CW Module 1

Republic of the Philippines
President Ramon Magsaysay State University

The Contemporary World (GEC 3)
INTRODUCTION TO THE CONTEMPORARY WORLD

(PEACE EDUCATION)/GEC3
In today’s constantly changing world, societies are becoming increasingly interdependent

and have more social, economic, political and cultural relationships. Similarly, the problems and
issues that characterize the contemporary world are interconnected and multidimensional. As a
result, the various actors-states, organizations, and citizens-are called upon to work together to
find global solutions.
To study these problems and issues, one must see them from both geographic and
historical perspectives, and consider the economic and political dimensions.
The Contemporary World program is part of the Social Sciences. It deals with problems
and issues related to the environment, population, wealth, power and tensions and conflicts.
Thus, adult learners become aware of the consequences of human actions on societies, develop
critical judgement and define their understanding of the world. As responsible citizens, adult
learn to take part in society and make up their minds regarding social debates.
The aim of the Contemporary World program is to help adult learners become interested
in contemporary world problems and issues that all societies face, develop competences and
construct knowledge
By studying these problems and issues, adults learn to understand the nature of the
relationships that form between societies and the way in which these relationships shape the
organization of the world today. They become aware of the different viewpoints regarding some
of the world’s great concerns. They compare their own point of view with that of others, thus
increasing their critical judgement. They become aware of the role they must play in society and
of their responsibilities as citizens.
The subjects involved in the study of the Contemporary World program-geography,

history, economics and political science-help adult learners approach contemporary world
problems and issues from a geographic and historical perspective while taking into accounts their
economic and political dimensions.
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FERDIE ORDONEZ BATARA | PRMSU – IBA CAMPUS
THE CONTEMPORARY WORLD (PEACE EDUCATION) / GEC 3
TOPIC I – THE CONTEMPORARY WORLD
Learning Objectives
After studying this topic, the student will be able to:
1. Define clearly the term contemporary, contemporary world, and contemporary history.
2. Tell the difference between contemporary and the world.
3. Enumerate the continents of the world.
4. Differentiate the theories how the world began.
5. Express ideas effectively in problems around the world.
6. Examine carefully the causes of unemployment and the countries with the highest
unemployment rate.
7. Enumerate the main causes of war.
More than any other time in history, the future of humankind is being shaped by issues
that are beyond any one nation’s ability to solve. We call this concept globalization. Climate
change, avian flu, financial stability, terrorism, waves of migrants and refugees, water scarcities,
disappearing fisheries, stark and seemingly intractable poverty – all of these examples of global
issues whose solution requires cooperation among nations. Each issue seems at first to be little
connected to the next; the problems appear to come in all shapes and from all directions. Global
problems are not just important problems, or problems that affect many people. Rather they are
those problems that affect the whole of the planet and potentially all of the people who live on it.
Climate change is one clear example that springs to mind quickly. This is because the
consequences of humanly-generated changes in the atmosphere well, albeit in different ways
according to region, affect everyone on the planet. In other words, the consequences are
universal. Moreover, unless we profoundly change our collective behavior, climate change may
well result in irreversible changes in the climatic conditions of life – a measure of the deep
vulnerability of human society in the face of this issue. And it is easy to see that there will be no
easy solution to the problem: the causes of the present situation are clearly related to our
economic system, our attitudes to nature, our political organization, our technological capacities
and preferences, and our uses of resources. Solutions will involve not just all communities and
every country, but solutions will necessarily involve cooperation between all, rather than
individual approaches. In other words, the example of climate change suggests that global
problems are complex, intractable, and make human society as a whole very vulnerable.
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Contemporary – is the existing at the same time or of the present time period. An example of
contemporary is furniture in the modern style.
Contemporary World – the circumstances and ideas of the present age.

(modern times, modern world, present times)
Contemporary History (historiography) – is a subset of modern history which describes the

historical period from approximately 1945 to the present. The term “contemporary history” has
been in use at least since the early 19th century.”
7 continents of the world

• Asia
• Africa
• North America
• South America
• Antarctica
• Australia/Oceania
• Europe
Different theories how the world began

• Nebular theory
• Planetesimal theory
• The creation theory
• Big Bang Theory
Problems in the world • Lack of economic opportunity and employment (12.1%)
Unemployment – and the lack

of necessary skills of
employment, particularly
among youth under age 25.
The economist estimates that
there may be as many as 290
million 15 to 24 years old not
participating in the labor
market. These 290 million
bright minds – a group almost
as large as the U.S.
population – could be making our
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communities stronger and bringing fresh solutions to the world’s biggest challenges. By
failing
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to invest the time, energy and resources needed to help these young people succeed, we’re
jeopardizing the future of the global economy.
This crisis has many roots. In some countries, the reasons are cultural – for instance, girls not
receiving the same schooling or job opportunities. In others, they tied to poor economic
conditions or geopolitical issues like the refugee crisis.
Causes of unemployment
1. Performance issues
2. Economic conditions
3. Mismatch between available workers and positions to be filled
4. Lack of experience
5. Voluntary unemployment
Countries with the highest unemployment rate

1. Zimbabwe (95%)
2. Liberia (85%)
3. Syria (50%)
4. Senegal (48%)
5. Haiti (40.6%)
6. Kenya (40%)
7. Republic of the Congo (36%)
8. Marshall Islands (30%)
9. Afghanistan (35%)
10. Kosovo (34.8%)
• Safety/security/wellbeing (14.1%)
The safety and security of volunteers is becoming an increasing concern

for NGOs, and rightly so. But far too often it takes a tragic incident before an
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•
organization realizes the S&S management system aren’t sufficient. We

send volunteers into often-volatile areas, and we have both legal and ethical duties to do
everything we can to ensure their safety and security. This is not only an end itself. If volunteers
cannot
safely do their work, they cannot do their work effectively. Strong safety and security
management is therefore not only aimed at the well-being of staff and volunteers, but has a
direct impact on the communities with whom we work.
Lack of Education (15.9%)
“it ranks the world’s poorest

countries according to their
education systems. Somalia
has the least functional
system in the world with just
10% of children going to
primary school, while Eritrea
is second worst. Haiti,
Comoros and Ethiopia fare
almost as badly.”
“Lack of education is root cause of poverty. A sad misconception pervades our city: that
Rochester’s urban students cannot be educated until we have solved the problem
of poverty. This is a convenient narrative because it lets everyone off the hook for poor
educational results.”
Education Basic Human Right
1. Everyone has the right to education. Education shall be free, at least in the elementary and
fundamental stages.
2. education shall be directed to the full development of the human personality and to the
strengthening of respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms.”
• Food and water security (18.2%)
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•
Water is key to food security.

Crops and livestock need
water to grow. Agriculture
requires large quantities of
water for irrigation and of
good quality for various
production processes.
“Food and water insecurity are among the most formidable challenges facing the world. The
potential for food or water crises to manifest between now and 2050 is high. If such events
were to occur,
they would lead to rising poverty levels, slowing growth and development, and widespread
instability and conflict.”
Government accountability and transparency/corruption (22.7%)
Accountability comes in two

dimensions: that of
government workers to
elected officials; and that of
the latter to the citizens who
elect them.
1. Government workers to local officials

2. Elected leaders to the
citizenry
Transparency, as used in science, engineering, business, the
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•
humanities and in other social

contexts, is operating in such a way that it is easy for others to see what actions are
performed. Transparency implies openness, communication, and accountability.
• Religious conflicts (23.9%)
A religious war or holy war primarily caused or justified by differences in religion. In the
modern period, debates are common over the extent to which religious, economic, or ethnic
aspects of a conflict predominate in a given war.
“All religions have their accepted dogma, or articles of belief, that followers must
accept without question. This can lead to inflexibility and intolerance in the
face of other beliefs. Religious extremists can contribute to conflict escalation. They see
radical measures as necessary to fulfilling God’s wishes.”
Out of 1763 wars recorded in “Encyclopedia of Wars” authored by Charles Phillips and Alan
Axelrod, only 123 have been classified to involve a religious cause, accounting for less than
7 percent of all wars and less than 2 percent of all people.
“The great series of western holy wars were the Crusaders, which lasted from 1095 until 1291
CE. The aim was to capture the sacred places in the Holy Land from the Muslims who lived
there, so it was intended as a war to right wrongs done against Christianity. The first Crusade
was started by Pope Urban II in 1095.”
Poverty (29.2%)
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•
Main cause of poverty Poverty is

a multifaceted concept, which may
include social, economic, and
political elements. Absolute
poverty, extreme poverty, or
destitution refers to the complete
lack of the means necessary to
meet basic personal needs such as
food, clothing and shelter.
“some cause of poverty is changing trends in country’s economy, lack of education, high
divorce rate, having a culture of poverty, overpopulation, epidemic diseases such as AIDS
and malaria, and environmental problems such as lack of rainfall. Extreme weather may be a
cause of poverty in many countries.”
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•
• Inequality (income discrimination) (30.8%)
Economic inequality, difference in economic well-being between population groups.

Income inequality metrics, used to measure income and economic inequality among
participants in a particular economy. Social stratification, grouping of people into
socioeconomic strata based upon their occupation, income, wealth and social status.
Large scale conflict /wars (38.9%)
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•
War is a state of armed conflict

between states, governments,
societies and informal
paramilitary groups, such
as mercenaries, insurgents
and militias. It
is generally characterized by
extreme violence, aggression,
destruction, and mortality, using
regular or irregular military
forces.
Warfare refers to the common activities and characteristics of types of war, or of wars in
general. Total war is warfare that is not restricted to purely legitimate
military targets, and can result in massive civilian or other non-combatant suffering and
casualties.
The deadliest war in history, in terms of cumulative number of deaths since its start, is World
War II, from 1939 to 1945, with 60-85 million deaths.
Conflict can occur in many domains, interpersonal, community, intra social, economic and
political, and need not require violent resolution. War is violent resolution of conflicts
through use of military force.
Eight main causes of war
1. Economic gain
Finnish-Soviet War or “The Winter War” (1939-1940) – Stalin and his Soviet Army wanted
to mine nickel and Finland, but when the Finnish refused, the Soviet Union waged war on the
country.
2. Territorial gain
Mexican-American War (1846-1848) – This war was fought following the annexation of
Texas, with Mexico still claiming the land as their own. The U.S. declare territorial war.
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•
3. Religion
Second Sudanese Civil War (1983-2005) – This ethnoreligious war was caused by the
Muslim central government’s choice to impose sharia law on non-Muslim southerners.
4. Nationalism
World War I (1914-1918) – Extreme loyalty and patriotism caused many countries to become
involved in the first world war. Many pre-war Europeans believed in the cultural, economic
and military supremacy of their nation.
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5. Revenge
War on Terror – the September 11th attacks on the World Trade Center in 2001 prompted
President George W. Bush to initiate war on terror. This global war began with an invasion of
Iraq and is ongoing.
6. Civil war
Korean War (1950-1953) – The Korean War was a war fought between North Korea, which
was supported primarily by the United States.
7. Revolutionary war
Haitian Revolution (1791-1804) – The Haitian Revolution was a successful slave rebellion
that established Haiti as the first free black republic.
8. Defensive war
Cold War (1947-1991) – Many of the maneuvers during the Cold War can be seen as
defensive or preemptive. One specific example is the failed bay of Pigs invasion, when U.S.
forces attempted to invade Cuba in order to prevent the establishment of Nuclear warheads
there.
• Climate change/destruction of nature (48.8%)
Climate Change
-An enormous challenge facing human kind today.

Undoubtedly, it is the single largest environmental threat facing the planet, and we
need to act fast to mitigate it. There is much that need to be done and much that can be done to
halt the catastrophic impacts of climate change.
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-It is natural phenomenon and has been occurring since the earth came into being.
-It is a change in the average weather of a given area in a region. These incudes temperature,
wind patterns, and precipitation. This change is referred to in a global sense and concerns the
earth as a whole.
Causes of Climate Change
-deforestation
-increase vehicle
-industries -forest
fire
-chemical fertilizers
Effect of Climate Change

-on weather
-on wild life
-sea level rise
-on glaciers and ice sheet
-on economy
-extinction of species
-on health
-on water resources
-on natural disasters
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SUMMARY
Studying the outside world is a cure to parochialism or an outlook that is limited to one’s
immediate community. A person who is concerned only with his/her family, village, or even
country is parochial. The parochial person is, thus, close-minded. By teaching you about the
world, this course aims to stretch the limits of your imagination and outlook.
It is important to study the world because it can teach you more about yourself. Knowing
about other countries allows you to compare your society with others. The experiences of
communities outside the Philippines may provide solutions to many of the country’s current
problems. They may also provide warnings about what not to do. Everyone, for example,
desires economic growth.
You need to study the world because you will be interacting with it. In 2009, an average
of 4, 018 Filipinos per day left to become OFWs. In 2015, that number increased to 6, 092.
More and more Filipinos are living and working abroad. For those of you who plan to work in
another country after graduation, this course can serve as an orientation. Nevertheless, even
those who choose to remain in the Philippines must confront the phenomenon of
globalization.
Due to the internet, cheaper travel costs, and larger trade of goods and services, the world
has grown more interdependent. Filipinos are increasingly becoming aware of this
interdependence. You cannot avoid globalization so you might at as well study it.
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President Ramon Magsaysay State
University
The Contemporary World
Quiz #1 (Midterm)
Name: Score: /30

Course, Year & Sec.: Date:
Give at least two (2) world problems facing mankind today. Elaborate your answer and give
possible solution.
1.
2.
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Republic of the Philippines

President Ramon Magsaysay State University

INTRODUCTION TO THE CONTEMPORARY WORLD

In today’s constantly changing world, societies are becoming increasingly interdependent

The subjects involved in the study of the Contemporary World program-geography,

TOPIC I – THE CONTEMPORARY WORLD

After studying this topic, the student will be able to:

Contemporary World – the circumstances and ideas of the present age.

Contemporary History (historiography) – is a subset of modern history which describes the

7 continents of the world

Different theories how the world began

Problems in the world • Lack of economic opportunity and employment (12.1%)

Unemployment – and the lack

Countries with the highest unemployment rate

The safety and security of volunteers is becoming an increasing concern

organization realizes the S&S management system aren’t sufficient. We

“it ranks the world’s poorest

Education Basic Human Right

• Food and water security (18.2%)

Water is key to food security.

Accountability comes in two

1. Government workers to local officials

Transparency, as used in science, engineering, business, the

humanities and in other social

• Religious conflicts (23.9%)

Main cause of poverty Poverty is

• Inequality (income discrimination) (30.8%)

Economic inequality, difference in economic well-being between population groups.

War is a state of armed conflict

Eight main causes of war

• Climate change/destruction of nature (48.8%)

-An enormous challenge facing human kind today.

Effect of Climate Change

Name: Score: /30

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