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Socsc101 The Contemporary World

The document outlines a module titled 'The Contemporary World' for the academic year 2024-2025, focusing on various global issues including political, social, economic, and cultural aspects. It aims to equip students with knowledge about the impacts of globalization and technological advancements on society, while also addressing environmental concerns. The module includes chapters on globalization definitions, the global economy, market integration, and cultural dynamics, providing a comprehensive understanding of contemporary global challenges.
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0% found this document useful (0 votes)
9 views57 pages

Socsc101 The Contemporary World

The document outlines a module titled 'The Contemporary World' for the academic year 2024-2025, focusing on various global issues including political, social, economic, and cultural aspects. It aims to equip students with knowledge about the impacts of globalization and technological advancements on society, while also addressing environmental concerns. The module includes chapters on globalization definitions, the global economy, market integration, and cultural dynamics, providing a comprehensive understanding of contemporary global challenges.
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
You are on page 1/ 57

GEC 007: THE CONTEMPORARY WORLD

SY: 2024-2025
First Semester
GEC 103: The Contemporary World
SY 2024-2025 FIRST SEMESTER

Introduction

Contemporary world has a broad topic, because it is concerned with different


issues, like political, social, religious, economic, cultural, etc.

This module aims to provide learners a knowledge about world issues in a


contemporary view. It helps students to equip knowledge and understanding about the
changes in the society that affect the w connections and communication. The 21 st
century brought a technological advancement which a rapid change in the society
issues and problems. Through advance technology, it helps the economic development
of every country. It provides job opportunities, new machine, faster communication,
production and services. The contemporary world improves mobility but it also
endangers the mother earth. The environment suffers due to man neglects’ its duty as a
stewards of the world.

Contemporary World provides learners with ideas about issues that they may be
able to face the challenges of the contemporary world. It provides awareness in every
learner that they may become a responsible citizens of the world.

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Table of Contents
Introduction --------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1
Table of Contents ------------------------------------------------------------------ 2
CHAPTER 1: DEFINING GLOBALIZATION ------------------------------ 3 – 7
The Task of Defining Globalization
Metaphors of Globalization
Solid and Liquid
Flows
Globalization Theories
Dynamics of Local and Global Culture
The Globalization of Religion
Globalization and Regionalization
Origins and History of Globalization
Hardwired
Cycles
Epoch
Events
Broader, More Recent Changes
CHAPTER 2: THE GLOBAL ECONOMY
Economic Globalization and Global Trade
Economic Globalization and Sustainable Development
Environmental Degradation
Food Security
Economic Globalization, Poverty, and Inequality
Global Income Inequality
The Third World and the Global South
The Global City

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The Theories of Global Stratification


Modernization Theory
Walt Rostow’s Four Stages of Modernization
Dependency Theory and the Latin American Experience
The Modern World-System
CHAPTER 3: MARKET INTEGRATION
International Financial Institutions
Bretton Woods System
The General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT) and the World
Trade Organization (WTO)
The International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Bank
The Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), the
Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC), and the European Union (EU)
North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA)
History of Global Market Integration
The Agricultural Revolution and the Industrial Revolution
Capitalism and Socialism
The Information Revolution
Global Corporations
CHAPTER 4: THE GLOBAL INTERSTATE SYSTEM
Global Governance in the Twenty-First Century Century
Effects of Globalization to Governments
Traditional Challenges
Challenges from National/Identity Movements
Global Economics
Global Social Movements
The Relevance of the State amid Globalization
Institutions That Govern International Relations

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Peace Treaties and Military Alliances: The UN and NATO


Non-Governmental Organization (NG0s)
Global Economic Associations: The WTO and NAFTA
Globalization and Globalism
Informationalism
Global Citizenship
CHAPTER 5: THE WORLD OF CLASS
Global Media Cultures
The Globalization of Religions
CHAPTER 6: GLOBAL POPULATION AND MOBILITY
The Global City
Global Demography
Global Migration
Factors of Human Migration

CHAPTER 1: Defining Globalization

Introduction

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Much has changed since time immemorial. Human beings have encountered
many changes over the last century especially in their social relationships and social
structures. Of these changes, one can say that globalization is a very important change,
if not, the “most important” (Bauman, 2003). The reality and omnipresence of
globalization makes us see ourselves as part of what we refer to as the “global age”
(Albrow, 1996). 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
also allows for connections among people, communities, and countries all over the
globe.

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

The Task of Defining Globalization

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 or (2)
narrow and exclusive. The one offered by Ohmae in 1992 stated, “Globalization means
the onset of the borderless world.” This is an example of broad and 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. Robert Cox’s definition
suits bets 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).

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 information as well as the
structures they encounter and create that are barriers to, or expedite, those flows.”
(p.12). Generally, this definition assumes that globalization could bring either or both

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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 could 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?

First, the perspective of the person who defines globalization shapes its
definition. The overview of definitions implies that globalization is many things to many
different people. In 1996, Arjun Appadurai said, “globalization is a ‘world of things’ that
have ‘different speeds, exes, points of origin and termination, and varied relationships to
institutional structures in different regions, nations, or societies” (as cited in Chowdhury,
2006,p.137). In a more recent study, Al-Rhodan (2006) wrote that definition suggest that
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 unifying force. On the other hand, if it is deemed as creating greater inequalities
among nations, globalization is negatively treated.

Second, to paraphrase the sociologist Cesare Poppi: Globalization is the debate


and debate is globalization. One became part and the parcel of the other. As Poppi
(1997) wrote: “The literature stemming from debate on globalization has grown in the
last decade beyond any individual’s capacity 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 as its reaches are wide and constantly shifting. Perhaps, more than any
other concept, globalization is the debate about it” (as cited in Kumar, 2003, p.95).

Third, 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 continue 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 definitions than 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 had
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 losses 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.

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Metaphors of Globalization

In order for us to better understand the concept of globalization, we will utilize


metaphors. Metaphors make us 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 were created.
Solidity also refers to barriers that prevent or make difficult the movement of things.
Furthermore, solids can either be natural or man-made. Examples of natural solids are
landforms and bodies of water. Man-made 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 of 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.

Zygmunt Bauman’s ideas were the ones that have much to say about the
characteristic of liquidity. First, 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.

Liquidity and solidity are in constant interaction. However, liquidity is the one
increasing and prolifering today. Therefore, the metaphor that could best describe
globalization is liquidity. Liquids do flow and this idea of flow (Appaduarai, 1996, Rey
and Ritzer, 2010) will be the focus on 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

Flows are the movement of people, things, places, and information brought by
the growing “porosity” of global limitations (Ritzer, 2015). As Landler (2008, p.1) put it:
“In global financial system, national borders are porous”. This means that a financial
crisis in a given country can bring ramifications to other regions of the world.

Globalization Theories

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Homogeneity refers to the increasing sameness in the world as cultural inputs,


economic factors, and political orientations of societies expand to create common
practices, same economies, and similar forms of government. Homogeneity in culture
is often linked to cultural imperialism. Another example of Americanization, which was
defined by Kuisel (1993) as “the import by non-Americans of products, images,
technologies, practices, and behavior that are closely associated with
America/Americans” (p.96). In terms of the economy, there is recognition of the spread
of neoliberalism, capitalism, and the market economy in the world (Antonio, 2007).

The global flow of media is often characterized as media imperialism. TV, music,
books and movies are perceived as imposed on developing countries by the West
(Cowen, 2002). Media imperialism undermines the existence of alternative global media
originating from developing countries, such as the Al Jazeera (Bielsa, 2008) and the
Bollywood (Larkin, 2003), as well as the influence of the local and regional media.

Ritzer (2008) claimed that, in general, the contemporary world is undergoing the
process of McDonaldization. It is the process by which Western societies are dominated
by the principles of fast food restaurants. McDonaldization involves the global spread of
rational systems, such as efficiency, calculability, predictability, and control.

On the other hand, heterogeneity pertains to the creation of various cultural


practices, new economies, and political groups because of the interaction of elements
from different societies in the world. Heterogeneity refers to the differences because of
either lasting differences or of the hybrids or combinations of cultures that can be
produced through the different transplanetary process. Contrary to cultural imperialism,
heterogeneity in culture is associated with cultural hybridization.

Dynamics of Local and Global Culture

Global flows of cultural tend to move more easily around the globe than ever
before, especially through non-material digital forms. There are three perspective on
global cultural flows. These are differentialism, hybridization, and convergences.

Cultural differentialism emphasizes the fact that cultures are essentially different
and are only superficially affected by global flows. The interaction of cultures is deemed
to contain the potential for “catastrophic collision”. Samuel Huntington’s theory on the
clash of the civilizations proposed in 1996 best exemplifies this approach. According to
Huntington, after the Cold War, political-economic differences were overshadowed by
new fault lines, which were primarily cultural in nature.

The cultural hybridization approach emphasizes the integration of local and


global cultures (Cvetkovich and Kellner, 1997). Globalization is considered to be a
creative process which gives rise to hybrid entities that are not reducible to either the
global or the local. A key concept is “glocalization” or the interpenetration of the global

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and local resulting in unique outcomes in different geographic areas (Giulianotti and
Robertson, 2007, p.133).Another key concept is Arjun Appadurai’s “scapes” in 1996,
where global flows involve people, technology, finance, political images, and media and
the disjunctures between them, which lead to the creation of cultural hybrids.

The cultural convergence approach stresses homogeneity introduced by


globalization. Cultures are deemed to be radically altered by strong flows, while cultural
imperialism happens when one culture imposes itself on and tends to destroy at least
parts of another culture. One important critique of cultural imperialism is John
Tomlinson’s idea of “deterritorialization” of culture. Derritorialization means that it is
much more difficult to tie culture to a specific geographic point of origin.

The Globalization of Religion

Globalization has played a tremendous role in providing a context for the current
revival and the resurgence of religion. Today, most religions are not relegated to the
countries where they began. Religions have, in fact, spread and scattered on a global
scale. Globalization provided religions a fertile milieu too spread and thrive. As Scholte
(2005) made clear: “Accelerated globalization of recent times has enabled co-
religionists across the planet to have greater direct contact with one another. Global
communications, global organizations, global finance, and the like have allowed ideas of
the Muslims and the universal Christian church to be given concrete shape as never
before”.

Information technologies, transportation means, and the media are deemed


important means on which religionists rely on the dissemination of their religious ideas.
Furthermore, media also play an important role in the dissemination of religious ideas.
In this respect, a lot of television channels, radio stations, and print media are founded
solely for advocating religions.

Globalization has also allowed religion or faith to gain considerable significance


and importance as a non-territorial touchstone of identity.
As Turner (2007) explained:

Globalization transforms the generic “religion” into a world-system of competing


and conflicting religions. This process of institutional specialization has transformed
local diverse and fragmented cultural practices into recognizable systems of religion.
Globalization has, therefore, had the paradoxical effect of making religions more self-
conscious of themselves as being “world religions”.
Though religion is strengthened and fortified by globalization, it represents a
challenge to globalization’s hybridizing effects. Religion seeks to assert its identity in the
light of globalization. As a result, different religious identities come to the fore and assert
themselves. Such assertions of religious identities constitute a defensive reaction to
globalization. Scholte (2005), in this respect, maintained, “At the same time as being

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pursued through global channels, assertions of religious identity have, like nationalist
strivings, often also been partly a defensive reaction to globalization.

The challenges of globalization to religion link automatically to the challenges of


religion to globalization. In other words, while religion takes caution against the norms
and the values related to globalization, it challenges the latter since religion does not
approve its hybridizing effects. The idea of de-hybridizing effects of religion is approved
also by Samuel Huntington’s clash of civilizations, which maintains that such
dehybridizing upshots spring also from the religious partitioning and clashes.

Globalization and Regionalization

The processes of globalization and regionalization reemerged during the 1980s


and heightened after the end of the Cold War in the 1990s. At first, it seems that these
two processes are contradicting-the very nature of globalization is, by definition, global
while regionalization is naturally regional.

The regionalization of the world system and economic activity undermines the
potential benefits coming out from a liberalized global economy. This is because
regional organizations prefer regional partners over the rest. Regional organizations
respond to the states’ attempt to reduce the perceived negative effects of globalization.
Therefore regionalism is a sort of counter-globalization.

Origins and History of Globalization

a.) Hardwired
According to Nayan Chanda (2007), it is because of our basic human need to
make our lives better that made globalization possible. Therefore, one can trace the
beginning of globalization from our ancestors in Africa who walked out from the said
continent in the late Ice Age. This long journey finally led them to all known continents
today, roughly after 50,000 years.

Chandra (2007) mentioned that commerce, religion, politics, and warfare are the
“urges” of people toward a better life. These are respectively connected to four aspects
of globalization and they can be traced all throughout history: trade, missionary work,
adventures, and conquest.

b.) Cycles

For some, globalization is a long-term cyclical process and thus, finding its origin
will be a daunting task. What is important is the cycles that globalization has gone
through (Scholte, 2005). Subscribing to this view will suggest adherence to the idea that
other global ages have appeared. There is also the notion to suspect that this point of
globalization will soon disappear and reappear.

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c.) Epoch

Ritzer (2015) cited Therborn’s (2000) six great epochs of globalization. These are
also called “waves” and each has its own origin. Today’s globalization is not unique if
this is the case. The difference of this view from the second view (cycles) is that it does
not treat epochs as returning. The following are the sequential occurrence if the epochs:

1.) Globalization of religion (4th to 7th century)


2.) European colonial conquests (late 15th century)
3.) Intra-European wars (late 18th to 19th centuries
4.) Heyday of European imperialism (mid-19th century to 1918)
5.) Post-World War II period
6.) Post-Cold War period

d.) Events

Specific events are also considered as part of the fourth view in explaining the
origin of globalization. If this is the case, then several points can be treated as the start
of globalization. Gibbon (1998), for example, argued that Roman conquests centuries
before Christ were its origin. In an issue of the magazine the Economist (2006, Jan.12),
it is considered the rampage of the armies of the Genghis Khan into Eastern Europe in
the 13th century. Rosenthal (2007) gave premium to voyages of discovery-Christopher
Columbus’s discovery of America in 1942, Vasco da Gama in Cape of Good Hope in
1948, and Ferdinand Magellan’s completed circumnavigation of the globe in 1522.

e.) Broader, More Recent Changes

Recent changes comprised the fifth view. These broad changes happened in the
last half of the 20th century. Scholars today point to these three notable changes as the
origin of globalization that we know today. They are as follows:
1.) The emergence of the United States as the global power (Post-World War II)
2.) The emergence of multinational corporations (MNCs)
3.) The demise of the Soviet Union and the end of the Cold War

ACTIVITY SHEET
Name: _________________________________ Date submitted: _____________
Course & year: _______________________

Activity: NUMBER 1
Activity Title: QNA
Topic/s Covered: CHAPTER 1: Defining Globalization

DIRECTION: Perform what is asked on each item

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Answer the following questions:

1. What are the advantages and disadvantages of using (a.) broad and inclusive
definitions and (b.) narrow and exclusive definitions of globalization? (10pts)
2. What do you think is the importance of defining globalization? (10pts)
3. Do you agree with the idea that the contemporary world is characterized
By high liquidity? Why or why not? (10pts)

ACTIVITY SHEET
Name: _________________________________ Date submitted: _____________
Course & year: _______________________

Activity: NUMBER 2
Activity Title: Actual Application of Globalization
Topic/s Covered: CHAPTER 1: Defining Globalization

DIRECTION: Perform what is asked on each item

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In this activity, you are to see the actual application of globalization on the different
aspects of daily life such as politics, music, sports, film, celebrity, and disaster.
1.) Answer the following questions: (10PTS)
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?
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? (10PTS)
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.(10PTS)

CHAPTER 2: The Global Economy

Economic Globalization and Global Trade


According to the United Nations (as cited in Shangquan, 2000), “Economic
globalization refers to the increasing interdependence of world economies as a result of
the growing scale of cross-border trade of commodities and services, flow of
international capital, and wide and rapid spread of technologies. It reflects the
continuing expansion and mutual integration of market frontiers, and is an irreversible
trend for the economic development in the whole world at the turn of the millennium”.
There are two different types of economies associated with economic
globalization-protectionism and trade liberalization. Protectionism means “a policy of

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systematic government intervention in foreign trade with the objective of encouraging


domestic production. This encouragement involves giving preferential treatment to
domestic producers and discriminating against foreign competitors” (McAleese, 2007 as
cited in Ritzer, 2015, p.1169). Trade protectionism usually comes in the forms of quotas
and tariffs. The great depression of 1929 marked the peak of protectionism. Until today,
protectionism exists in the world economy despite the growth of trade liberalization.
Countries such as China, Japan, and the United States are being accuse of practicing
protectionism (Ritzer, 2015).
World War II heavily influenced the shifting of the dominant economy policy from
protectionism to trade liberalization or free trade. Free trade agreements and
technological advances in transportation and communication means goods and services
move around the world more easily than ever.
Globalization made some countries, especially the developing ones, to gain more
in the global economy at the expense of other nations. There are various ways,
however, the country can make trade easier with other countries while lessening the
inequities in the global world. One of them is “fair trade” (Nicholls and Opal, 2005). Fair
trade, as defined by the International Fair Trade Association, is the “concern for the
social, economic, and environmental well-being of marginalized small producers”
(Downie, 2007, pp.C1-C5). It aims for a more moral and equitable global economic
system. Specifically, it is concerned with protection of workers and producers,
establishment of more just prices, engagement in environmentally sound practices and
sustainable production, creation of relationships between producers in the South and
consumers in the North, and promotion of safe working environment. Products like
coffee, bananas, cotton, wine, tea and chocolate have been exchanged in light of trade
fair.
Economic Globalization and Sustainable Development
There are some significant downsides to globalize trade and perhaps the
strongest argument against economic globalization is its lack of sustainability or the
degree to which the earth’s resources can be used for our needs, even in the future.
Specifically, the development of our world today by using the earth’s resources and the
preservation of such sources for the future is called sustainable development.
In other words, development has to be ensured in and for the future generations.
One significant global response or approach to economic globalization is that of
sustainable development, which seeks to chart a middle path between economic growth
and a sustainable environment (Borghesi and Vercelli, 2008). The relationship between
globalization and sustainability is multi-dimensional-it involves economic, political, and
technological aspects.
Environmental Degradation

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Development, especially economic development, was hastened by the Industrial


Revolution. This is the period in human history that made possible the cycle of
efficiency. Efficiency means finding the quickest possible way of producing large
amounts of a particular product. This process made buying of goods easier for the
people. Then, there is an increased demand. Ultimately, there was an increased
efficiency. This cycle harms the planet in a number of ways. For instance, the earth’s
atmosphere is damaged by more carbon emissions from factories around the world.
Another example is the destruction of coral reefs and marine biodiversity as more and
more wastes are thrown into the ocean. Many experts do not think that the planet can
sustain a growing global economy. Deforestation, pollution, and climate change will not
adjust for us, especially if increases in living standards lead people to demand more
consumer goods like cars, meat, and smartphones.
Food Security
The demand for food will be 60% greater than and the challenge of food security
requires the world to feed 9 billion people by 2050 (Breene, 2016). Global food security
means delivering sufficient food to the entire world population. It is, therefore, a priority
of all countries, whether developed or less developed. The security of food also means
the sustainability of society such as population growth, climate change, water scarcity,
and agriculture. Breene (2016) cited the case of India to show how complex the issue of
food security is in relation to other factors.
But perhaps the closest aspect of human life associated with food security is the
environment. The challenges to food security can be traced to the protection of the
environment. A major environmental problem is the destruction of natural habitats,
particularly through deforestation (Diamond, 2006). Industrial fishing has contributed to
a significant destruction of marine life and ecosystems (Goldburg, 2008). Biodiversity
and usable farmland have also declined at a rapid pace.
There are different models and agenda pushed by different organizations to
address the issue of global food security. One of this is through sustainability. The
United Nations has set ending hunger, achieving food security and improved nutrition,
and promoting sustainable agriculture as the second of its 17 Sustainable Development
Goals (SDGs) for the year 2030. The World Economy Forum (2010) also addressed this
issue through the New Vision for Agriculture (NVA) in 2009 wherein public-private
partnerships were established. It has mobilized over $10 billion that reached
smallholder farmers. The forum’s initiatives were launched to establish cooperation and
encourage exchange of knowledge among farmers, government, civil society, and the
private sector in both regional and national levels (Breene, 2016).
Economic Globalization, Poverty, and Inequality
The Swedish statistician Hans Rosling once said, “The 1 to 2 billion poorest in
the world who don’t have food for the day suffer from the worst disease, globalization

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deficiency. The way globalization is occurring could be much better, but the worst thing
is not being part of it”.
Economic and trade globalization is the result of companies trying to
outmaneuver their competitors. While you search for the cheapest place to buy shoes,
companies search for the cheapest place to make shoes. They find the cheapest
sources of leather, dye, rubber, and of course, labor. The result is that labor-intensive
products like shoes are often produced in countries with the lowest wages and the
weakest regulations. This process creates winners and losers. The winner include
corporations and their stockholders who earn more profit. They also include consumers
who get products at a cheaper price. The losers are high wageworkers who used to
make those shoes. Their jobs moved overseas. But what about the low wage foreign
workers? Are they winning or losing? A lot of workers are thrown into hazardous
working conditions but it is also true that many workers in developing countries are at
least making more money. These jobs pay above average wages. People want these
jobs and although the pay would be unacceptable in developed countries, they are often
the best alternative.
The multiplier effect means an increase in one economic activity can lead to an
increase in other economic activities. For instance, investing in local business will lead
to more jobs and more income. According to the economist Paul Krugman (as cited in
The New York Times, July 8, 2013), “The Bangladeshi apparel industry is going to
consist of what we could consider sweatshops or it won’t exist at all. And Bangladesh, in
particular, really needs its apparel industry. It’s pretty much the only thing keeping its
economy afloat”.
Economic globalization has helped millions of people get out of extreme poverty
but the challenge of the future is to lift up the poor while at the same time keep the
planet livable. One of the best ways to help those in extreme poverty is to enable them
to participate in the economy. This applies to developing countries in the global
marketplace and the individual at the local level. A perfect example is microcredit. In
2006, a Bangladeshi professor named Muhammad Yunus won the Nobel Peace Prize
for implementing a simple idea. He gave small loans, on average around $100, to low-
income people in rural areas. The borrowers, who are mostly female, often used the
money to fund plans that could raise their income. For example, they started small
businesses. Microcredit was a success and has since spread to developing countries
throughout the world. Private lenders, governments and nonprofit organizations have
jumped on board to loan billions of dollars to the worlds most disadvantaged.
Global Income Inequality
Globalization and inequality are closely related. We can see how different nations
are divided between the North and the South, developed and less developed, and the
core and the periphery. These differences mainly reflect one key aspect of inequality in

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the contemporary world-global economic inequality. There are two main types of
economic inequality: wealth inequality and income inequality. Wealth refers to the net
worth of a country. It takes into account all the assets of a nation-maybe natural,
physical, and human-less the liabilities. In other words, wealth is the abundance of
resources in a specific country. This means that wealth inequality speaks about
distribution of assets. However, there is no widely recognized, monetary measure that
sums up these assets (Economist, 2012).
Let us look at both types of inequality in the global level. According to the Global
Wealth Report 2016 by the Credit Suisse Research Institute, global wealth today is
estimated to be about 3.5 trillion dollars and it is not distributed equally. Countries like
the United States and Japan were able to increase their wealth. Due to currency
depreciation, however, the United Kingdom had a significant decline. Furthermore, the
report showed that income inequality continues to rise: “While the bottom half
collectively own less than 1 percent of total wealth, the wealthiest top 10 percent own 89
percent of all global assets” (Credit Suisse Research institute, 2016).
The Third World and the Global South
You probably heard of “First World Problems”. When someone cracks the
screen on their phone or gets the wrong order at the coffee shop, and then goes on the
their social media accounts, you might see their complaints with a hashtag “First World
Problems”. What are the implications of talking about countries as First or Third? Where
did these terms come from? These terms are outdated and inaccurate ways of talking
about global stratification. How then are we going to talk about global stratification.
Let us begin by deconstructing the idea of the First, Second, and Third World
hierarchy by looking at their origins and their implications. The terms date back to the
Cold War, when Western policymakers began talking about the world as three distinct
political and economic blocs (Tomlinson, 2003). Western capitalist countries were
labeled as the “First World”. The Soviet Union and its allies were termed the “Second
World”. Everyone else was grouped into “Third World”. After the Cold War ended, the
category of Second World countries became null and void, but somehow the terms
“First World” and “Third World” stuck around in the public consciousness. Third World
countries, came to be associated with impoverished states, while the First World was
associated with rich, industrialized countries.
A simpler classification, North-South, was created as Second World countries
joined either the First World or the Third World. First World countries, such as the
United States, Canada, Western Europe, and developed parts of Asia are regarded as
the “Global North” while the “Global South” includes the Caribbean, Latin America,
Africa, and parts of Asia. These countries were used to be called the Third World during
the Cold War (Reuveny &Thompson, 2007). By noting that countries are south of 30
degrees north latitude, they are able to say that these areas share common problems

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and issues having to do with economy and politics. The terms “Global North” and
“Global South” are a way for countries in the South to make a stand about the common
issues, problems, and even causes in order to have equality all throughout the world.
The Global City
The rural-urban differentiation has a significant relationship to globalization.
Globalization has deeply altered North-South relations in agriculture. For instance, the
relations of agriculture production have been altered due to the rise of global
agribusiness and factory farms (McMichael, 2007). In this scenario, the South produces
non-traditional products for export and become increasingly dependent in industrialized
food exports from the North. Consequently, this leads to a replacement of the staple diet
as well as the displacement of local farmers. Schlosser (2005) pointed out that as
commercial agriculture replaces local provisioning, the relations of social production are
also altered. Rural economies are exposed to low prices and mass migration.
Sassen (1991) used the concept of global cities to describe the three urban
centers of New York, London, and Tokyo as economic centers that exert control over
the world’s political economy. World cities are categorized as such based on the global
reach of organizations found in them. Not only are there inequalities between these
cities, there also exists inequalities within each city (Beaverstock et al, 2002).
Alternatively, following Castells (2000), these cities can be seen as important nodes in a
variety of global networks.
Theories of Stratification
For much of human history, all of the societies on earth were poor. Poverty was
the norm for everyone but obviously, that is not the case anymore. Just as you find
stratification among socioeconomic classes within a society like the Philippines, you
would also see across the world a pattern of global stratification with inequalities in
wealth and power between societies. So what made some parts of the world develop
faster, economically speaking, than others? We may draw answers by looking at the
different theories of global stratification.
Modernization Theory
One of the two main explanations for global stratification is the modernization
theory. This theory frames global stratification as a function of technological and cultural
differences between nations. It specifically pinpoints two historical events that
contributed to Western Europe developing at a faster rate than much of the rest of the
world. The first event is known as the Columbian Exchange. This refers to the spread of
goods, technology, education, and diseases between the Americas and Europe after
Christopher Columbus’s so called “discovery of Americas”. This exchange worked out
well for the European countries. They gained agricultural staples, like potatoes and
tomatoes, which contributed to population growth and provided new opportunities for

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trade, while also strengthening the power of the merchant class. The Columbian
Exchange worked out much less well, however, for Native Americans whose
populations were ravaged by the diseases brought from Europe. It is estimated that in
the 150 years following Columbus first trip, over 80% of the Native American population
died due to diseases such as smallpox and measles.
Modernization theory rests on the idea that affluence could be attained by
anyone. But why did the Industrial Revolution not take hold everywhere? Modernization
theory argues that the tension between tradition and technological change is the biggest
barrier to growth. A society that is more steeped in family systems and traditions may be
less willing to adopt new technologies and the new social systems that often
accompany them.
Walt Rostow’s Four Stages of Modernization
According to Amercan economist Walt Rostow, modernization in the West took
place, as it always tends to, in four stages. First is the traditional stage. This refers to
societies that are structured around small, local communities with production typically
being done in family settings. Because these societies have limited resources and
technology, most of their time is spent on laboring to produce food, which creates a
strict social hierarchy. Examples of these are feudal Europe or early Chinese dynasties.
Second stage-the take-off stage. People begin to use their individual talents to produce
things beyond the necessities. This innovation creates new markets for trade. In turn,
greater individualism takes hold and social status is more closely linked with material
wealth. The third stage is the drive to technological maturity, in which technological
growth of the earlier periods begins to bear fruit in the form of population growth,
reductions in absolute poverty levels, and more diverse job opportunities. Nations in this
phase typically begin to push for social change along with economic change, like
implementing basic schooling for everyone and developing more democratic political
systems. The last stage is known as high mass consumption. It is when your country
is big enough that production becomes more about wants than needs. Many of these
countries put social support systems in place to ensure that all of their citizens have
access to basic necessities.
Dependency Theory and the Latin American Experience
Dependency is the condition in which the development of the nation-states of
the South contributed to decline in their independence and to an increase in economic
development of the countries of the North (Cardoso and Felato, 1979). In addition, it
argues that liberal trade causes grater impoverishment, not economic improvement, to
less developed countries (Toye, 2003). Trade protectionism through import substitution
is the key to self-sustaining path to development, not liberal trade or export. In other
words, rather than focusing on what poor countries are doing wrong, dependency theory
focuses on how poor countries have wronged by richer nations. It further argues that the

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prospect of both wealthy and poor countries are inextricably linked. In addition, it argues
that in a world of finite resources, we cannot understand why rich nations are rich
realizing that those riches came at the expense of another country being poor. In this
view, global stratification starts with colonialism.
Dependency theory was initially developed by Hans Singer and Raul Prebisch in
the 1950s and has been improved since then. The two main sub-theories are the North
American Neo-Marxist approach and the Latin American structuralist approach
(Sanchez, 2014). The terms “core nations” and “Peripheral nations” are at the heart of
dependency theory. Peripheral nations are countries that are less developed are
receive and unequal distribution of the world’s wealth. Core countries, on the other
hand, are more industrialized nations who receive the majority of the world’s wealth.
Although generally divided into core or peripheral, dependency theorist recognize that
there are a number of different kinds of states in the world (Grosfoguel, 2000). Another
common assumption of the theory is that “even after de-colonization, there are still
important ties between the developed and less developed countries, which mainly
consist in the exploitation of peripheral natural resources and workforce by the centre”
(Anton, 2006,p.2).
The Modern World-System
This history of colonialism inspired American sociologist Immanuel Wallerstein
model of what he called the capitalist world economy. Wallerstein described high-
income nations as the “core” of the world economy. This core is the manufacturing base
of the planet where resources funnel in to become the technology and wealth enjoyed
by the Western world today. Low-income countries, meanwhile, are Wallerstein called
the “periphery” whose natural resources and labor support the wealthier countries, first
as colonies and now by working for multinational corporations under neo-colonialism.
Middle-income countries, such as India or Brazil, are considered the semi-periphery due
to their closer ties to the global economic core.
In Wallerstein’s model, the periphery remains economically dependent on the
core in a number of ways, which tend to reinforce each other. First poor nations tend to
have few resources to export to rich countries. However, corporations can buy these
raw materials cheaply and then process and sell them in richer nations. As a result, the
profits tend to bypass the poor countries. Poor countries are also more likely to lack
industrial capacity, so they have to import expensive manufactured goods from richer
nations. All of these unequal trade patterns lead to poor nations owing lots of money to
richer nations and creating debt that makes it hard to invest in their own development.
In sum, under dependency theory, the problem is not that there is a lack of global
wealth; it is that we do not distribute it well.

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ACTIVITY SHEET
Name: _________________________________ Date submitted: _____________
Course & year: _______________________

Activity: NUMBER 3
Activity Title: QNA
Topic/s Covered: CHAPTER 2: The Global Economy

DIRECTION: Perform what is asked on each item


Answer the following questions:
1. Do you think that the Philippines is harmed as other countries transfer their
activities to us through outsourcing? (10pts)
2. How can we “upgrade” our economy given the strength of the global economy,
especially the giant economies like the United States and Japan? (10PTS)
3. Explain the effects of globalization on governments. (10PTS)

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ACTIVITY SHEET
Name: _________________________________ Date submitted: _____________
Course & year: _______________________

Activity: NUMBER 4
Activity Title: Categorizing Countries
Topic/s Covered: CHAPTER 2: The Global Economy

In order for you to visualize Immanuel Wallerstein’s idea of the modern world-
system, this activity will involve a construction of a “new” nap of the world. The
foundation of constructing this map is the three hierarchies of areas in the modern
world-system discussed.
1.) Identify whether the following countries fall under core, periphery, or semi-
periphery category. (25PTS)
Australia China Indonesia Malaysia Philippines
Bangladesh France Italy Mexico Singapore
Brazil Germany Japan Nepal South Africa
Canada Hungary Kenya Nigeria Spain
Chile India Madagascar Panama Sri Lanka

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CHAPTER 3: Market Integration

International Financial Institutions


World economies have been brought closer together by globalization. It is
reflected in the phrase “When the American economy sneezes, the rest of the world
catches a cold”. But it is important to remember that it is not only the economy of the
United States but also other economies in the world that have significant impact on the
global market and finance. For instance, the financial crises experienced by Russia and
Asia affected the world economy. The strength of a more powerful economy brongs
greater effect on other countries. In the same manner, crises on weaker economies
have less effect on other countries. For example, Argentina’s serious financial crisis in
the late 1990s and early 2000s had a comparatively small impact on the global
economy.
Although countries are heavily affected by the gains and crises in the world
economy, the organizations that they consist also contribute to these events. The
following are the financial institutions and economic organizations that made countries
even closer together, at least, when it comes to trade.
The Bretton Woods System
The major economies in the world had suffered because of World War I, the
Great Depression in the 1930s, and World War II. Because of the fear of the recurrence
of lack of cooperation among nation-states, political instability, and economic turmoil

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(especially after the Second World Wae), reduction of barriers to trade and free flow of
money among nations became the focus to restructure the world economy and ensure
global financial stability (Ritzer, 2016). These consist the background for the
establishment of the Bretton Wood System.
In general, the Bretton Wood System has five key elements. First element is the
expression of currency in terms of gold or gold value to establsih a par value (Boughton,
2007). For instance, a 35 U.S dollar pegged by the United States per ounce of gold is
the same as 175 Nicaraguan cordobas per ounce of gold. The exchange rate therefore
would be 5 cordobas for 1 dollar. Another element is that “the official monetary authority
in each country (a central bank or its equivalent) would agree to exchange its own
currency for those of other countriesa at the established exchange rates, plu or minus a
one-percent margin” (Boughton, 2007,pp.106-107). The third element of the Bretton
Wood System is the establishment of an overseer for these exchange rates; thus, the
International Monetary Fund (IMF) was founded. Eliminating restrictions on the
currencies of member states in the international trade is the fourth key element. The
final element is that the U.S dollar became the global currency.

The General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT) and the World Trade
Organization (WTO)
According to Peet (2003), global trade and finance was greatly affected by the
Bretton Woods system. One of the systems born out of Bretton Woods was the General
Agreements on Tariffs and Trade (GATT) that was established in 1947 (Goldstein et
al,.2007). GATT was a forum for the meeting of representatives from 23 member
countries. It focused on trade goods through multinational trade agrements conducted in
many “rounds” of negotitaion. However, “it was out of the Uruguay Round (1986-1993)
that an agreement was reached to create the World Trade Organization (WTO)” (Ritzer,
2015,p.60).
The WTO headquarters is located in Geneva, Switzerland with 152 member
states as of 2008 (Tractman, 2007). Unlike GATT, WTO is an independent multilateral
organization that became responsible for trade in services, non-tariff-related barriers to
trade, and other broader areas of trade liberalization. An example cited by Ritzer (2015)
was that of the “differences between nations in relation to regulations on items as
manufactured goods or food. A given nations in relation to regulations if they are
deemed to be an unfair restraint on the trade in such items” (p.61). The general idea
where the WTO is based was that of neoliberalism. This means that by reducing or
eliminating barriers, all nations will benefit.
The International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the world Bank

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IMF and the World Bank were founded after the World War II. Their
establishment was mainly because of peace advocacy after the war. These institutions
aimed to help the economic stability of the world. Both of them are basically banks, but
instead of being started by individuals like regular banks, they were started by countries.
Most of the world’s countries were members of the two institutions. But, of course, the
richest countries were those handled most of the financing and ultimately, those who
had the gretatest influence.
IMF and the World Bank were designed to complement each other. The IMF’s
main goal was to help countries which were in trouble at that time and who could not
obtain money by any means. Perhaps, their economy collapsed or their currency was
threatened. IMF, in this case, served as a lender or a last resort for countries whch
needed financial assistance. For instance, Yemen loaned 93 million dollars from IMF on
April 5, 2012 to address its struggle with terrorism. The World Bank, in comparison, had
a more long-term approach. Its main goals revolved around the eradication of poverty
and it funded specific projects that helped them reach their goals, especially in poor
countries. An example of such is their investment in education since 1962 in developing
nations like Bangladesh, Chad, and Afghanistan.
The Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), the
Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC), and the European Union
(EU)
The most encompassing club of the richest countries in the world is the
Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) with 35 member
states as of 2016, with Latvia as its latest member. It is highly influential, despite the
group having little formal power. This emanates from the member countries’ resources
and economic power.
In 1960, the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) was
originally comprised of Saudi Arabia, Iraq, Kuwait, Iran and Venezuela. They are still
part of the major exporters of oil in the world today. OPEC was formed because
member countries wanted to increase the price of oil, which in the past had a relatively
low price and had failed in keeping up with inflation. Today, the United Arab Emirates,
Algeria, Libya, Qatar, Nigeria, and Indonesia are also included as members.
The European Union (EU) is made up of 28 member states. Most members in
the Eurozone adopted the Euro as basic currency but some Western European nations
like increased the prices in Eurozones and resulted in depressed economic growth
rates, like in Greece, Spain, and Portugal. The policies of the European Central Bank
are considered to be a significant contributor in these situtaions.
North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA)

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The North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) is a trade pact between the
United States, Mexico, and Canada created on January 1, 1994 when Mexico joined the
two other nations. It was first created in 1989 with only Canada and the United States
as trading partners. NAFTA helps in developing and expanding world trade by
broadening international cooperation. It also aims to increase cooperation for improving
working conditions in North America by reducing barriers to trade as it expands the
markets of the three countries.
The creation of NAFTA has caused manufacturing jobs from developed nations
(Canada or the United States) to transfer to less developed nations (Mexico) in order to
reduce the cost of their products. In Mexico, producer prices dropped and some two
million farmers were forced to leave their farms. Durng this time, consumer food prices
rose, causing 20 million Mexicans, about 25% of their population, to live in “food
poverty”.
History of Global Market Integration
Before the rise of today’s modern economy, people only produced for their
family. Nowadays, economy demands the different sectors to work together in order to
produce, distribute, and exchange products and services. What caused this shift in the
way people produce for their needs? In order to understand this, we will be going back
in time, 12,000 years ago.
The Agricultural Revolution and the Industrial Revolution
The first big economic change was the Agricultural Revolution (Pomeranz, 2000).
When people learned how to domesticate plants and animals, they realized that it was
much more productive than hunter-gatherer sicieties. This became the new agricultural
economy. Farming helped societies build surpluses, meaning, not everyone had to
spend their time producing food. This, in turn, led to major developments like permanent
settlements, trade networks, and population growth.
The second major economic revolution is the Industrial Revolution of the 1800s.
with the rise of industry came new economic tools, like steam engines, manufacturing,
and mass prodcution. Factories popped up and changed how work functioned. Instead
of working at home where people worked for their family by making things from the start
to finish, they began working as wage laborers and then becoming more specialized in
their skills. Overall, prodcutivity went up, standards of living rose, and people had
access to a wider variety of goods due to mass production.
Capitalism and Socialism
There were two competing economic models that sprung up around the time of
the Industrial Revolution, as economic capital became more and more important to the
production of goods. These were capitalsim and socialism. Capitalism is a system in
which all natural resources and means of production are privately owned. It emphsizes

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profit maximization and competition as the main drivers of efficiency. This means that
when one owns a business, he needs to outperform his competitors if he is going to
succeed. He is incentivized to be more efficient by improving the quality of one’s
product and reducing its prices. This is what economist Adam Smith in the 1770s called
the “invisible hand” of the market. The idea is that if one leaves a capitalist economy
alone, consumers will regulate things themselves by selecting goods and services that
provides the best value.
Whereas, government plays an even larger role in socialism. In a socialist
system, the means of production are under collective ownership. It rejectscapitalism’s
private property and hands-off approaches. Instead, in socialism, property is owned by
the government and allocated to all citizens, not only those with the money to afford it.
Socialis emphasizes collective goals, expecting everyone’s basic needs than on
individual profit. When Karl Marx first wrote about socialism, he viewed it as a stepping
stone toward communism, a political and economic system in which all members of a
society are socially equal. In practice, this has not played out in the countries that have
modeled their economies on socialism, like Cuba, North Korea, China,and the USSR.
Why? Marx hoped that as economic differences vanished in communist society, the
government would simply wither away and disappear, but that never happened. If
anything, the opposite did. Rather than freeing the workers-in Marxist terms, the
proletariat-from inequality, the massive power of the government in these states gave
enormous wealth power and privilege to political elites. The result is the retrenchment of
inequalities along political-rather than strictly economic lines.
The Information Revolution
Ours is the time of the information revolution. Technology has reduced the role of
human labor and shifted it from a manufacturing-based economy to one that is based
on service work and the production of ideas rather than goods. This has had a lot of
residual effects on our economy. Computers and other technologies are beginning to
replace many jobs because of automation or outsourcing jobs offshore. We also see the
decline in union membership. Nowadays, most unions are for public sector jobs, like
teachers.
The service industry includes every job such as administrative assistants, nurses,
teachers, and lawyers. This is a big and diverse group because the tertiary sector, like
all the economic sectors we have been discussing, is defined mainly by what it
produces rather than what kinds of jobs it includes. Sociologists have a way of
distinguishing between types of jobs, which is based more on the social status and
compensation that come with them. These are the primary labor market and secondary
labor market. The primary labor market includes jobs that provide many benefits to
workers, like high incomes, job security, health insurance, and retirement packages.
These are white-collar professions, like doctors, accountants, and engineers.
Secondary labor market jobs provide fewer benefits and include lower-skilled jobs and

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lower-level service sector jobs. They tend to pay less, have more unpredictable
schedules, and typically do not offer benefits like health insurance. They also tend to
have less job security.
Global Corporations
The increase in international trade has both created and been supported by
international regulatory groups like WTO, and transnational trade agreements, like
NAFTA. There is not a single country that is completely independent. All are dependent
to some degree on international trade for their prosperity. Without the internationa trade,
there would be no need for internationak regulatory groups. Without the international
regulatory groups, international trade at the current massive scale would be impractical.
The trade regulatory groups and agreements regulate the flow of goods and services
between countries. They reduce tariffs, which are taxes on imports, and make customs
procedures easier. This makes trading across national borders much more feasible.
These international trade agreements often benefit private industries the most.
Companies can produce their goods and services across many different countries. For
instance, you can have a backapack that was designed in the United States but the
materials came from China, and it was put together in Mexico before it was shipped
back to the United States to be sold.
These companies that extend beyond the borders of one country are called
multinational or transnational corporations (MNCs or TNC’s). They are also referred to
as global corportaions. They intentionally surpass national borders and take advantage
of opportunities in different countries to manufacture, distribute, market, and sell their
products. Some global corporations are ubiquitous, like McDonald’s or Coca-Cola, and
yet, they still market themselves as American companies. Other can be surprising like
General Electric, which is based in the United States but has more than half of its
business and employees working in other countries. Another example is Ford Motor
Company, the classic American car company, headquartered in Michigan that
manufactures cars worldwide.
International trade and global corporations, along with the Internet and more
global processes, contribute to globalization because people and corporations bring
their own beliefs, their traditions, and their money with them when they interact with
other countries. These ideas and capital can be incorporated in other countries, and
thus, change the cultures and economies of these foreign nations.

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ACTIVITY SHEET
Name: _________________________________ Date submitted: _____________
Course & year: _______________________

Activity: NUMBER 5
Activity Title: QNA
Topic/s Covered: CHAPTER 3: Market Integration

DIRECTION: Perform what is asked on each item

1.) What are the effects of multinational corporations in the Philippine economy?
(10PTS)
2.) Analyze socialism and capitalism in relation with the Philippine society. Which of
these economic systems would work in our country? (10PTS)
3.) Do you think the positive effects of multinational corporations outweigh the
negative effects? Why or why not?(10PTS)

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ACTIVITY SHEET
Name: _________________________________ Date submitted: _____________
Course & year: _______________________

Activity: NUMBER 6
Activity Title: Categorizing Scenarios
Topic/s Covered: CHAPTER 3: Market Integration

DIRECTION: Perform what is asked on each item

1.) Listed below are the scenarios that have to do with the economy. Discuss the
major impacts of these scenarios whether they are positive or negative (for you,
for the country, or for the Filipinos). The “Case-by-Case” column can be used.
Justify your answers. (15PTS)
Scenario Positive Negative Case-by-Case
A
B
C
D
E

Scenario A: Agriculture is the main source of employment in your home province. The
government has recently decided to develop the farmlands into real estate and
exclusive subdivisions in order to attract foreign investors to the country.

Scenario B: You decided to purchase a new shirt through an online shop based in
London.

Scenario C: The Philippine government is being pressured by the current economic


crisis to import rice from Taiwan and other nearby countries in the region,

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Scenario D: A multinational corporation decide to close. Unfortunately, your father is


one of its many employees whose work has been terminated. However, he could still be
employed if he were to accept the offer to move or relocate to another country.

Scenario E: The global financial crisis has affected the investment funds of your mother
that she can use for her retirement.

2.) How did you decide for each scenario? What are the pros and cons that you list
down before you came up with the final judgment? (15PTS)

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CHAPTER 4: The Global Interstate System

Global Governance in the Twenty-First Century

There is a series of specific factors behind the emergence of global governance.


The first on the list must be the declining power of nation-states. If states themselves
were “highly contingent and in flux” (Cerny, 2007, p.854), it would open the possibility of
the emergence of some form of global governance to fill the void.

A second factor is the vast flows of all sorts of things that run into and often right
through the borders of nation-states. This could involve the flow of digital information of
all sorts through the internet. It is difficult, if not impossible, for a nation-state to stop
such flow and in any case, it is likely such action would be politically unpopular and
bring much negative reaction to the nation-state involved in such an effort. For example,
China’s periodic efforts to interfere with the Internet have brought great condemnation
both internally and externally.

Another set of issues that has led to calls for global governance involves
horrendous events within nation-states that the states themselves either foment and
carry out, or are unable to control (Nordstrom, 2004).

Then, there are global problems that single nation-state cannot hope to tackle on
their own. One is the global financial crises and panic that sweep the world periodically,
which nations are often unable to deal with their own (Strange, 1996). Indeed, some
nations (e.g., the nations of Southeast Asia) have often been, and are being, victimized
by such crises. Unable to help themselves, such nations are in need of assistance from
some type of global governance.

Effects of Globalization to Governments

One of the key aspects of state sovereignty is the government. It is a group of


people who have the ultimate authority to act on behalf of a state. Each state has its
own right to self-determination and that other country should not intervene in the affairs
of that state unless there are extraordinary reasons to do so. Other countries must

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recognize sovereignty or the right to govern one’s own territorial borders. Each state is
autonomous unto itself and responsible within its own system of government to those
who are governed. The decisions, the conflict, and the resolution of that conflict are
done through the institutions of government established and codified in that particular
state, whether or not through elections. Elections, especially in democratic society,
provide the leadership of the state.
There have been several challenges to the government and ultimately, to state
autonomy. We can divide these challenges into four: traditional challenges, challenges
from national or identity movements, global economics, and global social movements.

Traditional Challenges

External intervention can generally be described as invasion by other countries.


For example, when Saddam Hussein was the ruler of Iraq in 1990, he decided he was
going to take over the oil fields of Kuwait. He invaded Kuwait and took over it. As a
result, he was dislodged by an international coalition led by the United States.

Internal political challenges can also happen. For example, after the Arab Spring
in Egypt, a new constitution was created and a government was elected. That
government was more fundamentalist and rejected the notion of a plural society that
included religious diversity. The military staged a coup that deposed the government in
order to restore stability.

There are also regional organizations challenging are state autonomy. The
United Nations intervened in Sudan because of the several years of civil war. More
recently in Europe, specifically in Greece, it also interfered in the Greek debt crisis.

Challenges from National/Identity Movements

The next challenges are part of a national identity or movement. It is important to


know that a nation has cultural identity that people attached to, while a state is a definite
entity due to its specific boundaries. However, different people with different identities
can live in different states. For example, the Kurds reside in several different countries
including Iran, Iraq and Turkey.

Global movements, such as the Al-Qaeda and ISIS, are another example of
national or identity movements. In this case, they are structured around the
fundamentalist version of Islam.

Global Economics

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The third major source of challenges comes from global economics. Global
economy demands the states to conform to the rules of free-market capitalism.
Government austerity comes from developments of organizations that cooperate across
countries, such as WTO and regional agreements, such as NAFTA, the European
Union (EU), and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).

Neoliberal economics or neoliberal capitalism started in the 1980s. It focuses on


free trade and dismantling trade barriers. It made sure that governments did not impose
restrictive regulations on corporate presence, as well as on the free flow of capital and
jobs. Free trade was seen as the ideal or the normative belief, that is, the best economy
is one where there is free trade everywhere. Laws and standards that would interfere
with the flow of capital in a particular country, including environmental regulations, were
deemed to discouraged economic growth. Neoliberal economics requires a state to
cooperate in the global market through the free flow of capital, the privatization of
services, and fiscal austerity or constraint. Neoliberal economics is seen as a threat, in
general, because a state cannot protect its own economic interest as a sovereign state.

Aside from high debt that burdened the government, Greece had several of its
employees struggling with pensions. Tax revenues were lower, and as a result, they
could not pay back their debts back. In 2009, their credit rating dropped which made it
harder for them to pay their debt. This led to a series of austerity packages in Greece
which meant that there was less government spending. IMF bailed them out from the
crisis in exchange for more austerity. In conclusion, economic crises can force
government to subscribe to the terms and conditions of the global financial market and
of other nations that can help them regain economic stability.

Global Social Movements

Finally, we have global social movements. Most of the time, they are not seen as
a threat but they definitely challenge state sovereignty. Social movements are
movements of people that are spontaneous or that emerge through enormous
grassroots organization. These social movements are transnational movements which
mean they occur across countries and across borders. Therefore, states have less
control over them.

For example, human rights movements create a public sentiment, value, and
agenda. The idea is that there are certain rights that states cannot neglect or generally,
what we call human rights.

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The environmental movement is another example of global social movements


related to public policy. A specific case is the so-called Blockadia or the state where
social movements emerging in local areas fight back as a response to the controlling
efforts by the apparatus if government to protect the interest of neoliberal capitalists.
Consensus on women’s rights is another example in many countries. Arguably, the
biggest conflict between the West and the fundamentalist Islam is over the role of
women in society, as well as women’s autonomy. Rights of personal autonomy are
another example and this includes issues on homosexuality, same-sex marriage and
gender equality.

The Relevance of the State amid Globalization

The state is a distinctive political community with its own set of rules and
practices and that is more or less separate from other communities. It has four
elements: people, territory, government, and sovereignty. The first element of state is a
permanent population. This population does not refer to a nomadic people that have
move from one place to another in an indefinite time. This permanent presence in one
location is strengthened by the second element of a state, a defined territory. A territory
has clear boundaries. A territory is effectively controlled by the third element,
government. The government regulates relations among its own people and with other
states. This means that the state is a formally constituted sovereign political structure
encompassing people, territory, and its institutions on the one hand, and maintaining its
autonomy from other states on the other hand.

It is important to differentiate the idea of nation from state. Nation refers to a


people rather than any kind of formal territorial boundaries or institutions. It is a
collective identity grounded on a notion of shared history and culture. If we talk about
the Philippines as a state, we may refer to the Philippine government, the Philippine
territory, and its internal and external sovereignty. If we talk about the Philippines as a
nation, we refer to our shared collective notion of democracy, our history, and our
collective identity. In other words, the state is a political concept, while a nation is a
cultural concept. States, through its formalized institutions, more or less reflect nations.
This would allow states to have a certain people with their own collective identity. In
turn, they should be allowed to form their own political state. This is the principle of
national self-determination.

This brings us to the concept of the nation-state. It is a territorially bounded


sovereign institution that governs individuals sharing a collective history, identity, and
culture. In reality, it is difficult to think of any nation as having any shared national
identity. The Philippines, although formally a state, has a variety of ethnic traditions.

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A related point is that it would be a mistake simply “to see globalization as a


threat to, a constraint on, the nation-state; it can also be an opportunity for the nation-
state” (Conley, 2002, pp.378-399). For example, the demands of a globalization were
used as bases to make the needed changes in Australian society, specifically allowing it
to move away from protectionism and in the direction of neoliberalization, to transform
state enterprises into private enterprises, and to streamline social welfare. With this, the
rhetoric of globalization, especially an exaggeration of it and its effects, was useful to
those politicians who were hopeful of such changes.

Institutions That Govern International Relations

There are several international organizations that governments of countries


around the world and individuals participate in. These include the United Nations, the
International Court of Justice, NAFTA, and NATO. There are also non-governmental
organizations promoting social and economic growth. Let us look at them one by one.

Peace Treaties and Military Alliance: The UN and NATO

Global politics entails relationship of countries and different governments and


non-governmental organizations. The United Nations (UN) is one of the leading political
organizations in the world where nation-states meet and deliberate. However, it remains
as an independent actor in global politics. The premise for its establishment was the
restructuring of the world devastated after the Second World War. The term “United
Nations” was coined by former U.S President Franklin D. Roosevelt in 1942 (United
Nations, 2011). Its operations began on October 24, 1945. It started with 50
representatives from different countries. Generally, it functions in four areas: military
issues, economic issues, environmental issues, and human protection. It is made up to
of close to 200 countries from around the world, 193 member states to be exact, with
the Republic of South Sudan as its latest member (United Nations, 2011). The UN, with
its headquarters in New York City, was designed to be a place where countries could
come to discuss their issues without resorting to violence and war, which had plagued
our planet for several years in the past. Maintaining peace and building friendships is
the number one goal of the UN, as well as providing a forum where countries could
gather to discuss global issues. The General Assembly is the gathering of all of these
countries. It is held in an auditorium where speeches are given. Representatives from
different member states can vote on issues.

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Maintaining international peace and security became the central mission of the
UN after the war. Up to this day, the UN is the major force in governing interstate
relations (Ritzer, 2015).

The main deliberative body, the General Assembly, provides a forum for member
states to express their views and reach a consensus. In 1991, the UN’s military role was
put into question during its intervention in Iraq’s invasion of Kuwait wherein the Security
Council authorized the use of force (Ritzer, 2015).
The UN is not all about fights. It has a program called UNICEF or the United
Nations Children’s Emergency Fund. Its primary goal is to help children around the
world. They collect funds to distribute emergency relief from famine and poverty and
disease. It also provides education programs in areas where there are no schools.
While UNICEF is part of the United Nations, they operate semi-independently and rely
on fundraising.

In terms of economic issues, the main focus of the UN is the reduction of global
inequality. The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) cover a range of concerns for
the improvement of all aspects of life.

Environmental issues, such as pollution and hazardous wastes, are addressed


through United Nations Environmental Programme (UNEP). The UN also has the
International Court of Justice (ICJ), usually referred to as the World Court. It is located
in the Netherlands in a town called Hague. This is where countries settle disputes in a
court of law, as well as a place where war criminals and rulers who have done terrible
things to their people can be put to trial for their crimes.

Finally, the UN promotes and protects human rights through different


organizations and mechanisms. Since 1948, human rights have been brought into the
realm of international law. This is reflected in the Universal Declaration of Human
Rights.

The UN is being criticized as being weak and is unable to stop wars. Because of
this, the next institutions that we are going to discuss continues to play role in foreign
conflicts. This is NATO. It is a defensive treaty or a military alliance between the United
States, Canada, and 25 European countries. This treaty and international organization
is based on the idea of collective security. The countries in this organization basically
agreed to combine their militaries and announce to the world that if a country messes
with one of its members, the other countries will come to their defense. NATO was
created after the Second World War, mostly during the beginning of the Cold War. With
the collapse of the Soviet Union in the early 1990s, former Soviet states. Like Poland

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and Croatia, had joined NATO, making the present-day Russia feel more threatened.
NATO has sent troops and undertaken military operations in Afghanistan, Kosovo, Iraq,
and Africa. The United States with, by far, the most advanced military in the world
makes up the bulk of NATO forces and operations. Many of these wars or conflicts are
considered to be strictly U.S wars.

Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs)

Another example of an international organization that was developed out of war


is the Red Cross (Red Crescent in Muslim countries). It is considered as a non-
governmental organization (NGO). NGOs are not tied to any country. This allows them
to operate freely throughout the world. They provide emergency relief such as food,
water, and medical supplies for those whose homes or towns have been destroyed by
disaster or war. They also monitor the treatment of prisoner of wars and go to conflicts
to make sure that no war crimes are taking place.

Global Economic Associations: The WTO and NAFTA

The next group is an economic association-WTO. It is made up of 162 countries


around the world and was created with the goal of increasing free trade. Countries,
therefore, can buy and sell goods from one another without placing taxes on imports or
tariffs. In addition, tariffs are used to protect businesses and companies inside their
country. Though good in nature, WTO is not without criticism.in fact, a protest in Seattle
at a 1999 WTO Conference led to a major riot as some said that WTO was more about
helping large companies and corporations than it was about helping people.

Another famous economic organization is NAFTA. This is an economic treaty


between the United States, Canada, and Mexico in which the three countries trade
freely without taxing each other. NAFTA is not without critics either. Some American
autoworkers protested against NAFTA as several car companies moved their factories
to Mexico in search for cheaper labor. NAFTA, like WTO, represents the challenge in
America of keeping manufacturing factories.

Globalization and Globalism

You probably think about links, connections, and interrelatedness of things,


people, and countries when you encounter the “globalization”. However, when
compared to term “globalism” globalization would be better described as the “increase
or decline in the degree of globalism” (Nye, 2002, p.1). What then is globalism?
Globalism refers to the networks of connections that transcends distances of different

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countries in the world. In other words, the links among countries and people are better
associated with globalism while the speed in which they become linked with one
another is globalization.

We can also differentiate globalism and globalization in terms of its “thickness:


(Nye, 2002). Globalism is thin. As it becomes thicker, globalization happens. This
means that being able to connect countries in the world through a more dynamic and
faster way is globalization.

Although globalism and globalization are often understood in terms of the


economy, (Nye, 2002) gave “four distinct dimensions of globalism: economic, military,
environment and social”. Like economic globalism, the three other dimensions also
become thicker and faster as globalization intensifies. The enormous speed of potential
conflict and threat of nuclear war is an example of military globalism. In terms of
environmental globalism, global warming continues to accelerate. The last dimension,
social and cultural globalism, “involves movements of ideas, information, images, and of
people who carry ideas and information with them” (Nye, 2002, p.2).

Informationalism

Globalism is tied to the notion of networks. For Castells (2000), “networks


constitute the fundamental pattern of life, of all kinds of life”. It was previously mentioned
that in the present and even in the past, the world is connected. The difference between
globalism and globalization is the speed and thickness or intensity of connections.
Nevertheless, people are connected with one another whether as small community or
as a large country.

The question now is about the type of connection that exists and begins to
increase in the contemporary world. The answer lies in the growth of the information as
the binding force among people, things and places around the globe. This technological
paradigm, associated with computer science and modern telecommunication that
replaces industrialism is called informationalism (Castells, 2004). These are
technology, the media, and the internet. This is not to say that we do not need to
produce material goods such as factories, clothes, and food; rather, exchanging
information and knowledge, which is clearly immaterial goods, becomes central in the
contemporary world (Hardt & Negri, 2000). This is due to the “three of the most cutting-
edge aspects of the social world in general and globalization in particular” (Ritzer, 2015,
p.134), technology, media, and the internet.

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While globalization allowed the expansion of information, access to modern


technologies is not a universal matter that is available to every person around the world.
The internet and other technologies are limited by certain barriers. These barriers
include lack of electricity, illiteracy, weak financial systems, and government regulations.

Global Citizenship

Citizenship is associated with rights and obligations, for instance, the right to vote
and the obligation to pay taxes. Both rights and obligations link the individual to the
state. It also has to do with our attitudes. We need to be willing to engage and to spend
time and effort to the community of which we feel part of. Community has traditionally
been regarded as something very local. How, then, can the idea of citizenship be
transferred to the global level?

Caecilia Johanna van Peski (as cited in Baraldi, 2012) defined global citizenship
“as moral and ethical disposition that can guide the understanding of individuals or
groups of local and global contexts, and remind them of their relative responsibilities
within various communities.” Global citizens are the glue which binds the local
communities together in an increasingly globalized world. In van Peski’s words, “global
citizens might be a new type if people that can travel within these various boundaries
and somehow still make sense of the world” (Baraldi, 2012).

Global citizenship does not automatically entail a single attitude and a particular
value with globalization. We must remember that globalization is not a single
phenomenon; rather, there are many globalizations. While some need to be resisted,
others are welcomed and should be encouraged. They are bound to be multiple futures
for multiple globalizations. These globalizations created enemies because according to
one broad view, globalization failed to deliver its promises (Cohen, 2006). The so-called
bottom billion lacks infrastructures and has been disenfranchised. The opponents of
globalization blame either Westernization or global capitalism. Thus, the enemies resist
globalization, especially when it comes to global economy and global governance.
There are three approaches to global economic resistance. Trade protectionism
involves the systematic government intervention in foreign trade through tariffs and non-
tariff barriers in order to encourage domestic producers and deter their foreign
competitors (McAleese, 2007). Although there exists a widespread consensus regarding
its inefficiency, trade protectionism us still popular since it shields the domestic
economy from systematic shocks. Fair trade is a different approach to economic
globalization, which emerged as a counter to neoliberal “free trade” principles (Nicholls
and Opal, 2005). Fair trade aims at a more moral and equitable global economic system
in which, for instance, price is not set by the market; instead, it is negotiated

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transparently by both producers and consumers. While it is popular among consumers


in the North, it has met only limited acceptance among producers (Ritzer, 2015). Its
ability to supply a mass market and its applicability to manufacture products are also
doubted. The third form of resistance to economic globalization relates to helping the
bottom billion based on Collier (2007). Increasing aid is only one of the many measures
that are required. International norms and standards can be adapted to the needs of the
bottom billion. The reduction of trade barriers would also reduce the economic
marginalization of these people and their nations.

ACTIVITY SHEET
Name: _________________________________ Date submitted: _____________
Course & year: _______________________

Activity: NUMBER 7
Activity Title: Compare and Contrast/ Q N A
Topic/s Covered: CHAPTER 4: The Global Interstate System

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DIRECTION: Perform what is asked on each item

1.) Compare and contrast globalism and informationalism. (15PTS)


2.) What are the barriers to our collective learning in the age of information? (15PTS)

ACTIVITY SHEET
Name: _________________________________ Date submitted: _____________
Course & year: _______________________

Activity: NUMBER 8
Activity Title: Collecting Posts, Connecting the World
Topic/s Covered: CHAPTER 4: The Global Interstate System
DIRECTION: Perform what is asked on each item

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We live in a world where we are surrounded by vast amount of information. It is


all around us. We can get information from books, television, newspaper, and online
websites. The World Wide Web has made us familiar with digital technology and allows
us to communicate with other people around the world.
Moreover, our collective learning could also be aided by modern technology.
Social media is one of the ways in which information is exchanged today. In this activity,
we will realize how connected we are in terms of the posts that we see in the Web.
Although we do not have a face-to-face interaction, we could somehow relate with
others in this virtual space-the Internet-which largely shaped the flow of information in
the contemporary world. (30PTS)

1.) Using your social media account (e.g., FB or Twitter accounts) browse your
home page and observe the posts of your friends.
2.) Choose and list down at least 30 randomly selected posts. The names of your
friends can be excluded.
3.) Group the posts according to theme. Some of the themes may be about a
product, an educational post, a movie, an opinion, a religious verse, or a status
about one’s personal life. Feel free to construct your own title for the posts that
you are going to group together.
4.) Share the themes you have created with a classmate and answer the following
questions:
a.) Which theme has the most number of posts?
b.) Which post has the most number of shares?
c.) Which are the common themes that you and your classmate have identified?
d.) Have you posted anything in the past that is similar with the post you listed
down?

CHAPTER 5: A World of Class

GLOBAL MEDIA CULTURE

What is Media?
 It is the communication outlets or tools used to store and deliver information or
data.
 The term refers to components of the mass media communications industry,
such as print media, publishing, the news media, photography, cinema,
broadcasting (radio and television), and advertising.

2 types of Media

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 Traditional Media - Traditional media includes mostly non-digital advertising and


marketing methods.
Examples:
 Television advertisements;
 Radio advertising;
 Print advertising;
 Direct mail advertisements;
 Billboards and off-site signs;
 Cold calling;
 Door-to-door sales;
 Banner ads

 New Media - means of mass communication using digital technologies such as


the internet.
Examples:
 Websites
 Blogs
 Email
 Social media networks
 Music and television
streaming services
 Virtual and augmented
reality
Stages of Revolution
1. Pre – industrial age - refers to the time before machines were introduced to
produce goods on a large scale.
- it is a time before there were machine and tools to help perform
tasks on mass.
2. Industrial age – it is defined by mass production, broadcasting, the rise of the
nation and state, power, modern medicine, and running water.
3. Electronic age - the electronic age began when electronic equipment, including
computers came into use
4. Digital age - This is otherwise referred to as the Information Age, a historic
period in the 21st century characterized by the rapid shift from traditional industry
that the Industrial Revolution brought through industrialization, to an economy
based on information technology.

GLOBALIZATION OF RELIGION

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What is Globalization?
 is the networking and expansion of once local products, beliefs, and practices
into universal products, beliefs and practices often through technology.

What is Religion?
 the belief in and worship of a superhuman controlling power, especially a
personal God or gods.
 a set of beliefs concerning the cause, nature, and purpose of the universe,
especially when considered as the creation of a superhuman agency or
agencies, usually involving devotional and ritual observances, and often
containing a moral code governing the conduct of human affairs.

The most known religion across the world.


1. Christianity
 Christianity is one the first rank in the list of most popular religions around the
globe with more than 2.22 billion followers which is more than 31.5% of world’s
entire population. It was founded about 2000 years ago in Israel. Bible is the holy
book followed by Christians.
 Christianity is divided into three major Sects named Roman Catholic, Eastern
Orthodox, and Protestant.
 Christianity began two thousand years ago and is a faith based on the life and
teachings of Jesus Christ. From its humble beginnings as a small sub-group of
Judaism, Christianity has become the most popular religion in the world, with
followers worldwide. Christians believe in the existence of the One God, who
sent His Only Son, Jesus Christ, to save them from their evil and hell. Believers
believe that the sacrificial death of Christ on the cross, His death and His
resurrection were all intended to provide eternal life and forgiveness to all who
accept Christ as their personal Savior. Even in our modern society, Christianity
plays an important and powerful role, not only in terms of religious practices, but
also on a larger scale. To some extent, this is also the case with the formulation
of the social and political policies of Christian countries.

2. Islam
 Islam is given the second rank in the list of major religions of the world having
more than 1.5 billion followers as per 2020 list of largest religions in the world.
 It is one of the fastest growing religions and was founded about 1400 years
before in Saudi Arabia which is considered to be the largest oil-producing
country.
 Quran is the Holy book and acted by the Muslims living in the different countries
of the world. Indonesia, India, Pakistan and Bangladesh are the major countries

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having the largest Muslim population. Continue reading Top 10 Biggest Religions
in the World 2020.
 Islam began in Mecca in the seventh century. Followers of religion believe that
there is only one God (Allah), written and shaped in the Holy Book of the Qur’an,
which always acts as the central spiritual book in the faith. The Prophet
Muhammad lived from 570 to 632 among the historical figures who needed to
understand the Muslim tradition.
 The followers of Islam believe that this man is the ultimate prophet of God.
Islamic religious law establishes the five pillars of Islam and imposes rules and
regulations on almost every aspect of the disciple’s life. There are two main
groups of Muslims, the Sunnis (the largest in the world, including 80% of the
Muslims) and the Shia (~ 15% of the Muslims), among them a few minor names
such as Ibadi, Ahmadi and many others.

3. Hinduism
 Hinduism in one of the most major religions of the world with 1.05 billion
worshipers living in the different countries of the world. It is considered the
world’s oldest religion.
 The Gita, Agamas, and Vedas are the major scriptures of Hindus.India has the
third strongest army around the globe, and it is the top country having the largest
Hindu population while on the other hand, it is the second largest country for the
Muslim population. Hinduism is the 3rd most following religion in the world 2020
list.
 Most Hindus live in South Asian countries such as India, Nepal and Indonesia. In
India alone, it is estimated that 80% of the population is Hindu. Although very
little is known about the foundation of Hinduism, it is generally believed that the
faith developed over 4,000 years. Due to its status as an ancient belief system,
Hinduism is deeply rooted in Indian society.
 In recent years, many forms of Hinduism have become popular in the West as
well. Examples of this include participation in yoga, as well as interest in
information related to the Chakra organism. System (energy points throughout
the human body that are used to heal and improve health both spiritually and
physically).

4. Buddhism
 Buddhism is also considered a leading religion around the globe with more than
488 million followers.
 It was founded by Gautama Siddhartha 2500 years before in India. Its followers
are acting the son of a warrior Prince who had a wealthy background in the
history of a world.

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GEC 103: The Contemporary World
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 Buddhism is divided into three major sects like named Theravada, Mahayana,
and Vajrayana.
 Buddhism was founded in India 2,500 years ago and is based on the teachings
of the Buddha, also known as Gautama Buddha or Siddhartha Gautama. There
are two main branches of religion. They are Theravada Buddhism and Mahayana
Buddhism. In Tibet, adherents subscribe to a form of Buddhism known as
Vajrayana, Zen Buddhism is the most practiced in Japan. The basic principles of
the Buddhist belief system include non-violence, as well as moral purity and
moral conduct.
 Meditation, ritual and non-violence play an important role in the daily life of
Buddhists. The most recognizable figure in the Buddhist world is undoubtedly the
Tenzin Gyatso, the 14th and current Dalai Lama. This former monk is not only
the current (and exiled) spiritual leader of Tibet, but also a proclaimed peace
activist.

5. Shintoism
 Shintoism is based in Japan, with 104 million followers worldwide; And its
beginnings date back to the eighth century.
 Followers of the faith believe that there are many gods, and the word Shinto
translates to “the way of the gods.” It is estimated that 80% of Japanese citizens
belong to Shintoism, and the country is home to 80,000 Shinto shrines.
 A unique feature of faith is that believers do not have to declare their allegiance
to religion. The notions of impurity and purification play a major role in Shintoism
and its practices, known as hare. These are regularly practiced for the purpose of
purifying the believer from sin, guilt, sickness, and misfortune.

Religion has entered “information age” and has globalized and accelerating
rates, in methods religions use for teaching and in belief system.

Tools of uniting people all over the world on religious basis


1. Books
2. Movies
3. Cellphone apps
4. Social networks
5. Charity funds
6. Special internet sites
7. Religious schools

Conclusion

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GEC 103: The Contemporary World
SY 2024-2025 FIRST SEMESTER

 Globalization has a great impact on religion. As people and cultures move across
the globe, as ideas are mobilized and transported by media technology, the
religious globalization will go on and on. It has its pro and cons. People should
cope with the flow of info and choose their own and peaceful way.

ACTIVITY SHEET
Name: _________________________________ Date submitted: _____________
Course & year: _______________________

Activity: NUMBER 9
Activity Title: Research
Topic/s Covered: CHAPTER 5: A World of Class

DIRECTION: Perform what is asked on each item


 Students will be asked to pick an Asian musical act that became internationally
famous and must answer the following questions:
o 1. Where did the musical act/artist originate?
o 2. In which countries did the artist become famous?
o 3. How did the artist become famous?
o 4. Why do you think the artist became famous?

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GEC 103: The Contemporary World
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ACTIVITY SHEET
Name: _________________________________ Date submitted: _____________
Course & year: _______________________

Activity: NUMBER 10
Activity Title: QNA
Topic/s Covered: CHAPTER 5: A World of Class
DIRECTION: Perform what is asked on each item
1. Explain how globalization affects religious practices and beliefs. (15PTS)

2. Analyze the relationship between religion and global conflict and, conversely, global
peace. (15PTS)

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GEC 103: The Contemporary World
SY 2024-2025 FIRST SEMESTER

CHAPTER 6: Global Population and Mobility

THE GLOBAL CITY

What is Global City?


 Also called world city or sometimes alpha city or world center, is a city which is a
primary node in the global economic network.
 An urban center that enjoys significant competitive advantages and that serves
as a hub within a globalized economic system.
 The term has its origins in research on cities carried out during the 1980s, which
examined the common characteristics of the world’s most important cities.
 A global city is a city which has a big economic significance in the world. Thus for
a city to be deemed as global or world class it has to pass certain criteria. These
criteria include economic characteristics, political characteristics, cultural
characteristics, transport characteristics, and many others such as population,
information exchange, human capital, and business activities.

GLOBAL DEMOGRAPHY
What is Global?
 Relating to the whole world; worldwide.
What is Demography?
 Refers to numerous techniques that can be utilized to assess the population of a
given area. Demographers can work for research institutions, governments, and
other bodies.

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 It is the statistical study of populations, especially human beings. Demography


encompasses the study of the size, structure, and distribution of these
populations, and spatial or temporal changes in them in response to birth,
migration, aging, and death.

Demographic transitions
 Is a singular historical period during which mortality and fertility rates decline from
high to low levels in a particular country or region. The broad outlines of the
transition are similar in countries around the world, but the pace and timing of the
transition have varied considerably.

There are four stages to the classical demographic transition model:


Stage 1: Pre-transition
 Characterized by high birth rates, and high fluctuating death rates.

Stage 2: Early transition


 During the early stages of the transition, the death rate begins to fall. As birth
rates remain high, the population starts to grow rapidly.
Stage 3: Late transition
 Birth rates start to decline. The rate of population growth decelerates.
Stage 4: Post-transition
 Post-transitional societies are characterized by low birth and low death rates.

GLOBAL MIGRATION
Global Migration - a situation in which people go to live in foreign countries, especially
in order to find work: Most global migration is from developing countries to developed
ones.
What is Migration?
 seasonal movement of animals from one region to another:
 movement from one part of something to another:

The Different Types of Human Migration


1. Internal migration
 It is the movement of people within one common place.
 The reasons that lead to this type of migration include the search for better
education or the pursuit of a better economic opportunity in another area.
Natural disasters and civil unrests can also trigger this type of migration.
2. External migration
 Generally, refers to movement outside of one's home country.

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 Common reasons for this include education, life improvement, and other
economic prospects. Politics also play a huge part in causing people to migrate
to other countries.
 An example of this type of migration is the movement of refugees into a
neighboring nation due to unsafe conditions in their home country.
3. Seasonal migration
 It is the movement of people from one area to another with each season in
pursuit of better conditions for themselves and their livestock.
 This type of movement is typically carried out by nomadic farmers who are
mostly found in the sub-Saharan regions of Africa. Pastoralist communities
located in Kenya, for example, include the Samburu and the Turkana who move
from one area to another in search of pasture for their livestock away from their
homes. Once conditions improve, they usually head back.

Factors of Human Migration


Push Factors
 Push factors are those that make people decide to leave their country and go
somewhere else.
 The main political and economic push factors people migrate to the United
States, Canada, or Western European countries may include the following:
 Generally, migrants leave their countries because they are escaping poverty,
unemployment, and fear of either political persecution or violent crime.
What follows is a list of some of the most common political and economic push factors:
 Poor infrastructure that results in services that fall short of being adequate.
 Famine often caused by bad crops or unfavorable weather conditions.
 Lack of adequate medical care.
 High levels of long-term unemployment.
 Extreme poverty and lack of socio-economic upward mobility.
 Few career and educational opportunities.
 The fear caused by high crime rates.
 Poor standards of living.
 The fear of political persecution that could even result in jail time.

Pull Factors
 Pull factors, on the other hand, are the ones that make people decide to go to a
different country. A useful way of thinking about pull factors is what attracts
migrants to go to a specific country.

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GEC 103: The Contemporary World
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 So, what are the main pull factors that attract migrants to the United States,
Canada, Australia, and the most prosperous European countries include the
following:
 Migrants are in search of personal and financial safety; or opportunity in terms of
employment, education, social class mobility. They are also looking for freedom
and stability.
What follows is a list of some of the most common political and economic pull factors:
 Better infrastructure that results in inadequate facilities and services.
 Better healthcare and medical facilities such as hospitals.
 Better job and educational opportunities.
 Lower crime rates as a result of a combination of generally higher living
standards and better, less corrupt, and more efficient police force.
 Democratic political stability.
 A generally higher standard of living.
 More entertainment and better cultural options, which are a result of higher
standards of living, higher education levels, and more disposable income.
 As you can see, many pull factors are just the other side of the coin of push
factors and vice versa. In other words, all pull factors to combat the push factors.
So the reasons why people leave their countries and the reasons why they
choose specific countries to migrate to are always closely linked.

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GEC 103: The Contemporary World
SY 2024-2025 FIRST SEMESTER

ACTIVITY SHEET
Name: _________________________________ Date submitted: _____________
Course & year: _______________________

Activity: NUMBER 11
Activity Title: Research Paper
Topic/s Covered: CHAPTER 6: Global Population and Mobility
DIRECTION: Perform what is asked on each item
Make a short research paper discussing the topic:
Has the Philippines undergone the demographic transition? Why or why not?

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GEC 103: The Contemporary World
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ACTIVITY SHEET
Name: _________________________________ Date submitted: _____________
Course & year: _______________________

Activity: NUMBER 12
Activity Title: Venn Diagram
Topic/s Covered: CHAPTER 6: Global Population and Mobility
DIRECTION: Perform what is asked on each item
Compare and contrast Immigration and migration.

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GEC 103: The Contemporary World
SY 2024-2025 FIRST SEMESTER

REFERENCES:
Aldama, (2018). The Contemporary World
Lobo, et al (2019). The Contemporary World

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