With this, one can deal with variety of issues that deal with overcoming
traditional boundaries.

Narrow and exclusive- Robert Cox’s has defined globalization as “the characteristics of
globalization 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.

No matter how one defined globalization, the concept is really complex and multifaceted
as the definitions deal with the three major aspects of globalization: economic, political,
and social dimensions. To have a better understanding of what is globalization, we have
utilized metaphors.

II- METAPHORS OF GLOBALIZATION

SOLID & LIQUID

Solid/solidity refers to barriers that prevent or make it difficult for the movements of
things. Furthermore, solids can either be natural or man-made.

Natural Solids- landforms, bodies of water.

Man-made- Great Wall of China and the Berlin Wall, Imaginary line such as the nine-
dash line used by the People’s Republic of China in their claim of South China Sea that
creates limited access for Filipino fishers to South China Sea. These examples still
exist. But they have the tendency to melt, not literally but the process involves how we
can describe as what is happening in today’s global world, it is becoming increasingly
liquid.

Melted would turn into liquid state of matter, takes the shape of a container. Moreover,
not fixed. It therefore refers to the increasing ease of movement of people, things,
information and places in contemporary world. Today’s liquid phenomena change
quickly. This means that time and space are cruicial in globalization. In global finance,
for instance changes in the stock market are a matter of seconds. Also other
characteristics of liquids are difficult to stop. For example, videos uploaded on Youtube,
Facebook are unstoppable. Finally, this brings us to the most important characteristic of
liquid is it “tends to melt whatever stands in its path” The clearest example is the
decline, if not death, of the nation-state.
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. But liquids do flow, right?

Flows- the movement of people, things, people, places, information. Aside from local
dishes what do we have in our cuisines? Sushi, ramen, hamburger, French fries.
Financial crisis, crises. E.g financial crises in America spread through Europe in 2008,
virtual flow of legal & illegal info such as blogs and child pornography.

III- GLOBALIZATION THEORIES

Globalization can also be studied in historical perspective. Looking back to its origin is
like looking on the Great Human Migration 70,000 years ago. But Globalization has a
timeline and you can try and look for the detailed versions. But for the trade, it all started
in the Silk Road- China 270 BCE-220 BCE beginning the Han Dynasty.
Now, imagine you have got a map on your mind and you can see there East Asia and
Southeast Asia, Southern Europe and Mediterranean countries. How do people travel?
We have water and land forms, these routes are the ones we call the silk road, used
for trades, transport.
But why silk?
It is the major commodity at this time. According to Khan Academy. Silk is for fabric,
gowns, skirts and dresses. But, it is not just silk that was being traded here because you
know it is expected to have an exchange. So China trades silk for access for horse not
just for transporting but for fighting their enemies who had access to horses. With that
they were able to get gold in Europe, they were able to get cotton from India. When we
talk about transportation, they have also camels before to travel to Middle East and
Africa for Desserts.
It was mentioned that not only goods being traded here. Along with those are not the
good ones, such as diseases like small pox or measles spread through Rome during
the Roman Empire that are believed to be coming from Asia and the Middle East. And
killed 10% of the population of Rome.
But not just disease, you also have the spread of ideas, knowledge and religion. And
two of the religions that benefit the most were Christianity and Buddhism. The Kushan
Empire in particular spread Buddhism into China. So what we have talked about is the
very beginning of the silk road. But the journey of the Silk Road, continues to go on
during these days.
Now in this section, we are going to have a glimpse on the important theories of
globalization. What is a theory? The ideas or principles relate to a particular subject
some intended to explain the underlying facts or events. It would be helpful to assert
that theories see globalization as a process of either homogeneity or heterogeneity.
HOMOGENIETY is often related to cultural imperialism, refers to increasing sameness
in the world as cultural inputs, economic factors and political orientations of societies
expand to create common practice, same economies and similar forms of government.
Therefore, it is a widespread acceptance, practice or application of something such as
products, practices, behaviors and beliefs that often affect also the practices, behaviors
and beliefs of a certain country, person, or a group of people.
CONCEPTS UNDER HOMOGENEITY
Americanization-
Social: Basketball, heels, belts, suspenders, hats, high heels, free education Americans
have sent teachers in the Philippines to help establish schools. These teachers are
often called “The Thomasites” named after the boat they came on, Thomas. English
Language. We have the Tag-Lish, There are also American terms that are Filipinized
such as Cake=keyk, interview=interbyu, Biscuit=biskwit, wearing of make ups, oatmeal,
ketchup, chewing gum, hot dogs that are not made of dogs
Economic: Neoliberalism or free market trades or the prices of goods and services are
determined by the open market in which the law of supply and demand are free from
any intervention of the government
Capitalism or economic and political system in which country’s trade and industry are
controlled by private owners for profit. In our country, we have Mr. Henry Sy.
On the other hand, the globalized world is undergoing the process of Mcdonaldization.
Who is not familiar of this food chain? which have served over 70 million customers and
5 billion burgers in a year. Also, Mcdonalds is on top of the list of biggest employers.
HETEROGENEITY The opposite of homogeneity.
One best example of heterogeneity is Jihad or the struggle or fight against the enemies
of islam. Islamic culture firmly tries to reject whatever is trying to influence them.
Jihad means struggle. There are two types:
Outer Jihad the defense of Islam against outside aggression or attacks and Inner
Jihad- internal struggle to be a better muslim spiritually and in practice. It actually
became trend in twitter that some posted #MyJihan sharing their stories of struggles to
become better persons. Like My #JiHad is to balance work and family life.

IV- DYNAMICS OF LOCAL AND GLOBAL CULTURE

Cultural differentialism- emphasizes the fact that cultures are essentially different and
are superficially affected by global flows. The interaction of cultures is deemed to
contain the potential “catastrophic collision” (oops, something new? Can read about it
on the net).
Note: You may watch Samuel Huntington’s theory on the clash of the civilzations in
Youtube to understand better.
According to the Huntington’s theory, increasing interaction among different
“civilizations” (such as Sinic, Islamic, Orthodox and Western) would lead to intense
clashes. (e.g bloody political conflict between the Western and Islamic civilizations).
This theory has been critiqued for a number of reasons, especially on the portrayal of
Muslims as being “prone to violence” (Huntington’s 1996).
One example for this is the 9/11 US Attack that killed almost 3000 innocent people.
(Read further on this)

Cultural Hybridization- approach emphasizes the integration of local and global

cultures (Cvetkovich and Keliner, 1997). Globalization is considered to be a creative
process which gives rise to hybrid entities. A key concept for this is “glocalization” or
interpenetration of the global and local resulting in unique outcomes.

Cultural Convergence- this approach stresses homogeneity introduced by

globalization.

In relation to global flows are the following terminologies:

Global Demography
Demographic transition is a singular historical period during which mortality
and fertility rates decline from high to low levels in a particular country or region.
Global Migration- The nuances of the movement of people around the world can be
seen through the categories of migrants---“vagabonds” and “tourists” (Bauman, 1998)
Vagabonds are on the move “because they have to be”—in the hope that their
circumstances will improve. Tourists on the other hand are on the move because they
want to and because 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 migrants- best example for this are OFWs from the Philippines. They are
migrant workers who are forced to work against their will because of two factors:
1. Push factor- political persecution, economic depression, war and famine in
home country. (e.g lack of employment opportunities back in home country)
2. Pull factor- work available elsewhere
Question: Has globalization facilitated or obstructed greater labor migration? Is the
heightened flow of people a unique feature of the current global era?

Teacher’s note:

Dearests, in studying, please practice metacognition. To remember something, it must retain in your mind
not in a way that you just memorize it. Metacognition works when you don’t know a concept, and instead
of complaining, you are going to read on about it, watch something in Youtube and help yourself until you
have fully realized the concepts in your mind.

Why did I mention this? Part of the examination for the Contemporary World requires you to know the
issues regarding each concept; the details about an issue. For example, what happened to the 9/11 US
Attack? Why did it happen? Etc. Also, analyzing situations and making a stand on it.
Presented above are the concepts only. Happy studying!