DOMINICAN COLLEGE OF TARLAC

Mac Arthur Highway, Poblacion (Sto.Cristo), Capas. 2315 Tarlac, Philippines

Tel.No. (045) 491-7579/Telefax (045) 925-0519
E-mail: domct _2315@yahoo.com

COLLEGE DEPARTMENT
A.Y. 2020-2021, First Semester

OBE FACULTY-DESIGNED MODULE

THE CONTEMPORARY WORLD

(GE 3)

Prepared by:
HAZEL P. JAOS, LPT
MODULE 1 The Task of Describing Globalization
GE 3 – THE CONTEMPORARY WORLD – MODULE 1 Page 2
MODULE 1: The Task of Describing Globalization

LEARNING OUTCOME

1. Identify and understand the working definitions of globalization for the course;
2. Differentiate the competing conceptions of globalization; and
3. Connect daily life experiences to the definition of globalization.

MOTIVATION PHASE

Activity 1 Globalization Map

Think of vocabulary words that can be connected to the given word. Write a
minimum of twenty (20) words but you are allowed to write as much as you can.

1.__________________ 11. _________________

2.__________________ 12. _________________

3.__________________ 13. _________________

4.__________________ 14. _________________

5.__________________ 15. _________________

GLOBALIZATION
GLOBALIZATIO N
6.__________________ 16. _________________

7.__________________ 17. _________________

8.__________________ 18. _________________

9.__________________ 19. _________________

10._________________ 20. _________________

PRESENTATION PHASE

INTRODUCTION

Much has changed since time immemorial. Human beings have encountered many
changes over the last century especially in their social relationships and social structures. Of
these changes, one can say that globalization is a very important change, if not, the “most
important” (Bauman, 2003). The reality and omnipresence of globalization makes us see
ourselves as part of what we refer to as the “global age” (Albrow, 1996). The internet, for
GE 3 – THE CONTEMPORARY WORLD – MODULE 1 Page 3
example, allows a person from the Philippines to know what is happening to the rest of the world
simply by browsing Google. The mass media also allows for connections among people,
communities, and countries all over the globe.

So what is globalization? This question is probably an easy one to answer. However,

many scholars gave and tried to formulate its definitions. This resulted in different sometimes
contradicting views about the concept. It cannot e contained within a specific time frame, all
people, and all situations (Al-Rhodan, 2006). Aside from this globalization encompasses a
multitude of processes that involves the economy, political systems, and culture. Social
structures, therefore are directly affected by globalization.

Over the years, globalization has gained many connotations pertaining to progress,
development, and integration. On the one hand, some view globalization as a positive
phenomenon. For instance, Swedish journalist Thomas Larsso (2001) saw globalization as the
“the process of world shrinkage, of distances getting shorter, things moving closer. It pertains to
the increasing ease with which somebody on the side of the world can interact, to mutual benefit
with somebody on the other side of the world”. On the other hand, some see it as occurring
through and with regression, colonialism, and destabilization. In the mid-1990s, Martin Khor, the
former president of the Third World Network (TWN) in Malaysia, once regarded globalization as
colonization.

In this module, different definitions of globalization will be discussed. The task of

conceptualizing it reveals a variety of perspectives. To understand further the concept, different
metaphors will be used. These metaphors will also allow an appreciation of earlier epochs before
globalization and the present globalized world. The following section will highlight the different
views scholars have toward globalization.

THE TASK OF DEFINING GLOBALIZATION

Since its first appearance in the Webster’s Dictionary in 1961, many opinions about
globalization have flourished. The literature on the definitions lf globalization revealed that
definitions could be classified either broad and inclusive or narrow and exclusive. The one
offered by Ohmae in 1992 stated “…. globalization means the onset of the borderless
world…” (p. 14). This is an example of a broad and inclusive type of definition. If one uses such,
GE 3 – THE CONTEMPORARY WORLD – MODULE 1 Page 4
it can include a variety of issues that deal with overcoming traditional boundaries. However, it
does not shed light on the implications of globalization due to its vagueness.

Narrow and exclusive definitions are better justified but can be limiting in the sense that
their application adhere to only particular definitions. Robert Cox’s definition suits best in this
type “the characteristics of the globalization trend include the internationalizing of
production, the new international division of labor, new migratory movements from South
to North, the new competitive environment that accelerates these processes, and the
internationalizing of the state… makes states into agencies of the globalizing world” (as
cited in RAWOO Netherlands Development Assistance Research Council, 2000, p. 14).

No matter how one classifies a definition of globalization, the concept is complex and
multifaceted as the definitions deal with either economic, political, or social dimensions. In fact,
in a comprehensive study of 114 definitions by the Geneva Center for Security Policy (GCSP) in
2006, 67 of them refer to economic dimension. These definitions include political and social
dimensions as well. The sheer number and complexity of definitions do not mean that there is a
remarkable improvement in every definition given by scholars. Kumar (2003) took on a different
argument and what it is are similar. This is in relation to what some academics have claimed
about globalization - it is a useless task.
GE 3 – THE CONTEMPORARY WORLD – MODULE 1 Page 5
 A more recent definition was given by Ritzer (2015), “globalization is a transplanetary
process or a set of processes involving increasingly liquidity and the growing
multidirectional flows of people, objects, places, and information as well as the structures
they encounter and create that are barriers to, or expedite those flows…” (p. 2). Generally,
this definition assumes that globalization could bring either or both integration and/or
fragmentation. Although things flow easily in a global world, hindrances or structural blocks are
also present. These blocks could slow down one’s activity in another country or could even limit
the places a person can visit.

If so, why are we going to spend time studying this concept? How can we appreciate
these definitions? How can these help us understand globalization?

The overview of definitions implies that globalization is many things to many different
people. In 1996, Arjun Appadurai said, “globalization is a ‘world of things’ that have ‘different
speeds, axes, points of origin and termination, and varied relationships to institutional structures
in different regions, nations, or societies’” (as cited in Chowdury, 2006, p. 37). In a more recent
study, Al-Rhodan (2006) wrote that definitions suggest the perspective of the author on the
origins and the geopolitical implications of globalization. It is a starting point that will determine
concrete steps in addressing the issues of globalization. For example, if one sees globalization
as positive, the person can say that it is unifying force. On the other hand, if it is deemed as
creating greater inequalities among nations, globalization is negatively treated.

One became part and parcel of the other. As Poppi (1997) wrote: “The literature stemming
from the debate on globalization has grown in the last decade beyond any individual’s capability
of extracting a workable definition of the concept. In a sense, the meaning of the concept is self-
evident, in another, it is vague and obscure as its reaches are wide and constantly shifting.
Perhaps, more than any other concept, globalization is the debate about it” (as cited in Kumar,
2003, p. 95).
GE 3 – THE CONTEMPORARY WORLD – MODULE 1 Page 6
 It is changing as human society develops. It has happened before and is still happening
today. We should expect it to continue to happen in the future. The future of globalization is more
difficult to predict. What we could expect in the coming years is what has happened over the
past 50 years and that is the fluidity and complexity of globalization as a concept, which made
more debates, discussions, and definitions than agreements on it.

Overall, globalization is a concept that is not easy to define because in reality,

globalization has a shifting nature. It is complex, multifaceted, and can be influenced by the
people who define it. Moreover, the issues and concerns involving globalization have a wide
range - from the individua society, from small communities to nations and states, and from the
benefits we can gain from it to the costs it could carry. In his article, “The Globalization of
Nothing,” Ritzer (2003) said, “attitudes toward globalization depend, among other things, on
whether one gains or losses from it” (p. 190). Nevertheless, the task of defining globalization
should stimulate more discussions about it. More importantly, the act that we experience
globalization should give one the interest of engaging in the study of it.

METAPHORS OF GLOBALIZATION

In order for us to better understand the concept of globalization, we will utilize metaphors.
Metaphors make use of one term to help us better understand another term. In our case, the
states of matter - solid - liquid - will be used. In additions, other related concepts that are included
in the definition such as structure and flows will be elaborated.