CONTEMPORARY WORLD EXAMINATION

1. Differentiate material culture vs non-material culture. Provide 3 examples for

each.
Material culture pertains to the physical aspects of a culture made by
members of society, such as ornaments, buildings, and momentums.
Nonmaterial culture, on the other hand, refers to the nonphysical ideas or
concepts around a particular culture, such as beliefs, values, and rules.

2. How are voluntary migrants categorized according to the McKinsey Global

Institute? Refer to the material provided on Migration and Development. In your
own words, provide a brief description for each category.

3. Give 3 examples of cultural universals.

Cultural universal refers to traits and elements present or found in every
culture worldwide. Some examples of cultural universal include language,
institutional law, and beliefs.
Language. People living in the same location have to speak the same
tongue to understand each other and be able to live together.
Institutional law. Every country or society needs to establish a set of rules
and regulations to keep people together and uphold peace and order.
Beliefs. Most elements found in society derives from the beliefs of the
general population, such as institutional law and rituals. For the most part,
beliefs drive and shape the cultural structure of society.

4. How does culture shock occur? Provide an example.

Culture shock describes a feeling of disorientation when an individual
enters an unfamiliar culture. For example, a person who grow up in a
conservative environment may feel disoriented upon entering or encountering a
liberal culture.

5. How do positive globalists differ from pessimistic globalists?

Both views see globalization as something real, but each of them has its
own tenets or arguments that clash with one another. Positive globalists,
consisting of neoliberals, view globalization as something beneficial to people
and states. In contrast, pessimistic globalists, consisting of neo-Marxists, view
globalization as a negative phenomenon. They contend that globalization
undermines national identity and sovereignty while also harming marginalized
 countries because wealthy and advanced countries reap most of the benefits of
globalization.

6. Explain one dimension of globalization and give a local example.

One of the seven dimensions of globalization includes movement.
Globalization has ignited increased movements of goods, services, people, and
information as a result of technological advancement. However, the speed of
movement varies per region and country, depending on the extent of its
technological advancement. For example, urbanized regions like Metro Manila
has higher digital infrastructure than rural ones like Bataan. Hence, residents of
Metro Manila may receive and acquire information faster than those living in
Bataan.

7. What was the Philippines’ role in the Galleon Trade? Elaborate.

During the heyday of the galeon trade, Manila became the forefront of
trade in the East and rose to prominence as one of the great ports in the world.

8. What are the three neoliberal policies discussed during class?

The three neoliberal policies consist of privatization, liberalization, and
deregulation. Privatization refers to the transition of properties from public to
private ownership. Liberalization pertains to the reduction of government
control on international trade and capital, whereas deregulation entails the
removal or reduction of state restrictions on both local and international
enterprise. 

9. Who are the food system actors? Provide an example for each.
Food system actors include food producers (e.g., fishermen and farmers),
marketers (e.g., retailers), consumers (e.g., customers), and activists (e.g., food
scientists and researchers).

10. Differentiate perceived obsolescence from planned obsolescence.

The term "planned obsolescence" refers to the deliberate action of
designing products to fail or lose their value at some point, forcing customers to
purchase new ones. Meanwhile, "perceived obsolescence" refers to the use of
advertising and social media to persuade consumers to discard a useful product
in favor of purchasing a new one.