WEEK 3

Learning Outcomes/Objectives:

a. Explain the theory of demographic transition as it affects global population.

Lesson 8: Origins and History of Globalization

Discussion

• This book generally adheres to the perspective that the major points of the beginnings of globalization started
after the Second World War.

Nevertheless, it would mean no harm to look at the five different perspectives regarding the origins of
globalization.

Hardwired

• According to Nayan Chanda (2007), it is because of our basic human need to make our lives better that made
globalization possible.

 The beginning of globalization from our ancestors in Africa who walked out from the said continent in
the late Ice Age. This long journey finally led them to all-known continent today, roughly after 50000
years.
 Chanda (2007) mentioned that commerce, religion, politics, and warfare are the “urges” of people
toward a better life. These are respectively connected to four aspects of globalization and they can be
traced all throughout histor ; trade, missionary work, adventures and conquest.

Cycles

 For some, globalization is a long-term cyclical process and thus finding its origin will be a daunting
task.
 What is important is the cycles that globalization has gone through (Scholte, 2005). Subscribing to this
view will suggest adherence to the idea that other global ages have appeared.
 There is also the notion to suspect that this point of globalization will soon disappear and reappear.

Epoch

 Ritzer (2005) cited Therborn’s (2000) six great epoch of globalization.

 These are also called “waves” and each has its own origin.

Today’s globalization is not unique if this is the case. The difference of this view from the second view
(cycles) is that it does not treat epoch as returning.

 The following are the sequential occurrence of the epochs:

1. Globalization of religion (fourth to seventh centuries)

2. European colonial conquests (late fifteenth century)

3. Intra-European wars (late eighteenth to early nineteenth centuries)

4. Heyday of European imperialism (mid-nineteenth century to 1918)

5. Post-World War period

6. Post-Cold War period

Events

 Gibbon (1998), argued that Roman conquest centuries before Christ were its origin.
 Christopher Columbus’s discovery of America in 1942, Vasco de Gama in Cape of Good Hope in
1522.
  The recent years could also be regarded as the beginnings of globalization with reference to specific
technological advances in transportation and communication. Example: 1st telephone cable (1956)

• Certainly, with this view, more and more specific events will characterize not just the origins of globalization
but also more of its history.

Broader, More Recent Changes

 Recent changes compromises the fifth view. It happened in the last half of the twentieth century.

 Three notable changes as the origin of globalization that we know today.

1. The emergence of the US as the global power (post-World War II)

2. The emergence of multinational corporations (MNCs)

3. The demise of the Soviet Union and the end of the Cold War

The emergence of the US as the global power (post-World War II).

 Through its dominant military and economic power after World War II, the US was able to outrun
Germany and Japan in terms of industry. Both axis powers and Allies fall behind economically as
compared to the global power. Because of this, the United States soon began to progress in different
aspects like in diplomacy, media, film ( as in Hollywood ), and many more.

The emergence of multinational corporations (MNCs)

 The US, Germany, and Great Britain had in their homeland great corporations which the world knows
today. However they did not remain there as far as their production and market are concerned.
 For example, Ford and General Motors originated in US but in 20 th century, they exported more
automobiles and opened factories to other countries.

The demise of the Soviet Union and the end of the Cold War

 The fall of Soviet Union in 1991 that led to opening of the major parts of the world for the first time
since the early twentieth century.
 Many Global processes –immigration, tourism, media, diplomacy, and MNCs – spread throughout the
planet. This paved way for the so-called “free” world. China, even though the government remains
communist, is on its way to becoming a major force in global capitalism (Fishman, 2006). China is also
globalizing in terms of other aspects such as their hosting of the Olympics in 2008.

Lesson 9: Global Demography

Discussion

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.