RMIDCI : BSED 01
DEFINING
GLOBALIZATIO
N
( T H E C O N T E M PO R A RY WO R L D )
PRESENTED
GROUP 01
BY:
AT THE END OF THIS CHAPTER,
YOU SHOULD BE ABLE TO:
Differentiate the competing
conceptions of globalization
Differentiat
e
Identify the underlying philosophies of
the varying definitions of
globalizations; and GOAL
Agree on a working definition of
globalization for the course.
Agree Identify
AGENDA
(01)
Introduction
The Task of Defining
Globalization
Metaphors of Globalization
Solid and Liquid
Flow
AGENDA
(02)
Globalization Theories
Origin and History of
Globalization
Hardwired
Cycles
Epoch
Events
Broader, More
Recent Changes
WHAT IS
GLOBALIZATION?
Globalization is the process of increasing
the connection between the world's
economies, cultures, and populations. It
involves the flow of goods, services,
investment, technology, data, ideas, and
workers across borders.
Thomas Larsson
Swedish Journalist
(2001)
“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.”
Martin Khor (1990s)
Former president of Third
World Network in Malaysia
He once regarded
globalization as colonization.
The Task of Defining Globalization
Since its first appearance in 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
Ohmae (1992)
Japanese Theorist
“...globalization means the
onset of the borderless
world...”
This is an example of a broad
and Inclusive type of
definition.
Robert Cox
Political Scientist
“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.”
No matter how one classifies a definition of
globalization, the concept is complex and
multifaceted as the definitions deal with
economic, political, or social dimensions. In fact,
in a comprehensive study of 114 definitions by
the Geneva Center for Security Policy in 2006,
67 of them refer to economic dimension. These
definitions include political and social
dimensions as well.
The sheer number and complexity of definitions
of does not mean that there is a remarkable
improvement in every definition given by
scholars.
Vidya S. A. Kumar
(2003)
To him, the debate about what can
be done about globalization and
what it is, are similar. This is, in
relation to what some academics
have claimed about defining
globalization - it is a useless task.
George Ritzer (2015)
American Sociologist
“Globalization is a transplanetary
process or 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...”
Defining globalization is shaped by the
perspective of the person who defines it.
The overview of definitions implied that
globalization is many things to many
different people.
Arjun Appadurai (1996)
“Globalization is a ‘world of things’
that have different speeds, axes,
points of origin and termination, and
varied relationships to institutional
structures in different regions,
nations, or societies.”
Al-Rhodan (2006)
Philosopher
He wote that definitions suggest the 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 a unifying force. On the other hand, if it is
deemed as creating greater inequalities among
nations, globalization is negatively treated.
Cesare Poppi (1997)
Sociologist
Globalization is the debate and the debate is
globalization. One became part and parcel of the
other.
“The literature stemming from the debate en
globalization has grown in the last decade beyond
any individual's capability of extracting a
workable definition of the concept. In a sense, the
meaning of the concept is self- evident, in
another, it is vague and obscure as its reaches are
wide and constantly shifting. Perhaps, more than
any other concept, globalization is the debate
about It"
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 made more
debates, discussions, and definitions than
agreements on it.
Overall, globalization is a concept that is not
easy to define because in reality, defining
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
have 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,”
George Ritzer (2003) said, “attitudes toward
globalization depend, among other things,
on whether one gains or loses 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 into the
study of it.
METAPHORS
OF
GLOBALIZATION
In order for us to better understand the
concept of globalization, we will utilize
metaphors. Metaphors make 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.
Solid
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. Imaginary lines such as the
Nine-Dash Line being used by the People's
Republic of China in their claim to the West
Philippine Sea is an example of modern
man-made solid.
Liquid
Liquid, as a state of matter, takes the
shape of its container. Moreover, liquids
are not fixed. Liquidity, therefore, refers
to the increasing ease of movement of
people, things, information, and places
in the contemporary world. Zygmunt
Bauman's (2000) Ideas were the ones
that have very much to say about the
characteristic of liquidity.
Solid and Liquid
Liquidity and solidity is in constant
interaction. Liquidity is the one increasing
and proliferating today. Therefore, the
metaphor which could best describe
globalization is liquidity. Liquids do flow
and this idea of flow (Appadurai 1996; Rey
and Ritzer 2010) will be the focus of 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).
GLOBALIZATION
THEORIES
This section gives a glimpse of the important
theories on globalization. We will analyze
globalization culturally, economically, and
politically in this book as reflected in the
succeeding chapters. In the meantime, it
would be helpful to say that the theories see
globalization as a process that increases
either homogeneity or heterogeneity.
Homogeneity
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
Homogeneity in culture is often linked to cultural imperialism. This
means, a given culture influences other cultures. For example, the
dominant religion in our country is Christianity which was brought
to us by the Spaniards. Global economic crises are also products
of homogeneity in economic globalization. The political realm also
suffers homogenization if one takes into account the emerging
similar models of governance in the world.
Heterogeneity
This 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
Heterogeneity refers to the
differences because of either
lasting differences or of the
hybrids or combinations of
cultures which can be produced
through the different
transplanetary processes.
Heterogeneity
Contrary to cultural imperialism, heterogeneity in culture is
associated with cultural hybridization. A more specific concept is
"glocalization" coined by Roland Robertson (1992). To him, as global
forces interact with local factors or a specific geographic area, the
"glocal" is being produced. Economic issues are not exempted from
heterogeneity. The commodification of cultures and "glocal" markets
are examples of differentiation happening in many economies
around the world. The same goes with political institutions.
Heterogeneity
Barber (1995) also provided the alternate of "McWorld"-the "Jihad."
As Ritzer (2008) mentioned, it refers to the political groups that are
engaged in an "intensification of nationalism and that lead to
greater political heterogeneity throughout the world.
Origins and History of
Globalization
The previous discussions answered the question, "What is
globalization?" The next question, "Where did it start?" is not easy to
answer as well because there are different views about this. This book
generally adheres to the perspective that the major points of the
beginnings of globalization started after the Second World War.
Nevertheless, it would mean no harm to look at the five different
perspectives regarding the origins of globalization.
Nayan Chanda (2007)
HARDWIRE
It is 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.
Nayan Chanda (2007)
HARDWIRE
Chanda 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,
arid conquest.
Scholte (2005)
CYCLES
Globalization is a long-term cyclical process
and thus, finding its origin will be a daunting
task. What is important, are the cycles
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.
Therborn's (2000)
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.
EPOCH
The following are the sequential occurrence of the epochs:
1. Globalization of religion (4th-7th Centuries)
2. European colonial conquests (late 15th Century)
3. Intra-European wars (late 18th-early 19th Centuries)
4. Heyday of European imperialism (mid-19th Century to
1918) 5. Post-World War II period
6. Post-Cold War period
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 are its
origin. In an issue of the magazine the Economist (2006, January 12), it
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 Gama in Cape of Good Hope in 1498 and Ferdinand
Magellan's completed circumnavigation of the globe in 1522.
EVENTS
The recent years could also be regarded as the beginnings of
globalization with reference to specific technological advances in
transportation and communication. Some examples include the first
transatlantic telephone cable (1956), the first transatlantic television
broadcasts (1962), the founding of the modern Internet in 1988, and
the terrorist attacks on the Twin Towers in New York (2001). Certainly,
with this view, more and more specific events will characterize not just
the origins of globalization but more of its history.
BROADER, MORE RECENT
CHANGES
Recent changes comprised the fifth view. These broad changes
happened in the last half of the twentieth 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
BROADER, MORE RECENT
CHANGES
Through its dominant military and economic power after WWII, the
US was able to outrun Germany and Japan in terms of industry.
Both Axis powers and Allies fall behind economically as compared
to the new global power. Because of this, the US soon began to
progress in different aspects like in diplomacy, media, film (as in
the Hollywood), and many more.
BROADER, MORE RECENT
CHANGES
Before MNCs came into being, their roots are from their countries
of origin during the eighteenth to early nineteenth centuries. The
US, Germany, and Great Britain had in their homeland great
corporations which the world knows today, However, they did not
remain there as far as their production and market are concerned.
For example, Ford and General Motors originated in the US but in
the twentieth century they exported more automobiles and
opened factories to other countries.
BROADER, MORE RECENT
CHANGES
More recent than the first two would be the fall of the Soviet Union
in 1991. This event led to the opening of the major parts of the
world for the first time since the early twentieth century. Many
global processes-immigration, tourism, media, diplomacy, and
MNCs-spread throughout the planet. This paved way for the so-
called "free" world. China, even though the government remains
communist, is on its way to becoming a major force in global
capitalism (Fishman 2006). Moreover, China is also globalizing in
terms of other aspects such as their nosting of the Olympics in
2008.
RMIDCI : BSED 01
THANK
YOU
For your attention
and participation!
GROUP 01:
ABILA, KYLENE B.
CELOICA, ANGELINE T.
GONGOB, MARY JOY
SERONIO, KHALE CXARZYLLE
C.
TALADUA, JOVY MAE
