A.

I N T R O D U C T I O N TO GLOBALIZATION

CONCEPTS OF GLOBALIZATION
This introduces the learners to the
concepts and various definitions of globalization
as a process, condition, and ideology. It also
exposes the learners to the academic and non-
biased definition of globalization based on
political scientists, economists, and culture and
communication experts.

OBJECTIVES:

At the end of this module, the learners are expected to:

1. Define and explain the meaning of globalization;
2. Examine the various conceptions of globalization;
3. Distinguish the different definitions of globalization from experts; and
4. Adopt a working definition of globalization

DIAGNOSTICS:

Instructions: Write AGREE if you think the statement is correct; otherwise, DISAGREE.
_________ 1. Globalization is I and the world.
_________ 2. The world that we live in now is a product of globalization in the past.
_________ 3. Globalization gone too far, heading in the wrong direction.
_________ 4. The United Nations is a global government.
_________ 5. Globalization is another word for Americanization.

Tony is a college student. He drinks Pandesal Mate with his usual corned beef,
egg, and rice for breakfast every school day. While eating, he watches Fox
movie on cable TV to make his morning light. Afterwards, he rushes to brush his
teeth using Colgate. Then, he is ready to go. Upon entering the gate of the
university campus, he taps his school ID on the turnstile entrance. Likewise, he
sends his “Hi” message to his special friend using his new iPhoneX. More so,
Tony and his friends love to wear Nike shoes and use Vans schoolbags, with
their favorite Denim outfit during wash days. They love to hang out in their
favorite fast food store, Jollibee, and happily eat their favorite burger, chicken
joy and Coke float. Tony and his classmates use their mobile smartphones and
laptops to do their activities and assignments. He talks to his Dad who works in
Dubai via Skype on Monday, Wednesday and Saturday nights.

Everyone can observe the trend among many middle cases or elite students
nowadays, especially those who are in urban areas. This trend is a clear indication that
many people lives, like Filipinos, are affected by global economic imperialism. Economic
imperialism is simply, a situation in which one country has a lot of economic power or
influence over the others. This is the age of “Westernization” and/or “Americanization” of
contemporary Filipinos. The ideas and behavior that are characterized by Westernians and
North Americans are adopt by the Filipinos while reducing the traditional ideas and
behavior in their culture. That’s why at our present day and age there are McDonald’s

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 A. I N T R O D U C T I O N TO GLOBALIZATION

outlets all over the world and almost in every major Philippine city. At the same time
there are now Jollibee branches in some big cities around the world. There are so many
telenovela from Korea or from Mexico that proliferate in our television screens. Or maybe
you and your friends or relatives come to know kimchi, sushi, tacos, etc. And some Filipino
dishes like sisig or adobo become popular even in foreign countries. One thing is sure,
globalization is a phenomenon.

Since the early 19th century, globalization has been a “buzzword” throughout the
world, though the term itself has been popularized only through former Harvard Business
School Professor Theodore Levitt’s article entitled “The Globalization of Markets.”
(Levitt, 1983) Globalization refers to the existence of free exchange goods, services,
culture, and even people, between and among countries. Under the banner of globalization,
countries have discarded taxes on imported goods (tariffs) and opened their doors to
highly skilled workers and professionals. Through globalization people became more
interested to travel, learn new languages, and immerse themselves into new cultures and
lifestyles.

On the first decade of the 21 st century, some scholars argued that globalization is a
process. However, on the other it is a condition and for some, it is described as an
ideology.
Central to the study of the contemporary world is the concept of globalization. The
following are the underlying definitions of globalization:

 According to the Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy, globalization refers to

“fundamental changes in the spatial and temporal contours of social existence,
according to which the significance of space or territory undergoes shifts in the
face of a no less dramatic acceleration in the temporal structure of crucial forms
of human activity.” In simple terms, globalization is a societal phenomenon wherein
social barriers no longer exist and the only thing that separates people from each
other is time and not geographical restrictions. Human interactions will no longer be
confined by territorial means because people will coexist as inhabitants of a single
community with the aid of technology and other innovations in communication,
transportation, etc.
 Freeden (2003) theorizes that globalization denotes a range of processes nesting
under one rather difficult description. Partly, its conceptual difficulty to handle or
control arises from the fact that global flows occur in different physical and
mental dimensions.
 Arjun Appadurai (1996) proposes that different kinds of globalization occur on
multiple and intersecting dimensions of integration that he calls “scapes”. These
five scapes are;
o Ethnoscape- refers to the global movement of the people
o Mediascape- flow of culture
o Technoscape- refers to the circulation of mechanical goods and software
o Financescape- denotes the global circulation of money
o Ideoscape- the realm where political ideas move around
 For the Political Scientists, globalization refers to challenges to the nation-state,
strength of regional blocs, and development of global political standards.
 For the Economists, globalization occurs through increasing free trade, speed of
trade (milliseconds to trade shares), and the presence of global economic
organizations.

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 A. I N T R O D U C T I O N TO GLOBALIZATION

o Free Trade- is a policy followed by some international markets in which

countries’ governments do not restrict imports from, or exports to, other
countries.

o Global Economic Organizations

1. IMF - International Monetary Fund

2. WTO - World Trade Organization
3. World Bank
4. OECD - Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development
5. World Economic Forum
6. G20 - Group of 20 (Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, China,
France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Italy, Japan, Mexico,
Russia, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, South Korea, Turkey, UK,
US, European Union)
7. ILO - International Labour Organization
8. UNCTAD - United Nation Conference on Trade and Development
9. APEC - Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation
10. G7 - Group of 7 (Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, United
Kingdom, and the United States)
11. BRICS - Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa
12. ECOSOC - United Nations Economic and Social Council
13. G8 - Group of Eight (France, Germany, Italy, Japan, United
Kingdom, United States, Canada. Russia)
14. Bank for International Settlements
15. OPEC - Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries

o Regional Trade Blocs

The WTO permits the existence of
trade blocs, provided that they
result in lower protection against
outside countries than existed
before the creation of the trade
bloc.

1. EU - European Union
- a customs union, a single market and now with a single
currency
2. EFTA - European Free Trade Area
3. NAFTA - North American Free Trade Agreement
- between the USA, Canada and Mexico
4. Mercosur – a customs union between Brazil, Argentina, Uruguay,
Paraguay and Venezuela
6. AFTA - ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) Free
Trade Area
7. COMESA - Common Market of Eastern and Southern Africa
8. SAFTA - South Asian Free Trade Area
– created in 2006 with countries such as India and
Pakistan
9. Pacific Alliance – a regional trade agreement between Chile, Colombia,
Mexico and Peru
10. TPP - Trans- Pacific Partnership
– a proposed free trade agreement being negotiated
during 2013 between Australia, Brunei, Chile, Colombia,

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 A. I N T R O D U C T I O N TO GLOBALIZATION

Mexico and Peru, Singapore, the United States and

Vietnam

 For the scholar of culture and communication, globalization is the creation of global
village due to technological revolutions, communications technology as shrinking our
world, and cultural imperialism.
 Manfred Steger- “Globalization is the expansion and intensification of social
relations and consciousness across world-time and world- space.”
o Expansion- refers to “both the creation of new social networks and the
multiplication of existing connections that cut across traditional political,
economic, cultural and geographic boundaries.
o Intensification- refers to the expansion, stretching, and acceleration of
these networks.

However, globalization is different with globalism, which points our aspirations for
an end state of affairs, values are shared by all the people in the world, as well as their
environment, roles as citizens, consumers and producers that can answer common
problems. Not it is universalism, values that hugs all humanity. Meanwhile, Steger (20025)
uses the term globality to mean globalization as a condition.

Competing Conceptions of Globalization

There are manifold concepts, perspectives, and ideas about globalization. Many
scholars gave and tried to formulate the definition of globalization. This resulted in
different, sometimes contradicting, views about the concept.
•Manfred Steger remarks that since its earliest appearance in the 1960s, the term
‘globalization’ has been used in both popular and academic literature to describe a process,
a condition, a system, a force, and an age. (Steger, 2003)
•Thomas Larsson, a Swedish journalist saw globalization as positive phenomenon and
define it as “the process of world shrinkage, of distances getting shorter, things moving
closer. It pertains to the increasing ease with which somebody on one side of the world
can interact to mutual benefit with somebody the other side of the world. (Larsson, 2001).

Globalization may be defined and conceptualized from different lenses, but an

interdisciplinary definition is essential. Some scholars consider it as a process, a condition,
or an ideology. Experts from different fields of social sciences also define globalization
based on their expertise. But a working definition has to encompass all definitions of and
notions about globalization. Steger’s definition, for the purpose of this module, is the most
unbiased working definition.

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 A. I N T R O D U C T I O N TO GLOBALIZATION

Exercise 1: Globalization and I

Name: ______________________________ Date: ____________
Course and Section: ____________________ Score: ___________

Instructions: Find, read and attach an opinion-editorial (op-ed) article

discussing globalization. Extract the underlying concept of globalization
explained in the article.

___________________________________________________
Title and Author of the Chosen Article

1. Based on the article, is globalization a process, a condition, or an ideology?

Explain your choice.
___________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________

2. On whose perspective is the definition of globalization anchored (political

scientists, economists, or culture and communications experts) Give at least
three (3) reasons to support your choice.
___________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________

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 A. I N T R O D U C T I O N TO GLOBALIZATION

Exercise 1: Globalization and I

Name: ______________________________ Date: ____________
Course and Section: ____________________ Score: ___________

Instructions: Find, read and attach an opinion-editorial (op-ed) article

discussing globalization. Extract the underlying concept of globalization
explained in the article.

___________________________________________________
Title and Author of the Chosen Article

1. Based on the article, is globalization a process, a condition, or an ideology?

Explain your choice.
___________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________

2. On whose perspective is the definition of globalization anchored (political

scientists, economists, or culture and communications experts) Give at least
three (3) reasons to support your choice.
___________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________

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 A. I N T R O D U C T I O N TO GLOBALIZATION

Exercise 2: Personal Experience of Globalization

Name: ______________________________ Date: ____________
Course and Section: ____________________ Score: ___________

Instructions: Narrate your own experience of globalization. Is your

globalization experience a process, a condition or an ideology? Defend your
answer.

___________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________

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 A. I N T R O D U C T I O N TO GLOBALIZATION

Referenced article: Source: http://www.ijhssnet.com/journals/Vol._1_No._6;_June_2011/24.pdf

Assignment 1: Metacognitive Reading Report
International Journal of Humanities and Social Science Vol. 1 No. 6; June2011
Name: ______________________________ Date: ____________ p. 216
Course and Section: ____________________ Score: ___________
Globalization and Challenges; What are the globalization's contemporary issues?
Instructions: Read the attached
Farhad Nezhad Hajreferenced article andAuthor)
Ali Irani (Corresponding complete the
statements that follow. Public Management, PhD
Islamic
 Irani, F. & Noruzi, M.Azad University,
(2011). Bonab Branch,
Globalization Iran
and challenges: What are
globalization’sMohammad
contemporary issues?
Reza Noruzi International
EMBA, PhD Student Journal for
Humanities
Policy Makingand SocialSector
in Public Sciences,
IslamicIAzad
(6), 216-218.
University, Bonab Branch, Iran
Young Researchers Club Member, Islamic Azad University, Bonab Branch, Iran
1. The three (3) things that I significantly learned from the readings are ………..
Abstract
One of___________________________________________________________
the most important factors of developed countries is the indicator of the country's globalization
rate indicator. If a country has good indicator or high globalization indicator it is a positive point for that
___________________________________________________________
country. This paper aims to study some contemporary issue of globalization and its challenges.
___________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________
Introduction
Globalization typically refers to the process by which different economies and societies become more
___________________________________________________________
closely integrated, and concurrent with increasing worldwide globalization, there has been much
research into its consequences (Nilson, 2010, p.1191). Covering a wide range of distinct political,
2. The
economic, andthree (3)trends,
cultural thingsthe
that
termare still unclearhas
―globalization‖ to quickly
me arebecome
…………….. one of the most
fashionable buzzwords of contemporary political and academic
___________________________________________________________ debate. In popular discourse,
globalization often functions as little more than a synonym for one or more of the following
___________________________________________________________
phenomena: the pursuit of classical liberal (or ―free market‖) policies in the world economy
___________________________________________________________
(―economic liberalization‖), the growing dominance of western (or even American) forms of political,
economic, and cultural life (―westernization‖ or ―Americanization‖), the proliferation of new
___________________________________________________________
information technologies (the ―Internet Revolution‖), as well as the notion that humanity stands at the
___________________________________________________________
threshold of realizing one single unified community in which major sources of social conflict have
vanished (global integration‖; Globalization, 2010). Globalization is not a new phenomenon, with
global3.ecological
I used to changes,
think that an ever more integrated global economy, and other global trends, political
……………..
activity increasingly takes place at the global level (Globalization, 2005). It is old but not very about
more___________________________________________________________
than 20 years scholars from a variety of fields and coerces have been discussed in a vigorous
debate___________________________________________________________
about this social phenomenon: globalization (Belk, 1996; Castells, 1996; Featherstone, 1990,
1995;___________________________________________________________
Ger and Belk, 1996; Liebes and Katz, 1993; Robertson, 1992; Sklair, 2002; Waters, 1995;
Matei, 2006, p.1).
___________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________
Different streams and looks on globalization
There are two branches of interest in the area of globalization some are interested and some not i.e.
the proglobalization lobby argues that globalization brings about much increased opportunities for
almost4.everyone,
The three (3)
and questions
increased that I want
competition to ask
is a good about
thing sincethe readings
it makes areof……………..
agents production more
___________________________________________________________
efficient. But the other ones i.e. the anti-globalization group argues that certain groups of people who
are deprived in terms of resources are not currently capable of functioning within the increased
___________________________________________________________
competitive pressure that will be brought about by allowing their economies to be more connected to
___________________________________________________________
the rest of the world (investor word, 2005). The results have enlarged profits for investors but offered
___________________________________________________________
pittances to laborers, provoking a strong backlash from civil society. This page analyzes economic
globalization, and examines how it might be resisted or regulated in order to promote sustainable
___________________________________________________________
development (Global Policy.org, 2005).

Globalization in the contemporary

Industrial emergence of worldwide production markets and broader access to a range of foreign
products for consumers and companies has increased a lot during the globalization process (Politzer,
2008).

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© Centre for Promoting Ideas, USA www.ijhssnet.com

p. 217
There are different approaches and ideas surrounding the idea of ―globalization, which we can categorize it in
two broad areas:
(1) Some say that globalization is necessary and we should willingly and actively enter into this process, and (2)
Others take the quite opposite view, espousing the need for increased nationalism and consolidation of state
power. However, arguably the mainstream view of globalization, at least among the people who matter in the
countries that matter—the vast majority of economists, many political scientists, and political commentators—is
that globalization is a benign force leading us ultimately to the era of converging world incomes (as poor countries
like China open up to the world and see their incomes rise), converging institutions as democracy becomes a
universal norm, and cultural richness as people of different background interact more frequently (Milanovic, 2002:
Noruzi & Westover, 2010,p.112).

Few concepts have disused as rapidly as globalization. A look into the Social Science Citation Index shows zero
entries 1986, 10 entries 1990, and nearly 400 entries 1997. It grows daily in newspapers. But, in spite of all the
talk of globalization, pro and con, the notion is seldom defined, much less operational zed. It therefore often
serves ideologically as a disuse positive goal associated with degrees of freedom, mobility, integration, exchange
of learning and broadening of horizons; or, as an equally negative alien force, falling down like rain on poor
innocent locals, diminishing their autonomy and threatening their identity. Globalization has become a generic
term for a wide variety of processes involving a number of societal spheres: trade and investment, the geography
of branches and arms, the political geography of spatial competence in decision-making, cultural exchange and
hybridization, transportation and telecommunications. Indeed, it can be argued that since these processes are
plural, we should ``conceive of globalizations in the plural'' (Nederveen Pieterse, 1994, p. 161; Clurk & Lund,
2000, p. 468).

Globalization may be defined and realized in many ways. For example, one may speak of economic, social, and
cultural globalization (Bornman & Schoonraad, 2001) and therefore the plural (‗‗globalizations‘‘) is perhaps more
accurate (Braman & Statan, 2000). Teitel (2005) defines (economic) globalization as ‗‗. . . the phenomenon of
increased integration of the world economy as evidenced by the growth of international trade and factor mobility.‘‘

Globalization and culture

Technology has now created the possibility and even the likelihood of a global culture. The Internet, fax
machines, satellites, and cable TV are sweeping away cultural boundaries. Global entertainment companies
shape the perceptions and dreams of ordinary citizens, wherever they live. This spread of values, norms, and
culture tends to promote Western ideals of capitalism. Will local cultures inevitably fall victim to this global
"consumer" culture? Will English eradicate all other languages? Will consumer values overwhelm peoples' sense
of community and social solidarity? Or, on the contrary, will a common culture lead the way to greater shared
values and political unity? This section looks at these and other issues of culture and globalization (Global Policy,
2009).

Results and Conclusions

Over many centuries, human societies across the globe have established progressively closer contacts. Recently,
the pace of global integration has dramatically increased. Unprecedented changes in communications,
transportation, and computer technology have given the process new impetus and made the world more
interdependent than ever (Globalization, 2005). The global social justice movement, itself a product of
globalization, proposes an alternative path, more responsive to public needs (Global Policy Froum, 2011).
Advances in communication and transportation technology, combined with free-market ideology, have given
goods, services, and capital unprecedented mobility. Northern countries want to open world markets to their
goods and take advantage of abundant, cheap labor in the South, policies often supported by Southern elites.
They use international financial institutions and regional trade agreements to compel poor countries to "integrate"
by reducing tariffs, privatizing state enterprises, and relaxing environmental and labor standards (Global
Policy.org, 2005).

As a result, laws, economies, and social movements are forming at the international level. Many politicians,
academics, and journalists treat these trends as both inevitable and (on the whole) welcome. But for billions of the
world's people, business-driven globalization means uprooting old ways of life and threatening livelihoods and
cultures (Global Policy Forum, 2011). Civil society organizations act globally by forming alliances with
organizations in other countries, using global communications systems, and lobbying international organizations
and other actors directly, instead of working through their national governments (Globalization, 2005).

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International Journal of Humanities and Social Science Vol. 1 No. 6; June2011

p. 218

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International Consumer Marketing 8 (3–4), 23–37. Braman, S., & Statan, C. V. (2000). Globalization
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http://www.ijhssnet.com/journals/Vol._1_No._6;_June_2011/24.pdf

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