CONTEMPORARY WORLD

BSN 1-I

FIRST SEMESTER SCHOOL

YEAR 2020-2021
COURSE DESCRIPTION
This course aims students to the contemporary world
by examining the multifaceted phenomenon of
globalization. Using the various disciplines of the social
sciences, it examines the economic, social, political,
technological, and other transformations that have
created an increasing awareness of the
interconnectedness of people and places around the
globe. To this end, the course provides an overview of
the various debates in global governance, development,
and sustainability. Beyond exposing the student to the
world outside the Philippines, it seeks to inculcate a
sense of global citizenship and global ethical
responsibility.
REQUIRMENTS AND ASSESSMENT
•Position Paper
•Group Report thru video presentation (Case Study)
•Quiz, Assignments thru E-mail or currier
•Blog/Video Blog/Journal
•GRADING SYSTEM
•Average quiz 10%
•Activity 15%
•Course output
•Individual 15%
•Group 10% 25%
Total 50%
Major Exams (Mid/Fin) 50%
 MODULE CONTENT

MODULE 1: An Introduction to Globalization

• Defining Globalization
• Metaphors of Globalization
• Origin and History of Globalization
• Dynamics of local and global culture
• Globalization and Regionalization
MODULE 2: Globalization of Religion, Population and
Mobility
• Global Demography
• Global Migration
MODULE 3: The Global Economy
• Economic Globalization and Global Trade
• Economic Globalization, Poverty, and Inequality
• The Modern World Systems

MODULE 4: A World of Regions

• The Global City
• The North and the South
• The Third World and the Global South
MODULE 5: Market Integration
• International Financial Institutions
The Bretton Woods System
General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade
(GATT)
World Trade Organization (WTO)
World Bank o European Union (EU
• History of Market Integration
• Global Corporations
MODULE 6: The Global Interstate System
• Global Governance in the 21st Century
• Institutions that Govern International
Relations
• The Global Citizenship
 MODULE 1
An Introduction to Globalization
Jim Sheffi eld, Victoria University of Wellington
Andrey Korotayev Russian State University for the Humanities
Leonid Grinin Volgograd Center for Social Research

We see globalization as the growth of the

sizes of social systems and the increase in
the complexity of inter societal links. Thus,
in certain respects, globalization may be
regarded as a process connecting the past,
the present, and the future—as a sort of
bridge between the past and the future. The
title and the composition of the present
volume reflect this idea.
 Globalization: Yesterday, Today, and
Tomorrow is distinguished by its focus on
the systemic aspects of globalization
processes. Political, economic, geographic,
ecological, social, cultural, ethnic, religious
and historical processes are analyzed and
their single and joint impacts on
globalization are discussed. The purpose is
to complement more objective or ‘technical’
globalization narratives with more direct
accounts of social and emotional issues.
There are a number of publications dealing
with particular aspects of globalization.
 However, the growing complexity has
increased the interrelatedness among all
countries. Recurrent economic and political
crises that have global repercussions
demand new approaches. This provides a
wider range of views on globalization than
some other globalization journals and books.
In particular, we believe that seeking
perspectives that cross organizational,
geographic and cultural boundaries may aid
in reducing misunderstandings and diminish
the negative aspects of globalization.
 The global financial crisis has only
emphasized the need to develop local
solutions in a global environment and at the
same time to search for global solutions to
common problems. New approaches are
required that demonstrate an appreciation of
the ‘local’ in particular political, economic,
social, cultural and geographic contexts,
while simultaneously promoting effective
change in response to pressing global
issues.
 These groups often find themselves in a
situation of social anomie in which old ways
of life have lost their traditional standing.
They are caught in the pressure of
globalization and of international markets for
greater efficiency and are losing their
security nets and for whom the programs
promulgated by the existing modernizing
regimes, are not able to provide meaningful
interpretations of the new reality.
 A very important group which may be
highly susceptible to communal-religious or
fundamentalist messages are younger
generation of seemingly hitherto well-
established urban classes who distance
themselves from the more secular style of
life of their relatively successful parents. But
even more important are the relatively
recent members of second-generation
immigrants to the larger cities from
provincial urban and even some rural
centers (Eisenstadt, 1999).
 A story of Gio, Latif and Laksa
When Gio was second year international
affair student in a university in Cebu city, he
obtained funding to join the school team
participating in an international Model UN
competition in Sydney, Australia. At the
height of the competition, Gio made plenty
of new friends and became particularly close
with Latif from the Malaysian team. The two
started talking when Latif asked Gio where
he was from.
 Upon discovering that Gio was from the
Philippines, Latif lit up and declared that he
was a big fan of Filipino actors Jericho
Rosales and Kristine Hermosa. Gio was
pleasantly surprised to learn that Latif had
seen the episode of the ABS-CBN
telenovela Pangako Sayo (“The Promise”)
the had aired on Malaysian TV a few years
back, and its two stars had developed a
modest following.
 Ashamed that he did not know as much
about Malaysia as Latif knew about the
Philippines, Gio asked Latif what his country
was like. Latif, he discovered, was from a
Muslim University in Kuala Lumpur. Gio
asked him what he likes the best about living
in “KL,” and Latif immediately mentioned the
food. Latif explained that In Kuala Lumpur,
one can find Chinese, Indian, and Malay
cuisines.
 He told Gio that his assortment of
foodways was the result of how the British
reorganized Malaysian society during the
colonial times. The British did little to change
the way of life of the Malays who were the
original residents, but brought in Chinese
laborers to work in the rubber plantations
and tin mines, Indians to help to manage the
bureaucracy and serve as the initial
professional core of a potential middle class.
One of the ways that these ethnic groups
were identified was through their food ways.
 According to Latif, Malaysia eventually
became famous for these cuisines which
can be found in the various “hawker centers”
across the nation’s cities and towns. These
food stands are located in outdoor food
parks where locals and tourists taste the
best of Malaysia, from nasi lemak to laksa.
Gio interrupted Latif and asked, “what is
Laksa?” he felt more ashamed at his lack of
knowledge. “Ah … Let me show what it is
and how it is prepared!” replied Latif.
 The next day, Latif took Gio to a Malaysian
restaurant a few blocks away from the
university. Gio was surprised to discover
that Malaysian food was readily available in
Sydney. Having noticed this, Latif explained
to his Filipino friend that, over the years, as
more and more Malaysians students moved
to Sydney to study, Malaysian restaurant
followed suit. Soon after, they were catering
not only to these students, but Australian-
born “Sydneysiders” as well, whose culinary
tastes were becoming more and more
diverse.
 Gio finally had his first taste of laska- arice
noodle soup in spicy coconut curry sauce.
He found the flavors intense since, like most
Filipinos, he was not used to spicy food.
However, in deference to his friend, he
persisted and eventually found himself
enjoying the hot dish.
After the meal, Gio and Latif went to
nearby café and ordered “flat whites”-an
espresso drink similar to latte, which is
usually served in cafés in Australia and New
Zealand.
 Both knew what flat whites were since
there were Australian-inspired café in both
Kuala Lumpur and Cebu.
The new friends promised to stay in touch
after the competition, and added each other
on Facebook and Instagram. Over the next
two years, they exchange e-mails and posts,
congratulated each other for their
achievements, and commented on and liked
each other’s photo. Latif send his mother’s
recipe to Gio and the latter began cooking
Malaysian food in his home.
 A few years after graduation, Gio move to
Singapore, joining many other overseas
Filipino workers (OFW) in the city-state. The
culture was new to him, but one thing was
familiar: the food serve in Singapore was no
different from the Malaysian food he had
discovered through Latif. He would later
learn from Singaporean colleagues that the
island country was once part of the British
colony of Malay and the post war
independent Federation of Malaysia.
 Singapore, however, separated from the
Federation in August 1965 and became a
nation-state. Today, they may be two distinct
countries in this part of the world, but
Singapore and Malaysia still share the same
cuisine.
After he settled down in his apartment, Gio
sought out and found a favorite laksa stall in
Newtown Hawker Center. He would spend
his weekends there with friends eating laksa
and other dishes.
 One Saturday, while Gio checking his
facebook feed along the very busy Orchard
Road- Singapore’s main commercial road-
he noticed that Latif had just posted
something 5 minutes earlier. It was a picture
from Orchard Road. Surprised but also
excited, Gio sent Latif a private message.
Latif replied immediately saying that he too
had moved to Singapore and was, at that
moment, standing in front a department
store just few blocks away from where Gio
was.
 The two friends met up, and after a long
hug and quick questions as to what each
was up to, they ducked into a café and
renewed their international friendship.. By
ordering a pair of flat whites.
 Global Experiences

Gio and Latif’s story is fictional but very

plausible since it is, in fact, based on the
real-life experience of one of the authors. It
was through such friendships that one was
able to appreciate the meaning and impact
of globalization.
The story shows how globalization
operates at a multiple, intersecting levels.
The spread of Filipino TV into Malaysia how
fast this poplar culture has proliferated and
criss-crossed all over Asia.
 The model UN activity that GIO and Latif
participated in an international competition
about international politics. Gio met Latif in
Sydney, a global city that derives its wealth
and influence from the global capital that
flows through it. Sydney is also a metropolis
of families of international immigrants or
foreigners working in the industries that also
sell their products abroad.
 After the two had gone back to their home
countries, Gio and latif kept in touch through
Facebook and Instagram, a global social
networking site that provides instantenous
communication across countries and
continents. They preserved their friendship
on line and then rekindled this face-to-face
in Singapore, another hub for global
commerce, with 40 percent of the population
being classified as “foreign talents.”
 Different people encounter globalization in
a variety of ways, it is deemed useful to ask
simple question like:

1.Is globalization good or bad?

2.Is it beneficial or detrimental?

First, Globalization is a complex

phenomenon that occurs at multiple levels.

Second, it is uneven process that affects

people differently.
 Some Description
Gio’s story is a very privileged way of
experiencing global flows, but for other people, the
shrinking of the world may not be exciting and
edifying.
For example, it is vey common for young women
in developing countries to be recruited in the
internet as “mail- order brides” for foreign men
living in other countries. After being promised a
good life once married to a kind husband in a rich
city, they end up becoming sexual domestic
servants in foreign lands. Some where even sold
off by their “husbands” to gangs which run
prostitute ring in the cities.
 Government that decides to welcome the
foreign investment on their belief that they
provide jobs and capital for the country offer
public lands as factory or industrial sites. In
the process, poor people living in these
lands, also called “urban poor communities”
are being evicted by the government. In
irony is that these people forcibly removed
from their lands. They had to be kicked out
of their homes.
 Globalization: a working definition

Manfred Steger describe process of

Globalization:
1.The expansion refers to both creation of new
social networks and multiplication of existing
connections that cut across traditional political,
economic, cultural, and geographic boundaries.
Example;
Social media (establishing new global
connections between people, while international
groups of non-government organizations (NGOs)
are networks that connect a more specific group-
social workers and activists-
 2.Intensification refers to the expansion,
stretching, and acceleration of these networks. Not
only global connections multiplying, but they are
also becoming more closely-knit and expanding
their reach.
Example:
There has always been a strong financial market
connecting London and New York. With the advent
of electronic trading, however the volume of that
trade increases exponentially, since traders can
now trade more at higher speeds. The connection
thus acceleration, however , as the world becomes
more financially integrated, the intensified trading
networks between London and New York may
expand and stretch to cover more and more cities.
 Steger differentiated globalization with an
ideology he calls globalism.

Globalization represents the many

processes that allow for the expansion and
intensification of global connections;

Globalism is a widespread belief among

powerful people that the global integration of
economic markets is beneficial for everyone,
since it spreads freedom and democracy
across the world.
 Arjun Appadurai (anthropologist)
Different kinds of globalization occur in multiple
and intersecting dimensions of integration that he
calls “Scapes.”
1.Ethnoscape- refers to the global movement of
people
2.Mediascape-refers to the flow of culture
3.Technoscape – refers to the circulation of
mechanical goods and software.
4.Financescape – denotes global circulation of
money
5.Ideoscape – is the realm where political ideas
move around.
Leaning Activity:
Go to your room and do inventory of everything you have in
your possession. You will find out that most essential among
the things in your room are foot wear, clothes, computers(if
any), cell phones, television (if possible), maybe a radio, books,
newspapers, news magazines, school supplies and equipment.
Organized your inventory into two types: first, “things” that are
made in the Philippines and second, those that are from foreign
brands. List the countries of origin of your foreign-brand items.
Do the same thing in your kitchen and living room. These
include appliances.
Determine which countries make the most of your household
and personal needs you and your families have.
Leaning Activity:
 Please answer the following and observe at least 50
words per question.
1. Have you experienced globalization? How?
2. Why is it crucial to emphasize that globalization is
uneven?
3. What is the difference between globalization and
globalism?
The Metaphor of Globalization
What is Metaphor of Globalization?
As with any aspect of world politics, globalization
is bound up in metaphors. The countless and widely
varying examples include 'creol- ization',
'flexibilization', 'glocalization', 'McWorld', and 'virtual
reality'. Such utterances generate mental
associations that can deeply shape overall
knowledge of globalization.
Further Reading:
Link:
https://scholarship.law.umn.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=118
5&context=mjil
History of Globalization
•Leonid Grinin and Andrey Korotayev contribute to the
history of globalization an
analysis of the nature of global processes and causes of
increasing integration. They propose a history of
globalization that draws on a special methodology and a
world-system approach based on the development of
spatial links over seven periods of time starting with the
Agrarian Revolution (four before and three after the great
geographic discoveries). The time periods range from
before the 4th millennium BCE to the 21st century. The
types of spatial links described range from local and
regional links to global and planetary links through
continental and intercontinental ones. Evidence is
presented for each period..
This includes for instance the existence of large-scale trade
in metals as early as 4th millennium BCE, and the social
impact of intercontinental trade in the late 1st millennium
BCE. The evidence also includes a density and diversity of
transcontinental links sufficient to transmit disease (bubonic
plague) from the Far East to the Atlantic in two decades
(1330s-1340s), and the comparability of some aspects of
global integration prior to the great geographic discoveries
with more recent periods. The authors note that
globalization began at least as early as 4th thousand BCE.
The proposed system of spatial links addresses
shortcomings in previous systems that tended to
underestimate the scale of spatial links in the pre-industrial
era.
•William Thompson contributes to the history of political and
economic globalization an analysis of the significance of
global events. He argues that the way we make sense of
world politics and episodes of accelerated globalization
depends on our historical scripts, and that these vary
considerably. It is not so much a matter of disagreeing
about what happened in the past as it is the one of
disagreeing about which past events were most significant
to an understanding of international relations processes.
Validating one person’s historical script versus someone
else’s is a highly problematic exercise. Counterfactuals,
however, can be utilized to at least suggest or reinforce the
asserted significance of different versions of political-
economic history.
•A series of eight counterfactuals encompassing
the past 1000 years are harnessed to buttress the
utility of framing the development of the modern
world economy around a chain of lead economies
and system leaders extending back to Sung China
and forward to the United States. These potential
turning points matter in part because they did not
go down the counterfactual path but might have.
They matter even more because of the path that
was pursued at each point. They matter because
they created a political-economic structure for
world politics that has first emerged, then evolved
and, so far, endured. The implications of what did
happen (not what did not happen) are still with us
today.
•Christopher Chase-Dunn contributes to the
globalization in history section a discussion on the
continuities and transformations of systemic logic.
Modes of accumulation in the world historical
evolutionary perspective are described and the
prospects for systemic transformation in the next
several decades evaluated. The article also
considers the meaning of the recent global financial
meltdown by comparing it with earlier debt crises
and periods of collapse. Has this been xxii |
Sheffield, Korotayev, & Grinin just another debt
crisis like the ones that have periodically occurred
over the past 200 years, or is it part of the end of
capitalism and the transformation to a new and
different logic of social reproduction?
•The author considers how the contemporary
network of global counter-movements and
progressive national regimes are seeking to
transform the capitalist world-system into a more
humane, sustainable and egalitarian civilization and
how the current crisis is affecting the network of
counter-movements and regimes, including the Pink
Tide populist regimes in Latin America, and the anti-
austerity movements. The ways in which the New
Global Left is similar to, and different from, earlier
global counter-movements are also described. The
discussion contributes to the development of a
comparative and evolutionary framework that
examines what is really new about the current
global situation and what constitutes therefore
collectively rational responses.
•Randall Collins completes Part I with a geopolitical analysis
of key globalization events in the past, present, and future. As
historical sociologists in the tradition of Weber have
documented, the state’s existence has depended on its
military power, which varies in degree of monopolization, of
legitimacy, and of extent of territory controlled. Geopolitical
principles (comparative resource advantage, positional or
marchland advantage, logistical overextension) have
determined both the Chinese dynastic cycles, and the balance
of power in European history. In 1980 the author was
successful in using these geopolitical principles to predict the
strains which brought about the collapse of the Soviet empire,
which was itself a continuation of the older Russian empire.
The same geopolitical principles continue to apply to recent
wars in Afghanistan, Iraq, and Pakistan. Guerrilla wars diff er
from conventional wars by relying especially on geopolitical
principles of promoting enemy overextension.
•Geopolitics encompasses both war and diplomacy, the
means by which coalitions among states are organized. The
rule of international law depends on a dominant coalition
upheld by favorable geopolitical conditions; and on the
extension of bureaucracy via state penetration, but now on a
world-wide scale. Randall Collins answers two key questions
regarding historical globalization processes: “Is the world of
the early 21st century moving towards a new era of
international rule of law to support universal human rights?”
and “Where does the opposition to universal human rights
come from?” His answers to both of these questions
demonstrate that international rule of law is not an alternative
to geopolitics, but is successful only under specific geopolitical
conditions.
 Dynamics of Local and Global Culture
At the beginning of the new century culture is
exposed to a radical change all over the world.
Those whose education or wealth allows them to
partake fully in the advantages
of a globalized culture and economy tend to
have a positive attitude towards these
developments. On the other hand, there are strong
local movements, especially in the Third World,
which reject the project of globalization as
essentially destructive of all the values they hold
dear. They see globalization as an extension of
colonization, with its concomitant destruction of
local moral values and ways of knowing.
 Yet many of the “local” traditions are constructs
invented by the ethnologists of the colonizers, and
retention of these imaginary “traditions” involves a
limitation of growth and cultural development.
Creative cultural energies are attracted to the
centers (Western Europe, the USA, Japan), thus
allowing them to generate cultural surplus, while at
the same time destroying indigenous cultures
worldwide.
Make a further reading follows this link :
https://www.eolss.net/Sample-Chapters/C04/E6-23-04-01.pd
f
Globalization and Regionalization
Read link:
https://www.slideshare.net/ananthaprabhu31/regionalization-vs-
globalisation