CONTEMPORARY WORLD

CHAPTER 1: DEFINING GLOBALIZATION

-INTRODUCTION-

(Bauman, 2003)- one can say that globalization is a very important change, if not, the “most
important”

(Al-Rhodan, 2006)- “It cannot be contained within a specific time frame, all people, and all
situations.”

Al-Rhodan (2006) wrote that definitions suggest the perspective could determine concrete
steps in addressing the issues of globalization.

Economy – the wealth and resources of a country or region, especially in terms of the
production and consumption of goods and services.

Political System – refers broadly to the process by which laws are made and public resources
allocated in a society, and to the relationships among those involved in making these decisions.

Culture – can be defined as all the ways of life including arts, beliefs and institutions of a
population that are passed down from generation to generation.

Swedish journalist Thomas Larsson (2001)- saw globalization as “the process of world
shrinkage, of distances getting shorter, things moving closer.

In the mid-1990s, Martin Khor- the former president of Third World Network (TWN) in
Malaysia, once regarded globalization as colonization.

Colonization – the action or process of settling among and establishing control over the
indigenous people (cultural groups) of an area.

-THE TASK OF DEFINING GLOBALIZATION-

Webster’s Dictionary in 1961- globalization revealed that definitions could be classified as

either (1) broad and inclusive or (2) narrow and exclusive.

Ohmae in 1992 stated- globalization means the onset of the borderless world…”

Inclusive often means to be taken in, to include. Exclusive is many times means pushing
something out of some sort of group, thus creating an element of special ness because of
restricted entrance.
International – existing, occurring, or carried on between two or more nations

Internationalize – make (something) international.

Migratory – to move from one country to another, often temporarily; Farm workers migrate at
harvest time.

Kumar (2003)- 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.

Multifaceted – means many aspect, side, or face. It applies to objects but it can also refer to
complicated issues that have lots of contributing factors and generate more than two sides to an
argument.

Ritzer (2015)- “globalization is trans planetary process or a set of processes involving

increasing liquidity and the growing multidirectional flows of people, objects, places, and
information as well as the structures they encounter and create that are barriers to, or expedite,
those flows…”

Trans planetary process – is a set of processes involving increasing liquidity and the growing
multidirectional flows of people, objects, places, and information as well as the structures they
encounter and create that are barriers to, or expedite (make an action or process happen
sooner), those flows.

In 1996, Arjun Appadurai said- “globalization is a world of things’ that have ‘different speeds,
axes, points of origin and termination, and varied relationships to institutional structures in
different regions, nations, or societies’ “

Paraphrase the sociologist Cesare Poppi- Globalization is the debate and the debate is
globalization.

As Poppi (1997) wrote- “The literature stemming from the debate on globalization has grown in
the last decade beyond any individual’s capability of extracting a workable definition of the
concept. In a sense, the meaning of the concept is self-evident, in another, it is vague and
obscure (not discovered or known about; uncertain) as it reaches are wide and constantly
shifting. Perhaps, more than any other concept, globalization is the debate about it.”

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.

“The Globalization of Nothing,” Ritzer (2003) said- “attitudes toward globalization depend,
among other things, on whether one gains or losses from it”.
-METAPHORS OF GLOBALIZATION-

Metaphors make use of one term to help us better understand another term.

Metaphor – is a figure of speech in which a word or phrase denoting one kind of object or
action is used in place of another to suggest a likeness or analogy between them.

-SOLID AND LIQUID-

(Ritzer, 2015)- today’s globalization paved way for people, things, information, and places to
harden over time. Consequently, they have limited mobility.

Solidity- Also refers to barriers that prevent or make difficult the movement of things.
Furthermore, solids can either be natural or man-made.

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 (Liquid phenomena)

1. First, today’s liquid phenomena change quickly and their aspects, spatial and temporal
(the spatial and temporal dimensions of human interference in complex ecosystems), are in
continuous fluctuation (rise and fall irregularly in number or amount).
2. Another characteristic of liquid phenomena is that their movement is difficult to stop.
3. (Cartier, 2001)- Finally, the forces (the liquid ones) made political boundaries more
permeable (penetrable) to the flow of people and things.

Ritzer (2015)- regarded as the most important characteristic of liquid: it “tends to melt whatever
stands in its path (especially solids).”

Ecosystem – is a geographic area where plants, animals, and other organisms, as well as
weather and landscape, work together to form a bubble of life.

Liquidity and solidity are in constant interaction. However, liquidity is the one increasing and
proliferating (increase rapidly in numbers; multiply) today. Therefore, the metaphor that could
best describe globalization is liquidity.

-FLOWS-

Flows- are the movement of people, things, places, and information brought by the growing
“porosity” of global limitations (Ritzer, 2015).
As Landler (2008)- put it: “In global financial system, national borders are porous.” his means
that a financial crisis in a given country can bring ramifications to other regions of the world
(Moses, 2006), the virtual flow legal and illegal information such as blogs and child
pornography, respectively, and immigrants recreating ethnic enclaves in host countries.

Ramification – a consequence of an action or event, especially when complex or unwelcome.

Enclave – a portion of territory within or surrounded by a larger territory whose inhabitants are
culturally or ethnically distinct.

CHAPTER 2: The Structures of Globalization

-THE GLOBAL ECONOMY-

-Overview of the UN's Efforts:

Millennium Development Goals (MDGs): Established in the 1990s, aimed to tackle various
global issues.

Primary Goal: Eradication of extreme poverty and hunger.

- Other Goals:
1. Achieve universal primary education.
2. Promote gender equality and empower women.
3. Reduce child mortality.
4. Improve maternal health.
5. Combat diseases (e.g., HIV/AIDS, Malaria).
6. Ensure environmental sustainability.
7. Develop global partnerships.

Definition of Poverty
- Poverty Line in the Philippines: Defined as earning less than 100,354 pesos/year ( 276
pesos/day).
- Extreme Poverty:
- UN definition: Living on less than $1.25 a day.
- Characterized by severe deprivation of basic needs (food, water, sanitation, health, shelter,
education).

Progress and Challenges

- Current Statistics:
- As of 2015, approximately 836 million people live in extreme poverty, down from 1.9 billion.
- World Bank predicts a potential drop to under 400 million by 2030.
- Ongoing Issues:
- Many lifted from extreme poverty remain impoverished, facing challenges like disease and
lack of resources.
 - Income inequality persists; one in seven people lack electricity.

Factors Influencing Extreme Poverty

- Contributors to Improvement:
- Better access to education.
- Humanitarian aid.
- Policies of international organizations (e.g., UN).
- Economic Globalization:
- Increased interconnectedness of economies has boosted growth in developing nations.

Conclusion
- The fight against extreme poverty is complex and influenced by various factors, including
economic conditions and global initiatives. While progress has been made, significant
challenges remain, particularly concerning climate change and income inequality.

-MARKET INTEGRATION-

According to the Cambridge Business English Dictionary- Market integration is a situation

in which separate markets for the same product become one single market, for example when
an import tax in one of the market is removed.

Market integration- occurs when prices among different locations or related goods follow
similar patterns over a long period of time. Groups of goods often move proportionally to each
other and when this relation is very clear among different markets it is said that the markets are
integrated.

Global market integration- is the ease with which two or more markets can trade with one
another. It occurs when prices among different locations or related goods follow similar patterns
over a long period of time. Foreign trade aids market integration by reducing trade barriers and
increasing fluidity between markets.

Market place- refer to an open space o square in a town where people buy and sell things, i.e.,
a street market.

*Market place was an important place for shoppers and ventors.

*Marketplace also means "the market" in the abstract sense. (For example, for a product to
complete effectively in the marketplace, it needs to sell at the right price.

*When using the term marketplace in the abstract sense, we are talking about the business
environment.
The online market place- is a kind of commerce website where many third parties provide
information on goods and services.

-Online marketplaces are the primary type of multichannel e-commerce.

According to e-commerce expects, they are also also a way to make the production process
more efficient.

*Initially, online marketplaces were just for companies that sold to other businesses. In other
words, they were B2B marketplaces.

*B2C online marketplace then came onto the scene and expanded rapidly.

*if an individual goes into a shop and buys something, that is a B2C Transaction. The shop is
the business, and the person is the consumer.

*The online marketplace today is dominated by B2C operations.

(B2B stands for Business-to-Business.)

(B2C stands for Business-to-Consumer)

-THE GLOBAL INTERSTATE SYSTEM-

The Global Interstate System refers to the entirety of human interactions structured politically
as a system of competing and allying states.
- Commonly known as the international system, it serves as the focal point of study in
international relations.

KEY CONCEPT
World-Systems Theory
- Defined by a division of labor that is categorized into three zones:
1. Core
2. Semi-Periphery
3. Periphery

Zones of the Division of Labor

1. Core Countries:
- Highly industrialized and economically advanced.
- Dominant in global trade and finance.

2. Semi-Peripheral Countries:
- Intermediate level of economic development.
- Share characteristics of both core and peripheral countries.
- Examples: South Korea, Taiwan, Mexico, Brazil, India, Nigeria, South Africa.
 - Play a crucial role in linking core and peripheral areas through economic, political, and social
activities.

3. Peripheral Countries:
- Typically agrarian with low literacy rates and limited access to technology (e.g., Internet).
- Often exploited for cheap labor and raw materials by core and semi-peripheral countries.
- Considered the least-developed and still developing nations.

Historical Context
- The term "periphery" originates from the mid-16th century, derived from Latin and Greek
roots meaning "to revolve around" or "to bear around."

Characteristics of Each Zone

- Core: High levels of education, advanced technology, strong infrastructure.
- Semi-Periphery: Moderate industrialization, emerging economies, and a mix of social
conditions.
- Periphery: Limited industrialization, reliance on agriculture, and often subject to external
control.

Conclusion
The Global Interstate System illustrates the complex interdependencies among nations.
Understanding the distinctions between core, semi-periphery, and periphery countries is crucial
for analyzing global economic dynamics and international relations.

-CONTEMPORARY GLOBAL GOVERNANCE-

The Role of Global Governance and State Sovereignty

-Context of Sudan
- The ongoing conflict in Sudan illustrates the complexities of state sovereignty and the
challenges posed by ethnic and tribal tensions. The Sudanese government's resistance to
external intervention raises questions about the limits of sovereignty in addressing humanitarian
crises.

-Historical Perspective
- Reflecting on historical events like the Holocaust, one could argue that more robust global
governance mechanisms might have mitigated such atrocities. The absence of effective
international pressure or intervention at that time highlights the potential need for a stronger
global governance framework.

-Global Financial Crises

- Economic crises, such as those experienced by Southeast Asian nations, further demonstrate
that no single nation-state can effectively manage global economic challenges alone. These
situations often necessitate coordinated international responses, emphasizing the importance of
global governance structures.

-Trends Toward Global Governance

- While traditional interstate systems (e.g., NATO) have played roles in managing conflicts, there
is a growing trend toward developing more comprehensive global governance frameworks.
These structures aim to address a wide array of issues, from humanitarian crises to economic
stability.

-Effects of Globalization on Governments

-State Sovereignty and Governance
-State Sovereignty: Central to the concept of state sovereignty is the authority of a government
to act on behalf of its citizens. Each state has the right to self-determination and is expected to
govern its own affairs without external interference, barring extraordinary circumstances.

- Governmental Authority: Governments are responsible for making decisions, resolving

conflicts, and implementing policies that reflect the will of their citizens. This authority is
exercised through established institutions, whether democratic or otherwise.

Role of Civil Society

- Civil Society: Comprising various organizations and institutions (e.g., NGOs, educational
entities, religious organizations), civil society can serve as both a counterbalance and a
supplement to government authority. It plays a critical role in advocating for citizens' rights and
addressing social issues.

Challenges to State Autonomy

1. National or Identity Movements: These movements often challenge state authority by
advocating for the rights and recognition of specific ethnic or cultural groups.

2. Global Economics: Economic interdependence can undermine state autonomy, as global

market forces exert pressure on national policies and decision-making.

3. Global Social Movements: Issues like climate change, human rights, and social justice
transcend borders and require collective action, challenging the notion of exclusive state control
over domestic affairs.

Conclusion
The interplay between global governance and state sovereignty is complex and multifaceted.
While states retain ultimate authority over their territories, the increasing interconnectedness of
global issues necessitates collaboration and sometimes intervention from international bodies.
As globalization continues to evolve, so too will the challenges faced by governments in
maintaining autonomy while addressing both domestic and global concerns.