CHAPTER 1 - Introduction to Globalization

Defining Globalization

Learning Outcomes

At the end of this lesson, the student should be able to:

1. Differentiate the competing conceptions of globalization;

2. Identify the underlying philosophies of various definitions of globalization;
3. Agree on a working definition of globalization.

Globalization is a historical process. It started long before the recent years of

information technology, the end of the cold war or even the end of the Second
World War. It has its bases earlier, in the development of capitalism and
industrialism, and in the institutions, technologies and incentives these systems
brought along” (Martell 2010, 5).

Why Globalization Became Popular? Because it is global network via internet,

cultural homogenization and spread of capitalism, consciousness of global
problems, decline of the idea of nation-state and economic dependency (Martell
2010,1)

Terms associated with, but not Synonymous to, Globalization are the following,

Internationalization involves the growth of transactions and interdependencies

between countries” (Martell 2010, 9). Liberalization “refers to the removal of
constraints on movements of resources between countries—an open, borderless
world” (Martell 2010, 9). Universalization “involves the dispersion of objects and
experiences to all parts of the earth…” It sometimes refers to standardization and
homogenization (Martell 2010, 9). Westernization “is a particular type of
universalization, of Western structures such as capitalism, industrialism,
rationalism, urbanism, individualism, and democracy, or put more critically,
colonization” (Martell 2010, 9-10).

As a concept, globalization should not be confused with Globality and Globalism.

“Globality…signifies a future social condition characterized by the existence of

global economic, political, cultural, and environmental interconnections and flows
that make many of the currently existing borders and boundaries irrelevant.”
(Steger, 2005: 7). Globality is not static. It is not a determinate endpoint. It may
give rise a new development (planetarity?).

Globalization can thus be defined as the intensification of worldwide social

relations which link distant localities in such a way that local happenings are
shaped by events occurring many miles away and vice versa.” (Anthony Giddens
in Steger 2003, 10) (Prices of petroleum products, Marawi Seige)
The concept of globalization reflects the sense of an immense enlargement of
world communication, as well as of the horizon of a world market, both of which
seem far more tangible and immediate than in earlier stages of modernity.”
(Fredric Jameson in Steger 2003, 10)

Globalization may be thought of as a process (or set of processes) which

embodies a transformation in the spatial organization of social relations and
transactions – assessed in terms of their extensity, intensity, velocity and impact -
generating transcontinental or interregional flows and networks of activity,
interaction, and the exercise of power.” (David Held in Steger 2003, 10) (Distance
education, BPO)

Globalization as a concept refers both to the compression of the world and the
intensification of consciousness of the world as a whole.” (Roland Robertson in
Steger 2003, 10) (Due to communication and transportation technologies)

Globalization compresses the time and space aspects of social relations.”

(James Mittelman in Steger 2003, 10)

Globalization means supraterritorialization” (Scholte in Martell 2010, 10).

Supraterriterritorialism includes jet planes, telecommunications, global media,
finance, ecological problems and global consciousness (Martell 2010, 10).

Globalism has not eliminated territorialism which remains important, for

instance, in production, governance, ecology and identities. The world is both
territorial and global; no pure globality exists independently of territorial spaces.
The global is not a domain separate from regional, national, provincial and local
levels, and there is an intersection of all these” (Martell 2010, 11). Globalism is a
political belief system—an ideology that justifies cultural, social, economic, and
political globalization.

As an ideology, globalism has six (6) core claims. (Steger 2005)

First, globalization is about the liberalization and global integration of markets.”

(Steger 2005, 16). The driving idea behind globalization is free-market capitalism
—the more you let market forces rule and the more you open your economy to
free trade and competition, the more efficient your economy will be.” (Thomas
Friedman in Steger 2005, 17)
Second, globalization is inevitable and irreversible.” (Steger 2005, 18).
Globalization is inevitable and in-exorable and it is accelerating. Globalization is
happening, it’s going to happen. It does not matter whether you like it or not, it’s
happening, it’s going to happen”. (Frederick W. Smith in Steger 2005, 18). If
globalization is inevitable, we have to embrace it. It’s not a matter of embracing
or not embracing it; it’s a matter of embracing it now or later.

Third, nobody is in-charge of globalization” (Steger 2005, 20), self-regulating

market’. The great beauty of globalization is that no one is in control. The great
beauty of globalization is that it is not controlled by an individual, any
government, any institution’. (Robert Hormats in Steger 2005, 20). That no one is
in-charge of globalization means that no one particular group of country has
special interest on it.

Fourth, globalization benefits everyone” (Steger 2005, 21). Free trade and free
markets have proven their ability to lift whole societies out of poverty—so the
United States will work with individual nations, entire regions, and the entire
global trading community to build a world that trades in freedom and therefore
grows in prosperity.” (President Bush in Steger 2005, 22). Since globalization
benefits everyone, all countries should embrace it.

Fifth, globalization furthers the spread of democracy in the world (Steger 2005,
22). Indeed, a careful discourse analysis of relevant texts reveals that globalists
tend to treat freedom, free markets, free trade and democracy as synonymous
terms.” (Steger 2005, 22). For Francis Fukuyama, ‘the level of economic
development resulting from globalization is conducive to the creation of complex
civil societies with a powerful middle class. It is this class and societal structure
that facilitates democracy.’ (in Steger 2005, 22)

Sixth, globalization requires a global war on terror.” (Steger 2005, 24)

The Elephant of
Globalization
Globalization as an economic process accounts of globalization convey the notion
that the essence of the phenomenon involves ‘the increasing linkage of national
economies through trade, financial flows, and foreign direct investment … by
multinational firms’ (Gilpin in Steger 2014, 6). Aspects of economic globalization are
free trade, production process and liberalization and internationalization of financial
transactions (Steger 2014, 7)

Globalization as a political process no longer functioning along the lines of discrete

territorial units, the political order of the future will be one of regional economies linked
together in an almost seamless global web that operates according to free-market
principles.” (Steger 2014, 8). For Jan Aart Scholte, “Globalization refers to gradual
processes of ‘relative deterritorialization’ that facilitate the growth of ‘supraterritorial’
relations between people.” (Steger 2014, 9)

Globalization as a cultural process lies at the heart of modern culture; cultural

practices lie at the heart of globalization.” (John Tomlinson in Steger 2014, 11)

Guide Questions:

1. How have you experienced globalization?

2. Why is it crucial to emphasize that globalization is uneven?
3. What is the difference between globalization and globalism?

Learning Activity:
Globalization in my own.

Go outside the classroom and make an intensive interview to a person with his
own definition and understanding about the globalization. You will ask for a three (3)
different types of person and analyze their answer.
Organize their answer into six (6): Politics, Culture, Economics, Ideology,
Environment or Religion. Out of their definition you will create your own concept and
definition of globalization and compare it to your classmates.

Rubrics:
Levels of Achievements
Excellent Good Fair Poor
Criteria (8-10pts.) (6-7pts.) (4-5pts.) (0-3pts.)
Focus There is one specific, There is one clear, well- There is one-topic The topic and ideas
and well-focused topic. The focused topic. Main but the main ideas are not clear.
Details main ideas are clear ideas are clear but are are not especially
and are well supported not supported by clear.
by detailed and detailed information or
accurate information. fact.
 References

 Source: http://digiciv-mixtiffani.blogspot.com/2012/02/elephants-and-
globalization.html
 Martell, Luke (2010). The sociology of globalization. Cambridge: Polity Press.
 Steger, Manfred (2003). Globalization: A very Short Introduction. Oxford: Oxford
Press.
 Steger, Manfred (2005). Ideologies of globalization, Journal of Political Ideologies,
10:1, 11-30, DOI:10.1080/135693105200031026
 Steger, Manfred (2014). Approaches in the Study of Globalization. In The Sage
Handbook of Globalization. Eds: Manfred Steger, Paul Battersby & Joseph
Siracusa. London: Sage Publications Ltd.
 Aldama, Prince Kennex (2018). The Contemporary World. REX Book Store:
Manila Philippines
 Claudion, Lisandro, Abinales, Patricio (2018) The Contemporary World. C&E
Publishing Inc. Quezon, City Philippines