MODULE WEEK NO.

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p TAGOLOAN Community College
Baluarte, Tagoloan, Misamis Oriental
Tel.No. (08822)740-835/(088)5671-215

College of Arts & Sciences

GEC 3: The Contemporary World
First Semester of A.Y. 2023-2024

Introduction
This module will introduce you to the term “Globalization” and how this concept has been defined
by many scholars around the world using different context & perspective in order to arrive on a
functional understanding of its existence in the modern contemporary world.
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Rationale

Define & study “what is globalization?” based on the different perspectives used across the word.

Intended Learning Outcomes

A. Recall the development of globalization

B. Identify the competing points of globalization to retain its basic concepts.
C. State the different discourses on the study of globalization

Learning

Defining/ Remembering Globalization:

The task to create a clear, definite meaning of Globalization

Discussion

THE CONTEMPORARY WORLD (GEC3)

Gretchen Mae H. Ello
Instructor
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Medium.com

DEFINING GLOBALIZATION

Much has changed around the world. Of these changes, one can say that globalization has
contributed a great part among the world (Bauman, 2003). Today we are indeed part of what we call as the
“global age” (Albrow, 1996). The internet for instance allows you to know what is happening in the other
side of the world. In addition, mass medias allow you to connect among people, communities, and countries
over and around the world twenty-four-seven. So, what is GLOBALIZATION? it seems this question is so
easy to answer. However, many scholars attempted to formulate a standard definition of this term but only
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resulted into a differing, contradicting views about this concept. It is because globalization encompasses itself
a multitude of processes that involves a multi-disciplinary action and understanding. Try to browse on these
following definitions …….

I. Progress, Development and Integration:

Tomas Larsson (2001)

economic thinking.com cambridge.com

“The process of world shrinkage, of distances getting shorter, things moving closer.”

II. Broad & Inclusive:

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Kenichi Ohmae (1992)

kohmae.com toolshero.com

“… globalization means the onset of the borderless world….”

III. Narrow & Exclusive

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Robert Cox (2000)

Toronto university.com purdue university.com

“…internationalizing of the production & labour, migration and state….”

IV. Flattened

Thomas L. Friedman (2005)

gstatic.com universitas21.com

“.... the inexorable integration of markets, nation states and technologies to a degree never
witnessed before—in a way that is enabling individuals, corporations, and nation states to
reach around the world farther, faster, deeper, and cheaper than ever before ...”

V. Integration and/or Fragmentation

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George Ritzer (2015)

Amazon.com Wikipedia.com

“Globalization…..is a set of process involving increasing liquidity …flows & structures that are
barriers to, or can expedite these flows…..” - Ritzer (2015)

Metaphors of Globalization
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In order to better understand the concept of globalization paved way for people, things, information, and
places, you will try to define it using an example or metaphor.

1. Solid - also refers to barriers that prevent or make difficult the movement of things. Perfect example
of solid things is an ICE. Moreover, solids can either be natural or manmade which for examples
landforms or Great walls. It can also be an imaginary lines like borders. However, very important to
note that even how hard solids are, they still have the tendency to melt. These phenomena should not
be taken literally but can be used to describe what is happening in the world today.

A. Solidarity
science new journal.com
 limited mobility
 refers to the building blocks (barriers)/ natural or manmade

2. Liquid – as a state of matter, takes the shapes of its container. Liquid is not fixed therefore this state
refers to the increasing ease of movement of people, things, information, and places in the
contemporary world.

B. Liquidity
New atlas.com

 Not fixed or changing / increase ease of movement

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 Movement is difficult to stop /tends to melt whatever stands along its path.

3. Flow – is the movement of people, things, places, and

information brought about by the growing porosity of
global limitations (Ritzer, 2015). A concrete example is
the exchange of cultures from different countries due
mainly to growing communities and diaspora like
Filipino communities abroad and foreign communities in
our country.

C. Flows
Juzaphoto
 Increase in liquidity
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 there is a movement of everything (ex. Food, cuisines, migrants)

“Solidity refers to barriers that prevent mobility…. liquidity is the increasing movement....
.... The movement of people, things, places, and information brought by the growing “porosity” of
global limitations” – Ritzer (2015)

GLOBALIZATION FLOWS
You have already established many samples and issues in defining globalization and the metaphors used to
understand the concept easily. The following discussions will give you a glimpse on the important theories on
globalization. You are going to analyze globalization culturally, economically, and politically. In the
meantime, look at globalization first as a process that increases either homogeneity or heterogeneity.

 Homogeneity - the increasing sameness in the world

A society that is homogenous is where people share the same type of cultural values, language, ethnicity and
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religious system. It is considered a “one-size-fits all” community. In a number of ways, homogeneity comes
to a society ethnically, religiously, culturally, politically etc. Studies shown however, that the most prominent
type of homogeneity is “ethnicity”, it is where everybody share similar physiological characteristics and
cultural behaviour. Some examples of these societies are Japanese society, Chinese society, and some African
tribes. Language serves as a great barrier to the unity of the society as well as religious and ethnic ideologies.
Moreover, a fair political homogeneity in a society can be much more powerful than political heterogeneity
in the sense that Govt. decision making would be much easier since it is bound to reflect all the majority
people’s point of view. History suggests that homogeneity of a nation was threatened and broken many times
and it is also not possible to preserve the perfect homogeneousness of a society. Perhaps, homogeneous
ideology in every aspect of life and society, blind the people living in a homogeneous society about the
development of the rest of the world. Not accepting changes is the main problem of the leaders living in
homogeneous society, which eventually lead to the fall of the entire society yet, it is still possible to maintain
ethnically homogeneity to a great extent. Nonetheless it can be said that a homogeneous society is fairly
stable than any other type of society.

 Heterogeneity – the creation of various elements from different societies.

A heterogeneous societal
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and understandings. In a heterogeneous society many sets

of shared meanings make up the society. The meaning of
heterogeneous is something that is consisting of many kinds
of things-let that something be different types of things or
people. So, by the phrase “heterogeneous society” we mean
such a society which consists of different kinds of people
from various reason of the world-which is basically a
society that is ethnically heterogeneous. If you live in
heterogeneous society, you have a unique experience of learning about different cultures. You become more
tolerant to the people of the world. When you visit a new country which has many people living in your
society, you do not feel like an alien in that new county. You have the option to pick the best manners and
attitude from the world society. Every society is unique in some way yet fusion music and culture can thrive
in a heterogeneous society more easily than a homogeneous society. Inside an ethnically heterogeneous
society there might further heterogeneity in terms of faith or belief system. Furthermore, culture is not a static
thing. It is ever-changing. That does not mean however, that we should not try to conserve some of our
cultural traditions that we hold dear. Tradition can be one of the best things about life. But when we try to
keep our cultures from changing or growing at all, we do ourselves a great disservice. Certainly, change and
growth are not always easy processes. The road to cultural understanding and fusion is slow and fraught with
tension.

freeEducator.com

CHARACTERISTICS

Global Flows of culture tend to move more easily around the globe than ever before, especially through non-
material digital forms. There are three perspectives on global cultural flows.
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A. Cultural Differentialism – “catastrophic collision “

- Emphasizes the fact that cultures are essentially different and are only superficially
affected by global flows. The interaction of cultures is deemed to contain the potential
for “catastrophic collision”
-
B. Cultural Hybridization – “glocalization & integration “
- Emphasizes the integration of local and global cultures / evolution of cultures.
Globalization is considered to be a creative process which gives rise to hybrid entities
that are not reducible to either the global or the local. A key concept is “glocalization”.

C. Cultural Convergence – “deterritorialization “

- Cultures are deemed to be radically altered by strong flows, while cultural imperialism
happens when one culture imposes itself on and tends to destroy at least parts of
another culture.
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rawabetcenter.com

VIEWS

The previous discussions answered the question, what is Globalization? The next question is, where did it
start? This question is also difficult to answer because there are different views about it. Nevertheless, there is
no harm if you look at the different perspectives regarding the origin of Globalization:

I. Hardwired - According to Nayan Chanda (2007) it is because of our basic human need to make our
lives better that made globalization possible. Therefore, one can trace the beginning of globalization
from our ancestors in Africa who walked out from their places in the late Ice age for the main reason
of “trade, missionary work, adventure & conquest”

II. Cycles – For Scholte (2005) Globalization is a long cyclical process and thus finding its origin is a
daunting experience (soon disappear and reappear) What is important is the cycles that globalization
has gone through. Subscribing to this view will suggest adherence to the idea that other global ages
have appeared.

III. Epoch - Ritzer (2015)- cited great epoch of globalization. These are also series of ‘waves’
(sequential occurrence) and each has its own origin. Today’s globalization is not a unique if that is
the case. However, it does not treat epoch as returning.

IV. Events - Composed of several points / specific events which characterized globalization. Certainly,
with this view, more and more specific events will characterize not just the origins of globalizations
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but also more of its history.

V. Broad Changes – Changes happened in the last of the twentieth century. Scholars today point to
these notable changes as origins of globalization as we know today. These are: Free world
“capitalism “, Emergence of American power / multinational corporation, Demise of USSR and end
of the Cold War.

Basic.com

Perspectives
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1. Hyperglobalist - Legitimate process / a new age in human history

2. Skeptical - International process as becoming regionalized rather than globalized.
3. Transformationalist – no specific cause or outcome / national govt. are changing

Activity

In this module you are exposed to the different definitions &/or claims on
globalization. With its many misconceptions, it created ambiguities & biases which poses a big
challenge on your part as a learner who wish to establish a concrete meaning of this term. As a
resolution, globalization is therefore defined using various concept, views & metaphors in order to
grasp the main rationale or even arrive into a functional meaning of this phenomenon.

Using the following lessons, state your own generalization or understanding of the term & relate it
to the actual application on the different aspects of your daily life. Internalize the terms & concepts
mentioned here and prepare yourself to answer basic aspects of globalization through a personal
understanding of the concept.

Assessment

After reading the lessons / discussions in this module you are hereby asked to do the following.
Please answer the following questions:

1) What is globalization according to my own personal understanding?

Answer: _________________________________________________________

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2) How does globalization affect my life today?

Answer: __________________________________________________________

3) What are the things I would like to know about Globalization?

Answer: _________________________________________________________

Since there are three (3) questions, then you are hereby expected to answer each question with one
sentence only making your whole assignment composed of three (3) sentences only. Just write what
is essential & avoid lengthy unnecessary remarks. Thank you!

Video link

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z_yqK8KKwDc
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JJ0nFD19eT8
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wLNp3kgBuuQ

Resources and Additional Resources

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Aldama,P.K.(2018). The Contemporary World, Quezon City Philippines, Rex Printing

Company,Inc.

Albrow, M. (1996). The Global Age: State & Society beyond Modernity, USA,Stanford University
press

Cox, R. (2000). Globalization, Multilateralism,

Friedman,T. (2005). The World is Flat. USA,175 fifth avenue, New York, N.Y.Holthzbrink

Larsson,T.(2001). The Race to the Top: The Real Story of Globalization,1000 Massachusetts Ave., N.W.
Washington D.C., CATO Institute

Ohmae,K.(1992).The Borderless World. Power and Strategy in the Interlinked Economy.

Ritzer, G. (2015). Globalization the Essentials. USA, Wiley Blackwell

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