SOUTH EAST ASIAN INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY, INC.
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GE 113: THE CONTEMPORARY WORLD
THE TASK OF DEFINING GLOBALIZATION
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, how can we define globalization? According to Bauman, globalization is a
very important change, if not, the “most important” (2003). The reality and omnipresence of
globalization makes us see ourselves as part of what we refer to as the “global age” (Albrow,
1996).
Many scholars gave and tried to formulate definitions and resulted in different,
sometimes contradicting views about the concept. It cannot be contained within a specific
time frame, all people, and all situations (Al-Rhodan, 2006). Aside from this, globalization
encompasses a multitude of processes that involves the economy, political systems, and
culture. Some view globalization as a positive phenomenon. For instance, Swedish journalist
Thomas Larsson (2001) saw globalization as “the process of world shrinkage, of distance
getting shorter, things getting closer. On the other hand, some see it as an occurring through
and with regression, colonialism, and destabilization. The former president of Third World
Network (TWN) in Malaysia, Martin Khor regarded globalization as colonization.
Global Age: a period of time when there is a prevailing sense of interconnectedness of all
human beings, of a common fate for human species and of threat to its life on this Earth.
(Albrow, 2012)
Classification of globalization (definition):
1. Broad and Inclusive – “…globalization means the onset of the borderless world…” if
one uses such, it can include a variety of issues that deal with overcoming traditional
boundaries.
2. Narrow and Exclusive –can be limiting, in the sense that their application adheres to
only particular definitions.
GLOBALIZATION THEORIES
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 economics, and similar forms of government. It is often linked to
cultural imperialism. This means, a given culture influences other culture. For
example, the dominant religion in our country is Christianity, which was brought
to us by Spaniards. Another example is Americanization, which was defined by
Kuisel (1993) as the “the import by non-Americans of product, images,
technologies, practices, and behavior that are closely associated with
America/Americans”.
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.
DYNAMICS OF LOCAL AND GLOBAL CULTURE
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”.
Cultural Hybridization emphasizes the integration of local and global cultures.
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 and local resulting to unique cultural hybrids.
Cultural Convergence 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. The idea
of “deterritorialization” of John Tomlinson means that it is much more difficult to tie culture to
a specific geographic point of origin.
ORIGINS AND HISTORY OF GLOBALIZATION
1. 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. Chanda (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 throughout
history: trade, missionary work, adventures, and conquest.
2. CYCLES
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. 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.
3. EPOCH
Also called “waves” and each has its own origin.
Six (6) Great Epochs
Globalization of religion (fourth to seventh
centuries)
European colonial conquests (late fifteenth
century)
Intra-European wars (late Eighteenth to
early nineteenth centuries)
Heyday of European imperialism (mid-
nineteenth century to 1918)
Post-World War II period
Post-Cold War period
4. EVENTS
Specific events are also considered as part of the fourth view in explaining the
origin of globalization.
Gibbon (1998), argued that Roman
conquests centuries before Christ were
its origin.
In an issue of the magazine the
Economist (2006, January 12), it is
considered the rampage of the armies
of Genghis Khan into Eastern Europe in
the thirteenth century.
Rosenthal (2007) gave premium to
voyages of discovery –Christopher
Columbus’s discovery of America in
1942, Vasco da Gamma in Cape of Good
Hope in 1498, and Ferdinand Magellan’s
completed circumnavigation of the globe
in 1522.
First Transatlantic Telephone cable
(1956)
First Transatlantic Television Broadcast
(1962)
Founding of modern Internet in 1988
The terrorist attacks on the Twin
Towers in New York (2001)
5. BROADER, MORE RECENT CHANGES
A. The emergence of the United States as the global
power (Post-World War II)
US outrun Germany and Japan in terms of industry.
Both Axis powers and Allies fall behind
economically and the US soon began to progress
in different aspects like in diplomacy, media, film
(Hollywood), and many more.
B. The emergence of Multinational Corporations (MNCs)
The United States, Germany, and Great Britain had in
their homeland great corporations which the world
knows today. For example, Ford and General Motors
originated in the United States but in the twentieth
century, they exported more automobiles and opened
factories to other countries.
C. The demise of the Soviet Union and the end of the Cold War
Many global processes –immigration, tourism, media, diplomacy, and
MNCS –spread throughout the planet. This paved way for the so-called
“free” world.
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