In the late 20th century, you could watch a movie at home by

renting an original VHS or VCD through video rental stores like

ACA video and Video City (some probably owned a loyalty card for
discounts). These VCDs had a maximum number of days for you
to watch and return the same at the store or else it will incur you a
penalty fee. By analogy, you may borrow books at your library
using your card and return the same on the date indicated on your
receipt; otherwise, you have to pay a fine, the same goes for
renting a video compact disc or VCD before. Given the
tremendous number of innovative ICT (Information and
Communication Technology) infrastructures of the world brought
by an increase in free trade agreements, this is not the case in our
current generation.
You can binge-watch movies or series you like using your internet
browser or any video streaming application like Netflix at your
home’s comfort

It reduced the process of traveling to any

video rental store and consuming an hour or two of your time from
choosing a movie and queueing at the cashier to pay the rental
fee. The number of films and TV series that you can watch is also
significantly increasing. It includes the number of different shows

from
various countries and nationalities. You can view some Spanish
TV series like Money Heist to a Korean TV series
like Crash Landing on You. These are all accessible without
forcing yourself to leave your house.
Following this scenario, it is hard to identify a one-size-fits-
all definition of Globalization. Many scholars believe that this
phenomenon must be studied using multi-disciplinary approaches
and various significant concepts of social sciences (Banda, 2019;
Robertson, 1996; Steger, 2003). Watching one movie or
subscribing to a video streaming site does not merely entail free
trade agreement or its economic perspective; it could also be a
question of morals, political, or cultural standards of one
community.
For example, Netflix is not allowed to stream in some countries like
China and Crimea, where the said online video streaming site is
banned; this scenario could not be answered by an economic or
political perspective alone. It is therefore imperative to consider
various aspects and utilization of different lenses of social sciences
to explain or understand this phenomenon.
Scholars differ in how they view and define Globalization and
impact on the world's transformation. Nevertheless, there is an
evident overlap as to the thematic qualities of Globalization
(Steger, 2003). 
Claudio and Abinales (2018) cited the best description of
Globalization based on the work of Manfred Steger, who states
that Globalization is "the expansion, intensification and
accelerations of social (economic, political, cultural) relations
and consciousness across world time and world space.”
Steger (2003) discussed the distinctive qualities of globalization
with the following key concepts;
1. Expansionism principle
Expansion refers to the creation of connections (networks). This
occurs on various occasions from your simple student
organizations to larger and university-wide associations. As two or
more organizations come together to advocate a social cause, for
example, could further create a new form of organization among
them. In politics, for instance, there are established political parties
related and connected to national or international networks or
groups. Most of the time, this connection will form into new,
multiple, and bigger associations of people who have the same
ideology or motivation.
 Using our sample scenario, the video streaming site – Netflix.
Through the expansionism concept, globalization enables Netflix,
Inc. to stream and earn a profit from over 190 countries. For
instance, this trade relation of Netflix is made feasible with the US
and Philippines Free Trade relations which can be further
developed to form other connections or trade relations later on.
Netflix revenue will also depend on these trade relations thus
Netflix and its trading partners will become more interdependent to
create more profit.
 

2. Intensification and acceleration

The best example of this is the ICTs, such as the internet, that
could transmit information in a matter of seconds. In a jiffy, you can
receive and send messages or share information from distant
places. In the Netflix sample scenario, you can scan and watch
your favorite movie or TV series at no time. The power of
technology and the other ICTs play a vital role in making all these
exchanges possible and faster than ever before.
 

3. Human awareness of social interdependence affects

people's individual and collective identities in the world. Manfred
Steger (2003) added that Human consciousness plays a significant
role in Globalization as people have a 'keen sense' of becoming
part of the global whole. Hence it influences their behavior and
perceptions in the contemporary world.
To return with our example, many people, generally, watch quality
movies or TV series on Netflix regardless of its language or
culture, and as it reinforces the same, it gradually changes and
affects our individual or collective identities and
views (Robertson, 1996; Steger, 2003). 
Given all the distinct qualities presented above, we can deduce
that Globalization refers to a process, condition,
and ideology of intensified interdependence of
economic, technological, political, and socio-cultural
relations of the world that compresses time and
geographic boundaries through a massive and
innovative transformation (Giddens, 2017; Held & McGrew,
2002; Jameson, Frederic, and Miyoshi, 1998; Mittelman, 2014;
Robertson, 1996; Steger, 2003).
In the said definition of Globalization, there are three (3) essential
terms; first, it is a process that pertains to social developments of
the world’s transformation. 
Second is the term condition, which for Steger (2003), he referred
to as Globality, that represents a secular state and is transformed
into global economic, political, cultural interconnections that
extinguishes or eliminates any existing boundaries. 
Third, it is an ideology (from economic to socio-cultural), which in
this case, is the Human social consciousness or awareness that
globalization processes affect our beliefs and perceptions towards
the world's social order. 
Abinales and Claudio (2003), posit the idea of Manfred Steger that
there is a belief among the elite class of the society, that global
integration of economy is advantageous for everyone because it
promotes democracy and freedom, this ideology is
named Globalism (Steger, 2003). This perspective of Steger lies
in his analysis that the people advocating for global integration
(the Globalists) view freedom, free markets, free trade, and
democracy as synonymous and interrelated concepts. That one
cannot invoke democracy without the attributes of the free-market
system as an economic policy.
Thus, we can infer that the term Globalization is not merely a
noun that represents our social condition (Globality) but also an
action that pertains to the process of social transformation, and
an ideology (Globalism) of people towards the political and
economic benefits of this phenomenon.
 Part 2 of 2: Globalization Dimensions
What are the dimensions of Globalization? How do they view
globalization?

 
The globalization scholars and the elephant by Kenneth Panfilio and Ryan Canney

The ancient Buddhist parable of Blind Men and the Elephant is

analogous to scholars and academicians’ diverse perspectives on
Globalization  (the Elephant). The parable started when the blind
men touched a particular part of the Elephant's body that they
never encountered before. The blind men begin to describe the
animal based on their perspective, one who touched the side of
the Elephant said it is a wall, the other man, who felt the tail
argued, it's a rope, And so on. The blind men are likened to the
scholars of Globalization, who hold on to their perspectives on
what constitutes this phenomenon. 
Many scholars agree that economic forces are the root of
Globalization. While others believe that it is more of a political or
cultural concern (Steger, 2003).
Nonetheless, scholars like Steger assert that there are clear
interrelationships of these perspectives. 
So for us to learn their interrelationship, we have to answer the
following questions;
What are the main dimensions of Globalization? How does
each dimension describe Globalization, and do they influence
one another?
The following are the three (3) primary dimensions or area of
Globalization;

 Economic dimension (Techno-economic)

For the economist, Roshi (2009), specifically viewed Globalization

as the tremendous increase of economic integration and
intensified movement of goods, services, technologies, and
capital across borders. 
The exponential growth of the current global economy vis-à-vis
world's

GDP (Gross Domestic Product) is drastically increased in

percentage from 42.1% in 1980 to 62.1% in 2007. This remarkable
development in the world's economy, through the help of
technology, interests many financial experts and economists
toward globalization’s potential. Thus many experts believe that
 globalization is an economic concern more than any other
dimension like politics and culture (Claudio and Abinales, 2018).

 Political dimension

Political scientists, on the other hand, describe Globalization as

the expansion of the political structure, for Thompson et al., (2008)
"Political globalization is about the expansion of a global political
system, and its institutions, in which inter-regional transactions
(including, but not limited to, trade) are managed."  It resulted in
the alliance of various countries and regions of the world, including
the increasing influence of global institutions like the United
Nations, and World Health Organizations. 

 Socio-Cultural dimension

Sociologist Anthony Giddens (2017), referred to this phenomenon

as the 'event at distant' or the intensified social relations in a
global sphere influenced by the event from distant places to
various localities and from local events to the international arena.
Individuals are more exposed to geographically distant activities,
and with global and local problems which are more intertwined
than before. He argued that this 'event' is brought by the fast
convergence of people, through the aid of technology, hence
creating a new set of norms or expected behavior that affects our
identity.  
Gidden's views of Globalization are further justified by the
contemporary anthropologist and globalization theorist Arjun
Appadurai's (1990) ideas, who stated that Globalization refers to
the intensified and expanded global cultural flows. Appadurai
explains that one's culture intersects and overlaps with another on
a worldwide scale; it influences each other in various ways. 
Arjun Appadurai’s global cultural flow theory uses a framework
called “Five Scapes of culture”, where all dimensions of
globalization presented above are interconnected and could
influence each other;
  Financescapes pertains to the rapid flow of money or
capital around the globe. Appadurai explains that there are
observable accelerated movements of money from stock
exchanges, currency markets, and money transfers. This
resulted in the emergence of more businesses and trades on a
global scale. (Economic Dimension)
 Ideoscapes refers to the meaning of symbols or a set of
beliefs spreading around the world. Appadurai pointed out that
this Scape is directly related to politics and various principles
of states like a liberal democracy. (Political Dimension)
 Technoscapes is the advanced capabilities
of technologies at an unprecedented rate across
borders. (Techno-economic)
 Mediascape refers to the visual representations of culture
or realities that influence or shape people's perception of
events, ideas, and experiences. It was made feasible by the
electronic media or mass media from print, broadcast, and
digital media.  (Socio-Cultural Dimension)
 Ethnoscape is the increasing movement of people around
the globe. The prominent examples of this are a large number
of immigrants, tourists, and refugees migrating from one place
to another. Our OFWs, exchange students abroad, or someone
visiting places for leisure or business are a few examples of this
scape. (Socio-Cultural Dimension)

Using the five (5) scapes, we can apply and find how the various
dimensions of globalization overlap and intersect with one another
in all aspects of life. To put Appadurai's scapes (F.I.T. M.E.) into
perspective, let's use how YouTube, the biggest video streaming
site in the world,  can be applied in the said framework.
  
 

Let's start with the Financescapes;

 In 2019, YouTube earned $15

billion in advertisements (Duffy, 2019). More than 50% of Small to
large enterprises and its marketers around the globe choose to
invest in YouTube ads as it draws more attention than television
ads (Moshin, 2020). The flow of capital and revenues worldwide, in
the case of the "YouTubers or Vloggers" alone who earned from
this scheme, can be greatly observed. 
Next is Ideoscapes, YouTube can advance various political
standpoints from the far-right to the left. Political campaigns,
government videos, election participants, terrorist video materials
can be uploaded anytime and anywhere. And it all affects people's
perceptions of different socio-political issues. There is an apparent
influence of YouTube on Global politics, and scholars referred to it
as a "YouTube effect" (Stoilova, 2016).
In Technoscapes, we can say that YouTube is a powerful
breakthrough in Information and Communication Technology, but it
doesn't stop there. Numerous technologies and tools are being
invented because of its inception as complementary goods. From
"YouTubers" starter kit like cameras with optical image stabilization
to YouTube's artificial intelligence responsible to flag down
objectionable content like violent extremism and other violations of
their community policy (Meyer, 2018)
While in Mediascapes: YouTube, like other social media,
influences one's culture because of its accessibility across
countries. For example, Baek (2014) study shows that  Kpop
music videos are widely consumed and embraced across a variety
of cultures, which are shown and played a million or even a billion
times on YouTube like the "Oppa Gangnam Style"  music video,
who hit the first billion views in 2012.
Lastly, Ethnoscapes: Have you ever watched a travel vlog on
YouTube? Or should we ask how many times have you viewed
travel videos on YouTube? Mora (n.d.) from U.N. Migration shared
that one characteristic of YouTubers is that most of them are
'migrants.' The vloggers or YouTubers not only manifest the
concept of ethnoscapes of being a tourist but also influence or
attract many people to travel and be migrants as well. 
YouTube is one of the thousands of the world's phenomena where
you can apply the critical concepts of Appadurai's global cultural
flows. Hence, if we want to have a better understanding of
Globalization we cannot skip studying and considering each
dimension and how it directly or indirectly affects the various
aspects of our life.