SOCSCI032 – Contemporary World Essay Answers

1. What opportunities and challenges does globalization pose to the

Philippines? How do you think the Philippines can make the most of these
opportunities and can respond to these challenges?

-Opportunities: Economic growth and employment, increase of OFW remittances,

Opening of International trade, growth in ICT, business and export related
industries

-Challenges: Inflation, Income Inequality, Prioritization of local goods instead of

imported ones, greater exposure to external shocks and policies

-Responses: Promotion of financial inclusion, Cooperation in global efforts to

further strengthen rules-based international transactions.

Terminologies

 Opening of International Trade – by lessening trade barriers such as import

taxes, tariffs and the like, it improves the GDP of the country by a significant
percentage. It also improves information and communications technology.
 Economic Growth and Employment – with increase in GDP, with more jobs
available, there would be increased employment in the country. With
increased employment, comes smaller dependency and adds to the
economic growth.
 Increase of OFW Remittances – With increased demands for high skilled
workers abroad, business migration and migration due to work would
increase and thus increase in remittances which is also considered to be the
incomes of the recipient households, which adds a large increment to its
disposable income thus improving the Philippine Economy.
 Growth in ICT, business, export industries – ICT – free flow of information
and networks forged. Business and Export – further growth may accrue to the
local economy in terms of revenues and investments. Increased need for
transportation of goods from one place to another.
 Inflation – factor for the observed decline in the sensitivity of inflation
because it changes in real economic activity thus increased trade and
investment flows made prices less responsive to domestic demand pressure.
 Income Inequality - if GDP growth is accompanied by an increase in
inequality, this could still worsen poverty. Over the medium run, distributional
changes may be responsible for sizeable changes in poverty and in some
instances, these changes may even offset the favourable effects of growth.
 Promotion of financial inclusion - The BSP has been deeply involved in
initiatives that promote financial inclusion to ensure that appropriate financial
 products and services are accessible to a great majority of the population.
The BSP has also promoted the offering of microfinance loans, micro
agricultural loans, microfinance housing loans, micro-deposits and micro-
insurance.

2. What are the similarities and differences between the galleon trade
centuries ago and the international or global trade in the contemporary
time? Has the galleon trade impacted the day to day lives of the Filipinos
today?
- Similarities – international trade between Spain, China and Philippines,
Galleon trade and Global trade as harbinger of globalization. Manila as center
of globalization, involvement of rich companies
- Differences – no personal interaction of the trader with its goods with another
trader. Faster than before, just a call away, policies can already be discussed
before the trading of goods.
- Yes, because it opened the country to global trade thus Filipinos and
establish connection with other countries and Filipinos today merit from
experiences, they got from the policies of the Galleon trade.

3. From the time the Philippines gained its independence after the World War
II, the nation has unceasingly faced enormous security issues. The Marawi
siege that claimed thousands of lives has once again displayed the
country’s vulnerability to both internal and external security challenge.
Trace where and when this security issue had taken its roots. Explain the
struggles that gave birth to this continuing conflict.
- They exploit our weak institutions, endemic corruption, bad governance, and
tattered values. Problems persist because, historically, we either evade
solutions that affect vested interests; or address symptoms rather than the
root causes. Good governance — national and local — and responsible
citizenship are essential to a “whole-of-nation” approach for lasting peace,
inclusive growth and sustainable development. A nation divided cannot win.

- We lack the patriotic fervor of other nations to solve persistent problems and
reinforce the elements of our national power. To survive, we need to change
our attitudes and behavior to what we should finally become — a diverse
society united in common purpose for a dynamic Philippines.\

4. The United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change 20th

Conference of Parties (UNFCCC-COP 20) held in Lima, Peru a couple of
years ago ended with many NGOs criticizing governments to be
backtracking on pledges to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and protect
the environment. This scenario was much like the outcomes of other
climate change conferences and initiatives: states evade binding
 commitments on greenhouse gas emission reduction. What do you think
primarily explains the persistence of this problem? Why is it difficult for
governments to sign, ratify and most importantly, implement environment
agreement?
a. A divided country, Politicians or officers who are against these agendas,
High ranks not proposing better ordinances in order for these agreements
to be enacted, Businessmen who value profit over the environmental
concerns and its current situation.
b. Rich countries have consistently promoted a global economic agenda
which deliberately opens up poor countries to very powerful corporations
who are able to lobby, bully, cajole, or just ignore national and
international environmental laws and agreements. Many countries sign
agreements at international conferences like Rio with a great fanfare, but
then quietly fail to ratify them or pass them into domestic law. Some
analysts argue there are simply too many bodies now making too many
agreements, and reform of the UN system is urgently needed.
5. Cite one specific global issue where you can observe global governance.
Briefly explain the nature of the issue. Identify the actors involved and the
specific measures they have undertaken to address it.
- Terrorism
- Nature: Security Issue
- Actors involved: United Nations Office of Counter-Terrorism
- Specific Measures:
6. What explains ASEAN’s intergovernmental approach to regionalism? In
what ways does it affect its ability to solve regional issues such as
territorial disputes? Is the approach likely to change soon? Defend.
- Intergovernmental approach to regionalism means that even if it is
encouraged that there would be collaboration between many states in the
SEA, that these states operate independently and that they would still
integrate non-interference and non-intervention on domestic matters even if it
is encouraged to boost relationships between states.
- It solves territorial disputes because of the independency of states and that
the improvement of inter-regional relationship of countries is highly prioritized
- No, because the approach worked well for the ASEAN countries

7. Scholars observe that the advent of globalization has ushered in greater

inequality between the global North and South. For instance, it was
observed that in 1960, the average per capita GDP in the richest 20
countries was 15 times that of the poorest 20, and in 2001, the average per
capita GDP in the richest 20 countries was 32 times that of the poorest 20.
What explains the rising inequality between the First and the Third World
 countries? Is it greater market openness? Or is it rather the exclusion from
the globalization process? Explain.
- Greater market openness because Third World countries and First world
countries are both included in the globalization process. Just from the root
word Global, it means that every country is involved. Greater market
openness leads to exploitation of many MNC’s and higher income companies.
This leads to an easier infiltration to the local market by these MNC’s and in
the Third World, the population is continually growing, which means that
these countries are hotspots of income for the First World countries. Also,
global north countries take raw materials from the Global south countries
which has rich deposits of these materials but don’t have the equipment to
harvest and use its potential. Third world are forced to open their markets so
that they could gain favor of these MNCs and allow investments in their
country.
8. What is the relevance of the contemporary interstate system in the
resolution of the conflict between Philippines and China on the issue of
territorial disputes in the West Philippine Sea/South China Sea?
With a new president in charge of the Philippines, the U.S. presidential election
only a few months away and Chinese president Xi Jinping entering his second term
soon, perhaps it is time for all three actors to sit back, take a deep breath and think
clearly about what they really want. Thankfully, China before the ruling, and the
Philippines and United States since, have all signaled that they wish to avoid any
further escalation of the situation.
Every standoff is an opportunity to be taken advantage of rather than something
to be wasted. We believe that China and the Philippines can take some bold steps
and forge something that has never been done, starting with their dispute
regarding the Scarborough Shoal. More specifically, we propose two possible
solutions that can set a precedent for other countries with similar disputes.
The first solution is the solution that has been always on the negotiation table
between the Philippines and China: that is, joint exploration of the Scarborough
Shoal while shelving the dispute on sovereignty. But even here, the two countries
can go further than a minimalist solution. They can agree to develop the disputed
waters into a jointly administered ecological and biological exploration station that
allows scientists from both countries and beyond to explore life beneath the South
China Sea, and an eco-friendly tourism site that allows people from all over the
world to experience the beauty of the South China Sea.
9.
10. Given the status quo, is it possible to replace globalization with a new
world order? If it is possible, how would it materialize?
- Possible
- It would materialize as “one government that governs the world”. It would be
made possible with the end of city-states. One example is the European
Union in which they do not change their states but they pool their sovereignty
into one organization and that they practice a one-government style of
 governance in which they all have the same currency which is the Euro. It
would mostly be political in nature.
11. How does global governance differ from global government?
-Global Governance – coordination, cooperation and interaction of different
countries. Decision making is facilitated by frameworks which are provided.
Intergovernmental relationships.
- Global Government – centralized authority, monopoly of the use of force
worldwide. Implemented rules must be followed by all countries. Vested with
extreme authority.
12. Can the Philippines reap the dividends of demographic transition? Explain
your answer.

the economic growth potential that can result from shifts in a population’s age
structure, mainly when the share of the working-age population (15 to 64) is
larger than the non-working-age share of the population (14 and younger, and 65
and older)". In other words, it is “a boost in economic productivity that occurs
when there are growing numbers of people in the workforce relative to the
number of dependents.”
13. Why do some academics link global city with colonialism?
- This dual perspective of grounding in previous research and progressivity is
achieved through King’s close attention to language. The nexus of power and
domination that underlies concepts such as globalization and postcolonialism is
scrutinized in a self-reflexive academic style that goes back again and again to
reformulate key terms. By having a critical approach to the double-edged
connotations of monolithic grand narratives, King’s methodology and its
relevance in current literature lies in this flair for not taking any definition for
granted. Using the example of London, the idea of the global city is shown to
 share historical links with colonial exploits. What is understood as a symbol of
progress, the supposedly modern city, was built on and fed through a structure of
unequal power relations with other cities. King therefore pays homage to the
Foucauldian sense of the discursive formulation of concepts.

13. Does the proportion of religious belief or atheism in a country determine its
peace? Explain your answer.

- There is no clear statistical relationship between either the presence or the

absence of religious belief and conflict. Even at the extremes, the least peaceful
countries are not necessarily the most religious and vice versa. For example, when
looking at the ten most peaceful countries three would be described as highly religious,
and when looking at the ten least peaceful nations two would be described as the least
religious. Conversely, the absence of religious belief, as manifested by atheism, also
sees no significant link to broader societal peacefulness.

14. Is religion key to understanding what drives peace?

There are many other socio-economic characteristics that have more significant
explanatory power in understanding why conflict and peace occurs than religion does.
There are however some religious factors that are significantly related to peace.
Multivariate regression analysis reveals that there is a consistent relationship between
factors such as corruption, political terror, gender and economic inequality and political
instability which determine poor peace scores as measured by the Global Peace Index
(GPI). The research clearly indicates that these factors are globally more significant
determinants in driving violence and conflict in society than the presence of religious
belief. Nevertheless, there are two religious characteristics which are associated with
peace; restrictions on religious behaviour as well as hostilities towards religion.
Countries without a dominant religious group are, on average, more peaceful and have
less restrictions or social hostilities around religion than countries with a dominant
religious group. However, government type has much greater explanatory power than
religion in understanding differing levels of peace.

15. Has globalization facilitated or obstructed greater labor migration?

-It stands to reason that globalization with its associated liberalization policies resulted in
a massive increase in mobility of labour across borders as in the case of capital and technology.
Castles (1999) maintains that globalization tends to erode the sovereignty and autonomy of the
nation-state and that international migration is an integral part of globalization. Globalization has
made migration much easier through better communications, dissemination of information
through mass media and improved transport, among others. It is the increasing trade and
investment flows in many regions, which facilitated interest and awareness in migration.
“The recent expansion of the global communications network – telephone connections,
satellite dishes and video rental stores – has already had a profound effect on the
consciousness of the world’s less prosperous societies. Horizons have been
broadened, expectations raised and cultural differences diminished. The images
conveyed by such media may be largely false. Nevertheless, they convey a potent
message about the advantages experienced by people living in the developed states”.
(UNHCR, 1995)

Globalization forces have reinforced the movement of skilled workers who move with
FDI flows and multinational investments. Professional managers, highly skilled persons
and technicians are welcomed by many countries to attract foreign investment.

16. Is the heightened flow of people a unique feature of the current global era?

- People have been moving around the world long before the word immigration was
ever mentioned. It is safe to assume that necessity was the reason small populations
migrated to different places. Besides not caring much about racial issues unlike today,
national borders were unheard of so people move and intermarry regularly.

People today move for various reasons like work, leisure, tours, looking for a partner
like what western men do, shopping and many others. So YES, the current global era
with its many ways of traveling has created a heightened flow of people around the
world.

17. Compare the “brain drain” and “brain gain.” Are these comparable
processes? Do they affect different parts of the world differently? (5pts.)

- Brain Drain - the emigration of highly trained or intelligent people from a

particular country. Brain Gain - an increase in the number of highly trained,
foreign-born professionals entering a country to live and work where greater
opportunities are offered. Yes. Foreign education according to Burdent &
Crossman is a brain gain for these developed countries, for instance international
student recruitment has generated over a billion dollars for Australia with majority
coming from Asia (Burdett & Crossman, 2012). Consequently, developed (host)
countries have exploited the situation quiet well to the disadvantage of the
developing (home) countries through active recruitment of international students
(Odhiambo, 2013). Odhiambo further argues that the international student market
is a significant revenue vessel for host countries, but it also seeks to address skill
scarcities in these countries (ibid). Again, some of these developed countries
offer foreign students the opportunity to apply for permanent residency which in
effect is increasing the growing number of foreign students moving into these
developed countries

18. What does it mean to be a global citizen?

- is someone who is aware of and understands the wider world - and their place in it.
They take an active role in their community, and work with others to make our planet
more equal, fair and sustainable.

19. Is it possible to synthesize notions of hybridity and diversity with the concept
of human security? Explain your answer.

- Hybridity is ‘a state of affairs in which liberal and illiberal norms, institutions, and
actors coexist’. the ‘hybrid peace’—is both a more accurate depiction of the complex
realities on the ground, and more legitimate than the liberal peace because it taps into
local agency and knowledge, thereby broadening the peace constituency and more
effectively capturing the dynamic and interactive processes involved.
20. How does globalization differ from colonialism?

- By definition, globalization is the expansion of communication links

between different regions whereas colonialism was the expansion of both power and
territory.

References:
https://www.bis.org/publ/bppdf/bispap100_q.pdf

https://www.manilatimes.net/2017/03/03/opinion/analysis/manila-galleon-trade-events-effects-
lessons/315101/

https://www.bworldonline.com/security-concerns/

https://www.theguardian.com/environment/blog/2012/jun/07/earth-treaties-environmental-
agreements

https://www.un.org/counterterrorism/ctitf/en/un-global-counter-terrorism-strategy#plan

https://tlagovpol.weebly.com/how-does-global-governance-differ-from-world-government.html

https://blog.eftours.com/inspiration/education/what-is-global-citizenship