UNIT I.

INTRODUCTION TO GLOBALIZATION
Overview
This unit is designed to inform you about the increasing awareness of people's
interconnectedness and places around the globe, which was the result of economic and socio-
political integration among different countries, and advances in technology and other facets that
have allowed people to experience living in a borderless world. As such, this unit examines the
multifaceted phenomenon of globalization thru the lenses of various disciplines.

Learning Objectives
At the end of the unit, I am able to:
1. differentiate the competing conceptions of globalization;
2. identify the underlying philosophies of the varying definitions of globalization;
and
3. agree on a working definition of globalization for the course.
Setting Up
Name: _____________________________________________________ Date: ____________________
Course/Year/Section: ___________________________________
Directions: Make a concept map of your current knowledge about Globalization. Include all your
ideas and information that is relevant to the globalization. Write it in a separate sheet of paper.

Lesson Proper
Defining Globalization

According to Al-Rodhan (2006), Globalization is not a single concept that can be defined and
encompassed within a set time frame, nor is it a process that can be defined clearly with a
beginning and an end. It is because Globalization involves economic and political integration; global
policies; knowledge transmission, cultural stability; the reproduction, relations, and discourses of
power; it is a universal process, a concept, a revolution, and "an establishment of the worldwide
market free from sociopolitical control. The study says that some people believe that Globalization
brought progress, development, and stability. According to Larsson (2001), Globalization is the
process of world shrinkage, distances getting shorter, and 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 on the other side of the world. However, others believe that Globalization brought
regression, colonialism, and destabilization. These beliefs are actually supported by Martin Khor,
the president of the third world network in Malaysia, who stated that Globalization is a form of
colonization. Hence, Globalization can be defined as narrow and exclusive, or broad and inclusive. 

Defining Globalization as Broad and Inclusive

According to Ohmae (1992), Globalization means the onset of the borderless world. This
definition proposes that barriers are no longer considered a hindrance because there are so many
ways by which we can access information and goods from other countries as if we are living in one
place without any boarders. From the viewpoint of Ray Kiely and Phil Marfleet (1998),
Globalization is a situation wherein societies, cultures, politics, and economics have, in some sense,
come closer together. This claim supports the idea of Ohmae by which, as we live in this world, we
experience oneness in terms of culture, policies, and technology. Besides, Jan Aart Scholte (1999)
states that "Globalization refers to processes whereby social relations acquire relatively distance
less and borderless qualities so that human lives are increasingly played out in the world as a single
place." Likewise, Globalization can be viewed as the compression of time and space (Harvey, 1998).
These definitions are inclined with the view of Globalization as broad and inclusive. It can be seen
that there are common themes from these definitions, such as the elimination of borders among
different countries and that the definition is somehow vague and does not clearly define the
implication of Globalization in a particular area.

Defining Globalization as Narrow and Exclusive

According to Robert Cox (1999), Globalization is characterized by the internationalizing of
production, the new international division of labor, migration from south and north, and a
competitive environment, which increases processes such as manufacturing of goods and
commodities. This definition presents us an idea that specific activities are happening under
Globalization such as the acquisition of products of a particular country to other parts of the world,
the categorization of states when it comes to the division of labor as presented in the world system
theory, the migration of people to other wealthy nations, and the existence of a free market that
allows competition in an open economy. From the viewpoint of Bairoch & Kozul-Wright (1996),
Globalization is a process in which the production and financial structures of countries are
becoming interlinked by an increasing number of cross-border transactions to create an
international division of labor in which national wealth creation comes, increasingly, to depend on
economic agents in other countries. In this sense, countries from different parts of the world are
actively engaging in transactions with others about the products, labor, investment, and policies
that are beneficial to each state. On the other hand, Langhone (2001) explains that Globalization is
the latest stage in a long accumulation of technological advance, which has given human beings the
ability to conduct their affairs across the world without reference to nationality, government
authority, time of day or physical environment. All of these definitions provide a specific
description of Globalization by which it tackles particular areas of human activity. However, this
kind of meaning can be limiting in terms of application. Thus, defining Globalization through
exclusive and narrow can only be applied with a particular scope of activity.

METAPHORS OF GLOBALIZATION

1. Solid- it refers to the barriers that may prevent free movement and it can be natural or man-
made. It may also refer to people, things, information, and places “harden
“over time and therefore have limited mobility.
2. Liquidity- It refers to increasing ease of movement of people, things, information, and places
in the global age.
Characteristics:
I. Liquid is forever ready to change whatever shape it might take on momentarily and
it is in continuous flux. This scenario can be seen in global finance by which an
economy has never been stable at it changes from time to time
II. Liquid is difficult to stop once it is on the move such as the advances in technology.
 III. Liquid tends to melt whatever stands in its path such as the political and economic
barriers.
3. Flows- It refers to the movement of people, things, ideas, and culture across the globe due to
the advances in technology, economic and political integration, and establishment of global
policies that lessens and eliminates the existing borders.

ORIGINS AND HISTORY OF GLOBALIZATION

THE FIVE PERSPECTIVES ON THE ORIGIN OF GLOBALIZATION

1. Hardwired proposes that globalization originated from the basic motivation of human
beings to seek a better life (Chanda, 2007). History shows that our ancestors travel from
Africa to other places in search of food and security.
2. Cycles: it explains that there is no single point of origin in globalization but it is a long-term
cyclical process wherein the current global age today is only a modification of the global age
in the past. Thus, it should be noted that the global age today will be replaced by a new cycle
of globalization in the future.
3. Epochs: if cycles explain a continuous long-term cyclical process, the epochs explain that
there are waves of globalization that took place in the past and each of them has its own
origin. Epoch is different from the perspective of the cycle as it argues that the previous
epochs are not returning in the future. The following are the great epoch according to
Therborn (2000).
I. The fourth to the seventh centuries which witnessed the globalization of religions
(e.g. Christianity, Islam).
II. The late fifteenth-century highlighted by European colonial conquests.
III. The late eighteenth and early nineteenth centuries during which various Intra -
European wars led to globalization.
IV. The mid-nineteenth century to 1918; the heyday of European imperialism.
V. The post - World War II period. 6. The post - Cold War period.
4. Events: this perspective is different from cycles and epochs as it specifies the event that is
somehow responsible for the origin of globalization. Some are examples of the point of
origin from the perspective of Events:
I. The spread of Christianity after the fall of the Roman Empire.
II. The Other important Voyages such as the discovery of America by Christopher’s
Columbus in 1942, Vasco Da Gama rounding the Cape of Good Hope in 1498, and the
circumnavigation of the globe completed in 1522 by one of Ferdinand Magellan’ s
ships (Rosenthal, 2007)
III. European Colonialism
IV. The founding of the modern Internet-based on Arpanet (which was created in
1969).
5. Broader, more recent Changes: this perspective views that the origin of globalization has
taken place during the recent changes that happened in the 2 nd half of the 20th century.
Scholars have identified three significant changes that shape the course of humanity
towards globalization.
I. The emergence of the United States as the global power in the years following WW II
 II. The emergence of multinational corporations (MNCs).
III. The demise of the Soviet Union and the end of the Cold War

Criticism on the Existing Evidences of Globalization

GLOBALIZATION AS GLOBALONEY
1. Rejectionist: People who are against the utility of globalization as an incorrect analytical
concept.
2. Sceptics: it emphasizes the limited nature of the globalizing process and that the world
is not as integrated as it is.
3. Modifiers: It disputes the novelty of the process, implying that the label ‘globalization’
has often been applied in a historically imprecise manner

THEORIES OF GLOBALIZATION

1. World System Theory: this theory believes that capitalism has spread around the world for the
last five centuries from 1500 to the present. In world Capitalism, the key structure is the three
major division of labor of each country that has created hierarchy.
a. Core: powerful, wealthy, and industrialized countries that usually control and benefit
from the global market. Countries that are not as rich as the core countries usually
depend on these core countries. These countries own most of the world’s capital and
technology and have great control over world trade and economic agreements.
b. Peripheral: countries that are dependent on core countries for capital and have an
underdeveloped industry. They generally provide labor and materials to core countries.
c. Semi-Peripheral: Countries that share characteristics of both core and periphery
countries. However, they also exploit peripheral countries just as core exploits the
natural resources of peripheral countries.
2. World Polity Theory: It was developed as an analytical frame for interpreting global relations,
structures, and practices. Invoking an image of the world as a system of interrelated
interdependent units. It views the world system as a social system with a cultural framework
called world polity, which encompasses and influences the actors, such as nations, international
organizations, and individuals under it.
3. World Culture Theory: It is a label for a particular interpretation of globalization that focuses
on the way in which participants in the process become conscious of and give meaning to living
in the world as a single place.

Impact of Globalization

1. HOMOGEINITY- It means an increasing sameness as information and ideas flow across

boundaries.
a. Cultural Imperialism: it is the growing international influence of a particular culture
I. Cultural: the role played by the American culture or the Americanization, the
spread of Christianity
II. Economic: Spread of the market economy throughout the world
III. Political: Worldwide spread of models of the nation-state or the single model of
governance around the world. Often times, this is called as Mcworld.
 b. Media Imperialism: It is a subcategory under the broader umbrella of cultural
imperialism. From the traditional point of view, the western media and its technologies
dominate countries belonging to less developed nations.
c. Mcdonaldization: It is the process wherein the principle of one of the dominant fast-
food restaurants in the United States of America is employed and used in almost
different societies across the world. Its principle usually revolves around Efficiency,
Predictability, and technological advancement in production and marketing.
d. Globalization: It is the desires and ambitions of different entities such as organizations,
corporations, and other nations to influence others and impose their power throughout
the world. Their major goals include expanding their power and seeing that their
profits grow across different parts of the world.
2. HETEROGENEITY: It is associated with the creation of local inputs leading to a variety of
cultural hybrids. In other words, the predominance of locals would make a difference on a
global scale. Thus, local is associated with heterogeneity and the dominance of global is
related to homogenous.
a. Globalization: it is the integration of global and local cultural inputs to create a blend
resulting in a variety of cultural hybrids. It emphasizes diversity, hybridity, and
independence.

DYNAMICS OF GLOBAL AND LOCAL CULTURE

THREE PERSPECTIVES IN GLOBAL CULTURAL FLOW
1. Cultural Differentialism: It states that cultural differences are immutable and there is a
likelihood that other culture which is significantly different from one culture may clash if
they get to interact.
2. Cultural Hybridization: It refers to a politics of integration without the need to give up
cultural identity” (Pieterse, 2003, p. 56).
3. Cultural Convergence: it supports the idea of global cultural homogeneity. It is the process
of increasing sameness by adopting global culture, ideas, and practices.

The term "globalization" refers to the increasing interconnectedness and interdependence of peoples
and countries, the world's economies, and cultures as a result of cross-border commerce in products
and services, technology, and movements of investment, individuals, and data.

Defining Globalization as Broad and Inclusive

It is also a term used to describe the potential that arises as a result of the people or factors
supporting certain growth in a country. In summary, broad and inclusive globalization allows everyone
to engage in management in such a manner that a country's perspectives or goals are represented in its
policies. Globalization, in this sense, is simply another name for internationalization. Importantly,
economic activity serves as both the fuel and the furnace for cross-border cooperation. Where the
advantages of broad and inclusive globalization are equal opportunities for everyone, secure
opportunities for everyone, growth for countries, and the development of the nation.