THE CONTEMPORARY WORLD

•A WORLD OF
REGIONS
A WORLD OF REGIONS
• A world of regions is a concept that describes the earth as a
diverse and interconnected place made up of various
regions with their unique characteristics. Each region has its
distinct features, such as culture, language, economy, and
geography, that distinguish it from other regions. The idea
of a world of regions highlights the importance of
understanding and appreciating the diversity that exists in
our world.
A WORLD OF REGIONS
• This concept recognizes that while we are all part of a
global community, each region has its unique challenges,
opportunities, and contributions to make. Therefore, it is
essential to appreciate and understand the different
perspectives, needs, and values of each region to foster
peaceful coexistence and promote sustainable development.
DIFFERENT REGIONS OF THE WORLD
DIFFERENT REGIONS OF THE WORLD
DIFFERENT REGIONS OF THE WORLD
DIFFERENT REGIONS OF THE WORLD
DIFFERENT REGIONS OF THE WORLD
DIFFERENT REGIONS OF THE WORLD
A WORLD OF REGIONS
• The world is now comprised of numerous countries or
states. The United Nations (UN) officially recognizes 195
sovereign states and two (2) observer states, namely
Palestine and the Holy See-and all of these states have
different forms of governments.
 States Not Recognized by the U.N.

Name Recognized By
Kosovo 102 U.N. member states
Western Sahara 44 U.N. member states
Taiwan 16 U.N. member states
South Ossetia 5 U.N. member states
Abkhazia 5 U.N. member states
Northern Cyprus 1 U.N. member state
Four(4) Key Attributes of World Politics

• 1. there are countries or states that are independent and govern

themselves.
• 2. these countries interact with each other through diplomacy.
• 3. there are international organizations, like the United Nations that
facilitate these interactions.
• 4. beyond simply facilitating meeting between states, international
organizations also take on lives of their own.
 4 ELENTS OF STATE
• 1. Territory means an area over which a state has effective control.
• 2. People must be comprised of both sexes as to continue the
numbers for the community to flourish.
• 3. Government refers to any form-may it be presidential,
republican, monarchies, and the like.
• 4. Sovereignty means that the state must be free to exercise control
within its jurisdiction without external interference.
 Nation versus State
• A state is a political entity with a defined territory, a government, and a
population. It has the authority to make laws and decisions that apply to its
citizens, and it can engage in diplomatic relations with other states.
Examples of states include the United States, China, and Australia.
• A nation refers to a group of people who share common cultural, ethnic,
linguistic, or historical characteristics. A nation can exist within one or more
states or without a state of its own. For example, the Kurds are a nation
without a state, while the French and Germans are both nations with their
own states.
Sovereignty
• The concept of Sovereignty can be traced back to the Treaty
of Westphalia. The Treaty of Westphalia, or the Peace of
Westphalia, was a series of treaties signed in 1648 that
marked the end of the Thirty Years' War in Europe. The
conflict, which began in 1618, was a religious and political
struggle between Catholic and Protestant states in Europe,
and it resulted in the deaths of millions of people.
Sovereignty
• The Treaty of Westphalia was signed in the city of Münster in Germany and
involved the Holy Roman Empire, France, Sweden, and their respective allies. The
treaty established several important principles of international law and politics,
including:
• Sovereignty: The principle that each state is sovereign and has the right to govern
itself without interference from other states or external powers.
• Territorial integrity: The principle that each state has the right to control its own
territory and borders.
• Balance of power: The principle that no single state should have too much power or
influence over others, and that states should work to maintain a balance of power in
international relations.
Sovereignty
• A major challenge to the principles set by the Treaty of
Westphalia was the Napoleonic Wars.
• The Napoleonic Wars were a series of conflicts that took
place in Europe from 1803 to 1815. The wars were fought
under the leadership of Napoleon Bonaparte, a French
general and statesman who sought to establish a wide-
ranging empire in Europe.
Sovereignty
• The wars began when Napoleon created a vast French empire, which
he controlled over most of the European continent. He used his
armed forces to launch invasions and conquer various states and
territories in Europe, including Spain, Italy, and Germany.
• The battles were widespread and caused great loss of life and
property. At the end of the wars, the leading countries in Europe
formed agreements and treaties to prevent future conflicts of this
nature. The Treaty of Vienna in 1815 established a new balance of
power in Europe that sought to prevent one country from dominating
the others.
Sovereignty
• After Napoleon’s defeat at the Battle of Waterloo, the royal powers
created a new system to replace the Treaty of Westphalia-The Concert
of Europe.
• The Concert of Europe refers to a system of international relations
and diplomacy that emerged in Europe following the Napoleonic
Wars. The Concert of Europe was established in order to maintain
peace and stability in Europe by allowing the great powers to
cooperate with each other and prevent any one nation from becoming
too powerful
Sovereignty
• This Concert was an alliance of “great powers” that sought to restore the
world of monarchical hereditary, and religious privileges held before the
French revolution and Napoleonic Wars. More importantly, it was an alliance
to restore sovereignty of states.
• The Concert of Europe was based on the principle of balance of power,
which aimed to prevent any one nation from dominating Europe. This
principle was upheld through regular meetings and discussions among the
great powers, including Austria, Russia, Prussia, and Britain, as well as
France after it was readmitted to the group in 1818.
Sovereignty
• The Concert of Europe played a significant role in maintaining peace
in Europe for several decades, and it helped to prevent major conflicts
between the great powers. However, it was not without its flaws, and it
ultimately failed to prevent the outbreak of World War I in 1914.
• Overall, the Concert of Europe was an important development in the
history of international relations and diplomacy, as it helped to
establish a framework for cooperation among the great powers that
was intended to maintain peace and stability in Europe.
 Internationalism
• As Westphalian principles create individual states, there are others
who dreamed of a heightened interaction between states-where
cooperation and unity among states and people are possible and
would flourish. This desire is called internationalism.
• Internationalism is a political and social philosophy that emphasizes
international cooperation and global solidarity among nations and
peoples. The idea behind internationalism is that the problems facing
humanity, such as poverty, war, and environmental degradation, are
global in nature and require collective action and collaboration to
solve.
 Internationalism
• Internationalism also emphasizes the importance of respecting the
sovereignty and independence of individual nations, while
recognizing the interdependence of all countries in the world. It
advocates for a world based on cooperation, mutual respect, and
shared responsibility.
• Overall, internationalism is a philosophy that seeks to promote peace,
justice, and prosperity for all people through international cooperation
and solidarity. It is a vision of a world where nations work together to
build a better future for all.
Internationalism
• United States President Woodrow Wilson became one of the
century’s most prominent internationalists. Wilson saw
nationalism as a prerequisite for internationalism. He forwarded
the principle of self-determination-the belief the world’s nations
had a right to a free and sovereign government. Wilson became
the most notable advocate for the creation of the League of
Nations. At the end of World War I in 1918, he pushed to
transform the League into a venue for conciliation and
arbitration to prevent another war.
Internationalism
• United States President Woodrow Wilson became one of the
century’s most prominent internationalists. Wilson saw
nationalism as a prerequisite for internationalism. He forwarded
the principle of self-determination-the belief the world’s nations
had a right to a free and sovereign government. Wilson became
the most notable advocate for the creation of the League of
Nations. At the end of World War I in 1918, he pushed to
transform the League into a venue for conciliation and
arbitration to prevent another war.
Internationalism
• Wilson's vision of internationalism was based on the idea that the United
States had a responsibility to promote democracy and human rights around
the world. He believed that the principles of democracy and self-
determination should be extended to all people, regardless of their race or
nationality.
• However, Wilson's vision of internationalism was not without its critics.
Some argued that his emphasis on promoting democracy and human rights
around the world was hypocritical, given the continued racial segregation
and discrimination in the United States. Others argued that his idealistic
vision of internationalism was not practical or realistic, given the realities of
power politics and national interests.
The League of Nations: Failure
• Limited membership: The League of Nations was initially founded with
only 42 member states, and its membership did not include some of the
world's major powers, such as the United States, Germany, and the Soviet
Union. This limited its ability to take decisive action on major international
issues.
• Lack of enforcement mechanisms: The League lacked an effective means of
enforcing its decisions. It had no standing military force, and member states
were not required to contribute troops to enforce its decisions. This made it
difficult to respond effectively to aggression by member states.
The League of Nations: Failure
• Great Depression: The global economic crisis of the 1930s had a severe impact on the
League's ability to function effectively. Many member states were preoccupied with
domestic economic problems and were unwilling to devote resources to international
affairs.
• Failure to prevent aggression: The League was unable to prevent aggression by some of
its member states, such as Italy's invasion of Ethiopia and Japan's invasion of
Manchuria. Its failure to respond effectively to these acts of aggression undermined its
credibility and authority.
• Rise of dictators: The League was unable to prevent the rise of authoritarian and
aggressive regimes in Europe, such as Nazi Germany and fascist Italy. These regimes
ultimately led to the outbreak of World War II, which the League was unable to prevent
or stop.
The League of Nations: Positive Impacts

• Established international cooperation: The League was the first international

organization aimed at promoting peace and resolving conflicts through
collective security and diplomacy. It established a framework for
international cooperation that served as a model for future organizations,
such as the United Nations.
• Resolved disputes peacefully: The League successfully resolved a number of
international disputes through peaceful means. For example, it mediated a
dispute between Greece and Bulgaria in 1925 and helped to resolve a border
dispute between Finland and Sweden in 1929..
Internationalism
• Improved public health: The League established the Health Organization, which
aimed to promote public health and combat epidemics. It helped to eradicate
smallpox in some parts of the world and promoted the use of vaccines and other
preventive measures.
• Protected minority rights: The League advocated for the protection of minority
rights in a number of countries, particularly in Eastern Europe. It established the
High Commission for Refugees to aid in the resettlement of refugees and displaced
persons.
• Promoted disarmament: The League supported efforts to reduce armaments and
promote disarmament. It sponsored a number of international conferences on
disarmament, although these efforts ultimately proved unsuccessful.
The United Nations
• The aftermath of the World War II saw the rise of the United Nations
as the largest international organization (IO). Established in 1945 and
initially grounded on the same principles as the League of Nations of
averting a world war, the major allied powers during World War II
envisioned a world that is safe for all states, but at the same time, gives
an avenue to address state and interstate issues so that conflict- which
was mainly congruent to wars but now has also evolved on tackling
issues on poverty, human rights, and economy be given the proper
solutions.
Internationalism
• The United Nations has five (5) active principal organs. The Trusteeship
Council, one of the principal organs is currently inactive after it the
independence of Palau in 1994. The five (5) active principal organs are as
follows:
• 1. General Assembly (GA)
• 2. Security Council (SC)
• 3. Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC)
• 4. International Court of Justice (ICJ)
• 5. Secretariat
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY
• The UN General Assembly (GA) is the UN’s “main deliberative
policymaking and representative organ.” According to the United
Nations Charter, “decisions on important questions such as those on
peace and security, admission on new members, and budgetary
matters, require a two-thirds majority of the General Assembly.
Decisions on other questions may be done by simple majority.” All
UN member states are represented in the General Assembly. Each
member state has one vote. Decisions are not binding – merely
recommendations, representing prevailing world opinion
THE SECURITY COUNCIL
• The Council includes five permanent, and veto-wielding member states: the
USA, The United Kingdom, France, Russia, and China, as well as 10 non-
permanent members
• Any decisions must be passed by a majority of nine of the 15 members,
including each of the five permanent members.
• When the Council considers a threat to international peace, it begins by
exploring ways to settle the dispute peacefully. It can take measures to
enforce its decisions, from economic sanctions all the way to authorization
of military action.
ECONOMIC & SOCIAL COUNCIL
• The Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) coordinates the
economic and social work of the United Nations, and the UN system.
It also maintains a vital link between the United Nations and civil
society.
• Many argue that the Council has not been given the necessary
management powers to carry out its complex work
ICJ
• The International Court of Justice is the main judicial organ of the
UN. It consists of 15 judges elected jointly by the General Assembly
and the Security Council. The Court decides disputes between
countries, but participation by states in a proceeding is voluntary.
Once a state has agreed to participate, it is obliged to comply with the
Court’s decision.
SECRETARIAT
• The Secretariat is the main administrative ‘engine’ of the United
Nations and employs some 40,000 people around the world
• The Secretary-General is the figurehead of the entire organization
• He or she is empowered to become involved in a wide range of areas
that can be interpreted as threats to peace.
SECRETARIAT
• The Secretariat is the main administrative ‘engine’ of the United
Nations and employs some 40,000 people around the world
• The Secretary-General is the figurehead of the entire organization
• He or she is empowered to become involved in a wide range of areas
that can be interpreted as threats to peace.
Global Divides: The North and the South

• Governments, associations, societies, and groups form

regional organizations and/or networks as a way of coping
with the challenges of globalization. While the United
Nations and other International Institutions has made the
world into an ‘internationalized’ system, regionalism makes
it possible for a more dynamic range of cooperation.
Global Divides: The North and the South

• Regions are a group of countries located in the same

geographically specified area, or an amalgamation of two
regions (or) a combination of more than two regions.
Global Divides: The North and the South

• Countries respond economically and politically to

globalization in various ways. Some are large enough and
have a lot of resources to dictate how they participate in
process of global integration. China for example, offers
cheap and huge workforce to attract foreign businesses and
expand trade with countries it once considered as enemies
but now sees it as markets for its goods.
Global Divides: The North and the South

• Other countries make up for their small size by taking

advantage of their strategic location. Singapore and
Switzerland compensate for their lack of resources by
turning themselves into financial and banking hubs.
Singapore also developed its harbor facilities and made
them a first-class transit port for ships carrying different
commodities from Africa, Asia, Europe, the Middle East
and Southeast Asia to countries in the Asia Pacific.
 THE WORLD DIVIDES

• While dividing states into regions based on geography,

history, or security is a common notion nowadays, states can
also be divided according to its developmental pace. In the
1980s, William Brandt proposed a line that divided countries
in the North and South- the North being ‘developed’ and
South being ‘developing’.
 THE WORLD DIVIDES

• Brandt concluded that more cooperation between countries

could “build a world in which sharing justice, freedom, and
peace might prevail” In the 1980’s around 130 countries were
included in the South, while in the North featured mainly
continental Europe, the Soviet union, and Australia.
 THE WORLD DIVIDES

• Brandt concluded that more cooperation between countries

could “build a world in which sharing justice, freedom, and
peace might prevail” In the 1980’s around 130 countries were
included in the South, while in the North featured mainly
continental Europe, the Soviet union, and Australia.
 THE WORLD DIVIDES
• Characteristics of the North
• ¼ of the world population
• 4/5 of the world’s income
• Average life expectancy more than 70 years
• Most people are educated
• Most people have enough to eat
• Over 90% of the world’s manufacturing industry
• About 96% of the world’s spending on research and development
Characteristics of the South
¾ of the world population
1/5 of the world’s income
Average life expectancy of 50 years
½ of the people have little chance of any education
1/5 or more suffer from hunger and malnutrition
Less than 10% of the world’s manufacturing industry
4% of the world’s research and
development
 THE WORLD DIVIDES
• Brandt suggested that North countries were more developed as
they have been able to interact and cooperate successfully than
others. Higher Trade levels have benefitted these countries.
• However, as more than 40 years has passed since Brandt drew his
infamous line, and globalization has increasingly reduced the world
into the palm of a hand due to increased interconnectedness, it
remains to be seen whether Brandt’s division is still relevant.
 ASIAN REGIONALISM
• Countries form regional associations for several reasons. One is for
Military defense. An example of which is the North Atlantic Treaty
Organization or NATO, which was formed during the Cold War as a
deterrent from Soviet threat. Even though the Soviet Union was dissolved
in 1991, NATO is still present today.
• Countries also form regional organizations to pool their resources, get
better returns for their exports, as well as expand their leverage against
trading partners. The Organization of the Petroleum Exporting
Countries (OPEC) was established in 1960 by Iran, Iraq, Kuwait, Saudi
Arabia, and Venezuela to regulate the production and sale of oil.
 ASIAN REGIONALISM

• The eventual establishment of ASEAN in 1968

first required a transformation in the regional
political environment. Specifically, it was
dependent on an Indonesian–Malaysian
reconciliation.
 ASIAN REGIONALISM
• Regional attempts had already been made in the early
1960s to establish inter-state cooperation. The
Association of Southeast Asia (ASA) had been created
in Bangkok in July 1961 as an instrument to advance
dialogue between Thailand, Malaya and the
Philippines. Indonesia had refused to take part
because it viewed ASA as a Western-aligned
organization.
 ASIAN REGIONALISM

• The Association would aim to ‘accelerate the

economic growth, social progress and cultural
development in the region’ and ‘promote regional
peace and stability through abiding respect for
justice and the rule of law in the relationship
among countries of the region and adherence to
the principles of the United Nations Charter.
 MEDIA AND GLOBALIZATION
• Globalization entails the spread of various cultures.
When a film is made in Hollywood, it is not only
shown in the United States, but also in different
countries of the world. South Korean bands BTS and
Blackpink are gaining international recognition by
having millions of listeners worldwide even though
most fans do not completely understand their songs.
 MEDIA AND GLOBALIZATION
• Aside from this, Globalization also involves the spread
of ideas. For example, the notion of rights of Lesbian,
Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender (LGBT+)
communities is spreading across the world and
becoming more widely accepted. Conversely, the
conservative Catholic Church that opposes some of
these rights moves from places like South America to
Korea.
 MEDIA AND GLOBALIZATION
• People who travel to other places often share the
experiences, beliefs, values, practices with family
members, friends, or even in classrooms. But today,
television programs, social media websites, posts, and
the like have made it easier for audiences to get to
know these information. Globalization relies on media
as an instrument for the spread of global culture.
 MEDIA AND GLOBALIZATION
• Technically speaking, a person’s voice is a medium. But
commentators refer to “media” as the technologies of mass
communication. Print media includes books, magazines,
and newspapers. Broadcast media involve radio, film, and
television. Currently, digital media cover the internet and
mobile mass communication. Under the category of the
internet includes e-mails, internet sites, social media, and
internet-based audio and video.
 MEDIA AND GLOBALIZATION
• Television is not a simple bearer of messages, it also shapes
the social behavior of users and reorient family behavior.
Since it was introduced in the 1960s, television has steered
people from the dining table where they eat and tell stories
to each other, to the living room where they silently munch
on their food while watching primetime shows. A similar
trend is happening right now, albeit on a smaller screen-with
smartphones headlining this process of watching videos,
reacting to posts and pictures in social media sites.
 MEDIA AND GLOBALIZATION
• McLuhan added that different media both extend and amputate
human senses. Contemporary media expands the reach of
communication, but they dull the user’s communicative capacities.
Look at how smartphones have altered about behaviour. On one
hand, they expand people’s senses because they provide the
capability to talk to more people instantaneously and
simultaneously. On the other hand, they also limit the senses
because they make users easily distractible and probe to
multitasking. This is not necessarily a bad thing; it is merely change
with a trade-off.
 The Global Village and Cultural
Imperialism
• McLuhan declared that the television was turning the
world into a “global village”. By this, he meant that as
more people sat down in front of their television sets
and listened to the same stories, their perception of
the world would contract. An analogy of this would be
in a tribal setting. If tribes sat down in a bonfire to tell
stories, the members of this contemporary world are
sitting in front of bright boxes in a living room.
 The Global Village and Cultural
Imperialism
• Years after McLuhan, media scholars further grappled with the
challenge of a global media culture. A lot of these early thinkers
assumed that global media had a tendency to homogenize culture.
They argued that as global media spread, people from all over the
world would begin to watch, listen to, and read the same things.
Commentators believed that media globalization, alongside the
dominance of the United States of America, would create a form of
cultural imperialism. Scholars argued that not only the world was
being “Americanized”, but its values such as consumerism were
likely to be spread this way.
 The Global Village and Cultural
Imperialism
• Media Messages are not just made by producers,
they are also consumed by audiences. The field of
audience studies emphasizes that media
consumers (watchers, listeners, readers) are active
participants in the meaning-making process, who
view media “texts” (content of any medium)
through their own cultural lenses.
 The Global Village and Cultural
Imperialism
• Apart from the challenge of audience studies, the cultural
imperialism thesis has been belied by the renewed strength
of regional trends in the globalization process. Asian
culture, for example has proliferated worldwide through
globalization of media. Japanese brands such as Hello Kitty;
Mario Brothers; and Pokemon are now an indelible part of
global popular culture. The same can be said for Korean pop
(K-pop) and Korean Dramas which saw success regionally
and globally.
 Social media and the creation of Cyber
Ghettoes
• The internet and social media are proving that the
globalization of culture and ideas can move in
different directions. While Western culture remains
powerful, and media corporations still control
them, the internet and social media is challenging
these old practices.
 Social media and the creation of Cyber
Ghettoes
• As with all new media, social media both have its upsides and downsides. These
forms of communication have democratized access. Facebook, Twitter, and
Youtube, for example are accessible to anyone who has an internet access. These
media have enabled smartphone users to be consumers and producers of
information simultaneously. This was evident in 201’’s Arab Spring. However, social
media has its downsides. It has compartmentalized people into groups. In the early
2000’s commentators began referring to a phenomenon known as
“cyberbalkanization”- referring to various bubbles people place themselves in when
they are online. In a closer perspective, Philippine politics have also been affected by
this such as labels of emerging labels of “DDS” or “Dilawan” have emerged that
separate groups of people from one another. Social media is also responsible for
dividing populations, proving that people are susceptible to herd mentality..
 Social media and the creation of Cyber
Ghettoes
• In addition to this the spread of memes, and video
shared by like-minded friends create an echo chamber,
which reinforces one’s existing beliefs and opinions.
This ‘chamber precludes users from listening to or
reading opinions and information that challenge their
viewpoints, thus making them more partisan and
close-minded. (Ibid) Fake news, as an example.
 Social media and the creation of Cyber
Ghettoes
• Lastly, as social media continues to grow, so
does the threats emanating from its usage.
Identity theft, cyberbullying, hacking, and
illegal cyberprostitution have increased
throughout the years. As more people have
access, so does criminals.
 The Globalization of Religion
• Aside from cultures, religion has the most difficult relationship with
globalism. The two are entirely contrasting belief systems. Religion is
concerned with the sacred, while globalism places value on material
wealth. Religion follows divine commandments, Globalism follows
human-made laws. Religion assumes that there is “possibility of
communication between the human and the transcendent (beyond
humans).” Additionally, God, Allah, or Yahweh defines and judges
human action in moral terms-good or bad. Globalism however is much of
human action can lead to the highest material satisfaction and
subsequent wisdom that this new status provides
 The Globalization of Religion
• On one hand, religious people are less concerned with wealth and
all other things that come with it such as higher status, a similar
standard of living to their peers, top-of-the-line education, etc.
They shun material wealth in favor of a simplistic lifestyle.
• Globalists meanwhile are less worried about concepts such as
heaven/hell-as they are more concerned in sealing trade deals, raise
profits, improve government revenue collection, and protect and
enrich themselves. If there is any social conscience to it, the
globalist see himself/herself as a contributing factor to the progress
of the community, the nation, and the global economic system
 The Globalization of Religion
• Lastly, religion and globalism clash over the fact
that religious evangelization is in itself a form of
globalization. The globalist on the other hand, is
largely focused on the realm of markets. Religion
is concerned with the spread of holy ideas, while
the globalist on the spread of goods and services
 The Globalization of Religion
• The relationship between religion and globalism is
much more complicated. Peter Berger argues that far
from being secularized. The “contemporary world
is…furiously religious. In some cases of the world,
there are veritable explosions of religious fervor
occurring one form of another in all major religious
traditions-Christianity, Judaism, Islam, Hinduism,
Buddhism, and even Confucianism.
 The Globalization of Religion
• Religions are the foundations of modern republics
Malaysia, for example, places religion at the center of
political systems and its Constitution explicitly states “Islam
is the religion of the Federation,” and rulers of each state
was also the “Head of the Religion of Islam.” Similarly,
after the 1979 Revolution in Iran –where the United States
was thrown out of the country, Iran declared itself as a
theocracy- a system of government where a religious person
spearheads the state in the name of God or Allah.
 The Globalization of Religion
• There is hardly a religious movement today that does not use religion to oppose
“profane” globalization. Yet both Christianity and Islam see globalization less as an
obstacle and more as an opportunity to expand their reach all over the world.
Globalization has “freed” communities from the constraints of the nation-state, but
in the process also threatened to destroy the cultural system that binds them
together. Religion seeks to take the place of those broken “traditional ties” to either
help communities cope with their new situation or organize them to oppose this
major transformation of their lives. It can provide “moral codes” that answer
problems ranging from people’s health to social conflict to even ‘personal
happiness’. Religion then is not a ‘regressive force’ that stops or slows down
globalization; it is a “pro-active force” that gives communities a new and powerful
basis of identity. It can be seen as an instrument in the reshaping of this globalizing
world, although in its own terms.
 The Globalization of Religion
• Religious fundamentalism may dislike globalization’s materialism,
but it continues to use the “full range of modern means of
communication and organization” that is associated with this
economic transformation. It is therefore not entirely correct to
assume that the proliferation of “Born-Again” groups or in the case
of Islam, the rise of movements such as the Daesh (or ISIS or the
Islamic State of Iraq and Syria) signals religion’s defense against
the materialism of globalization. It is, in fact, the opposite. These
organizations are the result of the spread of globalization and both
find ways to benefit or take advantage of each other.
 The Globalization of Religion
• For a phenomenon that “is about everything”, it is odd that globalization is seen to have very little
to do with religion. Peter Bayer and Lori Beaman observed “Religion, it seems, is somehow
‘outside’ looking at globalization as problem or potential.” One reason for this is the association of
globalization with modernization-a concept based on science and technology, reason, and law.
Famous historian Samuel Huntington in his book The Clash of Civilizations admits that
civilizations can be held together by religious worldviews. Jesuits and Dominicans in the 15th
century used religion as an “ideological armature” to legitimize the Spanish empire. Religion was
also used as an arm in Spain’s colonization of the Philippines. In short, despite their inflexible
features-the warnings of perdition (Hell is a real placer prepared by Allah for those who do not
believe in Him, rebel against His laws, and reject His messengers), the promises of salvations-
religions are actually quite malleable. Their resilience has been extraordinary that they have
outclasses secular ideologies. Globalists therefore, have no choice but to accept this reality that
religion is here to stay.
 The Globalization of Religion
• For a phenomenon that “is about everything”, it is odd that globalization is seen to have very little
to do with religion. Peter Bayer and Lori Beaman observed “Religion, it seems, is somehow
‘outside’ looking at globalization as problem or potential.” One reason for this is the association of
globalization with modernization-a concept based on science and technology, reason, and law.
Famous historian Samuel Huntington in his book The Clash of Civilizations admits that
civilizations can be held together by religious worldviews. Jesuits and Dominicans in the 15th
century used religion as an “ideological armature” to legitimize the Spanish empire. Religion was
also used as an arm in Spain’s colonization of the Philippines. In short, despite their inflexible
features-the warnings of perdition (Hell is a real placer prepared by Allah for those who do not
believe in Him, rebel against His laws, and reject His messengers), the promises of salvations-
religions are actually quite malleable. Their resilience has been extraordinary that they have
outclasses secular ideologies. Globalists therefore, have no choice but to accept this reality that
religion is here to stay.