The Contemporary World Module (Ge 3)

Department of Arts and Sciences
UM Digos College
Roxas Extension, Digos City
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Course Outline: GE 3 – The Contemporary World
Course Coordinator : Melchizedek John S. Bañas

Email : [email protected]
Student Consultation : by appointment
Mobile : 0912-988-5554
Phone : (082) 333-0102
Effective date : June 2020
Mode of Delivery : Blended (On-line with face to face or virtual sessions)
Time Frame : 54 hours
Student Workload : Expected Self-Directed Learning
Requisites : None
Credit : 3
Attendance Requirements : A minimum of 95% attendance is required at all
scheduled Virtual or face-to-face sessions
Course Outline Policy
Areas of Concern Details

Contact and Non-contact Hours This self-instructional 3-unit course manual is
designed for blended instructional delivery
mode learning with face to face scheduled or
virtual sessions. The number of hours
anticipated will be 54 including face-to-face
or virtual sessions. The face-to-face sessions
shall include summative evaluation tasks
(exams) as this course is crucial to teacher
licensure examination.
Assessment Task Submission Assessment assignments shall be submitted
on the 3rd, 5th, 7th and 9th week of the term.
The assessment paper shall be attached
with a cover page indicating the title of the
evaluation task (if the task is performance),
the name of the course indicator, the date of
submission and the student’s name. The text
will be sent to the course co-ordinator by
telephone. You are also expected to have
already paid your tuition and other fees
before the submission of the assessment
task.
If the assessment task is done through the

features in the Schoology or via email, the
schedule shall be arranged ahead of time by
the course coordinator.
THE CONTEMPORARY WORLD 1

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Penalties for Late The score for an assessment item submitted

Assignments/Assessments after the designated time on the due date,
without an approved extension of time, will
be reduced by 5% of the possible maximum
score for that assessment item for each day
or part day that the assessment item is late.
However, if the late submission of

assessment paper has a valid reason, a
letter of explanation should be submitted and
approved by the course coordinator. If
necessary, you will also be required to
present/attach evidences.
Return of Assignments/Assessments Assessment tasks will be returned to you
immediately if the assessment is done via
Schoology or a week after you are done
answering the assessment tasks sent via
email. This will be returned by email or via
Schoology portal.
For group assessment tasks, the course

coordinator will require some or few of the
students for online or virtual sessions to ask
clarificatory questions to validate the
originality of the assessment task submitted
and to ensure that all the group members
are involved.
Grading System All culled from Schoology sessions and
traditional contact
Course discussions/exercises – 30%
1st formative assessment – 10%
2nd formative assessment – 10%
3rd formative assessment – 10%
Final Exam – 40%
Submission of the final grades shall follow

the usual University system and procedures.
Student Communication You are required to create a Schoology
account to access the Schoology portal.
Then, the course coordinator shall enrol the
students to have access to the materials and
resources of the course. All communication
formats: chat, submission of assessment
tasks, requests, etc. Shall be through the
portal and other university recognized
platforms.
You can also meet the course coordinator in

person through the scheduled face to face

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sessions to raise your issues and concerns.

Contact details of the Dean Eduard L. Pulvera
Contact details of the Program Head Dr. Viola P. Buenaventura
0923-726-8255
[email protected]
Students with Special Needs Students with special needs shall
communicate with the course coordinator
about the nature of his or her special needs.
Depending on the nature of the need, the
course coordinator with the approval of the
program coordinator may provide alternative
assessment tasks or extension of the
deadline of submission of assessment tasks.
However, the alternative assessment tasks
should still be in the service of achieving the
desired course learning outcomes.
Course Information – see/download course syllabus in the Schoology portal
CC’s Voice: Hello students! Welcome to this course GE 3 – the Contemporary

World. I am sure that you are still clueless on the topics that will be
discussed in this subject. However, rest assured that you will learn a
lot from this subject as long as you do your part as a student.
Let us begin!
Big Picture
Week 1-9. Unit Learning Outcomes (ULO): At the end of every unit, you are expected to:
a) Analyze the different interpretations of globalization and its essential terms;
b) Discover the emergence of global economic, political, social and cultural systems;
c) Scrutinize the issues confronting the nation-states and assess the effects of
globalization on different social units and their responses.
Big Picture in Focus: ULOa. Distinguish different interpretations of and approaches

to Globalization.
Metalanguage
This segment will introduce you to the various drivers of the cycle of globalization,
with particular focus on economics and policy. While it stresses that you encounter
globalization on a regular basis, you do have to remember that there are broad
organizations that make major changes. This unit will historically trace the emergence of

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those institutions first. This unit will historically trace the emergence of those institutions first.
It will then go on to clarify how the countries and the people today are affected.
Lesson Objectives
For you to demonstrate ULOa, you should be able to:

a. Correlate the important terms that will be utilized in this course;
b. Distinguish a wide range of understanding of the various drivers of
globalization process, with specific focus on economics and politics;
c. Identify the actors that facilitate economic globalization; and
d. Identify key events in the development of international relations.
Introductory Activity
Create an inventory of all your household possessions or belongings and divide your
inventory into two types: items made in the Philippines and items made abroad (specify
which country). Contrast your list to your list to your peers to decide which countries make
the most of your family’s household belongings.
Essential Knowledge
For the first three (3) weeks of the course to achieve the aforesaid big picture (unit
learning outcomes), you need to thoroughly grasp the following basic information that will
be set out in the pages that follow. Please notice that you are not restricted to referring to
such services exclusively. You are therefore expected to use other books, research articles,
and other available resources.
Important terms in Globalization:

• Globalization - the process by which companies or other organizations develop
international influence or commence operations on an international scale.
Manfred Steger also described globalization as expanding and intensifying social
ties and consciousness throughout the world (Steger, 2013).
• Expansion – refers both to the creation of new social networks and to the
proliferation of established ties across conventional political, economic, cultural,
and geographical boundaries (Steger, 2013).
• Intensification – specifies the expansion, extension, and acceleration of social
networks (Steger, 2013).
• Globalism – a widespread belief among the powerful people that global
economic market integration benefits everyone, as it spreads freedom and
democracy throughout the world (Steger, 2005).
• Regionalization – the process of dividing an area into smaller segments called
regions.

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• Internationalization – refers to the ability of a particular business or company to

operate in one or a few countries around the world.
Important Terms in Global Political Economy:

• Income – the amount of profit received after expenses and taxes are subtracted
from revenue (a.k.a. net profit).
• Revenue – the total amount of money the business receives from its customers
for its products and services (a.k.a. gross profit).
• Taxation – it is the imposition of compulsory levies on individuals or entities by
governments.
• Taxes – levied in almost every country of the world, primarily to raise revenue for
the government expenditures, although they serve other purposes as well.
• Great Depression – the biggest and longest economic recession in modern
world history, which began with the US stock market crash of 1929 and ended
only after the Second World War in 1946, is also considered by economists and
historians to be the most catastrophic economic event of the 20th century.
• Recession – a period of temporary economic decline during which the trade and
industrial activity are reduced, generally identified by a fall in GDP in two
successive quarters (usually lasts 6 months to a year).
• Economic Depression - a long and severe recession in an economy or market.
• Black Wednesday – this refers to September 16, 1992, when a collapse in the
pound sterling forced Britain to withdraw from the European Exchange Rate
Mechanism (ERM). The U.K. was forced out of the ERM because it could not
prevent the value of the pound from falling below the lower limit specified by the
ERM. The European ERM was introduced in the late 1970s to stabilize European
currencies in preparation for the Economic and Monetary Union (EMU) and the
introduction of the euro. Countries seeking to replace their currency with the euro
were required to keep the value of their currency within a specific range for
several years.
• Inflation - a quantitative measure of the rate at which the average price level of
a basket of selected goods and services in an economy increases over some
period of time. It is the rise in the general level of prices where a unit of currency
effectively buys less than it did in prior periods. Often expressed as a percentage,
inflation thus indicates a decrease in the purchasing power of a nation’s currency.
• Inflation rate – refers to the percentage of increase in the prices of goods and
services.
• Supply - a fundamental economic concept that describes the total amount of a
specific good or service that is available to consumers.
• Demand - an economic principle referring to a consumer's desire to purchase
goods and services and willingness to pay a price for a specific good or service.
• Hoarding - the purchase of large quantities of a commodity by a speculator with
the intent of benefiting from future price increases.

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• Price - the monetary value of a good, service or resource established during a

transaction.
• Law of Supply and Demand - the law of supply and demand is a theory that
explains the interaction between the sellers of a resource and the buyers for that
resource. The theory defines what effect the relationship between the availability
of a particular product and the desire (or demand) for that product has on its
price. Generally, low supply and high demand increase price and vice versa.
• Monopoly - refers to when a company and its product offerings dominate a
sector or industry. Monopolies can be considered an extreme result of free-
market capitalism in that absent any restriction or restraints, a single company or
group becomes large enough to own all or nearly all of the market (goods,
supplies, commodities, infrastructure, and assets) for a particular type of product
or service. The term monopoly is often used to describe an entity that has total or
near-total control of a market.
• Exchange Rate - an exchange rate is the value of a country's currency vs. that of
another country or economic zone. Most exchange rates are free-floating and will
rise or fall based on supply and demand in the market
• Devaluation - the deliberate downward adjustment of the value of a country's
money relative to another currency, group of currencies, or currency standard.
Countries that have a fixed exchange rate or semi-fixed exchange rate use this
monetary policy tool.
• Depreciation - a measure of the decrease in the market value of an asset over
time from influential economic factors. This form of depreciation usually pertains
to real estate, which can lose value for several reasons such as the addition of
unfavorable construction in close proximity to a property, road closures, a decline
in the quality of a neighborhood, or other negative influences.
• International Monetary Fund - an international organization that aims to
promote global economic growth and financial stability, encourage international
trade, and reduce poverty.
• World Bank - an international organization dedicated to providing financing,
advice, and research to developing nations to aid their economic advancement.
The bank predominantly acts as an organization that attempts to fight poverty by
offering developmental assistance to middle- and low-income countries.
Currently, the World Bank has two stated goals that it aims to achieve by 2030.
The first is to end extreme poverty by decreasing the number of people living on
less than $1.90 a day to below 3% of the world population. The second is to
increase overall prosperity by increasing income growth in the bottom 40% of
every country in the world.
• Expenditure - represents a payment with either cash or credit to purchase goods
or services.

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• Public Enterprise - the economic system that is based upon the principle of
companies being owned by the government and not by people and businesses.
Its aim is to generate income while providing services to the public.
• Consumer - an individual who pays some amount of money for the thing
required to consume goods and services. As such, consumers play a vital role in
the economic system of a nation. Without consumer demand, producers would
lack one of the key motivations to produce: to sell to consumers.
• GDP (Gross Domestic Product) - the total monetary or market value of all the
finished goods and services produced within a country's borders in a specific time
period. As a broad measure of overall domestic production, it functions as a
comprehensive scorecard of the country’s economic health (also known as Real
GDP).
• Nominal GDP - GDP evaluated at current market prices. Therefore, nominal
GDP will include all of the changes in market prices that have occurred during the
current year due to inflation or deflation.
• GDP Per Capita - a metric that breaks down a country's GDP per person. It is
calculated by dividing GDP over a country’s population. GDP per capita is a
universal measure globally for gauging the prosperity of nations. Worldwide it is
used by economists alongside GDP to analyze the prosperity of a country and its
economic growth.
• Purchasing Power Parity - an economic theory that allows the comparison of
the purchasing power of various world currencies to one another. It is a
theoretical exchange rate that allows you to buy the same amount of goods and
services in every country.
• Human Development Index - a statistic developed and compiled by the United
Nations to measure and various countries' levels of social and economic
development. It is composed of four principal areas of interest: mean years of
schooling, expected years of schooling, life expectancy at birth, and gross
national income per capita. This index is a tool used to follow changes in
development levels over time and to compare the development levels of different
countries.
• Retrenchment - a term used to describe when a business decides to significantly
cut or scale-back its activities. Retrenchment might occur when one or more of
the following happen to a business: reduce output & capacity; job
losses/redundancy; product/market withdrawal.
Assignment # 1.
• Why is Global political economy important in studying the subject “The
Contemporary World”?
• Which is of the following is more important to a country and why? GDP
Nominal, Purchasing Power Parity or Human Development Index?

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The Rise of Globalization
The international Monetary Fund (IMF) finds economic globalization a historic

phenomenon that reflects the outcome of human innovation and technical processes. It is
characterized by the increasing integration of economies around the world through the
cross-border movement of goods, services, and capital. These changes are the products of
individuals, organizations, institutions and technology (IMF, 2017).
Emergence of Globalization
Item/s 10 years ago Present

Acquired physically Digitally downloaded
Books
(e.g. bookstores, library)
Cellular phones Keypad mobile phones Touch-screen Smart phones
Acquired physically Digitally downloaded
Music
(e.g. records and tapes) (e.g. mp3, mp4)
Compact Discs
Movies Digitally downloaded (HD)
(e.g. VCDs, DVDs)
Foreign direct investments US $57 billion US $1.76 trillion
International trading Face-to-face transaction High-frequency trading
Note:
• The oldest known trade route was known as the Silk Road (a network of
pathways in the ancient world that spanned from China to what is now the Middle
East and Europe which was discovered by the Venetians).
• Even though the Silk Road was considered international but it was not truly global
because it had no ocean routes that could reach the American continent.
The Evolution of International Market:
A. Galleon Trading System

It started before the 13th century when other countries around the world were
seeking various territories (usually on board the “galleons”) and trading their goods.
This started fine, but as time goes by, other products became less valuable than
others, but as time goes by, other products became less valuable than others,
especially during spice discovery (the most valuable resource in that time). As an
effect, other countries are no longer trading their products to other countries
prompting others to exploit the situation. Thankfully the Gold Standard came into
being.

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B. The Gold Standard

It is a monetary system which directly links the value of a currency to that of
gold. A country on the gold standard cannot increase circulating money without also
increasing its gold reserves. Because the global supply of gold is only slowly
growing, theoretically being on the gold standard would hold government over-
spending and inflation in check. Before the Bretton Woods system, the dollar-to-gold
fixed rate is $20.69 but due to the Great Depression in 1929, many investors started
to redeem dollars for its gold value. It did work in 1931. The US treasury was
concerned that the US might run out of gold, so it asked Congress to raise its interest
rates that increased the dollar’s value and made it more valuable than that gold.
Unfortunately, higher interest rates have made loans too costly and have
driven many businesses out. They have also created deflation, as a stronger dollar
can buy more with less. Companies are cutting costs to keep prices low and stay
competitive. That further exacerbated unemployment and turned the recession into
a depression.
By 1932, speculators turned again to gold in capital. As the prices of gold
increased , people were hoarding the precious metal, sending prices even higher. In
April 1933, President Franklin D. Roosevelt banned private possession of gold coins,
bullions, and certificates to prevent the theft of gold.
C. The Bretton Woods System

The major powers signed the Bretton-Woods Agreement in 1944, making the
United States dollar the official global currency. The U.S. defended the gold price at
$35 per ounce. In 1971, President Nixon had ordered the Fed not to respect the
value of the dollar in gold. That meant that foreign central banks could no longer
exchange dollars for U.S. gold, basically taking the dollar off the gold standard. Nixon
sought to end stagflation, a mixture of inflation and recession. But inflation was
caused by the dollar's rising power, as it had now replaced the British sterling as a
global currency.
After two World Wars, the world leaders worked to establish a global
economic structure that would guarantee a regional peace that lasted longer. They
claimed that setting up a network of global financial institutions to foster economic
interdependence and stability was one of the ways to achieve this aim (Claudia and
Abinales, 2018). And this was the birth of the Bretton Woods System which opened
during the Political and Financial Conference of the United Nations in 1944.
The Bretton Woods system was largely influenced by the ideas of British
economist John Maynard Keynes who believed that economic crises did not occur
when a country did not have enough money, but when money was not spent, and
thus the government had to revitalize markets with capital infusions. This active role
of governments in spending management served as the anchor for what would be
called a global keynesian system (Claudio and Abinales, 2018).

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Financial Institutions and international policies that were created because of

the Bretton Woods System:
1. International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD) or World
Bank (WB)
2. International Monetary Fund (IMF)
3. General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT)
Effects of Global Keynesianism:
Disadvantages Advantages
• Governments poured money into their • Increase demand for products
economies allowing people to purchase • General economic growth
more goods • Businesses expands and new businesses
• Prices of products increased arises
• Reduced unemployment
Note:
The idea was that if rates increase, companies would profit more, and have more
resources to employ employees. Keynesian economists felt all of this was a trade-off
essential for economic growth.
The downfall of the Bretton Woods system:

• In the early 1970's, the Petroleum Exporting Countries Organization (OPEC)
imposed a "oil embargo" as a sanction on the US government for its assistance
to the Israeli military during the Yom Kippur War. These affected oil-reliant
Western countries.
• The United States stopped linking the dollar to gold in order to eng “stagflation”.
D. Global Monetary System (The Fiat System)
A system in which money is the purchasing power storage medium, and a

barter substitute. Every dollar bill, euro, yen, gold ingot, or whatever currency you
choose, allows you to buy things as needed or desire arises, making the barter
system (trading one service or product for another) largely out of date.
Fiat money is a currency issued by the government that is not backed by a
tangible asset like gold or silver but by the government that issued it. The value of fiat
money is derived from the supply-demand relationship and the issuing government's
stability, rather than the value of a commodity backing it as is the case with
commodity money. Most modern paper currencies, including the U.S. dollar , euro,
and other major global currencies, are fiat currencies. Fiat money only has value
because the government holds that value, or because two parties agree on its value
in a transaction. Historically, governments would mint coins from a valuable physical

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commodity, such as gold or silver, or print money from paper that could be redeemed
for a set amount of a physical commodity. Fiat money is inconvertible and can't be
made redemptive. The word "fiat" comes from the Latin and is often translated as the
"will be" or "let it be done" decree.
Assignment # 2.
• Give the advantages and disadvantages of the following: Galleon trading
system, the Gold Standard system, the Bretton Woods system or the fiat
system?
Neoliberalism:
• Developed by Friedrich Hayek and Milton Friedman.
• The proponents argued that the practice of the government to pour money into
their economies caused inflation by increasing demand for goods without
necessarily increasing supply.
• They also argued that economic intervention by governments distorts the proper
functioning of the market.
• It is commonly correlated with economic liberalization policies, including
privatization, deregulation, globalization, free trade, inflation and government
spending cuts, with a view to increasing the role of the private sector in the
economy and society.
• Its characteristics were adopted and reflected in the policy introduced by the
United States Congress known as the Washington Consensus.
Washington Consensus:
• Pushed for minimum budget spending to reduce public debt;
• Called for the privatization of government-controlled services such as water,
electricity, communications and transport, believing that the free market can
deliver the best possible results;
• Pressured governments, particularly in the developing world, to cut tariffs and
open up their economies, arguing that these are the fastest ways to make
progress;
• Understands that such sectors, which they branded as "shock therapy" for long-
term economic development, will be affected and die along the way.
Self-Help: You can also refer to the sources below to help you
further understand the lesson:
1. Claudio, L.E. and Abinales, P.N. (2018). The Cotemporary World. C & E Publishing,
Inc. 839 EDSA, South Triangle, Quezon City.

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2. International Monetary Fund, “Issues Brief-Globalization: A Brief Overview,” May

2008, https://www.imf.org/external/np/exr/ib/2008/053008.htm
3. Steger, M. B. (2005). Ideologies of Globalization, Journal of Political Ideologies 10,
no. 1: 11-30.
4. Steger, M. B. (2013). Globalization: A Very Short Introduction, Third edition (Oxford:
Oxford University Press, 2013), 15.
Let’s Check
Activity 1. Now that you are already equipped with the introductory knowledge about global
political economy and globalization, let us test your knowledge and comprehension by
writing the terms being asked in the following statements.
_____ 1. Regarded as the financial gain accruing over a given period of time.
_____ 2. Defined as the act of spending money for goods and services.
_____ 3. The entire amount of profit before any deductions is made.
_____ 4. A period during the 1930’s when there was a worldwide economic downfall
_____ 5. A widespread decline in the economy and trade lasting from 6 months to a year.
_____ 6. A long-term economic state branded by unemployment and low levels of trade.
_____ 7. It is defined as a progressive increase in the prices of goods and services.
_____ 8. It is an amount of something available for use.
_____ 9. It is defined as the ability and desire to purchase goods and services.
_____ 10. It is defined as an exclusive control of a commodity or trade.
Let’s Analyze
Activity 2. In order to thoroughly test your comprehension about the evolution of global
market system, please discuss the advantages and disadvantages of the different
International Market Systems.
1. Galleon Trade System:
Advantages:
_________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________
Disadvantages:
_________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________

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2. Gold Standard System:
Advantages:
_________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________
Disadvantages:
_________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________
3. Bretton Woods System:
Advantages:
_________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________
Disadvantages:
_________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________
4. Global Monetary System:
Advantages:
_________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________
Disadvantages:
_________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________
In a Nutshell
Activity 3. As a summary to this lesson, I want you to discuss how your knowledge in The
Contemporary World course reinforced your understanding of the world in terms of
environmental management, population (migration), distribution of wealth as well as power
tensions and conflicts.

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1. Environment
___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
2. Population
___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
3. Distribution of Wealth
___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
4. Power tensions and conflicts

___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________

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Big Picture in Focus: ULOb. Describe the emergence of global economic, political, social
and cultural systems.
Metalanguage
Global governance outlets are numerous. States sign treaties and form organizations
in the process of legislating international public law (international rules governing
interactions between states rather than private firms). While not having formal state control,
foreign non-governmental organizations (INGOs) may pressure individual states to act in
any way. One lesson cannot cover the different ways in which global governance happens.
However, the lesson will discuss how intergovernmental organizations express global
governance. It will focus above all on the United Nations as today's most prominent
intergovernmental organization.
Lesson Objectives
For you to demonstrate ULOb, you should be able to:

Fully comprehend the important terms that will be utilized in this course;
a. Define global governance and the types as well as distinctions of
International persons;
b. Identify the roles and functions of the United Nations; and
c. Determine the challenges of global governance in the twenty-first
century.
Imagine you’re trying to create a world government, list at least five ( 5 ) major
issues you want to solve, and identify the strategies you need to use to solve them.
Essential Knowledge
While many internationalists such as Bentham and Kant have considered the
possibility of a global government, there is nothing of the type today. There is no
organization, to which various states are accountable. Moreover, no body may force a state
to comply militarily with defined global laws. Nevertheless, the general behaviour of states
has regularity. The fact that the states tend to adhere to the universal standards in an
international system means that given the absence of a single world government, there is a
sense of world order.
Global Governance: definition and importance

• Refers to the various interesting processes that create world order.
• • It is also defined as a move towards political cooperation between transnational
actors, with a view to negotiating responses to problems affecting more than one
state or region.

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• Good global governance would allow us to end armed conflict, tackle new and
emerging problems such as technological challenges and automation, and
achieve rates of prosperity and growth which have never been seen before.
Actors in International Relations:

- These are organizations involved in or promoting foreign affairs.
Types of International Persons:

A. State Actors:
- these are individuals or groups that represent a specific government
- it mostly refer to states or sovereign states
B. Non-state actors:
- these are individuals or groups that hold influence and which are wholly or partly
independent of a sovereign state or state.
Types of Non-state actors:

a. Sub-state actors:
- Groups of individuals with distinct interests and attempts to influence a particular
country's foreign policy in various ways, such as lobbying political leaders,
donating money to political candidates or parties, or swaying public opinion on
certain issues by peaceful or violent means ( e.g. ISIS, Al Qaeda, PLO);
b. International Intergovernmental organizations:
- An entity composed primarily of sovereign states or other foreign bodies whose
presence is defined by a treaty or other arrangement serving as a collective
charter (e.g. UN, ASEAN, NATO);
c. International Non-governmental organizations:
- Extends to an international scope the concept of Non-Governmental Organization
(NGO) and is independent of governments and can be seen as two types:
advocacy and operational. (e.g. Red Cross, Red Crescent,ForumZFD).
d. Multinational Corporations:
- Businesses or firms have facilities and other properties in at least one country
other than their country of origin (e.g. Coca Cola Company, Pepsi Company,
KFC, McDonalds);
Types of INGO’s:
a. Advocacy INGO’s - aims to influence governments with a specific goal.
b. Operational INGOs - aims to provide services to the people.
Assignment # 3.
• Give three (3) examples each for the different types of non-state actors.

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The United Nations

• An intergovernmental body aimed at maintaining international peace and
security, establishing friendly ties between nations, achieving international
cooperation and being a forum for the harmonization of nations' actions.
• It is the world's largest, best known, most internationally represented and most
powerful intergovernmental organization.
• Preceded by League of Nations following the end of the First World War.
• Headquarters in New York City on international territory; other headquarters are
in Geneva , Switzerland; Nairobi, Kenya; Vienna, Austria; and Hague, The
Netherlands.
• Founded by 51 member states, and now comprising 193 member states and 2
observer states (the Holy See and Palestine).
• The official languages are Arabic, Chinese, English , French, Russian , Spanish
and others.
Mission of the United Nations:
Maintain international peace and security.
Protect human rights.
Deliver humanitarian aid
Promote sustainable development
Uphold International Law

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Structure of the
United Nations
The main parts of the UN structure are the General Assembly, the
Security Council, the Economic and Social Council, the Trusteeship Council,
the International Court of Justice, and the UN Secretariat. All were established in 1945 when
the UN was founded.
General Assembly
(Deliberative Assembly)
The General Assembly is the main deliberative, policymaking and representative organ of
the UN. All 193 Member States of the UN are represented in the General Assembly, making
it the only UN body with universal representation.
Functions:
• May resolve non-compulsory recommendations to states or suggestions to the
Security Council (UNSC);
• Decides on the admission of new members, following proposal by the UNSC;
• Adopts the budget;
• Elects the non-permanent members of the UNSC, all members of ECOSOC, the
UN Secretary-General, and the fifteen (15) judges of the ICJ.
• Each country has one vote.
Security Council
(For International Security Issues)
The Security Council has primary responsibility, under the UN Charter, for the maintenance
of international peace and security. It has 15 Members (5 permanent and 10 non-permanent
members). Each Member has one vote. Under the Charter, all Member States are obligated
to comply with Council decisions.

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Functions:
• Responsible for the maintenance of international peace and security.
• May adopt compulsory resolutions.
• Has fifteen (15) members: five (5) permanent members with veto power and ten
(10) elected members.
Assignment # 4.
• What countries belong to the permanent members of the UN Security Council?
• What countries belong to the elected members of the UN Security Council?
Economic and Social Council

(for Global economic and social affairs)
The Economic and Social Council is the principal body for coordination, policy review, policy
dialogue and recommendations on economic, social and environmental issues, as well as
implementation of internationally agreed development goals.
Functions:
• Responsible for the co-operation between states as regards to economic and
social matters.
• Co-ordinates co-operation between the UN’s numerous specialized agencies.
• Has fifty-four (54) members, elected by the General Assembly to serve staggered
three-year mandates.
Trusteeship Council
(Administering trust territories)
The Trusteeship Council was established in 1945 by the UN Charter, under Chapter XIII, to
provide international supervision for 11 Trust Territories that had been placed under the

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administration of seven Member States, and ensure that adequate steps were taken to
prepare the Territories for self-government and independence.
Functions:
• Was originally designed to manage colonial possessions that were former
League of Nations mandates.
• Has been inactive since 1994, when Palau, the last trust territory, attained
independence.
International Court of Justice

(Universal Court of International Law/World Court)
The International Court of Justice is the principal judicial organ of the United Nations. Its seat
is at the Peace Palace in the Hague (Netherlands). It is the only one of the six principal
organs of the United Nations not located in New York (United States of America).
Functions:
• Decides disputes between states that recognize its jurisdiction.
• Issues legal opinions.
• Renders judgment by relative majority. Its fifteen judges are elected by the UN
General Assembly for nine-year terms.
Secretariat
(Administrative Organ)
The Secretariat comprises the Secretary-General and tens of thousands of international UN

staff members who carry out the day-to-day work of the UN as mandated by the General
Assembly and the Organization's other principal organs.

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Current Leaders of the United Nations:
Antonio Guterres Amina Mohammed Tijjani Muhammad-Bande

Secretary-General Deputy Sec-Gen President-Gen.As.
(Portugal) (Nigeria) (Nigeria)
Mona Juul Sven Jurgenson

President-ECOSOC President-UNSC
(Norway) (Estonia)
Organizations and Specialized Agencies of the United Nations

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Challenges of the United Nations
Despite the fact that the UN has been regarded as the world's most powerful
international organization, it still faces challenges it needs to overcome. So we're going to try
to analyze it in detail:
1. Despite the fact that the International Court of Justice (aka World Court) is under UN
control, it still has no teeth to impose justice in the world since the most threatening
punishment it can impose on violators is just an economic embargo–a punishment
that can only threaten countries without international influence.
2. Another is the limitations imposed by the need to uphold state sovereignty upon its
various institutions and programs. The UN is not a world government, so it operates
solely through the voluntary collaboration of nations. If states fail to comply, there will
be the UN Council's impact on human rights violations.
3. Finally, the UN’s decisions can also be strongly affected by the veto rights of the UN
Security Council's permanent members. Thus, if there are actions that might be
helpful to some but are vetoed by one of the members of the UN Security Council,
UN could do nothing at all.
Conclusion
Global governance is such a complex issue that it is really possible to teach a whole
course in itself. This lesson focused in particular on the International Organizations (IOs),
and the United Nations. IOs are emphasized for being the most visible symbols of global
governance. Above all, the UN is the closest to a world government. What's important to
remember is that there is always a precarious position in international institutions like the
United Nations. They are groupings of sovereign states, on the other hand. They are
organisations, on the other hand, with their own rationalities and agendas. It is this tension
that will keep informing these organisations' evolution. Take note, however, that there are
many bodies, movements and concepts that keep together regional and global politics. You
may want to discuss these topics yourself in your own time (Claudio and Abinales, 2018).
Assignment # 5.
• Do you think United Nations will still be effective if the permanent members of
the UN Security Council continue to exist?
• Why is International law regarded as a law that has no teeth?

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2. Dunoff, J. L., Ratner, S. R., & Wippman, D. (2015). International Law: Norms, Actors,
Process. Wolters Kluwer Law & Business.
3. Noortmann, M., Reinisch, A., & Ryngaert, C. (Eds.). (2015). Non-state actors in
international law. Bloomsbury Publishing.
4. Weiss, T. G., & Daws, S. (Eds.). (2018). The Oxford Handbook on the United
Nations. Oxford University Press.
Let’s Check
Activity 1. Encircle the letter of the correct answer.
1. It is one of the active organs of the UN which is considered to be the most powerful
and is consists of 15 member states elected for a two-year term.
a. General Assembly c. Security Council
b. ECOSOC d. Trusteeship Council
2. It is one of the active organs of the UN which is the main deliberative policymaking
and representative organ.
3. It is one of the active organs of the UN which is the principal body for coordination,
policy review, policy dialogue, and recommendations on social and environmental
issues as well as the implementation of the internationally agreed development
goals.
4. It is one of the active organs of the UN whose task is to settle, in accordance with
international law, legal disputes submitted to it by states and to give advisory
opinions referred to it by authorized United Nations organs and specialized agencies.
a. General Assembly c. International Court of Justice
b. Trusteeship Council d. Security Council
5. The creation of this organization was the result of the collapse of the League of
Nations at the end of World War II.
a. International Organizations c. League of Nations

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b. United Nations d. ASEAN
6. Types of international actors that has the potential to become a state by influencing
its foreign and local policies.
a. Sub-state actors c. INGO’s
b. IGO’s d. MNC’s
7. An organization composed primarily of sovereign states and is established by

treaties or international agreements.
8. It extends the concept of a non-governmental organization to an international scope.

9. Have facilities and other assets in at least one country other than its home country.
10. These include organizations and individuals that are not affiliated with, directed by, or
funded through the government.
a. State actors c. Non-state actors
b. International persons d. Sub-state actors
Let’s Analyze
Activity 2. Answer the following questions as detailed as possible by citing examples and
further explanations.
1. Why is global governance multi-faceted?

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2. How do international organizations take on “lives of their own”?

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3. What are the challenges faced by the United Nations in maintaining global security?
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In a Nutshell
Activity 3. For a description of this lesson, in this given situation I want you to behave for
UN peacekeepers and list the items you need to do to prepare for this mission. Once you've
established your presence, think about the measures you need to take to keep the peace,
knowing you're not going to be there forever. Good luck on that.
Countries A and B have been at war with each other over a large area of land
located within their borders for 56 years. The land is made up of rainforests, sufficient
farmland and rich mineral resources. It is also believed that there are underground oil
reserves.
The community living in this area consists of people who have never been clear
about their national loyalties, for the simple reason that they do not recognize those borders.
They lived in the area long before the national territories of countries A and B had. So, they
want to be left alone, going back and forth between the two frontiers.
Nonetheless, Countries A and B want to control the borderland’s capital. They

started helping leaders in this group, initially secretly, but later with open economic support.
This association created tensions within the community that quickly deteriorated into open
factional rivalries among its leaders.
The factional rivalry began over how to share assistance, and then moved to
competition over elected positions. The rivalry took a turn for the worse when Countries A
and B started supplying arms and military training to their allies, especially after both
realized the security issues this borderland can cause.
It didn't take long before the two factions clashed in the open. This mini-war spread
and seriously affected the neighbourhood, turning families against each other and pitting
friends and relatives.
And then unexpectedly, the two countries supposedly sent their armies to the border
to help preserve the peace, but in fact to fight alongside their local allies. The fighting was
brutal. Thousands died and suffered injuries. But what was obvious was that there was no
side as winning.

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The two countries eventually exhausted by the war, agreed to a temporary truce.
They have asked the UN for support in getting in a peacekeeping force to stand between
two sides, discussing how to turn the ceasefire into a permanent peace.
Answer:
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Big Picture in Focus: ULOc. Understand the issues confronting the nation-states
and assess the effects of globalization on different social units and their responses.
Metalanguage
This final unit will address the different impacts of globalisation on people and the
climate. At its heart it should return to one of the social sciences' central issues. How do
people communicate with others around them? As you will see, these interactions are
increasingly being shaped by the process of globalisation.
Lesson Objectives
For you to demonstrate ULOc, you should be able to:

a. Discuss the relationship between population and economic welfare;
b. Identify the reasons for the migration of people and explain why states
regulate migration; and
c. Discuss the origins and manifestations of global environmental crises.
Create two family trees that are based on interviews with each parent. Try to trace
your links to your relatives as far back as possible. And if you're a migrant family, decide
whether your family migrated to the major cities from the countryside, or vice versa, decide
the reason for the migration. Then, compare your findings with those of your classmates
and see if demographic change patterns exist.
Essential Knowledge
To prove ULOc, you must be able to fully understand people-to-people

interconnections, migration and climate sustainability. Demographics are a complex
discipline which requires the integration of different social science data. Changes in
demographics and policies impact on the environment, politics, resources and others. Yet
demography at its core accounts for the human species' growth and decline. Therefore,
without an accounting of individuals, no interdisciplinary account of globalisation is
complete.
MOVEMENT AND SUSTAINABILITY
Global Demography
The planet has accelerated its transition from long-term demographic stability over
the past 50 years. Populations began to soar as infant and child mortality rates fell. This
growth has led to falling fertility rates in most countries. While fertility has fallen, the

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population continues to grow as a result of demographic momentum; eventually it will level

off. As demographic change has generated a 'bulge' generation that appears as a large
working-age population in many countries today. This generation would gradually become a
significant elderly community, both in developed countries and in developing. Growth in the
population has been the subject of much debate among economists and demographers.
Until recently, most have agreed on a middle ground where the growth of the population per
se has no effect on growth. Recent research indicates that changes in population age
structure – especially a increasing ratio of working-age to non-working-age individuals–
contribute to the potential for faster economic growth, both through accounting and
behavioural effects. Eastern Asia, Ireland and sub-Saharan Africa history all serve as
evidence of (or lack of) the impact of demographic change on economic development. This
image is complicated by both internal migration (from rural to urban), and foreign migration.
The overall implications for policy of population growth are the imperative for health and
education investments and sound labour, trade and retirement policies. Understanding the
future trends is essential for good policy development. Demographic projections can be quite
reliable but enormous uncertainties–in the health realms, changes in the span of human life,
scientific advances, migration, global warming and wars – make overall predictions
extremely uncertain (Bloom and Luca, 2016).
Demography: Defined
Demography is the study of human populations–their size, composition and spatial

distribution–and the process by which populations change. Births, deaths and migration are
the 'big three' of demographics that together generate stability or change in population
(Murdock, 2019).
The composition of a population can be defined in terms of basic demographic

characteristics-age , sex, family and household status-and characteristics of the social and
economic background of the population-language, education , occupation, ethnicity ,
religion, income and wealth. Population distribution can be defined at multiple levels (local,
regional, national, global) and with different frontier types (political, economic, and
geographic). Demographics are a key feature of social dynamics and social transition
(Weinstein and Pillai, 2015).
The Perils of Overpopulation
Overpopulation is a major cause of the majority of the problems in the world.

Whether it's a matter of food shortages, lack of drinking water or energy shortages, it
affects–or will affect–every country in the world. Partly thanks to the importation of goods
from abroad, any given country can maintain its own welfare. Yet this cannot unlimitedly
continue. In addition, the number of inhabitants in every country is growing (Toth and
Szigeti, 2016).

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The world population is expected to rise to 8 or 10 billion over the next few decades.
There's a good chance that more and more countries will themselves need their own
products. Our planet can offer no more than 2 billion people a quality of life comparable to
that enjoyed within the European Union. With a population of 8 to 10 billion, welfare per
citizen on a world scale would collapse to that of a poor farmer who is barely able to provide
himself with enough food and who knows little about welfare. And so we're going to have to
share everything fairly to avoid disputes or war (Toth and Szigeti, 2016).
The world is shifting-and whether that can be blamed on human activities or on

changes in the solar system is of little concern. The sea level only has to rise slightly to
cause the disappearance of much valuable agricultural land. Actually, we seem to think that
by using artificial fertilizers, barbaric animal breeding and other survival methods, we can
stay ahead of starvation (Toth and Szigeti, 2016).
Human beings seem to desire more and more health. The number of cars and
refrigerators worldwide is rising right in front of our eyes. But when population growth and
welfare collide, a time will come. There is a reasonably good chance that floods of people
around the world will trek in search of more food and welfare (Toth and Szigeti, 2016).
Technicians are only too happy to point technology up their sleeve that has solutions
to all of our problems. Unfortunately, technical solutions have not yet been able to
significantly combat world hunger. Wherever there is no worldwide recognition or resolution
of the problems, war and violence would appear inevitable: everyone wants to survive. The
only way out is a worldwide population strategy (Husain, 2018).
Global Migration
Two types of Migration:

1. Internal migration – refers to people moving from one area to another within one
country.
2. International migration – in which people cross borders of one country to another
and this type can be broken into five groups.
2.1 those who move permanently to another country;
2.2 those workers who stay in another country for a fixed period (at least 6 months in
a year);
2.3 illegal migrants;
2.4 migrants whose families have petitioned them to move to the destination country;
2.5 refugees (also known as asylum-seekers).
Note:
Demographers report that 247 million people actually live outside of their birth
countries. Ninety percent (90 percent) of them relocated for economic reasons while the
remaining ten percent (10 percent) were asylum seekers or refugees (World Bank, 2017).
Fifty percent of global migrants have migrated from developing countries to the
world's developed nations, contributing from 40 to 80 percent of their population everywhere.

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Their growth outstripped population growth in the developing countries (3% versus just
0.6%), such that today, according to the McKinsey Global Institute think tank, "first
generation immigrants make up 13 % of the population in Western Europe, 15% in North
America and 48% in the GCC countries" (Steger, 2013). The concentrations of migrants in
cities are 92 per cent in the United States, 95 per cent in the United Kingdom and 99 per
cent in Australia, according to data provided by the World Bank in 2017. When settled, they
are making a huge contribution to increasing the prosperity of their host countries (see table
below).
Country Contribution Percentage of GDP

United States $2 trillion 11 percent
Germany $550 billion 17 percent
United Kingdom $390 billion 14 percent
Australia $330 billion 25 percent
Canada $320 billion 21 percent
The influx of migrants has led to a debate in destination countries about whether
migrants are assets or national development liabilities. Anti-immigrant groups and
nationalists argue that governments should control legal immigration and put an end to
foreigners entering illegally. Some of those anti-immigrant groups are gaining influence by
expressing their views through elected leaders. Examples include US President Donald
Trump and UK Prime Minister Theresa May, who have reversed their country 's previous
pro-immigration and refugee-friendly policies. Recently Trump has sought to bar citizens
from majority-Muslim countries from coming to the United States, including those with proper
documentation. He also goes on to speak about his election pledge to create a wall between
the U.S. and Mexico (Warner, 2014).
Assignment # 6.
• What are the usual reasons why people migrate from one country to another?
• Is migration considered a boon or a bane? Justify your answer.
Benefits and Detriments for Sending the Countries
Even though 90% of the income that migrant workers produce remains in their host
countries, they have sent billions back to their home countries. They totaled $580 billion in
remittances in 2014, followed by China with $62 billion, the Philippines with $28 billion, and
Mexico with $25 billion (Woetzel et. al, 2016). Such remittances contribute significantly to the
growth of short- and medium-term enterprises that help generate employment. Likewise,
remittances change migrants' economic and social status, as shown by new or renovated

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homes and access to new consumer goods for their relatives. The purchasing power of a
family of migrants doubles and allows children to begin or continue their schooling (Wahba,
2015).
Yet serious concerns remain regarding the economic sustainability of those

dependent on migrant capital. The Asian Development Bank (ADB) observes that
remittances in countries such as the Philippines have no significant influence on other key
items of consumption or investment such as education and health care expenditure.
Consequently, remittances can help to lift households out of poverty but not to rebalance
growth, particularly in the long run (Ang et. al., 2009).
More importantly, the Siphoning of qualified personnel and the removal of dynamic
young workers is global migration. This cycle was also called brain drain. Countries in sub-
Saharan Africa and Asia have lost one-third of their college students, again according to
McKinsey Global Institute. Sixty per cent of those travelling to OECD destinations were
college graduates, compared to only nine per cent of the country's total population. Fifty-two
percent of Filipinos who leave the developed world for work have tertiary education, which is
more than double the 23 percent of the Filipino population as a whole (Castles, 2015).
In addition, the loss of professionals in some key roles, such as doctors, has
detrimental to the home countries of the migrants. Approximately 15% of locally trained
doctors from 21 sub-Saharan African countries emigrated to the United States or Canada in
2006; losses were particularly severe in Liberia (where 43% of doctors left), Ghana (30%)
and Uganda (20%) (Woetzel et. al., 2016).
Governments are aware of this long-term impairment, but have no choice but to
continue to encourage migrant employment as part of state policy because of the effect on
GDP of the remittances. They are equally concerned with creating jobs for underutilized
workforce and with achieving the highest possible inflow of remittances from employees.
Governments are also actively involved in hiring and deploying services, some of them
setting up special departments such as the Bureau of Manpower, Education and Training in
Bangladesh; the Office of the Guardian of Emigrants within the Ministry of Indian Labour;
and the Overseas Jobs Agency of the Philippines (POEA) (Castles, 2000). Migrant-
dependent economies' sustainability would depend partly on the strength of those
institutions.
The Problem of Human Trafficking
In addition to brain drain issues, the sending

states must also protect migrant workers. The United
States Federal Investigation Bureau lists trafficking in
human beings as the world's third largest criminal
activity.

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The International Labour Organization (ILO) identified 21 million men, women and
children worldwide as victims of forced labour and an appalling three out of every 1,000
people in 2012. Ninety percent (18.7 million) of the victims are exploited by private
companies and entrepreneurs; 22 percent (4.5 million) are sexually abused; and 68 percent
(14.2 million) work under coercion in agriculture, manufacturing, services and domestic
activities. Human trafficking was very lucrative in 2014, bringing syndicates, traffickers and
corrupt government officials profits of as much as $150 billion a year. Governments, the
private sector and civil society organisations have been working together to combat
trafficking in human beings, but the outcomes remain unequal (Amelia et. al , 2019).
Integration
A final question involves how immigrants communicate with their new homelands.
They may contribute significantly to the GDP of a host nation but it is not easy for them to
access housing, health care and education. Of course there are significant differences in
migrant economic integration. Migrants from China , India and Western Europe are often
more productive, while those from the Middle East , North America, and sub-Saharan Africa
face greater challenges in job-security. There are both blue-collar and white-collar Filipino
employees in the United States and Singapore (doctors, engineers, even corporate
executives), and it is the skilled, white-collar employees that have always become harder to
integrate (Diehl et. al., 2016).
Democratic states assimilate immigrants and their children by giving them citizenship
and the rights (especially public education) that go with it. However, transferring citizenship
may only be a formality without strong support from their people. Linguistic difficulties, old
country customs and, late, different religions may create cleavages between migrants and
citizens of countries receiving them, particularly in the West. The latter accuse migrants of
introducing their home countries into the society and amplifying gaps in linguistic and ethnic
customs. Crucially, the lack of integration gives more ammunition to xenophobic and anti-
immigrant groups to argue that these new citizens are often not nationals (Chin, 2013).
Governments and private companies have made legislative reforms to resolve

integration problems, such as the use of multiple languages in state documents (for the
United States, Spanish, and English). Training programs complemented by therapy have
helped to integrate migrants in Hamburg, Germany, while retailers in Barcelona brought
migrant shopkeepers to break down language barriers while bringing Chinese culture to
people. Whether or not these initiatives will succeed remains an open matter (Woetzel et.
al., 2017).
Environmental Crisis and Sustainable Development
The environmental issues of any country are related to the degree of their economic
growth, the availability of natural resources and the lifestyle of their people. In India, rapid

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population growth, deprivation, urbanization, industrialization, and a variety of related factors

are responsible for the rapid environmental degradation. Environmental issues in many parts
of the world have become severe, and hence cannot be ignored. The main environmental
problems in India concern air and water pollution, particularly in metropolitan cities and
industrial areas, the degradation of common property resources which adversely affect the
poor as they depend on them for their livelihood, the threat to biodiversity and an inadequate
system of solid waste disposal and sanitation with consequent adverse health effects, infant
mortality and birth rate. In India, sustainable efforts are being made on for the management
of the environment. Provisions for knowledge of the environment and its conservation have
been made at all levels of education. Many centres in the country provide special training to
manage the environment. The environment awareness programs were launched via media.
India is an active member of international environmental organisations. Under UNEP several
projects are underway. Recently, the Government has started to emphasize the integrated
use of regulatory and economic instruments to improve environmental sustainability.
Coordination between government agencies, NGOs, and the public is required in order to
manage environmental quality properly and to achieve sustainable development in the
country (Na, 2016).
Assignment # 7.
• What do you think is the best way to solve the problem of human trafficking in
the world?
The World’s Leading Environmental Problems
In 2017, the Conserve Energy Future website lists the following environmental
challenges that the world faces today.
1. Depredation caused in the environment by industrial and shipping pollutants and
plastics; defiling the sea, rivers and water bodies by oil spills and acid rain; urban
warfare dumping;
2. Changes in global weather patterns (flash floods, extreme snowstorms and
widespread deserts) and rising ocean and land temperatures leading to higher sea
levels (as the polar ice caps melt due to the weather), plus flooding of many lowland
areas around the world;
3. Overpopulation;
4. The exhaustion of the natural non-renewable resources of the world, from oil
reserves to minerals to drinking water;
5. A waste disposal crisis due to disproportionate amounts of waste (from plastic to
food packaging to electronic waste) dumped by populations both in landfills and on
the ocean; and radioactive waste dumping;

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6. The destruction of million-year - old ecosystems and the loss of biodiversity (coral
reef destruction and massive deforestation) that led to the extinction of specific
species and the decline in the number of other species;
7. Reducing oxygen and increasing carbon dioxide in the atmosphere due to
deforestation, leading to an increase in ocean acidity of as much as 150 per cent
over the last 250 years;
8. The loss of the ozone layer that protects the earth from the deadly ultraviolet rays in
the atmosphere due to chlorofluorocarbons ( CFCs) of the sun;
9. Deadly acidic rain arising from the burning of fossil fuel, poisonous substances from
erupting volcanoes and huge rotting crops filling up garbage dumps or left on the
streets;
10. Water contamination from industrial and urban waste flowing into lakes , rivers and
seas of surface water;
11. Urban sprawls that tend to grow as a city becomes a megalopolis, destroying
farmland, growing the traffic gridlock, and making smog cloud a permanent urban
setting;
12. Pandemics and other public health threats resulting from waste mixing with drinking
water, polluted environments which become breeding grounds for mosquitoes and
rodents carrying diseases, and pollution;
13. Radical alteration of the food systems due to genetic changes in the processing of
food.
Many of those issues are caused by changes in design. Volcanic eruptions emit
volcanic contaminants, which lower the temperature of the earth. The U.S. Geological
Survey measured the gas emissions from Hawaii's active Kilauea Volcano and found that
Kilauea released more than twice as much noxious sulphur dioxide gas as the largest dirtiest
power plant on the mainland of the United States. The 15 million tons of sulfur dioxide
released when Mount Pinatubo erupted on 15 June 2001 produced a hazy layer of aerosol
particles composed primarily of droplets of sulphuric acid which reduced the global average
temperature by 0.6 degrees Celsius for the next 15 months. Volcanologists at the University
of Hawaii reported that Pinatubo had released 15 to 20 megatons of sulfur dioxide into the
stratosphere to counter existing trends in global warming and seriously impact the ozone
budget (Self, 2004).
Man-made Pollution
Human beings exacerbate other problems concerning the natural environment.

Sandstorms combined with combustion exhaust from traffic and industrial waste in Saudi
Arabia have led the World Health Organization (WHO) to declare Riyadh as one of the
world's most polluted cities. It is this contribution from man that has become an immediate
cause of concern. Coal fumes coming from industries and settling in surrounding areas have
contaminated 20% of China's soil, with rice lands in Hunan and Zhuzhou finding heavy
metals from mines threatening food supply (Taham, 2014).

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Greenpeace India reported that in 2015, the country's air pollution was at its worst,
exacerbated by the inadequate monitoring system provided by the Indian government (only
17 national air quality networks cover 89 cities across the continent). In addition, 94 per cent
of Nigeria’s population is exposed to air pollution that has been warned by the WHO to reach
dangerous levels, while Gaborone, Botswana’s capital, is the seventh most polluted city in
the world. Car exhaust emissions of aerosols and other gases, wood or garbage burning,
indoor cooking and diesel-fuelled electric turbines, and petrochemical plants are expected to
quadruple by 2030 (Kuo, 2015).
Waste that flows into the rivers and oceans from coal, copper and gold mines
destroys marine life or permeates the bodies of those who survived with poison. The largest
copper mine in Malanjkhand, India, discharges high levels of toxic heavy metals into water
streams, while in China, the tailings from Shanxi Maanqiao Ecological Mining Ltd.
operations, which produce 12,000 tons of gold a year, have caused pollution and safety
problems. Conditions have become very important in China as the toxic by-products of
manufacturing processes are produced much faster than the Earth can absorb. Meanwhile,
coal mines in West Virginia have been pumping chemical-laden wastewater directly into the
ground for over a century, where it can leech into the water table and turn what had been
drinkable water into a poisonous chemical cocktail. The network goes back centuries and
could soon make undrinkable most of the state's water (Dizard, 2014).
Pollution has affected the atmospheric circulation system in West Africa which
controls everything from wind and temperature to rainfall across vast areas of the region.
The Asian monsoon, in turn, had become the transportation of polluted air into the
stratosphere, and the scientists are now linking the Pacific storms to the spread of Asian
pollution. The culprit is tagged with aerosol when changing rainfall patterns in Asia and the
Atlantic Ocean. Likewise, these climate changes have triggered drought in Asia and Africa,
and increased the speed of desertification in some regions. Twenty years ago China had
more than 50,000 rivers. In 2013, 28,000 of those rivers had disappeared as a result of
climate change, uncontrolled urban growth, and rapid industrialisation (Hsu and Miao, 2013).
Assignment # 8.
• List at least ten of the environmental problems we are facing in the Philippines
and the ways on how to possibly solve these problems.
Global Warming
Global warming is a climate change phenomenon characterized by a general rise in

Earth's average temperatures, which long-term changes in the weather balance and

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ecosystems. It is directly linked to greenhouse gas increases in our atmosphere,

exacerbating the greenhouse effect (Lewandowsky et. al., 2015).
Indeed the planet's average temperature has risen by 0.8 degrees Celsius (33.4
degrees Fahrenheit) compared to the end of the 19th century. After the start of the historical
surveys in 1850 each of the last three decades has been warmer than any of the previous
decades. Scientists predict an annual temperature increase of between 1.5 degrees and 5.3
degrees Celsius by 2100 at the rate of existing CO2 emissions. It would have harmful
consequences for humanity and the biosphere if no action is taken (Kraemer et. al., 2015)
A natural occurrence is the greenhouse effect. The increase in greenhouse gases,

however, is tied to human activities. Therefore, it is no wonder that leading climate scientists
around the world agree that human activities are very likely to be the primary cause of global
warming since the mid-twentieth century, mainly because of the following:
Causes of Global Warming
1. Fossil Fuels
Massive use of fossil fuels is obviously the first source

of global warming, as carbon dioxide-the most important
greenhouse gas in the atmosphere-is produced by
burning coal , oil and gas as well as nitrous oxides.
2. Deforestation
Forest management has a major part to play in

climate change. Trees help to regulate climate through the
absorption of CO2 from the atmosphere. This positive
influence is lost when they are killed, and the carbon
contained in the trees is released into the atmosphere.
3. Intensive Farming
Another cause of global warming is intensive farming,
not only with ever-increasing livestock but also with
pesticides and fertilizers for plant defense. In addition,
when their food is digested, cattle and sheep produce
large quantities of methane, while fertilizers produce
nitrous oxide.

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4. Waste Disposal
Methods of waste management, such as landfills and

incineration, emit greenhouse and toxic gasses-including
methane-that are released into the atmosphere, soil and
waterways, contributing to the greenhouse effect increase.
5. Mining
The industrial life relies heavily on the mining and
metallurgical industries. Metals and minerals are the raw
materials used to build, transport, and manufacture goods.
This market accounts for 5 per cent of all greenhouse gas
emissions from extraction to delivery.
6. Overconsumption
Finally, overconsumption is also a major contributor to
climate change. It is in fact responsible for the
overexploitation of natural resources and emissions from
international freight transport, both of which contribute to
global warming.
Effects of Global Warming
Here are some consequences that are documented in the Intergovernmental Panel
on Climate Change Special Report on Global Warming in 2017:
1. On biodiversity:
Increasing temperatures and climate upheavals are disturbing the ecosystems;
modifying plant reproductive conditions and cycles. Resource scarcity and climate change
are changing the way animals live and migrate. We are already witnessing the
disappearance of many species-including endemic species-or, vice versa, the intrusion of
invasive species threatening crops and other animals.
Consequently, global warming is impacting on biodiversity. It is the biodiversity
balance which is being modified and threatened. An average rise of 1.5°C (34.7°F) could put
20-30 per cent of species at risk of extinction, according to the IPCC. Most ecosystems will
struggle if the planet warms up by more than 2 ° C.

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2. On Oceans:
Thanks to global warming, permafrost and ice are rapidly melting at the poles, rising
sea level at a pace never before known. The increase came to 18 cm in a century (including
6 cm over the last 20 years). The worst case scenario consists of an increase of up to 1 m
by 2100.
Of great concern is also the acidification of the oceans. Indeed, the vast volume of
CO2 absorbed by the oceans makes them more acidic, posing serious concerns regarding
seashells or coral reefs being adaptable.
3. On Humans:
Such upheavals do not spare human beings. Global economy is affected by climate
change. The social, health and geopolitical balances are already shaking up in many parts of
the world. The lack of resources such as food and energy is creating new conflicts.
Population migration is caused by rising sea levels and floods. Small island states are at the
cover. By 2050 the number of climate refugees is estimated at 250 million.
4. On the Weather:
Meteorologists and climatologists worldwide have been watching the effects of global
warming on the weather phenomena for decades now. And the impact is enormous: more
droughts and heat waves, more rainfall, more natural disasters such as floods , hurricanes,
storms and wildfires, free season, etc.
Global Warming Preventions:
Good news-there is room for reducing global warming. But how do we respond to climate
change? What solutions should be considered?
1. Renewable energies
A move away from fossil fuels is the first way of
preventing climate change. What are the alternatives?
Renewable energy sources including solar , wind , biomass,
and geothermal energy.
2. Energy & water efficiency
It is necessary to generate renewable energy but that

our energy and water usage by using more effective
appliances (e.g. LED light bulbs, revolutionary shower
systems) is less costly and equally significant.

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3. Sustainable transportation
Promoting the mobility of public transport, carpooling,

but also electric and hydrogen can definitely help to reduce
CO2 emissions and thus combat global warming.
4. Sustainable infrastructure
To that CO2 emissions from buildings-induced by
heating , air conditioning, hot water or lighting-new low-energy
buildings need to be constructed as well as existing buildings
need to be renovated.
5. Sustainable agriculture & forest management
Encouraging better use of natural resources, stopping

massive deforestation and increasing greener and more
efficient agriculture should also be a priority.
6. Responsible consumption & recycling
It is crucial to adopt responsible consumption habits,

whether for food (particularly meat), clothing, cosmetics or
cleaning products. Recycling is, last but not least, an utter
requirement to deal with the waste.
Assignment # 9.
• What do you think are the practicable long-term solutions to the problem of
Global warming?
• Do you think that Philippines as a whole had a great contribution to the
problem of Global warming in the world? Why or why not?

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1. Amelia, S., Maria, S., Roy, J., Darma, D. C., & Pusriadi, T. (2019). UNDERGROUND
ECONOMY: THE SHADOW EFFECT OF HUMAN TRAFFICKING. LIFE:
International Journal of Health and Life-Sciences, 5(1).
2. Bloom, D. E., & Luca, D. L. (2016). The global demography of aging: facts,
explanations, future. In Handbook of the economics of population aging. North-
Holland.
4. Husain, I. (2018). Population peril.
5. Kraemer, B. M., Anneville, O., Chandra, S., Dix, M., Kuusisto, E., Livingstone, D. M.,
& Tamatamah, R. (2015). Morphometry and average temperature affect lake
stratification responses to climate change. Geophysical Research Letters, 42(12),
4981-4988.
6. Lewandowsky, S., Risbey, J. S., & Oreskes, N. (2015). On the definition and
identifiability of the alleged “hiatus” in global warming. Scientific reports, 5(1), 1-13.
7. Murdock, S. H. (2019). Applied demography: An introduction to basic concepts,
methods, and data. Routledge.
8. Na, N. (2016). Greening environmental policy: The politics of a sustainable future.
Springer.
9. Toth, G., & Szigeti, C. (2016). The historical ecological footprint: From over-
population to over-consumption. Ecological Indicators, 60, 283-291.
10. Weinstein, J., & Pillai, V. K. (2015). Demography: The science of population.
Rowman & Littlefield.
Let’s Check
Activity 1. Provide the answer to the given questions.
1–2 : Types of Migration

3–4 : Types of International Migration
5 – 10 : Causes of Global Warming

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Let’s Analyze
Activity 2. Questions for Discussions.
1. How do poor countries balance their need for development with the necessity to
protect the environment?
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2. How do you define sustainable development?

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3. What are the major environmental problems you are exposed to? How are these
problems global?
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In a Nutshell
Activity 3. In order to thoroughly test your comprehension, please discuss the advantages
and disadvantages of the movement and sustainability of humans.
Advantages:
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_________________________________________________________________________
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Disadvantages:
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Congratulations in finishing the module for the subject

GE 3 – The Contemporary World!!!

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Department of Arts and Sciences

Course Outline: GE 3 – The Contemporary World

Course Coordinator : Melchizedek John S. Bañas

Course Outline Policy

Areas of Concern Details

If the assessment task is done through the

THE CONTEMPORARY WORLD 1

Penalties for Late The score for an assessment item submitted

However, if the late submission of

For group assessment tasks, the course

Submission of the final grades shall follow

You can also meet the course coordinator in

THE CONTEMPORARY WORLD 2

sessions to raise your issues and concerns.

Course Information – see/download course syllabus in the Schoology portal

CC’s Voice: Hello students! Welcome to this course GE 3 – the Contemporary

Big Picture in Focus: ULOa. Distinguish different interpretations of and approaches

THE CONTEMPORARY WORLD 3

For you to demonstrate ULOa, you should be able to:

Important terms in Globalization:

THE CONTEMPORARY WORLD 4

• Internationalization – refers to the ability of a particular business or company to

Important Terms in Global Political Economy:

THE CONTEMPORARY WORLD 5

• Price - the monetary value of a good, service or resource established during a

THE CONTEMPORARY WORLD 6

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The Rise of Globalization

The international Monetary Fund (IMF) finds economic globalization a historic

Item/s 10 years ago Present

The Evolution of International Market:

A. Galleon Trading System

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B. The Gold Standard

C. The Bretton Woods System

THE CONTEMPORARY WORLD 9

Financial Institutions and international policies that were created because of

Effects of Global Keynesianism:

The downfall of the Bretton Woods system:

D. Global Monetary System (The Fiat System)

A system in which money is the purchasing power storage medium, and a

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2. International Monetary Fund, “Issues Brief-Globalization: A Brief Overview,” May

1. Galleon Trade System:

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2. Gold Standard System:

3. Bretton Woods System:

4. Global Monetary System:

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4. Power tensions and conflicts

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For you to demonstrate ULOb, you should be able to:

Global Governance: definition and importance

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Actors in International Relations:

Types of International Persons:

Types of Non-state actors: