SYSTEMS PLUS COLLEGE FOUNDATION

College of Arts and Social Sciences and Education

THE CONTEMPORARY WORLD

Introduction
The contemporary world is an ever-changing mix of social and political changes. While
religious, political, and ethnic conflicts continue, we are currently living in one of the
most peaceful eras in the history of the planet. Challenges of the 21st century include
emerging technologies, health care, overpopulation, climate change, poverty, illiteracy,
disease, and migration. How we choose to deal with these emerging frontiers will shape
this unit for future generations.1

Unit 1: The Structures of Globalization

This unit will introduce the student the various drivers of the globalization process, with
specific focus on economics and politics. Although it emphasizes student’s experience
globalization on an everyday level, also to realize that there are big institutions that
create large-scale changes. This unit will first trace the emergences of these institutions
historically. It will then move on to explain how they affect the countries and people
today.

Major learning outcomes of this unit are:

1. Analyze the various contemporary drivers of globalization; and
2. Describe the emergence of Global economic and political systems.

Lesson 1: What is Globalization?

Learning outcomes:
1. Agree on a working definition of globalization for the course;
2. Differentiate the competing conceptions of globalization; and
3. Narrate a personal experience of globalization.

A. What Is Globalization?

Globalization is a process2 of interaction3 and integration4 among the people,

companies, and governments of different nations, a process driven by
international trade and investment and aided by information technology. This
process has effects on the environment, on culture, on political systems, on
economic development and prosperity, and on human physical well-being in
societies around the world. Globalization is an elimination of barriers to trade,
communication, and cultural exchange. The theory behind globalization is that
worldwide openness will promote the inherent wealth of all nations.

1
https://www.freeman-pedia.com/today/
2
a series of actions or steps taken in order to achieve a particular end
3
communication or direct involvement with someone or something: (oxford dictionary)
4
the action or process of integrating (oxford dictionary)
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 SYSTEMS PLUS COLLEGE FOUNDATION
College of Arts and Social Sciences and Education

THE CONTEMPORARY WORLD

Most of the people view globalization as primary an economic process. When a

newspaper reports (layman’s term) that nationalists are resisting “globalization”,
it usually refers to the integration of the national markets to a wider global
market signified by the increased free trade.

Globalization scholars do not necessarily disagree with people who criticize unfair
international trade deals or global economic organizations. In fact, many are
sympathetic to the critique of economic globalization. Academics differ from
journalist and political activists, however, because they see globalization in much
broader terms. They view the process through various lenses that consider
multiple theories and perspective and they call this an interdisciplinary approach.

Manfred Steger, a Professor at the University of Hawaii at Manoa, describes

globalization:

1. The process of expansion of social relations and consciousness across

world-time and across world-space; and

Expansion refers to both the (1) creation of new social networks and
(2) the multiplication of existing connections that cut across
traditional political, economic, cultural and geographic boundaries.

2. The process of intensification of social relations and consciousness

across world-time and across world-space;

Intensification refers to the expansion, stretching and acceleration of

created and existing network. Not only are global connections
multiplying, but they are also becoming more closely-knit and
expanding their reach,

Steger posits that his definition of globalization must be differentiated with an

ideology he calls globalism.

Globalization Globalism
Represents many processes that allow The widespread belief among
for the expansion and intensification powerful people that the global
of global connections integration of economic markets is
beneficial for everyone since it
spreads freedom and democracy
across the world.

B. Dimensions of Globalization

The three main dimensions of globalization are:

1. Economic Globalization

Economic globalization refers to the mobility of people, capital, technology,

goods and services internationally. It is also about how integrated

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THE CONTEMPORARY WORLD

countries are in the global economy. It refers to how interdependent

different countries and regions have become across the world. 5

Economic globalization may involve the financial and economic aspects of a

nation primarily, but its interdependent nature can inevitably affect a
country’s lawmaking system and cultural identity. Trading policies and tax
treaties are created between countries to regulate trade and protect either
country from threats of terrorism. Multinational companies are changing
some cultural aspects of many countries; fast food restaurants, for
example, have changed the eating habits of Asian countries that consider
rice as a staple food. Fashion trends from European countries are also
carried over to the opposite side of the globe.

2. Cultural Globalization

Cultural Globalization refers to the rapid movement of ideas, attitudes,

meanings, values and cultural products across national borders. It refers
specifically to idea that there is now a global and common mono-culture –
transmitted and reinforced by the internet, popular entertainment
transnational marketing of particular brands and international tourism –
that transcends local cultural traditions and lifestyles, and that shapes the
perceptions, aspirations, tastes and everyday activities of people wherever
they may live in the world’6

3. Political Globalization

Political globalization refers to the amount of political co-operation that

exists between different countries. The transfer of competences from
national governments to supranational organizations, the attempts to
create international justice and the increase of migrations are some of the
characteristics of this phenomenon.

C. Globalization from the Ground Up

Globalization in general is an intersecting process and can be confusing.

Indeed, it may be hard to assess globalization or comment it because it is
so diffuse and almost fleeting. Some scholars have, therefore, found it is
simpler to avoid talking about globalization as a whole. Instead, they want
to discuss “multiple globalizations”, instead of just one process.

For anthropologist Arjun Appadurai, different kinds of globalization occur

on multiple and intersecting dimension of integration that he calls
“escape”.

Kinds of globalization according to Arjun Apparudai:

Ethnoscape global movement of people

5
https://marketbusinessnews.com/financial-glossary/economic-globalization/
6
https://revisesociology.com/2017/05/25/cultural-globalization-definition-examples/

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 SYSTEMS PLUS COLLEGE FOUNDATION
College of Arts and Social Sciences and Education

THE CONTEMPORARY WORLD

Mediascape flow of culture

Technoscape circulation of mechanical goods and software
Financescape global circulation of money
Ideoscape political ideas move around

Summary
Globalization is a process of interaction and integration among the people, companies,
and governments of different nations, a process driven by international trade and
investment and aided by information technology. When we speak globalization the first
thing comes to our mind is the exchange and integration of national market to a wider
global market as it signified by the increase free trade. Globalization scholars see
globalization is much broader terms. They view the process though various lenses, the
three dimensions of globalization: economic, economic, cultural and political. The best
scholarly description of globalization is provided by Manfred Steger who describes the
process as “the expansion and intensification of social relation and consciousness across
the word-time and across the world-space. In general globalization can be confusing
and difficult to assess, as such, Arjun Appadurai discussed globalization into a multiple
and intersecting dimension that he called escape, ethnoscape, mediascape,
technoscape, finanscape and ideoscape.

GUIDE QUESTIONS
1. How you experienced globalization?
2. Why it is critical to emphasize that globalization is uneven?
3. What is the difference between globalization and globalism?

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SYSTEMS PLUS COLLEGE FOUNDATION
College of Arts and Social Sciences and Education

THE CONTEMPORARY WORLD

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