1 UNITS 1-4

2 What is globalization?
3 • “Globalization” - certainly no word in recent memory has meant so many different
4 things to different people and has evoked as much emotion.

5 • Some see it as nirvana - a blessed state of universal peace and prosperity - while
6 others condemn it as a new kind of chaos.

7 • Globalization is the "inexorable integration of markets, nation-states and

8 technologies to a degree never witnessed before - in a way that is enabling
9 individuals, corporations and nation-states to reach round the world further,
10 faster, deeper and cheaper than ever before.“

11 • Globalization used to be widely celebrated as a new birth of freedom

12 Four main motives that drove people to leave the sanctuary of their
13 family and village
14 • Conquest - the desire to ensure security and extend political power,

15 • prosperity - the search for a better life,

16 • proselytizing - spreading the word of their God and converting others to their
17 faith,

18 • curiosity and wanderlust that seem basic to human nature.

19 The principal agents of globalization were soldiers (and sailors), traders, preachers and
20 adventurers. Thousands of years ago traders carried goods from one part of the globe
21 to another across oceans. Missionaries traversed deserts and mountains and sailed
22 the seas.

23 ECONOMIC GLOBALIZATION
24

25 • Gobalization becomes a more and more common feature of world economics,

26 powerful pro-globalization and anti-globalization lobbies have arisen.
27 • Globalization brings about much increased opportunities for almost everyone,
28 and increased competition is a good thing since it makes agents of production
29 more efficient.

30 • Globalization refers to the increasing integration of economies around the world,

31 particularly through the movement of goods, services, and capital across
32 borders.

33 • Globalization sometimes refers to the movement of people (labor) and

34 knowledge (technology) across international borders.

35 • The broad reach of globalization easily extends to daily choices of personal,

36 economic, and political life.

37 • Globalization can also create a framework for cooperation among nations on a

38 range of non-economic issues.

39 • A core element of globalization is the expansion of world trade through the

40 elimination or reduction of trade barriers, such as import tariffs.
41

42 INEQUALITY AND POVERTY

44 • Some argue that globalization is a classic situation when the rich get richer while the poor
45 get poorer.
46 • Today, the gap between rich and poor countries is expanding.

47 • The gap between the rich and poor within these countries is also expanding.

48 • Globalization is irreversible. Financial shocks are reminders that a breakdown in

49 globalization - meaning a slowdown in the global flows of goods, services,
50 capital, and people - can have extremely adverse consequences.

51 • Ensuring economic stability is critical as the poor suffer more than the rich during
52 times of economic crises.

53 • High rates of inflation typically hurt the poor disproportionately, as inflation

54 erodes their real incomes.

55 • The spread of technological advances and increased financial globalization have

56 contributed more to the recent rise in inequality by raising the demand for skilled
57 labor and increasing the returns to skills in both developed and developing
58 countries.
59

60 Gains from globalization

61
62 The gains from globalization are more broadly shared across the population.

63 • Globalization has helped to deliver extraordinary progress for people living in

64 developing nations.

65 • Globalization has contributed to a reduction in poverty as well as a reduction in

66 global income inequality.

67 • In "globalizing" countries in the developing world, income per person grew three-
68 and-a-half times faster than in "non-globalizing" countries during the 1990s.
69

70 ADVANTAGES OF GLOBALIZATION
71

72 • Firstly, globalization helps developing countries to absorb(შთანთქვა) the

73 foreign capitals, remedy the deficiency of the domestic construction fund.
74 (შიდა სამშენებლო ფონდის გამოსწორება)

75 • Secondly, The economic globalization helps developing countries to give

76 play to the comparative advantage,(შედარებითი უპირატესობა) launch
77 foreign trade freely. (დაიწყოს თავისუფალი საგარეო ვაჭრობა)

78 • Thirdly, the economic globalization has offered the opportunity for

79 adjustment(რეგულირება) and upgrading(განახლება) of developing
80 country's economic structure, thus narrow the technological
81 disparity(უთანასწორობა) with the developed country, additionally, it helps
82 to promote the system reform of developing countries.

84 DISADVANTAGES OF GLOBALIZATION

86 • First of all, some people say that economic globalization makes the wealth more
87 and more centralized to a few developed countries and interest groups, which
88 aggravated the disequilibrium of economic development between the developed
89 country and developing country.
90 • Globalization makes economic security of developing countries threatened to
91 developing nations.
92 • Global economics has strengthened the instability of developing country's
93 economy greatly.
95

96 UNIT 5
97 How can we define culture?
98

99 • Culture is that complex whole which includes knowledge, belief, art, law, morals,
100 custom, and any other capabilities and habits acquired by man as a member of
101 society.

102 • Culture is something that a person learns from his family and surroundings and is
103 not ingrained in him from birth.

104 • Culture is a complex tool which every individual has to learn to survive in a
105 society. It is the means through which people interact with others in the society.
106

107 Culture and Society

108

109 • Every society has a distinct culture that forms the backbone of the society.

110 • Culture does not remain stagnant, on the other, hand it is evolving constantly and
111 is in fact somewhat influenced by the other cultures and societies.

112 • Every society has a different culture, where people share a specific language,
113 traditions, behavior, perceptions and beliefs. Culture gives them an identity which
114 makes them unique and different from people of other cultures.

115 • When people of different cultures migrate and settle in another society the culture
116 of that society becomes the dominant culture and those of the immigrants from
117 the subculture of the community. Usually people who settle in other nations
118 imbibe the new culture while at the same time strive to preserve their own.
119 • Although society has a specific culture, there are certain elements of culture that
120 are universal.

121 The essential feature of culture

122

123 • The essential feature of culture that it is learned and transmitted from one
124 generation to the next, rests on the human capacity to think symbolically.

125 • Simply because culture is transmitted through symbols whose meanings remain
126 more or less constant doesn't mean that cultures are static and don't change. On
127 the contrary, cultures are never truly static.

128 What causes cultural change?

129

130 • Outside influences through a process known as cultural diffusion may stimulate
131 cultural change.

132 • An example of this is commercial or cross-cultural contacts like the Silk Road,
133 which brought silk to the West and Buddhism into China.

134 • Inventions and technological developments from within a society, such as the
135 steam engine or the automobile, can also have an impact on culture. "Car
136 culture," for example, is a term describing people's dependence on the
137 automobile.

138 Culture and Civilization

139

140 • Over time, a culture may evolve into what is termed a civilization.

141 • A civilization is generally understood as a more advanced form of organized life.

142 • Civilizations usually have more complex forms of social, political, military, and
143 religious life.

144 • There is no absolute threshold after which we can firmly state that a culture has
145 evolved into a civilization.

146 • Not all cultures necessarily become civilizations.

147 • The term “civilization” is often a loaded one used to contrast so-called civilized
148 societies with so-called primitive ones. While these adjectives (civilized, primitive)
149 may refer to the level of complexity of a society they do not define the quality of
150 life or the values of the societies.

151 CULTURE AND GLOBALIZATION

152 • Culture and globalization are two different concepts. Culture is a way of life adopted by a
153 certain group of people of a particular society at a specific time and place.
154 • Culture is a way of life adopted by a certain group of people of a particular
155 society at a specific time and place. While the second term, globalization, is an
156 economic interaction amongst more than two countries.

157 • Every society has its own culture and way of life. Culture is established by a
158 group of people who live together and adhere to some principles in their society.

159 • When a culture is introduced to the globalization people find it detrimental to their
160 way of life.

161 • In the national context culture is a way of life that includes religion, spirituality,
162 language, moral and social norms, family values, eating habits, and so on.

163 The influence of globalization on culture

164

165 • Globalization brings increased interaction and adaptation between cultures .

166 Societies and cultures also get enhanced through interaction, observation, and
167 mutual give and take.

168 • One of the advantages of globalization is that it brings a worldwide identity.

169 Everyone can represent their own culture and business independently. A country
170 can take part in business deals as well as get a platform to share their culture
171 with other countries.

172 • Globalization represents world-wide communication. It welcomes all countries of

173 the world, to increase interdependency and bridge the economic gap between
174 two countries.
175

176

177
178

179 UNIT 6
180 What is conflict?
181 • The dictionary defines "conflict" as "a struggle to resist or overcome; contest of
182 opposing forces or powers; battle; a state or condition of opposition; antagonism;
183 discord;

184 • Conflict is a serious disagreement or argument.

185 • Conflict is a clash of interest.

186 • The basis of conflict may vary but, it is always a part of society. 

187 • "Conflict" is a word that causes discomfort, anger, frustration, sadness, and pain.

188 • Unfortunately, conflict is an integral part of our life.

189

190 When do conflicts arise?

191 • Conflicts of all kinds most frequently arise when people feel threatened - regardless of
192 whether the threat is real.
193 • Conflicts arise when people are competing for the same resources (such as
194 territory, jobs and income, housing) when they aren't fairly distributed or when
195 there aren't enough to go round.

196 • Conflicts arise when people are unhappy with how they are governed.

197 • Conflicts arise when people's beliefs clash.

198 • Some leaders may aggravate religious and political differences as part of their
199 tactics for keeping or gaining power. Which leads to conflicts.In the same way
200 ethnic differences can cause conflict.

201 CONFLICT OF VALUES

202 • Every individual has a core set of personal values.

203 • Value is a belief, a mission, or a philosophy that is meaningful.

204 • If a conflict is primarily value-based - that is, if it revolves around differing
205 concepts of good and bad, right and wrong - it can be very difficult to craft an
206 effective persuasive argument.

207 • Values are deeply held beliefs - usually based on cultural traditions, long-held
208 family and religious teachings and long-lasting memories of personal
209 experiences.

210 Ethnic differences and conflict

211 Ethnic differences can cause conflict. Again, people's ethnicity gives them a sense of
212 identity and belonging, and it is threats to this sense which can cause violent
213 responses, just as individuals may lash out with angry words or gestures when they
214 feel threatened.

215 Indeed, conflicts of all kinds most frequently arise when people feel threatened -
216 regardless of whether the threat is real. It is harder to soothe and reassure people
217 when they are frightened or angry
218

219 UNIT 7
220 THE CONCEPT OF PROGRESS

221 Definition of Progress

222 Progress is a goal-relative concept. A goal may be accessible in the sense that it can
223 be reached in a finite number of steps in a finite time. A goal is utopian if it cannot be
224 reached or even approached. Progress can be defined in terms of “coming closer and
225 closer to the truth.”

226 Scientific progress

227 Scientific progress is what has helped out society gain the knowledge and insight to
228 live better lives through the advances in medical technology, the strategy of war, and
229 the exploration of space. With change comes progress and the hope that we can better
230 our lives. Even though progress is a good thing, we also feel that it can cause
231 problems too. We just need to realize that in order to produce new and better things we
232 might have to go through some rough times on the way.
234 The inclination to progress
235 The inclination to progress is one of the properties of humankind. It is acquired during
236 the evolution from animals to human beings. We can observe both tendencies by
237 reading the history of progress. The fields of agriculture and industry might provide a
238 spectacular example too. The early history of humanity is the history of struggling for
239 survival and the history of the birth of progress on the human genetic level. Using the
240 simplest weapon, like stick, to defeat more powerful beasts and survive was the
241 naissance of progress in technique, while gathering in groups for the same purpose
242 presents example of social progress. The human`s existence in the wild nature caused
243 its genetic inclination to progress.

244 Positive sides of progress

245 Over the years progress has improved the world. Cultural progress has made humans
246 better, and made this world a better place to live in, while, similarly, scientific progress
247 has been effective in eradicating diseases, providing better crops, improving
248 transportation, and much more. Literary progress has helped us better record history
249 and ideas. Progress in communication has brought this huge world together into a
250 “global village.”

251 Is progress always good?

252 • Is progress always good? Scientific progress brings us many conveniences and
253 advanced machines, such as computers, automobiles, and so on. Progress
254 seems to have made life simpler and more comfortable. But if we analyze it
255 carefully we will find that progress is not always good.

256 • Modern industry brings us many conveniences. But at the same time, some
257 problems emerge. Maybe someday the oceans will swallow some big cities
258 nearby them.

259 • Progress enhances the efficiency of industrial production, but it also brings us
260 another serious problem - pollution.
261

262
263 UNIT 8
264 What is democracy?

265 Term - Democracy

266 The word ‘democracy’ is a term that comes from Greek and it is made up with two other
267 words demos – people - and - kratein - to govern, to rule. “Democracy” can then be literally
268 translated by the following terms: Government of the People or Government of the
269 Majority. For me,Democracy is a form of government in which the people have
270 the authority to choose their governing legislators.

271 What does democracy rest upon?

272 Democracy rests upon the principles of majority rule and individual rights. Democracies
273 guard against all-powerful central governments and decentralize government to regional
274 and local levels, understanding that all levels of government must be as accessible and
275 responsive to the people.

276 Prime functions of democracy

277 Democracies understand that one of their prime functions is to protect such basic human
278 rights as freedom of speech and religion; the right to equal protection under law; and the
279 opportunity to organize and participate fully in the political, economic, and cultural life of
280 society.

281 Freedom and democracy

282 Freedom and democracy are often used interchangeably but the two are not synonymous.
283 Democracy contains a set of ideas and principles about freedom but it also consists of
284 practices and procedures that have been molded through a long, often tortuous history.
285 Democracy is the institutionalization of freedom.

286 Citizens in a democracy

287 Citizens in a democracy have not only rights but also the responsibility to participate in the
288 political system that, in turn, protects their rights and freedoms. Democratic societies are
289 committed to the values of tolerance, cooperation, and compromise.
290  Democracy - a set of rules for managing conflict
291 Democracy is in many ways nothing more than a set of rules for managing conflict. At the
292 same time this conflict must be managed within certain limits and result in compromises,
293 consensus, or other agreements that all sides accept as legitimate. If groups perceive
294 democracy as nothing more than a forum in which they can press their demands, the
295 society can shatter from within. If the government exerts excessive pressure to achieve
296 consensus, stifling the voices of the people, the society can be crushed from above.

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305

306 UNIT 9
307 DEMOCRACY AS A POLITICAL SYSTEM OF
308 COMPETITION FOR POWER

309 What is Democracy?

310 Democracy is a means for the people to choose their leaders and to hold their leaders
311 accountable for their policies and their conduct in office. The people decide who will
312 represent them in parliament, and who will head the government at the national and
313 local levels.  They do so by choosing between competing parties in regular, free and
314 fair elections.

315 Democracy and people

316 • In a democracy the people are sovereign - they are the highest form of political
317 authority;
318 • Power flows from the people to the leaders of government who hold power only
319 temporarily;
320 • The people are free to criticize their elected leaders and representatives, and to
321 observe how they conduct the business of government
322

323 Government in Democracy

324 • Government is based on the consent of the governed;
325 • Power flows from the people to the leaders of government who hold power only
326 temporarily;
327 • Laws and policies require majority support in parliament but the rights of minorities
328 are protected in various ways;
329 • Elected representatives at the national and local levels should listen to the people and
330 respond to their needs and suggestions;
331 • Elections in Democracy
332 • Elections have to occur at regular intervals as prescribed by law.  Those in power
333 cannot extend their terms in office without asking for the consent of the people again
334 in an election;
335 • For elections to be free and fair, they have to be administered by a neutral, fair, and
336 professional body that treats all political parties and candidates equally;
337 • All parties and candidates must have the right to campaign freely, to present their
338 proposals to the voters both directly and through the mass media;
339 • Voters must be able to vote in secret, free of intimidation and violence; 
340 • Independent observers must be able to observe the voting and the vote counting to
341 ensure that the process is free of corruption, intimidation, and fraud;
342 • There needs to be some impartial and independent tribunal to resolve any disputes
343 about the election results.

344 What is Democratic Elections?

345 Democratic elections are free when citizens have the right to choose from several
346 candidates or parties that can run for the election without any restriction. They must
347 also be free to decide whether they want to use their right to vote or to abstain from
348 doing so, if they prefer.

349 THE ROLE OF THE CITIZEN IN A DEMOCRACY

350 • The key role of citizens in a democracy is to participate in public life.
351 • Citizens have an obligation to become informed about public issues, to watch
352 carefully how their political leaders and representatives use their powers, and to
353 express their own opinions and interests. 
354 • Democracy requires a permanent participation of the citizens because contrary to
355 autocratic State forms that require the subordination of submitted people, it can be
356 strong only thanks to the strength of responsible citizens.

357 The factors contributing to political aversion

358 The factors that may contribute to political aversion:
359 1. First of all, the relationship between the voters and the elect can deteriorate when the
360 elect, for example, do not respect laws and conventions, and that as a result,
361 confidence disappears among voters.
362 2. Secondly, aversion for politics comes up when political education is insufficient
363 whereas political processes are becoming more complex.
364 3. Thirdly, people get the feeling that the diverse parties do not differ much from each
365 other because of lack of ideas, and so they are not motivated to go to vote.
366 4. Fourthly, the mass media have a tendency to talk about political events in a negative
367 way, rather than a positive manner.
368 5. Fifthly, rules and institutions complicate population participation.
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377
379 UNIT 10
380 FUNDAMENTAL FREEDOM AND FUNDAMENTAL
381 RIGHTS

382 The definition of freedom

383 • The definition of freedom differs depending on who you ask. Politically speaking
384 freedom seems to be defined as '”You are free to do what we tell you!”
385 • No society with laws and other constraints over our choices could ever be deemed as
386 “free”.
387 • If everything in the world is made up of molecules, atoms etc, and everything
388 physical complies to the laws of cause and effect, then we have no freedom
389 whatsoever, this is all just one big inescapable chain of causation.
390  

391 The principles of human rights in democracy

392 If democracy is to work, citizens must not only participate and exercise their
393 rights, They must also observe certain principles and rules of democratic conduct.
394 People must respect the law and reject violence.  Nothing ever justifies using violence
395 against your political opponents just because you disagree with them. Every citizen
396 must respect the rights of his or her fellow citizens, and their dignity as human
397 beings. Every group has the right to practice its culture and to have some control over
398 its own affairs but each group should accept that it is a part of a democratic state.
399 When you express your opinions you should also listen to the views of other people,
400 even people you disagree with.  Everyone has a right to be heard.

401 The development of human rights in democracy

402 • Everyone who is willing to participate peacefully and respect the rights of others
403 should have some say in the way the country is governed.
404 • Relationship of citizen and state is fundamental to democracy. More specifically, in
405 democracies, these fundamental or inalienable rights include freedom of speech and
406 expression, freedom of religion and conscience, freedom of assembly, and the right to
407 equal protection before the law. This is by no means an exhaustive list of the rights
408 that citizens enjoy in a democracy but it does constitute a set of the irreducible core
409 rights that any democratic government worthy of the name must uphold.
410 • The development and evolution of human rights are only possible when humans live
411 in a democracy, given the fact that it is only within this system that the population
412 itself can draw up the laws that will rule and publicly control the three powers: the
413 legislative power, the executive power and the judiciary power.

414 Citizen’s rights in a Democracy

415 • In a democracy, every has certain basic rights that the state cannot take away from
416 them. These rights are guaranteed under international law.
417 • You have the right to have your own beliefs and to say and write what you think; 
418 • No one can tell you what you must think, believe and say or not say;
419 • There is freedom of religion.  Everyone is free to choose their own religion and to
420 worship and practice their religion;
421 • Every individual has the right to enjoy their own culture along with other members
422 of their group, even if their group is a minority;
423 • You can choose between different sources of news and opinion to read in the
424 newspapers, to hear on the radio, and to watch on television;
425 • You have the right to associate with other people and to form and join organizations
426 of your own choice; 
427 • You are free to move about the country and, if you wish, to leave the country;
428 • You have the right to assemble freely and to protest government actions. 

429 FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION

430 • Many countries and organizations place limits on freedom of expression.
431 • Restricting voting rights, censoring speech and art and outlawing specific religious
432 and political groups are some of the tools governments have used to control public
433 opposition.
434 • Even societies that consider themselves free and democratic suppress opposing views.
435 • Feeling intimidated and forced to subscribe to traditional or mainstream beliefs is a
436 violation of your personal freedom. But sometimes authorities set rules and
437 boundaries for good reason. Understanding why the rules exist is more important
438 than automatically obeying them. 

439 FREEDOM OF SPEECH

440 • Freedom of speech means the freedom to communicate ideas without government
441 suppression or interference or punitive action.
442 • It protects the individual’s ability to think and to express his thoughts in material
443 form, whether spoken, written, filmed, staged, or otherwise depicted visually.
444 • It does not, however, guarantee him the material means to implement this right.
445 • It does not guarantee a writer that his book will be published—only that if someone
446 chooses to publish his book, the government cannot interfere.
447 • No private action qualifies as censorship: the refusal to listen to others or to give them
448 a platform to speak is an exercise of free speech - not its abrogation. Freedom of
449 speech protects all speech, however offensive or unpopular. It is the bulwark of
450 liberty. By leaving the realm of communication totally free, it gives men a chance to
451 fight to preserve individual rights and freedom - and a chance to reverse the course of
452 a country that has strayed from those ideals.
453