MODULE 3

The Contemporary orld

Unit 1: THE STRUCTURE OF GLOBALIZATION

LESSON 5: A World of Regions

\\

RELEASED ON:
AUGUST 30 (MONDAY), 2021

DUE ON:
SEPTEMBER 10 (FRIDAY), 2021

STO. NIÑO COLLEGE OF ORMOC DOÑA Feliza Mejia Village Ormoc City [email protected] 561-4338 THE CONTEMPORARY WORLD//1
 THE CONTEMPORARY WORLD
Unit 1: THE STRUCTURE OF GLOBALIZATION
LESSON 5: A World of Regions
At the end of this lesson, you should be able to:
 Differentiate between regionalization and globalization;
 explain how regions are formed and kept together;
 discuss the advantages and disadvantages of regionalism; and
 identify the factors leading to a greater integration of the Asian region.

Governments, associations, societies, and groups form regional organizations and/or networks as a way of
coping with the challenges of globalization. Globalization has made people aware of the world in general, but it
has also made Filipinos more cognizant of specific areas such as Southeast Asia. How, for instance, did the
Philippines come to identify itself with the Southeast Asian region? Why is it part of a regional grouping known
as the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN)?

While regionalism is often seen as a political and economic phenomenon, the term actually encompasses a
broader area. It can be examined in relation to identities, ethics, religion, ecological sustainability, and health.30
Regionalism is also a process, and must be treated as an "emergent, socially constituted phenomenon." It means
that regions are not natural or given; rather, they are constructed and defined by policymakers, economic actors,
and even social movements.

This lesson will look at regions as political entities and examine what brings them together as they interlock
with globalization. The other facets of regionalism will then be explored, especially those that pertain to
identities, ethics, religion, ecological sustainability, and health. The lesson will conclude by asking where all
these regionalisms are bringing us as members of a nation and as citizens of the world.
Countries, Regions, and Globalization
Edward D. Mansfield and Helen V. Milner state that economic and political definitions of regions vary, but
there are certain basic features that everyone can agree on. First, regions are "a group of countries located in the
same geographically specified area" or are "an amalgamation of two regions [or] a combination of more than
two regions" organized to regulate and "oversee flows and policy choices. Second, the words regionalization
and regionalism should not be interchanged, as the former refers to the "regional concentration of economic
flows" while the latter is a political process characterized by economic policy cooperation and coordination
among countries.

Countries respond economically and politically to globalization in various ways. Some are large enough and
have a lot of resources to dictate how they participate in processes of global integration. China, for example,
offers its cheap and huge workforce to attract foreign businesses and expand trade with countries it once
considered its enemies but now sees as markets for its goods (e.g., the United States and Japan). Other countries
make up for their small size by taking advantage of their strategic location. Singapore and Switzerland
compensate for their lack of resources by turning themselves into financial and banking hubs. Singapore
developed its harbor facilities and made them a first-class transit port for ships carrying different commodities
from Africa, Europe, the Middle East, and mainland Southeast Asia to countries in the Asia-Pacific. In most
cases, however, countries form a regional alliance for-as the saying goes- there is strength in numbers.

Countries form regional associations for several reasons. One is for military defense. The most widely known
defense grouping is the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) formed during the Cold War when several
Western European countries plus the United States agreed to protect Europe against the threat of the Soviet
Union. The Soviet Union responded by creating its regional alliance, the Warsaw Pact, consisting of the Eastern
European countries under Soviet domination. The Soviet Union imploded in December 1991, but NATO
remains
in place.
Countries also form regional organizations to pool their
resources, get better returns for their exports, as well as
expand their leverage against trading partners. The
Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries
(OPEC) was established in 1960 by Iran, Iraq, Kuwait,
Saudi Arabia, and Venezuela to regulate the production
and sale of oil. This regional alliance flexed its muscles
in the 1970s when its member countries took over
domestic production and dictated crude oil prices in the
world market. In a world highly dependent on oil, this
integration became a source of immense power. OPEC's
success convinced nine other oil producing countries to
join it.

Moreover, there are countries that form regional blocs to protect their independence from the pressures of
superpower politics. The presidents of Egypt, Ghana, India, Indonesia, and Yugoslavia created the Non-Aligned
Movement (NAM) in 1961 to pursue world peace and international cooperation, human rights, national
sovereignty, racial and national equality, non-intervention, and peaceful conflict resolution. It called itself non-
aligned because the association refused to side with either the First World capitalist democracies in Western
Europe and North America or the communist states in Eastern Europe. At its peak, the NAM had 120 member
countries. The movement, however, was never formalized and continues to exist up to the present, although it
lacks the same fervor that it had in the past.
Finally, economic crisis compels countries to come together. The Thai economy collapsed in 1996 after foreign
currency speculators and troubled international banks demanded that the Thai government pay back its loans. A
rapid withdrawal of foreign investments bankrupted the economy. This crisis began to spread to other Asian
countries as their currencies were also devalued and foreign investments left in a hurry. The International
Monetary Fund (IMF) tried to reverse the crisis, but it was only after the ASEAN countries along with China,
Japan, and South Korea agreed to establish an emergency fund to anticipate a crisis that the Asian economies
stabilized.

The crisis made ASEAN more "unified and coordinated."35 The Association has come a long way since it was
formed as a coalition of countries which were pro-American and supportive of the United States intervention in
Vietnam. After the Vietnam War, ASEAN continued to act as a military alliance to isolate Vietnam after it
invaded Cambodia, but there were also the beginnings of economic cooperation.

Non-State Regionalism
It is not only states that agree to work together in the name of a single cause (or causes). Communities also
engage in regional organizing. This "new regionalism" varies in form; they can be "tiny associations that
include no more than a few actors and focus on a single issue, or huge continental unions that address a
multitude of common problems from territorial defense to food security. Organizations representing this "new
regionalism" likewise rely on the power of individuals, non-governmental organizations (NGOs), and
associations to link up with one another in pursuit of a particular goal (or goals). Finally, "new regionalism" is
identified with reformists who share the same "values, norms, institutions, and system that exist outside of the
traditional, established mainstream institutions and systems.

Their strategies and tactics likewise vary. Some organizations partner with governments to initiate social
change. Those who work with governments ("legitimizers") participate in "institutional mechanisms that afford
some civil society groups voice and influence [in] technocratic policy-making processes." For example, the
ASEAN issued its Human Rights Declaration in 2009, but the regional body left it to member countries to apply
the declaration's principles as they see fit. Aware that democratic rights are limited in many ASEAN countries,
"new regionalism" organizations used this official declaration to pressure these governments to pass laws and
regulations that protect and promote human rights.

In South America, left-wing governments support the Hemispheric Social Alliance's opposition to the North
American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA), while members of the Mesa de Articulación de Asociaciones
Nacionales y Redes de ONGS de América Latina y El Caribe (Roundtable of National Associations and
Networks and NGOs in Latin America and the Caribbean) participate in "forums, summits, and dialogues with
presidents and ministers." Likewise, a group called the Citizen Diplomacy Forum tries to influence the policies
and programs of the Organization of American States. In Southeast Asia, the organization of an ASEAN
Parliamentarians for Human Rights was in part the result of non-government organizations and civil society
groups pushing to "prevent discrimination, uphold political freedom, and promote democracy and human rights
throughout the region."

Other regional organizations dedicate themselves to specialized causes. Activists across Central and South
America established the Rainforest Foundation to protect indigenous peoples and the rainforests in Brazil,
Guyana, Panama, and PeruYoung Christians across Asia, Africa, the Middle East, the Americas, and the
Caribbean formed Regional Interfaith Youth Networks to promote "conflict prevention, resolution, peace
education, and sustainable development." The Migrant Forum in Asia is another regional network of NGOs and
trade unions committed to protect[ing] and promot[ing] the rights and welfare of migrant workers.

These organizations' primary power lies in their moral standing and their ability to combine lobbying with
pressure politics. Unfortunately, most of them are poorly financed, which places them at a disadvantage when
dealing with their official counterparts who have large state funds. Their impact in global politics is, therefore,
limited.

New regionalism differs significantly from traditional state to state regionalism when it comes to identifying
problems. For example, states treat poverty or environmental degradation as technical or economic issues that
can be resolved by refining existing programs of state agencies, making minor changes in economic policies,
and creating new offices that address these issues. However, new regionalism advocates such as the NGO
Global Forum see these issues as reflections of flawed economic development and environmental models. By
"flawed," they mean economic development plans that are market-based, profit-driven, and hardly concerned
with social welfare, especially among the poor.

Another challenge for new regionalists is the discord that may emerge among them. For example,
disagreements surface over issues like gender and religion, with pro-choice NGOs breaking from religious civil
society groups that side with the Church, Muslim imams, or governments opposed to reproductive rights and
other pro-women policies." Moreover, while civil society groups are able to dialogue with governments, the
latter may not be welcoming to this new trend and set up one obstacle after another. Migrant Forum Asia and its
ally, the Coordination of Action Research on AIDS (CARAM), lobbied ASEAN governments to defend migrant
labor rights. Their program of action, however, slowed down once countries like Malaysia, Singapore, and
Thailand refused to recognize the rights of undocumented migrant workers and the rights of the families of
migrants.

Contemporary Challenges to Regionalism

Today, regionalism faces multiple challenges, the most serious of which is the resurgence of militant
nationalism and populism. The refusal to dismantle NATO after the collapse of the Soviet Union, for example,
has become the basis of the anti-NATO rhetoric of Vladimir Putin in Russia. Now, even the relationship of the
United States- the alliance's core member-with NATO has become problematic after Donald Trump demonized
the organization as simply leeching off American military power without giving anything in return.

Perhaps the most crisis-ridden regional organization of today is the European Union. The continuing financial
crisis of the region is forcing countries like Greece to consider leaving the Union to gain more flexibility in their
economic policy. Anti-immigrant sentiment and a populist campaign against Europe have already led to the
United Kingdom voting to leave the European Union in a move the media has termed the "Brexit."

ASEAN members continue to disagree over the extent to which member countries should sacrifice their
sovereignty for the sake of regional stability. The Association's link with East Asia has also been problematic.
Recently, ASEAN countries also disagreed over how to relate to China, with the Philippines unable to get the
other countries to support its condemnation of China's occupation of the West Philippine Sea." Cambodia and
Laos led the opposition favoring diplomacy over confrontation, but the real reason was the dramatic increase of
Chinese investments and economic aid to these countries. Moreover, when some formerly authoritarian
countries democratized, this "participatory regionalism" clashed with ASEAN's policy of non-interference, as
civil society groups in Indonesia, the Philippines, and Thailand demanded that the other countries democratized
adopt a more open attitude towards foreign criticism.
 The Member countries of ASEAN

A final challenge pertains to differing visions of what regionalism should be for. Western governments may see
regional organizations not simply as economic formations but also as instruments of political democratization.
Non-Western and developing societies, however, may have a different view regarding globalization,
development, and democracy. Singapore, China, and Russia see democracy as an obstacle to the
implementation and deepening of economic globalization because constant public inquiry about economic
projects and lengthy debate slow down implementation or lead to unclear outcomes. Democracy's tedious
procedures must, therefore, give way to efficiency.

Conclusion
Official regional associations now cover vast swaths of the world. The population of the countries that joined
the Asia Pacific Economic Council (APEC) alone comprised 37 percent of the world's population in 2007.
These countries are also part of "smaller" organizations that include the Association of Southeast Asian Nations,
the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, the North American Free Trade Agreement, the Caribbean and Pacific
Group of States, and the Union of South American Nations. Even "isolationist" North Korea is part of the
Regional Forum, which discusses security issues in the region.

In the same way the countries will find it difficult to reject all forms of global economic integration, it will also
be hard for them to turn their backs on their regions. Even if the UK leaves the EU, it must continue to trade
with its immediate neighbors and will, therefore, be forced to implement many EU rules. None of this is to say
that regional organizations will remain unaltered. The history of regionalism shows that regional associations
emerge as new global concerns arise. The future of regionalism will be contingent on the immense changes in
global politics that will emerge in the 21st century.
LESSON 5 ASSESSMENT: Name: Meljon A.
Abasola
Course/Year/Section: BSCRIM /1ST /O Score:

INSTRUCTIONS:
1. Answers MUST NOT BE COPY/PASTE from the Internet. If proven guilty of such act, the answer/s is/are
invalid or no points at all.
2. DO NOT COPY or/and SHARE your answers. If proven guilty of such act, both parties’ answers are void.
3. Submit on or before the deadline.
4. Your answer/s may be in word document or hand written.
5. Submit your answer sheet by uploading (.docx file, PDF or “pictures” for the hand written) via google form.
(See the last page for the link)
6. All files must be in a maximum of 10MB in total.
7. DO NOT FORGET TO WRITE YOUR NAME, YEAR AND SECTION before your answer/s.

Direction: Answer the following questions.

1. How is regionalism different from and yet a part of globalization?

Regionalism differs from globalization due to its root word ‘region,’ which means the exchange
of social, cultural, and economic aspects centers through regions rather than the larger aspects
such as the world, unlike in globalization.

2. What is the difference between state-to-state regionalism and non-state regionalism?

A formal project, policy, or scheme promoted by regional states may be referred to as state to-state
regionalism.
And non-state regionalism, on the other hand, involves a diverse range of non-state actors.

3. What triggers various regionalist projects?

Central Asian states have been involved in a countless projects and organizational structures aimed at
fostering regional cooperation. These initiatives were intended to mitigate the disruptive effects of the USSR’s
dissolution on their economic and social infrastructure.

LESSON 5 ACITIVITY:
Name: Meljon A Abasola Score:
Course/Year/Section: BSCRIM/ 1ST /O
 INSTRUCTIONS:
1. Answers MUST NOT BE COPY/PASTE from the Internet. If proven guilty of such act, the answer/s is/are
invalid or no points at all.
2. DO NOT COPY or/and SHARE your answers. If proven guilty of such act, both parties’ answers are void.
3. Submit on or before the deadline.
4. Your answer/s may be in word document or hand written.
5. Submit your answer sheet by uploading (.docx file, PDF or “pictures” for the hand written) via google form.
(See the last page for the link)
6. All files must be in a maximum of 10MB in total.
7. DO NOT FORGET TO WRITE YOUR NAME, YEAR AND SECTION before your answer/s.

From Kingdoms to Empires, to Colonies, and to Republics

Organize yourselves based on these following broad regional divisions:

North America China Korea

Middle East South America Japan
South Asia Southeast Asia

At the beginning of the 16th century, before the Europeans Tuled the world, these regions had their own
empires and kingdoms. When the Spanish established the first global empire, some of these kingdoms and
empires disappeared or were weakened. This process was continued under the British colonial rule, and other
powers began to carve their own spheres of interests, Europeans dominated and made colonies out of these
areas.

After World War I, however, there began a noticeable shift, this time with colonies challenging the colonial rule
and demanding that they be allowed to become nations and determine their own future. This pursuit was what
US President Woodrow Wilson called "the principle of self-determination" (see the discussion on this in the
Lesson
3) reached a high point when World War II destroyed the empires, and the colonies achieved their independence.

Choose a regional division and trace how it has changed from the time before European powers like Britain and
Spain ruled the world, then during the era of colonialism, until its independence.

List what kinds of changes happened to these areas (once principates, then provinces, then republics) and the
people who inhabit there. Finally, see how the nations and republics that were born from the ashes of
colonialism after World War II looked back on the past era to explain their own histories and pinpoint the
similarities and differences to the other regions.
ANSWER:
These regions had their own empires and kingdoms at the beginning of the 16 th century, before
Europeans ruled the world. Some of these kingdoms and empires vanished or were weakened when the
Spanish established the first global empire.

This pursuit, which US President Woodrow Wilson referred to as “the principle of self-determination,”
reached a climax when World War II destroyed the empires and the colonies gained independence.
RUBRICS
Directions: Your answers will be graded based on this rubric. Consequently, use this rubric as a guide when
writing your essay answers and check it again before you submit your essay

PERCENT TRAITS DISCRITION

20% Focus & Details There is one clear, well focused topic. Main ideas
are clear and are well supported by detailed and
accurate information.
20% Organization The introduction is inviting, states the main topic,
and provides an overview of the paper. Information
is relevant and presented in a logical order. The
conclusion is strong
20% Voice The author’s purpose of writing is very clear, and
there is strong evidence of attention to audience. The
author’s extensive knowledge and/or experience
with the topic is/are evident.
20% Word choice The author uses vivid words and phrases. The choice
and placement of words seems accurate, natural, and
not forced.
20% Sentence Structure, All sentences are well constructed and have varied
Grammar, Mechanics, & structure and length. The author makes no errors in
Spelling grammar, mechanics, and/or spelling
TOTAL 100%

REFERENCE:
 Lisandro E. Claudio, 2018, The Contemporary World, C & E Publishing, Inc.

Disclaimer: The School and the teachers do not claim any rights or ownership of the information found in the
learning material or module. This is solely for educational purpose only.

SEND YOUR ANSWER VIA GOOGLE FORM

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScfY_lSAXd5fg0Lttm4STHXZ5ff_
w2BBd2FwG6kpYdFJHL2Ww/viewform

Any concern with this module email me at [email protected]

For timely update join our official FB page: https://www.facebook.com/groups/thecontemporaryworldsnc