GEC 8: THE

CONTEMPORARY
WORLD

NAME: Jevrech Pearl S. Narido

INSTRUCTOR: Noel C. Alegre
2nd SEMESTER, A.Y. 2020-2021
 MIDTERM
GEC 8: THE CONTEMPORARY WORLD
 NARIDO, JEVRECH PEARL S. BA-HISTORY 2A

CONTEMPORARY WORLD MIDTERM

Chapter 5: GLOBAL POLITICAL STRUCTURES AND PROCESSES (SUMMARY)

The creation and operation of global political systems. Beginning with more
conventional frameworks such as the nation-state, the debate progresses to the formation of
regional and global political structures and processes. The modern nation-state can be traced
back to the Peace of Westphalia and its treaties, which gave rise to the belief that nation-states
are autonomous. Later developments culminated in the convergence of the cultural concept of
a country and the state structure, giving rise to the concept of the nation-state. The nation-
state faces several challenges as a result of globalization, resulting in a substantial loss of
influence over economic flows and transnational organizations. A controversy has erupted
about whether the “nation-state” is still alive. Although the position of nation-state has waned,
it remains an important political structure. However, in the global era, the "porosity," nation-
state or the rising global flows that move through it, should be a primary concern.

Benedict Anderson's notion of "imagined community" is critical in thinking about the

nation-state. When “print capitalism” developed, it came to be thought of as being consciously
built, socially and politically, by people who identify with the culture embodied by the nation-
state. This idea is built upon by looking at how the nation-state transcends its territorial borders
in the face of rapidly changing technology and growing immigration flows. In view of such
global flows, the focus is on the “reimagining” of the nation-state. In terms of the shifting
geopolitical situation, the world can be seen as progressing through three stages: bipolar
(during the Cold War), unipolar (US ascendancy), and finally to a tripolar future with the US, EU,
and China as the three centers of influence. The advent of broader global political systems such
as the League of Nations and the United Nations, as well as more unique organizations such as
UNCTAD, UNESCO, the G8, and the IAEA, is also discussed. Today, the idea of global governance
is becoming increasingly relevant. In solving numerous global issues, this has emerged as an
alternative, or at the very least a complement, to the inter-state system. Global governance
emerged in reaction to the weakening of the nation-state, as well as global conflicts that
nation-states were unable to control.

Democratic society is therefore very important in terms of politics. While it has ancient
roots, thinkers such as Hegel and Gramsci fleshed out the modern idea of civil society. Civil
society came to be seen as distinct from the state on the one hand, and the economy and
family on the other. However, there are current disputes on whether civil society is genuinely
distinct from the market, given the destructive impact that the latter can have on the former.
This is due, in part, to internal tensions within civil society, which is made up of a variety of
widely diverse organizations. Local civil society coexists with "national civil society" today. Non-
Governmental Organizations (NGOs) and International Non-Governmental Organizations
(INGOs) coexist (INGOs). A belief that global civil society could serve as a "replacement" for
nation-states. It is seen as already filling the gap left by the collapse of the nation-state in many
ways. While civil society has its strengths, it also faces challenges such as a narrow focus and
accusations of elitism and North-South power. INGOs can also have symbiotic relationships with
Intergovernmental Organizations (IGOs), which, although helpful in symbolic and material
terms, poses challenges for INGOs in terms of radicalism and autonomy.
 NARIDO, JEVRECH PEARL S. CONTEMPORARY WORLD AB HIST 2A
CHAPTER 3 SUMMARY MIDTERM

Globalization has become the de facto word for defining and thinking about processes
that impact, and systems that are common to, large swaths of the globe today. A number of
definitions that imperialism, colonialism that are linked to globalization, Westernization,
Easternization, and Americanization are all terms used to describe the process of growth. The
word imperialism derives from the Roman imperium, which meant supremacy and political
power over one or more neighboring countries. The term "empire" comes from the Latin word
"imperium," and it was used to describe political forms that mirrored Roman rule, especially the
ruler's great power and the vast difference between ruler and ruled.

Imperialism is a broad term that refers to a number of tactics used by one nation to gain
control of another country and then exert control over that country, including political,
economic, and military control, as well as possibly several other countries. It is a concept and
fact that emerged in the mid-to-late 1800s, and is thus embedded, at least since then, in the
concept of the nation-state and its dominance over other nation-states and less well-defined
geographic areas. While Imperialism in culture, Cultures force themselves on other cultures,
more or less consciously. Lastly, Media imperialism, especially in western media and
technology, has a stronghold on less developed countries and cultures. The term imperialism
came into widespread use in the late nineteenth century as a number of nations such as
Germany, Italy, Belgium, Great Britain, France, United States competed for control over
previously undeveloped geographic areas, especially in Africa. But before that, Spain, Portugal,
and the Netherlands had been other leading imperialist nations. While used mainly
descriptively at first, imperialism came to have a negative connotation beginning, perhaps, with
the Boer War (1899–1902).

According to David Harvey (2003), a "new imperialism" has emerged, with the United
States as its leading representative. This is what he refers to as "capitalist imperialism," which
he sees as a conflicting convergence of economics and politics. The new imperialism is the
uncomfortable mix of these two types under the broad heading of capitalist imperialism. In
addition, what is “new” here, at least in reference to the classic imperialism of say the British, is
that it is the US that is the paradigm for, and the leader in, the new imperialism.

Colonialism, Creation by the colonial power of an administration in the area that has
been colonized to run its internal affairs. Today, few, if any, colonies remain with the result that
we can now think in terms of postcolonialism wherein developments that take place in a former
colony after the colonizing power departs. Development is “project” primarily concerned with
the economic development of specific nation-states not regarded as sufficiently developed.
Thus, development was not simply an economic project, but it was also “a method of rule”.
There is also a whole body of work critical of the development project and development theory
known as dependency theory. Dependency theory is a development of the nation-states of the
South contributed to a decline in their independence and to an increase in their dependence on
the North. Dependency theory has tended to wane,11 but it has been replaced, and to some
degree incorporated, in a broader theory known as world system theory as it sees the world
divided mainly between the core and the periphery with the latter dependent on, and exploited
by, the core nation-states.

Many associate globalizations with Westernization, but Westernization is an economic,

political, and cultural influence of the West on the rest of the world. There are three big
critiques of Westernization, however. To begin with, globalization is much more complicated
than the one-way flow that Westernization means. Instead, it must be perceived as “a shared, if
unequal, infiltration operation, with the West infiltrating the rest and vice versa.” Second, while
Westernization means homogenization, in which the majority of the world takes on the
characteristics of the West, globalization encompasses both homogenization and
heterogeneity. Finally, Westernization "neglects certain cultural circuits that bypass the West –
those that serve primarily to link the periphery countries with one another."

The "Easternization of the West" will be addressed from the perspective of

globalization; however, it is important to note that, in Campbell's opinion, the Easternization of
the West has much more to do with factors intrinsic to the West than it does with flows from
the East. In that way, it differs from Westernization, which is more concerned with global flows
from Western regions. Easternization is the economic and cultural influences of the East on the
West.

Another mechanism that is similar to globalization but not equivalent or reducible is

Americanization. Since Americanization has been such a central part of globalization (at least
until recently), it continues to be significant, and it has been widely studied, examined,
critiqued, and commented on, we devote the most attention in this chapter to it.
“Americanization is the import by non-Americans of goods, images, technologies, activities, and
actions that are closely associated with America/Americans,” according to Richard Kuisel (2003:
96). Americanization Imports by non-Americans of that which is closely associated with
Americans. A nation-state may be Americanized without actually being influenced by the
United States of America.

Globalization is still going strong in the early twenty-first century, and it's only getting
bigger and more significant. Some of the other systems have all but vanished (colonialism,
development), while others seem to have reached the end of their useful lives and are in
decline (Westernization, Americanization). It could be argued that globalization has absorbed
imperialism, or at least the "current imperialism." Given China's emergence as a global power,
both Easternization and globalization are expected to accelerate dramatically in the coming
years. Globalization, in contrast to all other flows, is made up of multidirectional flows with no
single point of origin. Furthermore, although globalization is a decentralized mechanism, the
others are primarily concerned with nation-states. Globalization, on the whole, requires more
subtle influence and therefore does not evoke the same level of vehement resistance as some
of the other methods (imperialism, colonialism). Globalization is the most comprehensive of the
processes covered in this chapter. Many of the others are either surviving or being absorbed by
globalization. In certain cases, most of these processes may be assumed to be past their age.
NARIDO, JEVRECH PEARL S. AB History 2A
CONTEMPORARY WORLD ACT 2. MIDTERM
Chapter 4: NEOLIBERALISM (Roots, Principles, Criticism, and Neo-Marxian Alternatives)

Neoliberalism is contemporarily used to refer to market-oriented reform policies such as

"eliminating price controls, deregulating capital markets, lowering trade barriers" and reducing,
especially through privatization and austerity, state influence in the economy. Neoliberal theory
emerged in the 1930s as a combination of the liberal commitment to individual liberty and neo-
classical economics. Austrian School, under the leadership of Hayek and von Mises, launched a
staunch effort to counter state interventionism. Key mechanism in neoliberal economics was
the administering of a "shock doctrine," designed to invigorate the economy. The third stage
entails a transition of neoliberalism to neoconservatism, which has a strong commitment to
order and the need to impose it on the rest of the world. Fourth stage lies in the development
of an organic, left alliance involving workers, and racial, ethnic, and gender minorities all of
which are to resist neoliberal (and neoconservative) (and other) policies.

The structural adjustment approach has been severely criticized for leading to a growth
in inequality. It has also faced opposition from alter-globalization movements, such as alter-
globalization movements. The theory was referred to as the Washington Consensus, due to its
close association with the US and its close relationship with the IMF and the World Bank. It
emphasizes a commitment to deregulation of the markets. Furthermore, the theory advocates
"limited government," it favors state intervention to facilitate the business interests. Adoption
of neoliberal theory has produced severe financial crisis in various countries. Free markets
induce a natural collective reaction by society, writes Ong. Fukuyama locates the end of history
in neoliberalism, but recent developments have made this thesis less convincing. Ong
emphasizes that neoliberalism as an exception can be distinguished from exceptions to
neoliberalism.  An instance of the former would be special economic zones, wherein markets
have the maximum freedom, he says. Exceptions to neo-paralleled liberalism are double-edged,
Ong writes. While the state can use exceptions to protect citizens from volatility under
neoliberalism, they might also be used to worsen the effects of neoliberalism.

Sklair places emphasis on transnational practices that are able to cut across boundaries
through transnational corporations, the transnational capitalist class, and the culture-ideology
of capitalism. Hardt and Negri critique the neoliberal form of globalization in terms of
imperialism and empire. However, they accord positive potential to the process of
globalization, foreseeing a counter-Empire characterized by non-agential collective action.

NARIDO, JEVRECH PEARL S. BA - HISTORY 2A

CONREMPORARY WORLD MIDTERM EXAM
1. The current pandemic situation in the Philippines presents how we are connected to the
global nations. Explain our connectedness in terms of “global political structures and
processes” and “global economics” (50pts).

ANSWER:

In our current situation, our country is now facing the latest coronavirus epidemic as our
common enemy. In a global struggle, hundreds of thousands of people have died, millions have
been infected, and the world economy has been turned upside down. This has serious
implications for all of us who are far away, and the consequences will be felt for a long time. As
far as we know countries around the world are also affected with this disease. Furthermore,
every nation is doing their best to cure the said disease and gratefully extending a hand to help
each other to survive. Afterall, vaccines were invented and distributed around the globe
including here in Philippines.
In terms of “Global Political Structures and Processes”, Philippines is connected to the
global nation through “Global Governance” or world governance which is a movement towards
political cooperation among transnational actors, aimed at negotiating responses to problems
that affect more than one state or region. Related to the current issue around the globe,
Philippines is also one of the nation’s negotiating for problem response along with other nation.
In fact, vaccine was the main solution among the nations problem and Philippines already have
the first dose of vaccine for frontlines in the towns that severely affected by the virus
(especially in NCR). Our country has been cooperative outside the boarder since the outburst of
CoVid19. The government prioritize safety equipment for our frontliners by importing Personal
Protective Equipment (PPE) imported outside the country with the aid of the nation where the
PPEs came itself (one of those is China). Of course, our government wouldn’t be able to
successfully negotiate globally without the Civil Society. According to Ritzer in his book
“GLOBALIZATION THE ESSENTIALS” Civil society is defined (we will soon offer a definition of
global civil society) as: “the process through which individuals negotiate, argue, struggle
against, or agree with each other and with the centers of political and economic authority.” It is
a realm in which people can engage each other more or less directly and in which they can,
among other things, analyze and criticize their political and economic institutions.
Here in our country, local knowledge and adaptability of civil society organizations are
proving valuable during the ongoing pandemic. Bottom-up transparency driven by civil society
(like every anti-corruption strategy) is not a panacea. As all action, the context, capability,
motivation of actors (including civil society) etc. are crucial to remember. However, civil society
has been effective in performing key roles, from monitoring to educating people about their
rights and rights and to improving the delivery of services and the results of progress. In order
to ensure that funds allocated for pandemic responses reach their destination, the upside-
down transparency approaches in the current pandemic are crucial. This is what civil society
helps our government in times like this.

FINALS
GEC 8: THE CONTEMPORARY WORLD
NARIDO, JEVRECH PEARL S. BA HISTORY 2A

CONTEMPORARY WORLD (GLOBAL DEMOGRAPHY) MAY 3, 2021

Study Questions:
1. Is the heightened flow of people a unique feature of the current global era?
2. Analyze the concept of an “illegal migrant.” How does a migrant become “illegal”? Trace the
repercussions of such labeling.
3. Has globalization facilitated or obstructed greater labor migration?
4. Examine the concept of “diaspora as a transnational process,” in the context of global
technological flows.
5. Looking into the Philippine context, why is feminism, and women's reproductive rights a
demographic issue?
ANSWER:
1.) Yes, the heightened flow of people is a unique feature of the current global era because our
current society makes the movement of everything, even the people, easily. As we can see the
numbers of migrant and overseas worker are continuously increasing, we decide to go to other
nation/country just to earn money. Global factors which facilitate easy access to information
about the country of destination also exert a significant influence (Ritzer, 2011).
2.) Immigration means the international movement of persons to a destination country that is
not native or not a citizen to live as permanent residents and naturalized citizens. According to
Bloom (2018) a migrant become illegal when a person may cross a border against the rules of
the country they’re entering. Someone may have been living in a country according to its rules
until their visa expired, was cancelled, or they could no longer meet its conditions. A person’s
status might also change without them knowing – sometimes people are even identified as
“illegal immigrants” in their home country. If one is being labeled as illegal immigrant, he/she
may experience lack of access to services, Slavery, Kidnapping and ransoms, Prostitution,
Exploitation of labor, Injury and illness due to working in dangerous industries that soon to lead
them to death.
3.) Geneva (2006) explained that yet globalization has had important implications for
international labor migration, acting as a 'push' and 'pull' factor. It has facilitated linkages of
international labor markets through vast improvements in information and communications
technology. But at the same time, the need for migration would be reduced if increased trade
were created in source countries. Since Globalization continues to develop, ICT-enabled virtual
mobility also facilitated outsourcing and increased employment in source regions. In
conclusion, Globalization had facilitated labor migration internationally since it serves as a
factor of connection and mobility of labor market worldwide but globalization also became an
obstruction in huge labor migration since technology is improving and different machines are
invented to make work easier so that it is no need for man power. Also, it is now necessary to
have more labor worker in a nation because jobs are offering are also increasing in a well
manage country.
4.) The term diaspora means a scattered population whose origin lies in a separate geographic
locale. It increasingly being used to describe migrant’s community as describe by Paul Gilroy’s
concept according to Ritzer (2011) the diaspora as a transnational process, which involves
dialogue with both imagined and real locales. Diasporization and globalization are closely inter-
connected and the expansion of the latter will lead to an increase in the former. Today there
exist virtual diasporas which utilize technology such as the Internet to maintain the community
network.
5.) The rise of feminism in the Philippines with its commitment to greater gender equality and
female empowerment, presents as a challenge since it has limited appeal to those who control
key resources for demographic research. Integration of a gender structure approach addressing
gender inequalities explicitly at the macro and micro levels of control, autonomy, and well-
being and the expansion of data collection that would allow such studies. Because of this
Presser (1997) argued that by making gender central to the field, demography will become a
more relevant science for understanding social inequality and population change.

References:

https://theconversation.com/what-makes-someone-an-illegal-immigrant-108961

https://www.un.org/en/ecosoc/meetings/2006/docs/RT%203-%20Globalization%20and%20Labour
%20Migration.pdf

https://books.google.com.ph/books?
id=fYE4O_2hiOMC&pg=PA200&lpg=PA200&dq=Examine+the+concept+of+
%E2%80%9Cdiaspora+as+a+transnational+process,
%E2%80%9D+in+the+context+of+global+technological+flows.&source=bl&ots=h-
xrkFCAOn&sig=ACfU3U3L3pJVHLtPl1K_uf-
I8VDVRAjZ0g&hl=en&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwjYhIHD2a_wAhXaP3AKHZ7OAhsQ6AEwAHoECAEQAw#v=one
page&q=Examine%20the%20concept%20of%20%E2%80%9Cdiaspora%20as%20a%20transnational
%20process%2C%E2%80%9D%20in%20the%20context%20of%20global%20technological
%20flows.&f=false

https://www.jstor.org/stable/2137547?seq=1

NARIDO, JEVRECH PEARL S. AB HISTORY 2A

CONTEMPORARY WORLD (FINALS) MAY 12, 2021

1. Outline as many connections as possible among the world’s leading environmental

problems.
4. Do you think that the world may someday “collapse” because of accelerating
environmental
problems? Why? Why not?
Answer:

1. The Biggest Environmental Problems

The impact that human activities have on the environment around us is undeniable and
more studies are being conducted each year to show the extent of the issue. Climate
change and the many factors that contribute to emissions could lead to catastrophic issues
in the future.
I. Climate Change
A. Polar Ice Caps
B. The Nitrogen Cycle
C. Ocean Acidification
D. Ozone Layer Depletion
E. Acid Rain
II. Transportation
A. Air Pollution
III. Population Growth
A. Declining of Natural Resource Use
B. Lowered Biodiversity
C. Overfishing
D. Urban Sprawl
E. Deforestation
IV. Waste disposal
A. Water Pollution
B. Waste Production

4. Yes, I think the world may someday “collapse” especially now that natural catastrophe, war,
pestilence, famine, and depopulation is happening. Overpopulation, overconsumption by the
rich and poor choices of technologies are major drivers; dramatic cultural change provides the
main hope of averting calamity also growing. But it can be prevented since the technology is
advancing, the development and adoption of new technologies or production models that are
less resource-intensive and/or less polluting could reduce the risk of ecological collapse, as
would a shift towards more sustainable lifestyles, more specifically changing consumption
patterns, possibly accompanied by behavior change.
NARIDO, JEVRECH PEARL S. FINAL EXAM AB HISTORY 2A
May 27, 2021

GE 8: The Contemporary World

1. The recent calamities that visited our country, Rolly and Ulysses, left
devastating effect in terms of life and damaged properties. They are considered
to be related to Climate Change. In reference to the reading materials in class,
discuss the reason why these calamities are related to human activities (50pts.)

Answer:

Climate change is being caused by greenhouse gas emissions, which are leading to
stronger typhoons due to higher sea surface temperatures and higher subsurface sea
temperatures, which eliminate the natural buffer on typhoon strength caused by cold water
upwelling. Both Rolly and Ulysses left havoc in their wakes, affecting millions of people
throughout eight areas, with hundreds of thousands still homeless. The death toll from Ulysses
has risen to well over 70, with significant property and infrastructure damage.
In addition, carbon dioxide is the single most significant greenhouse gas produced by
humans, and its impacts range from short-term concerns such as floods, droughts, and crop
failures to more serious long-term repercussions such as rising sea levels, rising global
temperatures, changes in precipitation patterns, and the extinction of critical animal species.
The necessity of “multilateral environmental actions” is emphasized by James Porterba.
Porterba emphasizes that no single country can stabilize greenhouse gases (GHG) on its own.
Furthermore, international rivalry can complicate environmental policy by allowing for a "race
to the bottom." Companies may be affected if one country enacts rules to limit emissions. If one
country enacts measures to minimize emissions, corporations may relocate their operations to
countries with less stringent emission requirements. Multilateral coalitions are difficult to form,
but they can be aided by affluent nations giving transfers to persuade other countries to join an
environmental treaty. However, these initiatives encourage free riding on the part of poor
countries, which would have joined regardless.
Transnational flows of people, financial resources, goods, information, and culture have
recently increased dramatically, significantly changing the world (Ritzer and Malone, 2001). In
conclusion, greater extreme weather has the potential to stifle economic growth by causing
damage to the capital stock and labor supply, and labor productivity will suffer as the global
economy adjusts to higher temperatures. Inflation will rise as the cost of food, energy, and
insurance rises.