I.

COURSE TITLE: THE CONTEMPORARY WORLD

II. COURSE NUMBER: GE 102

III. COURSE DESCRIPTION:

This course introduces students to the contemporary world by examining
the multiplaceted 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 peoples 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.

IV. TOTAL LEARNING TIME: 54 Hours in a Semester

V. OVERVIEW:

This module aims to be a guide to the students of CAPSU DAYAO who

are affected of this COVID-19 Pandemic. This is with regards to the solution to
the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) is trying to implement;
specifically it is called The Blended Learning. In this step, students are
encouraged to the online learning as well as the face to face learning. Preferably,
this module is most beneficial to those students who are stranded in their
respective provinces. For all we know that other municipalities in our province
have a very poor internet connection. This will still update them and encourage
them to do independent learning. And if by chance they have access to the
internet, they could contact their teachers for some additional module or
clarifications about the said module.

VI. LEARNING OUTCOMES:

a. Distinguish different interpretations of and approaches to
globalization.
b. Describe the emergence of global economic, political, social, and
cultural systems.
c. Analyze the various contemporary drivers of globalization.

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 d. Undestand the issues confronting the nation-state.

e. Assess the effects of globalization on different social units and their

responses.
f. Analyze contemporary news events in the context of globalization.
g. Analyze global issues in relation to Filipinos and the Philippines.
h. Write a research paper with proper citations on a topic related to
globalization.
i. Articulate personal positions on various global issues.
j. Identify the ethical implications of global citizenship.

VII. INDICATIVE CONTENT:

CHAPTER 1 – Introduction to Globalization

-Defining globalization

CHAPTER 2 – The Structures of Globalization

-Market Integration
-The Global Economy
-The Global Interstate System
-Contemporary Global Governance

CHAPTER 3 – A World of Regions

-Global Divides: The North and the South
-Asian Regionalism

CHAPTER 4 – A world of Ideas

-Global Media Cultures
-The Globalization of Religion

CHAPTER 5 – Global Populatiom and Mobility

-The Global City
-Global Demography
-Global Migration
-Towards a Sustainable World
-Sustainable Development
-Global Food Security

VIII. DISCUSSION

CHAPTER 1: Introduction to Globalization

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  Defining globalization – the most important change. It
encompasses a multitude of processes that involves the economy,
political systems and culture.

Introduction

Much has changed since time immemorial. Human beings have encountered many
changes over the last century especially in their social relationships and social structures. Of
these changes, one can say that globalization is a very important change, if not the “most
important” (Baurman 2003). The reality and omnipresence of globalization make us see
ourselves as part of what we refere to as the “global age” (Albrow 1996). The internet for
example, allows a person from the Philippines to know what is happening to the rest of the
world simply browsing Google. The mass media also allowed for further connections of
people, communities and countries all over the regions.

What is globalization? This question is probably an easy to answer. However, many

scholars gave and continue to formulate definitions of it. The resulted to different, sometimes
contradicting views about the concept, it cannot be contained within a specific time frame, all
people and all situations. Aside from the globalization encompasses a multitude of processes
that economy, political systems and culture. Social structures, therefore, are directly affected
by globalization.

In this chapter, different definitions of globalization will be discussed. It will be

revealed that the task of conceptualizing it involves a variety of perspectives. For further
understanding of the concept, different metaphors will be used, such as solid and liquid.
These metaphors will also allow an appreciation of earlier epochs before globalization and
the present globalized world. The final lesson in this chapter will be devoted to a general
discussion of globalization theories. This section will highlight further difference among
scholars in explaining globalization.

The Task of Defining Globalization

Since its first appearance in Webster’s dictionary in 1961, many opinions about
globalization have flourished. The literature on the definitions of globalization revealed that
definitions could be classified as either (1) broad and inclusive or (2) narrow and exclusive.
The one offered by Ohmae in 1992 stated “globalization means the onset of the borderless
world.” This is an example of a broad and inclusive type of definition. If one uses such, it can
include a variety of issues that deal with overcoming traditional boundaries. However, it does
not shed light on the implications of globalization due to its vagueness.

Narrow and exclusive definitions are better justified but can be limiting as well in the
sense that its application are only to those who adhere to such definition. Robert Cox’s
definition suits best in this type: “the characteristics of the globalization trend include the
internalizing of production, the new international division of labor new migratory movements
from South to North, the new competitive environment that accelerates these processes, and
the internationalizing of the state, making states into agencies of the globalizing world.”

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 No matter how one classifies a definition of globalization, the concept is complex and
multifaceted as the definitions deal with economic, political, or social dimensions. In fact, in
a comprehensive study of 114 definitions by the Geneva Center for Security Policy in 2006,
67 of them refer to economic dimension. These definitions include political and social
dimension. These definitions include political and social dimensions as well. The sheer
number and complexity of definitions of does not mean that there is a remarkable
improvement in every definition given by scholars. Kumar (2003) took on a different
argument about the issue. To him, the debate about what can be done about globalization and
what is, in relation to what some academics have claimed about defining globalization – it is
a useless task. Ritzer (2015), “globalization is a transplanetary process or set of processes
involving increasing liquidity and the growing multidirectional flows of people, objects,
places and information as well as the structures they encounter and create that are barriers to,
or expedite, those flows”. Although things flow easily in a global world hindrances or
structural blocks are aso present. These blocks could slow down one’s activity in another
country or could even limit the places a person can visit.

 Why are we going to spend time studying these concept? How can we appreciate
these definitions? How can these help as understand globalization?

Firstly, defining globalization is shape by the perspective of the person who defines it.
The overview of definitions implied that globalization is many things to many
different people. In 1996, Arjun Appadoral said “globalization is “world of things”
‘that have different speeds, axes, points of origin, termination, and varied
relationships to institutional structures in different regions, nations or societies. Al-
Rhodan (2006) wrote that definition suggest the perspective of the author on the
origins and the geopolitical implications of globalizations. It is a starting point that wil
guide the rest of any discussions.

Secondly, as Poppi (1997 wrote “the literatures steamming from the debate on
globalization has grown in the last decade beyond any individuals capability of
extracting a workable definition of the concept. Anysense, the meaning of the concept
is self-evident, in another, his vague and obscure as its reaches are wide and
constantly shifting. Perhaps more than any other concept, globalization is the debate
about it,”

Thirdly, globalization is a reality. It is changing as human society develops. It has

happened before and is still happening today. We should expect it to continue to
happen in the future. The future of globalization is more difficult to predict.

Overall, globalization is a concept that is not easy to define because in reality,

defining globalization on has a shifting nature. It is complex, multifasceted and can be
influence by the people who define it. Moreover, the issues and concerns involving
globalization have a wide range from the individual to society; from small
communities to nations and states; and from the benefits we can gain from it to costs
it could carry. “The globalization of nothing” George Ritzer (2003) said attitudes

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 toward globalization depend among other things,, on whether one gains or loses from
it.

Methapors of Globalization

In order for us to better understand the concept of globalization, we will utilize

metaphors. Metaphores make use of one term to help us better understand another term. In
our case, the states of matter –solid and liquid- will be used. In addition, other related
concepts that are included in the definition such as structures and flows will be elaborated.

o Solid and Liquid

Solidity also refers to barriers that prevent or make difficult the movement of things.
Furthermore, solids can either be natural or man-made. Examples of natural solids are
landforms and bodies of water. Man-made barriers include the Great Wall of China and
Berlin Wall. Imaginary lines such as the Nine-Dash Line being used by the People’s Republic
of China in their claim to the West Philippine Sea is an example of modern man-made solid.
This created limited acces of Filipino fishermen to the West Philippine Sea. Obviosly, these
examples still exist. However, they have the tendency to melt. This should not be taken
literally being like an iceberg melting instead this process involves how we can describe what
is happening to today’s global world.

Liquid, as a state of matter, takes the shape of container. Moreover, liquids are not
fixed. Liquidity therefore, refers to the increasing ease of movement of people, things,
information, and places in the contemporary world. The characteristic of liquid phenomena is
that their movement is difficult to stop. For example, the videos being uploaded on Youtube
or Facebook are hard to halt once they become viral. The so-called internet sensations
become famous not just in their homeland but to the entire world as well. Finally, the forces
made political boundaries more permeable to the flow of people and things (Cartier 2001).
This brings us to what Ritzer (2015) regarded as the most important characteristic of liquid:
it “tends to melt whatever stands in its path (especially solids).” The clearest example is the
decline, if not death, of the nation-state.

Liquidity and solidity is in constant interaction. Liquidtiy is the one increasing and
proliferating today.

o Flow

The discussion above described the melting process of solid phenomena followed by
the increase in liquidity. It is logical, that flows of liquid phenomena be discussed next. Flows
are the movement of people, things, places, and information brought by the growing
“porosity” of global limitations. Think of the different foreign cuisine being patrogized by the
Filipinos. Aside from local dishes, many of it are fond of eating ramen, hamburger and
French fries – foods introduced to us by foreign cultures. Clearly, foods being globalized.
Another example of flows are global financial crisis. As Landler (2008) put it. “In global
financial system, national borders are porous”. This means that a financial crisis in a given

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country can bring to other regions if the world. An example of which is the spread of the
effects of American financial crisis to Europe in 2008. The following are other kinds of flows
that can be observed today: poor illegal migrants fooding many parts of the world (Moses
2006), the virtual flow of lgal and illegal information such as blogs and child pornography,
respectively, and immigrants recreating ethnic enclaves in host countries. A concrete example
are the Filipino communities abroad and Chinese communities in the Philippines.

Activity 1: The World Made Closer

In this activity, you will be able to see their connection\s to the rest of the world based
on different aspects of daily life such as politics, music, sports, film, celebrity, and
disaster.

Answer the following questions:

1. Enumerate atleast three of the most recent songs you have listened to.
Where did they start? Identify the nationality of the creator and/or artist
for each music.
a. What gadget devices do you usually use to listen to music?
b. Where are these gadgets\devices made? Where is the company based?
c. How did you access these music? Do you purchase them online or
listen to them through Youtube, Spotify, and other music channels?
2. Create you generalizations and discuss what is globalization? Or How do
I define globalization?
3. Using a flow chart, create a diagram showing the importance of
Globalization to the progress of our country.

Globalization Theories

We have established the many definitions of and issues in defining globalization and
the metaphors that we can use to easily understand the concept. We also into its origin and
history. This section gives a glimpse of the important theories on globalization. We will
analyse globalization culturally, economically and politically. In the meantime, it would be
helpful to say that the theories see globalization as a process that increases either
homogeneity or heterogeneity.

Homogeneity refers to the increasing sameness in the world as cultural inputs,

economic factors, and political orientations of societies expand to create common practices,
same economies and similar forms of government. Homogeneity in culture is often linked to
cultural imperialism. This means a given culture influences other cultures. For example, the
dominant religion in our country is Christianity which was brought to us by the Spaniards.
Another exanoke us Americanization which was defined by Richard Kuesel (1993) as “the
import by non-Americans of products, images, technologies, practices and behaviour that are

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closely associated with America\Americans.” In terms of the economy, there is recognition of
the spread of neoliberalism, capitalism, and the market economy in the world (Antonio 2007).
Global economic crisis are also products of himigeneity in economic globalization. In the
end, rich countries become advantageous in the world economy at the expense of poor
countries; leading to increased inequality among nations. The political realm also suffers
homogenization it one takes into account the emerging similar models of governance in the
world. Benjamin Barber(1995) said that “McWorld: is existing. It means only one political
orientation is growing in today societies.

On the other hand is the process of heterogeneity. This pertains to the creation of
various cultural practices, new economies, and political groups because of the interaction of
elements from different societies in the world. Heterogeneity refers to the differences because
of either lasting differences or f the hybrids or combinations of cultures which can be
produced through the different transplanetary processes. Contrary to cultural imperialism
heterogeneity in culture is associated with cultural hybridization. A more specific concept is
“glocalization” coined by Roland Robertson(1992). To him, as global forces interact with
local factors or a specific geographic area, the “glocal” is being produced. Economic issues
are not exempted from heterogeneity. The commodification of culture and “glocal” markets
are examples of differentiation happening in many economies around the world.

Although homogeneity and heterogeneity gave us idea about the effects of

globalization, the picture is not yet complete. The theories about globalization will be
clarified as we look closer at each of them in the succeeding chapters.

Origins and History of Globalization

The previous discussion answered the question, “what is globalization?” The next
question. “Where did it start?” is not easy to answer as well because there are different views
about this. It would mean no harm to look at the five different perspectives regarding the
origins of globalization.

o Hardwired

According to Nayan Chanda(2007), it is 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 the said continent in
the last late Ice Age. The long journey finallu led them well known continents today,
roughly after 50,000 years.

Chanda mentioned that commerce, religion, politics and warfare are the “urges” of
people towar a better life. These are respectively connected to four aspects of
globalization and they can be traced all throughout history: trade, ,issionary work,
adventures, and conquest.

o Cycles

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 For some, globalization is a long- term cyclical process and thus, finding its origin
will be daunting task. What is important, are the cycles globalization has gone
through (Scholte 2005). Subscribing to this view will suggest adherents to the idea
that other global ages have appeared. There is also the notion to suspect that this point
of globalization will soon disappear and reappear.

o Epoch

Ritzer(2005) cited Therborn’s (2000) six great epoch’s of globalization. This are
also called “waves” in each has its own origin. Today’s globalization is not unique if
this is the case. The difference of this view from the second views (cycles) is that it
thus not treat epoch’s as returning. The following are the sequencial occurrence of the
epochs:
1. Globalization of religion (4th-7th Centuries)
2. European colonial conquests (late 15th Century)
3. Intra-European wars (late 18th-early 19th Centuries)
4. Heyday of European imperialism (mid 19th Century to 1918)
5. Post-World War II period
6. Post-Cold War period
o Events

Specific events are also considered as part of the fourth view in explaining the origin
of globalization. Gibbon(1998), for example argued that Roman conquests centuries
before Christ are its origin. In an issue of the magazine the Economist (2006, January
12), it considered the rampage of the armies of Gengnis Khan into Eastern Europe in
the thirteenth century. Rosenthal (2007) gave premium to vayages of discovery
Christopher Columbos’s discovery of America, Vasco Da Gama in Cape of Good
Hope in 1498 and Ferdinand Magellan’s competed circumnavigation in the globe in
1522.

The recently years could also be regarded as the beginnings of globalization with
reference to specific technological advances in transportation and communication.
Some examples include the first transatlantic telephone cable (1956), the first
transatlantic television broadcasts (1952), the foundling of the modern internet in
1988, and the terrorist attacks on the Twin Towers in New York (2001). Certainly
with this view, more specific events will characterize not just the origin of
globalization but more of its history.

o Broader, More Recent Changes

Recent changes comprised the fifth view. These broad changes happened in the last
half of the twentieth century. Scholars today point to these three botable changes as
the origin of globalization that we know today. These are follows:
1. The emergence of the United States as the global power (Post-World War
II)

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 2. The emergence of multinational corporations (MNCs)
3. The demise of the Soviet Union and the end of the Cold War

Thoughout its dominant military and economic power after WWII, the US was able to
outrun Germany and Japan in terms of industry. Both axis powers and Allies fall
behind economically as compared to the new global power. Because of this, the US
soon began to progress in different aspects like in diplomacy, media, film (as in the
Hollywood,) and many more.

The US, Germany, and Great Britain had in their home and great corporations which
the world knows today. However, they did not remain there as far as their production
and market are concerned. For example, Ford and General Motors originated in the
US but in the Twentieth century they ecported more automobiles and opened factories
to other countries.

Many global processes – immigration, tourism, media, and diplomacy spread

throughout the planet. This paved way for the so-called “free” world. China, even
though the government remains communist, is on its way to becoming a major force
in global capitalism. Moreover, China is also globalizing in terms of other aspects
such as their hosting of the Olympics in 2008.

Activity 2: What do Writers Think about Globalization?

Look for and read three newspapers opinion-editorials discussing

globalization. You may use local or international. You should have written a
50-word summary for each. Also identify whether they are broad and
inclusive or narrow and exclusive.

CHAPTER 2: The Structures of Globalization

 The Global Economy – economic globalization refers to the
increasing interdependence of world economies as a result of the
growing scale of cross-border trades.
 Market Integration – globalization made some countries, especially
the developing ones to gain more in global economy.
 The Global Interstate System
 The Contemporary Global Governance

CHAPTER 3: A World of Regions

 Global Divides: The North and the South

 Global North – These are the first-world countries. These
are USA, Canada, Western Europe, and some developed
parts of Asia

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  Global South – includes Carribean, Latin America, South
America, Africa and some parts of Asia.
 Asian Regionalism

CHAPTER 4 – Global Population and Mobility

 The Global City- the city which progress is evident. Enough and
sufficient natural and man-made resources are aboundant.
 Global Demography – the measurement of a certain population in a
specific country and specific time. Also the measurement to
fertility and morality rates.
 Global Migration- transferring from a grown state or country to a
new one.
 Sustainable Development- sustainability means that the production
of the world’s natural resources such as water and fossil fuel will
allow humanity to discover and innovate many things.
 Global Food Security- means delivering sufficient food to the
entire world population.

IX. EXERCISE/DRILLS:
 Seatworks
 Quizzes
 Oral Question and Answer
 Oral Reading of an article
 Essay Writing

X. EVALUATION
CHAPTER 1:
FLOW CHART. Using a flow chart, create a diagram showing the
importance of Globalization to the progress of our country.

CHAPTER 2: ESSAY.
SEATWORK. Answer the given questions for development processing.
1. In what ways do international organizations help our country’s
economy?
2. Does the position of rich countries as giants in the economic chain
threaten the statues of less developed countries in the global
market?
3. Do you think that Philippines is harmed as other countries transfer
their activities to us through outcoming?

CHAPTER 3: VENN DIAGRAM

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 VENN DIAGRAM. By means of a Venn Diagram, illustrate the
similarities and the differences of the Global Nort North and the Global South.

CHAPTER 4: ESSAY

SEATWORK. Answer the following questions:

1. Find an OFW or former OFW to be interviwed. Your respondent’s name

should not be revealed in class.
2. Use the following guide questions:
 How long have you stayed abroad?
 What are the purposes for your stay there?
 What were your most unforgettable experiences there? How
will describe them, good or bad?
 How will you compare the Philippines with other countries?
 Do you want to go abroad? Or to other countries in the future?
Why or why not?

XI. ADDITIONAL READINGS

 DESIDERATA by Max Ehrmann
 The College Puzzle by Dr. Michael W. Kirst

XII. REFERENCES
 The Contemporary World, Prince Kennex Reguyal Aldama
 www.collegepuzzlestanford.edu
 https://www.sciencedirect.com
 https://www.researchgate.com

Prepared By:

ROSAME C. DAÑOS
Course Facilitator

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