St.

John Paul II Institute of Technology

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Quarter 1 - Module 4
States, Nations, and Globalization
Week 4
Module 4: States, Nations, and Globalization

In this module, you will be able to:

define nation and state;
differentiate state from government;
differentiate nation from state;
explain meanings of globalization;
identify several forms of globalization; and
evaluate how globalization influences nation-states.

You have learned in module 1 that political science is the study of the state and the
government. In this section, you will further learn about the state and will be acquainted with
the basic differences among state, government, and nation. You may wonder what could be
the importance of states as a political entity and as an actor in the global order, given the
increasing interconnectedness of the world at present. The relationship between the state and
globalization will also be addressed in this part.

States, Governments, and Nations

The state is a political community that
has sovereign jurisdiction over a clearly defined
territory, and exercises authority through several Because the state exercises public authority, it is
considered as a very powerful entity. However,
institutions, including the government. Heywood this is challenged by several phenomena, such
(2013) offers five features of a state: as globalization.
1. It is sovereign.
2. Its institutions are public.
3. It is an exercise of legitimation.
4. It is an instrument of domination.
5. It is a territorial association.

The state has four elements, namely: sovereignty, government, territory, and people.
Sovereignty refers to both jurisdiction (the ability of a state to exercise its authority over its
territory and people) and independence (the freedom from external control). The government
is the machinery of the state through which the people’s will is formulated and carried out.
The territory includes all the land, sea, and airspace the state exercises jurisdiction on.
Finally, the people or population is the organization of human beings living together as a
community.
 There are several classifications of states depending on the perspective one conforms
to. Roskin (2012) claimed that while no international tribunal classifies states based on
strength, analysts provide three categories.

Table 4.1 Types of States

Types of State Characteristics

• The state controls and taxes the entire territory.
• Laws are mostly obeyed.
Effective
• The state provides general welfare and security.
• There exists only minor corruption.
• Crime has penetrated politics.
• Government is weak in fighting lawlessness, corruption, and
Weak poverty.
• Justice is bought and elections are often rigged.
• Governmental revenues go to private pockets.

• No national government exists.

• The state is ruled by warlords, private army, and militias.
Failed
• “Gun” is the law.
• Education and health standards decline.

What Have I Learned So Far?

1. What is a state and what are its characteristics?

2. Is the Philippines a state based on these characteristics? Explain your answer.

Reflect Upon

Given the present condition of the country and based on your own observations, would you
consider the Philippines an effective, weak, or failed state? Why?

Roskin (2012) held that a state is a powerful

entity strong enough to enforce its will. Political
institutions, the working structures of
government, are important in the proper
functioning of a state. As what you have learned The constitution sets out the type of
in module 1, the government serves as a government a country has, including the
mechanism of the state, through which the will of political processes and institutions within it.
the people is expressed, formulated, and carried
out. One way of studying
political institutions is through identifying the locus of power—that is, by asking the question,
“Who governs?”

From this, governments may be classified in several ways. One of the earliest
classifications was that of Aristotle. He distinguished governments based on who governs
and whether or not such government is positive (legitimate) or negative (corrupt). The table
below presents Aristotle’s classic work.

Table 4.2 Aristotle’s Six Types of Governments

Who governs? How many? Positive Forms Negative Forms

One Monarchy Tyranny

Few Aristocracy Oligarchy

Many Polity Democracy

 From this categorization by Aristotle, comparative political scientists would later on provide
several other government typologies. What other types can you provide? Visit the Web sites below.
You may use the suggested matrix to guide you in your research on the types of governments.

BEYOND WALLS 4.1 Go Online

The following links provide the basic classifications of governments. You may also
look for other articles to aid you in this activity.
• https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/fields/2128.html
• http://www.livescience.com/33027-what-are-the-different-types-of-governments
.html
• http://dirp3.pids.gov.ph/ris/eid/pidseid0602.pdf
• http://www.lewishistoricalsociety.com/wiki/tiki-print_article.php?articleId=136
Summarize the main ideas using the following matrix. Use a separate sheet of paper
if necessary.

Type of
Government/ Main Features Advantages Disadvantages Examples
System
What Have I Learned So Far?

1. What are political institutions?

2. How may governments be classified?

Now that you have learned these basics, how different then is a state from a government?
There are several key differences according to Heywood (2013):

Table 4.3 Key Distinctions between State and Government

State Government

An element/part of the state; it is the

More extensive; it encompasses all
means through which state authority is
institutions and citizens
exercised

Temporary and can be changed from time to

Continuing and permanent entity
time

Exercises impersonal authority; its personnel The “government of the day” is ideologically
are trained in bureaucratic ways biased

Represents the interest of the society or the Represents the interests of those in power
common good at a given period
 How about a nation? How different is it from a state and from a government?

If a state is a political community bound by political obligations, a nation is a group of

people bound together by commonalities in language, history, traditions, and religion. In this
case, a nation is not just cultural, but could be political as well—especially when the people
share a common civic consciousness. Although not necessary, a nation can also be seen as
psychological when people share loyalty or affection in the form of patriotism (Heywood
2013).

The integration of the state and the nation

forms the nation-state. This political organization
is widely recognized today. As an entity, its
strength relies on the fusion of both the cultural
and political aspects present in a state and in a The nation-state is at the intersection of the
cultural aspect of the nation and the political
nation, allowing for cultural cohesion and at the aspect of the state. The Philippines is an
same time political unity. However, nation-states example of a nation-state.
have been met with challenges, including, but
not limited to, the growth of ethnic politics and
globalization. How has globalization influenced
the nation-state?

Reflect Upon

What cultural belief and value systems do you share with the larger Philippine society which
makes you feel that you belong to the Filipino nation?
Globalization and the Nation-State
Globalization is considered to be the most
important threat to the nation-state. But what
is this phenomenon? What impact does it have Improvements in communication brought about
by the Internet created a borderless world where
to people and nation-states? Heywood (2013) distance and territorial boundaries have
defined globalization as the process through seemingly become less significant.
which societies have become so intertwined or
interconnected that events and decisions in one
part of the world have significant effects on the lives of people in the other part of the world.
Transformations in production of goods and the flow of financial capital can be a result of the
further integration of economies in the world economy. For example, changes in domestic
politics and economy of the Philippines can actually be caused by events happening in
different countries. To illustrate this, the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN)
Integration may have caused the developments in Philippine educational policies (e.g., the
implementation of the K to 12 Basic Education Program) so that the movement of students
within the member-countries will be “free-flowing” too. How and why does this happen?
What are the characteristics of globalization as a phenomenon? Heywood (2013) enumerates
its features.

1. Declining relevance of geographical distance

2. Lessening significance of territorial boundaries
3. Deepening and broadening of political processes, such that the local, national, and
global events constantly interact.

Globalization resulted in a growing interdependence among actors, activities, and

processes all over the world. Several forms of globalization can be identified, of which Heywood
(2013) listed three—economic, cultural, and political. The following table summarizes the
key features of these forms of globalization and enumerates some examples.

Table 4.4 Forms of Globalization

Forms Features/Characteristics Manifestations/Examples

All economies have been • Internationalized production

Economic
integrated in a global • Financial capital flowing
Globalization
economy. freely between countries
 • McDonaldization or what
George Ritzer (1993) called as
rationalization that Max Weber
Information, commodities,
found in bureaucracies
and images from one part
extended to fast-food
of the world make cultural
Cultural Globalization chains. This then leads to
differences between
standardization of processes
nations and individuals less
such as production.
significant.
• Information revolution
• Global brands penetrating the
local scene

• Influence on domestic issues

The importance of
of organizations such as the
international organizations,
United Nations, World Trade
transnational organizations,
Political Globalization Organization, World Bank,
and nongovernmental
Asian Development Bank,
organizations is being
International Red Cross, and
recognized.
World Wide Fund for Nature

What Have I Learned So Far?

What is globalization? What are its characteristics?

 What are your views about the following illustrations? How do they present the
concept of globalization? Do you agree with the representations depicted in these

illustrations?
Illustration 1
Adapted from: https://estherspace.files.wordpress.com/2007/11/globalization.gif

Illustration 2
Source: http://travelstudies.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/globalization_by_guille3691-1-862x482.jpg
Reflect Upon

How are Filipinos affected by globalization? To what extent has your family been influenced
by this phenomenon?

How does globalization pose a challenge to the state, if not the nation-state? How does
globalization challenge the Philippines? Read the article in the next activity and assess how
this phenomenon affects the Philippine society.

BEYOND WALLS 4.2 Read and Answer

Read the article written by Rommel Banlaoi, which can be accessed at

http://apcss.org/ Publications/Edited%20Volumes/GrowthGovernance_files/Pub_Growth
%20Governance/ Pub_GrowthGovernancech16.pdf. Answer the following questions
afterward:
1. How related are the ideas of globalization and nation-building in the Philippine
context?

2. According to the author, what is the reason(s) why the Philippines encounters
difficulties in meeting the challenges of globalization?

3. Do you agree with the author’s arguments? Why? What do other authors or articles
have to say about the author’s ideas?
 BEYOND WALLS 4.3 Apply It in Real Life

You are a lyricist and a group of musicians needs your help. You were asked to write the
words for a song that the group is going to perform at the opening of a program for the
Filipino community, first in North America and then, in Western Europe. The subject or
theme of the song you will compose is about the Filipino family in the age of globalization.
The group of musicians will evaluate your work based on content. You may use English or
Filipino for the lyrics.

Extend Your Knowledge

Check the following articles for further understanding of the interrelationship
among states, nations, and globalization.
• For globalization and state capacity in the Philippines, go to http://dirp4.pids
.gov.ph/ris/dps/pidsdps0320.pdf.
• For globalization and migration, read an article at http://unpan1.un.org/intradoc/
groups/public/documents/APCITY/UNPAN006918.pdf.

ESSENTIAL LEARNING
In ordinary language, the terms nation, state, and government are used
interchangeably. In this module, you have seen how different these terms are from
each other. The Philippines is both a state and a nation. As a state, it is composed of
elements such as people, territory, government, and sovereignty. As a nation, the
Philippines is comprised of individuals who share certain commonalities as to
language, identity, tradition, or history and who share a feeling of unity and
belongingness with that imagined community. Globalization as a phenomenon poses
threats to the existence of the Philippine nation-state, or at least, for those who are
skeptic about it.