WEEK 2 (PRELIM)

Topic 1:

CHURCH RESPONSE TO THE CHALLENGES

OF GLOBALIZATION: IN THE SPIRIT OF SOLIDARITY

Overview: We see how our present-day society is being challenged by the different
social concerns that has been affecting and challenging us not only as an individual but
also as a community. Globalization is becoming contributory to both progress and retreat
to the lives of many people.
This topic deals on the different challenges brought about by the increasing
progress of globalization—social political, economic processes and transformations that
greatly affects the lives of the individual and of the whole world.

Objectives: By the end of this lesson, the students should be able to:
a. Understand significant concerns brought by globalization to one’s lives
and the church response to such social concerns.
b. Critically examine the phenomenon of globalization and its impact on
one’s life situation.
c. Appreciate/value the Church social principles on human dignity and
rights; workers’ rights and duties and propose an effective and
sustained response to the challenges of globalization in the light of
Adamsonian core value of solidarity.

Let us SEE:

Let us get started with a short activity to see and hear the perspectives of your
classmates concerning a particular issue guided by your instructor.
Motivation/synchronous exercise: Virtual informal debate:
Is “globalization” good or bad for our country -economically,
politically, culturally ect.)
Guide Questions:

1. What do you think is/are the both positive and negative effects of globalization
in ones’ life as a whole?
 2. Why do you think there is a need to be globalize?
3. How do you see the effect of globalization in your everyday life? Do you find
your everyday happy, exciting, boring, uninteresting, etc.? Why

Let us DISCERN: (1 hour/week Synchronous online discussion)

Let us altogether watch the video.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JJ0nFD19eT8

Understanding Globalization
Globalization as a new term began to use more commonly in the 1990’s when it
began appearing frequently in an academic literatures.

 Manfred B. Steger in hi book “An Introduction to Global Studies” defines

globalization as “multidimensional set of social processes that create,
multiply, stretch, and intensify worldwide social interdependencies and
exchanges while at the same time fostering in people a growing awareness
of deepening connections between the local and the distant”.
 Other scholars defined it as, “it refers to the increasing integration of
economies around the world—through the movement of goods, services,
and capital across borders”.
 Globalization therefore would mean a social process that includes the
multiple ongoing interdependent actions or operations—related to human
society, its members, organizational patterns and relationship.

It is from this idea where we started to raises many questions and concerns related
to daily life particularly the poor instead of giving solution to the growing social
concerns. Let us identify both some of the benefits and defeats brought by globalization
to the large segment of population.
Benefits vs. Defeats of Globalization
On the positive side, many argued that;
 Globalization as new development will give rise to the new industries and
more jobs to the developing countries. Evident benefits such are the
television sets, automobiles and computer sets that becoming less
expensive and more reliable technologies that have contributed to the
growth of many countries in terms of modernizations.
 In terms of educational system, many recognized and appreciated what
they call as the new class of people who well-educated, professionally
 well trained in a particular field of profession that help developed the
kind of global culture.
 The growth of what we call pop culture that tend to get most attention of
the people in all level—manifested through movies, music, television
shows, newspapers, satellite broadcasts, fast food and clothing, among
other entertainment and consumer goods.
 The possible opportunity and a way to enrich the world culturally through
promoting tolerance of diversity brought by global cultural exchange.

Nevertheless, many argued that this new phenomenon, might negatively force
the poor countries in the world to do or follow whatever the powerful countries tell
them to do. That resulted to the overwhelming negative social concerns.

 Globalization will give birth to intense competition on leading the people

to shell out extra money for a product available to a lower price that might
create conflicts on wanting to be on the top spot or leader of the economy,
and monopoly on who has the say in a particular product.
 With regard to the labor forces, the possibility of many from the
developing countries may lose their jobs and those who are working in
poorer country maybe paid less while working in poor conditions.
 Will lead to so much concern on the issue on rising of health risk, threats
and challenges—epidemic, HIV/AIDS and other viruses from other
countries.
 The possibility of losing the culture due to moving in and out of their origin
country individual may adopt the culture of the resident country may tend
to follow the trend of the foreign culture neglecting their own roots—may
result to cultural conflict or cultural identity crisis.
 It has also affect environment brought about by industrial revolution that
has change the economic outlook around the world.

In these sense, globalization continues to run around our midst, affecting our
daily life in many ways, perhaps without our conscious knowledge. It is happening
because human beings make it happen, deliberately or by chance. This means that
globalization is shaped by human choice and action, and it is up to human beings to use
globalization for the good or for bad things.

Globalization through its “human agencies” can be therefore, perceived, analyzed

and judged upon. As Christians, particularly for the Catholics one way to evaluate
globalization is through the Catholic Social Teaching.