INSTRUCTOR’S COPY MODULE

1-2

Community College of Manito

Manito, Albay

THE CONTEMPORARY WORLD

GE3
BSESS-1
FRI, 1:00-3:00

Abc – teacher’s dialogue

Abc – questions to be asked during discussions

 Course Packet for The Contemporary World

Course Information

Course Code : GE3

Course Title : The Contemporary World
Credit/No. of Units : 3
Duration : A/Y 2020-2021
Instructor : Julietha Ardales
Consultation Time : Fri 1:00-2:30
Google Classroom Code:
Google Meet Link :

Rationale and Course Description

The Contemporary World explores the practical, engaging and relevant ways in which global structures
and processes operate in our lives. It introduces and primarily discusses globalization to students in an
accessible, appealing, and significant way. Discussions on globalization have roots in the different
disciplines in the social sciences and other fields of study. This exciting interdisciplinary orientation is
reflected in the selection of various topics presented in this course. Varying definitions and theories are
examined in the different chapters, which are enriched through process questioning and activities. The
transformation of the economic, political, social and cultural aspects of people’s lives will be discussed.
Teachers and students taking this course will be able to appreciate the importance of globalization in
today’s classroom and in society.

This course introduces students to the contemporary world by examining the multifaceted phenomenon
of globalization. Using the various disciplines of the social sciences, it examines the economic, social,
political, technological, and other transformations that have created an increasing awareness of the
interconnectedness of peoples and places around the globe. To this end, the course provides an
overview of the various debates in global governance, development, and sustainability. Beyond exposing
the student to the world outside the Philippines, it seeks to inculcate a sense of global citizenship and
global ethical responsibility

Module 1: Defining Globalization

Objectives
On your successful completion of this module, you are expected to:
1. Share a personal definition of globalization.
2. Describe the natures of globalization
3. Differentiate compelling conception of globalization
4. Synthesize and agree on a working definition of globalization for the course

Much has changed since time immemorial. Human beings have encountered many changes
over the last century especially in their social relationships and social structures.
This module examines the natures of globalization.

TRY THIS FIRST

What is globalization?

globalization

This question is probably an easy one to answer. However, many scholars gave and tried to
formulate its definitions. This resulted in different, sometimes contradicting views about the concept.
Different definitions of globalization will be discussed. The task of conceptualizing it reveals a variety
of perspectives.

 Bauman, 2003 - “One can say that globalization is a very important change, if not, ‘the most
important’ ”
 Albrow, 2009 – “ The reality and omnipresence of globalization makes us see ourselves as part
of what we refer to as ‘global age’ ” The internet, for example, allows a person from the
Philippines to know what is happening to the rest of the world simply by browsing Google.
The mass media allows for connections among people, communities, and countries all over
the globe.
 Al-Rhodan, 2006 – “It cannot be contained within a specific time frame, all people and all
situations” Aside from this, globalization encompasses a multitude of processes that involves
the economy, political systems, and culture. Social structures, therefore, are directly affected
by globalization.
 Over the years, globalization has gained many connotations pertaining to progress,
development and integration. On the one hand, some view globalization as a positive
phenomenon. For instance a Swedish journalist named…
 Thomas Larsson, 2001 – saw globalization as ”the process of world shrinkage, of distances
getting shorter, things moving closer. It pertains to the increasing ease with which somebody on
one side of the world can interact, to mutual benefit with somebody on the other side of the
world”
On the other hand, some see it as occurring through and with regression, colonialism, and
destabilization.
In the mid-1990’s, Martin Khor, the former president of Third World Network (TWN) in
Malaysia, once regarded globalization as colonization.
 Martin Khor, 1990’s – “colonization”

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

Narrow and exclusive definitions are better justified but can be limiting, in the sense that their
application adhere to only particular definitions.
 Robertn Cox’s definition suits best in this type – “ the characteristics of the globalization trend
include the internationalizing of production, the new international division of labor, new
migratory movements from South to North, the new competitive environment that accelerates
these processes, and the internationalizing of the state…making states into agencies of the
globalizing world” (as cited in RAWOO Netherlands Development Assistance Research Council.
2000, p.14)

No matter how one classifies a definition of globalization, the concept is complex and
multifaceted as the definitions deal with either economic, political, or social dimensions. In
fact, in a comprehensive study of 114 definitions by the…

 Geneva Center of Security Policy (GCSP), 2006 – 67 of the 114 definition refers to economic
dimension. These definitions include political and social dimensions as well. The sheer number
and complexity of definitions do not mean that there is a remarkable improvement in every
definition given by scholars.
 Kumar, 2003 – took on a different argument about the issue… To him, the debate about what
can be done about globalization and what it is are similar. This is in relation to what some
academics have claimed about defining globalization – it is a useless task.
 A more recent definition was given by…
 Ritzer, 2015 – “globalization is a transplanetary process or a set of processes involving increasing
liquidity and the growing multidirectional flows of people, objects, places, and the information
as well as the structures they encounter and create that are barriers to, or expendite, those
flows…”

Generally, this definition assumes that globalization could bring either or both integration
and/or fragmentation. Although things flow easily in a global world, hindrances or structural blocks
are also present. These blocks could slow down one’s activity in another country or even limit the
places a person can visit.

If so, why are we going to spend time studying this concept? How can we appreciate these
definitions? How can these help us understand globalization?

1. The perspective of the person who defines globalization shapes its definition. The overview of
definitions implies that the is many things to many different people. To support this…
 Arjun Appadurai, 1996 – said “ globalization is a ‘world of things’ that have ‘different speeds,
axes, point of origin and termination, and varied relationships to institutional structures I
different regions, nations, or societies’”
In a more recent study…
 Al-Rhodan, 2006 – wrote that definitions suggest the perspective of the author on the origins
and the geopolitical implications of globalization.
It is a starting point that will guide the rest of any discussions. In effect, one’s definition and
perspective could determine concrete steps in addressing the issues of globalization.
For example, if one sees globalization as positive, the person can say that it is a unifying force.
On the other hand, if it is deemed as creating greater inequalities among nations, globalization
is negatively treated.

2. To paraphrase the sociologist Cesare Poppi: Globalization is the debate and the debate is the
globalization. One became part and parcel of the other.

3. Globalization is a reality. It is changing as human society develops. It has happened before and is still
happening today. We should expect it to happen in the future. The future of globalization is more
difficult to predict. What we could expect in the coming years is what has happened over the past 50
years and that is the fluidity and complexity of globalization as a concept, which made more debates,
discussions, and agreements on it.

Overall, globalization is a concept that is not easy to define because in reality, globalization has a
shifting nature. It is complex, multifaceted and can be influenced by the people who define it. Moreover,
the issues and concerns involving globalization have a wide range – from the individual to society, from
small communities to nations and states, and from the benefits we can gain from it to the costs it could
carry.
In his article, “The Globalization of Nothing”, Ritzer (2003) said, “attitudes toward globalization
depend, among other things, on whether one gains or loses from it”
Nevertheless, the task of defining globalization should stimulate more discussions about it.
More importantly, the fact that we experience globalization should give one the interest of engaging
in the study of it.
 PROCESS QUESTIONS

1. What are the advantages and disadvantages of using (a) broad and inclusive definition and (b) narrow
and exclusive definitions of globalization?
Advantages Disadvantages

Broad and Inclusive

Narrow and
Exclusive

2. What do you think is the importance of defining globalization?

_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________

3. Do you agree with the idea that the contemporary world is characterized by high liquidity? Why or
why not?
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________

METAPHORS OF GLOBALIZATION
In order for us to better understand the concept of globalization, we will utilize metaphors.
Metaphors make use of one term to help us better understand another term. In our case, the states of
matter –solid and liquid- will be used.
In addition, other related concepts that are included in the definition such as structures and flows will
be elaborated.

Solid and Liquid

The epochs that preceded today’s globalization paved way for people, things,
information and places to harden over time. Consequently, they have limited mobility (Ritzer,2015). The
social relationships and objects remained where they are created.

Solidity also refers to barriers that prevent or make the movement of things difficult.
Furthermore, solids can either be natural or man-made. Examples of natural solids are landforms and
bodies of water. Man-made barriers include barriers include the Great Wall of China and the Berlin Wall.
An imaginary line such as the nine-dash line used by the People’s Republic of China in their claim to the
South China Sea is an example of modern man-made solid. This creates limited access to Filipino fishers
to the South China Sea. Obviously, these examples still exist. However, they have the tendency to melt.
This should not be taken literally, like an iceberg melting. Instead, this process involves how we can
describe what is happening in today’s global world. It is becoming increasingly liquid.

Liquid, as a state of matter, takes the shape of its container. Moreover, liquids are not
fixed. Liquidity, therefore refers to the increasing ease of movement of people, things, information
and places in the contemporary world. Zygmunt Bauman’s ideas were the ones that have much to say
about the characteristics of liquidity.
1. Today’s liquid phenomena change quickly and their aspects, spatial and temporal, are in continuous
fluctuation.
This means that space and time are crucial elements of globalization. In global finance, for
instance, changes in the stock market are a matter of seconds.
2. Another characteristic of liquid phenomena is that Their movement is difficult to stop.
For example, videos uploaded on YouTube or Facebook are unstoppable once they become
viral. The so-called internet sensations become famous not only in their homeland but also to the
entire world.
3. Finally, the forces (the liquid ones) made political boundaries more permeable to the flow of people
and things (Carter, 2001)
4. This brings us to what Ritzer(2015) regarded as the most important characteristic of liquid: it “tends
to melt whatever stands in its path (especially solids)” –Ritzer(2015)
The clearest example is the decline, if not death, of a nation-state.

Liquidity and Solidity are in constant interaction. However, liquidity is the one increasing and
proliferating today. Therefore, the metaphor that could best describe globalization is liquidity. Liquids
do flow and this idea of flow (Appadural, 1996; Rey and Ritzer, 2010) will be the focus of the next
discussion. Also, it should be expected that this concept will appear in the succeeding lessons. The
literature on globalization makes use of the concept of flows.

FLOWS
The previous section described the melting process of solid phenomena followed by the increase in
liquidity. It is only logical to discuss the flows of liquid phenomena.
Flows are the movement of people, things, places, and information brought by the growing
“porosity” of global limitations (Ritzer, 2015)
Think of the different cuisines being patronized and consumed by Filipinos. Aside from local
dishes, many of us are fond of eating sushi, ramen, hamburger, and French fries−foods introduced to us
by foreign cultures. Clearly, foods are being globalized.
The following are the other kinds of flows that can be observed today:
- poor illegal migrants flooding many parts of the world (Moses,2006)
-the virtual flow of legal and illegal information such as blogs and child pornography
-and immigrants recreating ethnic enclaves in host countries. (a concrete example is the Filipino
communities abroad and the Chinese communities in the Philippines)

Activity: The World Made Closer

We discussed the different definitions of globalization. In this global age that we live in,
globalization gained various vies from many authors and scholars. In turn, these diverse definitions
can affect how one can appreciate globalization as a process. Furthermore, we analysed globalization
through conceptual metaphors such as solids, liquids, and flows.
In this activity, you are to see the actual application of globalization on the different aspects of
daily life such as politics, music, sports, films, celebrity and disaster.

1. Answer the following questions:

a. Enumerate at least three of the most recent songs you have listened. Where did they
originate? Identify the nationality of the writer and/or artist for each music.

b. What gadgets or devices do you usually use to listen to music?

c. Where were these gadgets or devices made? Where is the company based?

d. How did you access these music? Did you purchase them online or listen to them through
YouTube, Spotify, and other music channels?

2. Using a visual representation, create your generalizations and discuss What is globalization? How
would you define globalization?

3. What metaphors are you going to use in order to improve your own definition of globalization?
Enumerate at least three and explain one of them.