G L O B A L I Z AT I O N
T H E C O N T E M P O R A RY
WORLD
This course introduces students to the contemporary world by
examining the multifaceted phenomenon of globalization. Using various
disciplines of the social science, it examines the economic, social,
political, technological and other transformations that have created an
increasing awareness of the interconnectedness of people and places
around the globe. To this end, this course provides an overview of the
various debates in global governance, development and sustainability.
Beyond exposing the student to the world outside of the Philippine, it
seeks to indicate a sense of global citizenship and global ethical
responsibility.
WHY STUDY THE WORLD?
• THE WORLD “OUT THERE” IS WORTH EXPLORING AND
COMPREHENDING.
• OFW PHENOMENON (STORIES AND EXPERIENCES)
• MEDIA AND THE INTERNET AS WINDOWS TO THE
CONTEMPORARY WORLD
• OUR CONSUMPTION HABITS HAVE BECOME GLOBAL
• WE HAVE BECOME CITIZENS OF THE WORLD
• THUS JUST BY LIVING OUR LIVES, WE THINK ABOUT THE
CONTEMPORARY WORLD
IS IT RELEVANT?
• CURE TO PAROCHIALISM. IT BROADENS OUR
PERSPECTIVES.
• ALLOW US TO COMPARE OUR SOCIETY WITH
OTHERS.
• WE NEED TO STUDY THE WORLD BECAUSE WE WILL
BE INTERACTING WITH IT.
• EVEN THOSE WHO CHOOSE TO REMAIN IN THE
PHILIPPINES MUST CONFRONT THE PHENOMENON OF
GLOBALIZATION.
F R A M I N G G L O B A L I Z AT I O N
• BEYOND A PROBLEM-SOLVING APPROACH,
ESPECIALLY A PERSPECTIVE OF “PROMOTING
INTERNATIONAL COMPETITIVENESS”
• BEYOND A BUZZWORD A PROCESS AND
DISCOURSE.
• CRITICAL VIEW: GLOBALIZATION AS CONTESTED;
UNDERSTOOD AND CONSTITUTED IN DIFFERENT
WAYS,
G L O B A L I Z AT I O N
KEY THEMES AND CHARACTERISTICS
• GLOBALITY- A SOCIAL CONDITION
CHARACTERIZED BY TIGHT ECONOMIC,
POLITICAL, CULTURAL AND ENVIRONMENTAL
INTERCONNECTIONS AND FLOWS, MAKING
CURRENTLY EXISTING BORDERS AND
BOUNDARIES IRRELEVANT.
• GLOBALIZATION- A SET OF SOCIAL PROCESSES
THAT APPEAR TO TRANSFORM OUR PRESENT
SOCIAL CONDITION OF WEAKENING NATIONALITY
INTO ONE OF GLOBALLY; HUMAN LIVES PLAYED
OUT IN THE WORLD AS A SINGLE PLACE;
REDEFINING LANDSCAPE OF SOCIOPOLITICAL
PROCESSES AND SOCIAL SCIENCES THAT STUDY
THESE MECHANISMS.
• GLOBAL IMAGINARY- A CONCEPT REFFERING TO
PEOPLE’S GROWING CONSCIOUSNESS OF
BELONGING TO A GLOBAL COMMUNITY
• DESTABILIZES AND UNSETTLES THE
CONVENTIONAL PARAMETERS OF
UNDERSTANDING WITHIN WHICH PEOPLE
IMAGINE THEIR COMMUNAL EXISTENCE.
G L O B A L I Z AT I O N : L E V E L S O F
D E B AT E
• WHAT ARE THE IMPACTS ON THE HUMAN CONDITION?
A. SECURITY
B. EQUALITY
C. DEMOCRACY
• WHAT ARE THE RESPONSES?
A. NEOLIBERALISM (MARKETS)
B. REJECTIONISM (LOCALISM/POPULISM)
C. REFORMISM (PUBLIC POLICIES)
D. TRANSFORMISM (SOCIAL REVOLUTION)
G L O B A L I Z AT I O N : K E Y T H E M E S A N D
CHARACTERISTICS
• GLOBALIZATION AS TH EXPANSION AND
INTENSIFICATION OF SOCIAL RELATIONS AND WORLD-
SPACE (MANFRED STEGER)
• EXPANSION - REFERS TO BOTH THE CREATION OF NEW
SOCIAL NETWORKS AND MULTIPLICATION OF EXISTING
CONNECTIONS THAT CUT ACROSS TRADITIONAL
POLITICAL, ECONOMIC, CULTURAL AND GEOGRAPHICAL
BOUNDARIES.
• INTENSIFICATION- REFERS TO THE EXPANSION,
STRETCHING, ACCELERATION OF THESE NETWORKS.
CONTENDING PERSPECTIVES OF
G L O B A L I Z AT I O N
• LIBERAL OR HYPERGLOBAL
• CONSERVATIVE OR SKEPTICAL
• CRITICAL OR TRANSFORMATIONAL
LIBERAL/ HYPERGLOBAL
PERSPECTIVE
• “END OF GEOGRAPHY”; “END OF THE NATION
STATE” BORDERLESS WORLD
• PRIVILIGES AND ECONOMIC AND
TECHNOLOGICAL LOGIC
• GLOBALIZATION AS MUTUALLY BENEFICAL,
PROGRESSIVE AND BENIGN
• THE END OF HISTORY (THERE IS NO ALTERNATIVE)
C O N S E RVAT I V E O R S K E P T I C A L
PERSPECTIVE
• UNDERPLAYS GLOBALIZATION:
INYTERNATIONALIZATION
• TERRITORIALISM
• CERTAIN TYPES OF MARXISM ADOPT A STRONGLY
STATE CENTRIC PERSPECTIVE
• RISE OF ANTI-GLOBAL AUTHORITARIAN
POPULISM/NATIVISM
C R I T I C A L / T R A N S F O R M AT I O N A L
• RECOGNIZES DISSOLUTION OF OLD STRUCTURES AND
BOUNDARIES (STATES,ECONOMIES, COMMUNITIES)
• POWER AND POLITICS ARE RECONFIGURED; THEY
FLOW THROUGH ACROSS AND AROUND TERRITORIAL
BOUNDARIES
• SPEED AND MAGNITUDE OF CHANGES
• EMPHASIS ON UNEVENNESS AND NEW HIERARCHIES
• GLOBALIZATION OF INDIFFERENCE (POPE FRANCIS)
• What’s the origin of the most recent song or piece of music that you
listened to? (Identify the nationality of the creator of the music as well as
the tradition to which it belongs.)
• What technology do you most commonly use to listen to music?
• Where is the technology made? Where is the company that owns the
technology based?
• How have you obtained music – online purchases or physically bought
from retail outlets?
