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LESSON 2
Introduction to the Study of Globalization
Manfred Steger, professor of Global Studies and director of the Globalism
Institute at Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology (RMIT) University, explains that
globalization is not a new phenomenon as it started with pre-historic early human
migration (Steger, 2014). For him, what has been taking place from 1980 onwards is
no longer globalization per se but rather the expansion of globalization to a point of
“convergence”.
THE PARABLE OF THE BLIND MEN AND AN ELEPHANT
Steger compares the contemporary study of
globalization to the parable of the blind menand their first
encounter with an elephant. The parable has a number of
Indian variations, but generally goes as follows:
Some blind men heard that an odd animal, called an
elephant, had been brought to the town, but none of them
were aware of its form and shape. Out of curiosity, they
thus agreed that they should examine and know it by
touch, of which they were capable. And so, they sought it
out, and groped about it when they found it. For the first
person, whose hand landed on the trunk, the elephant Oe rear te
seemed like a thick snake, In the case of the second of the defining buzzwords of
‘our time, describing a variety of
: i accelerating economic, political,
kind of fan. As for the third blind, whose hand was upon and cultural processes that
its leg, expressed, the elephant is a pillar like a tree- setter change ourenperene
; the world.
trunk. The fourth blind man who placed his hand upon fjnsge source: evensicam!
its side assumed that elephant isa wall. The fifth who felt
its tail claimed that it as a rope. The sixth felt its tusk, describing the elephant as that
which is hard, smooth, and like a spear. ne Vit
BATAAN PENINSULA sti TE UNIVERSITY
MAIN CAMPUS 7
LIBRARY & INFORMATION SERVICES
whose hand reached its ear, the animal appeared like a‘The Parable of Blind Men and the Elephant ig used today as a ion for people thay
endorse absolute truth or exclusive claims on a subject matter, The err for the
warning is that a person with an incomplete grasp of truth ee A ee into th,
one and only version of all reality, Indeed, our held knowledge of something may jus
bealimited ective on the objective truth. eg ;
Steger cain that similar oF the blind men, some globalization scholars ATE tog
focused on compressing globalization into a singular process oe clash over which
aspect of social life constitutes its primary domain and prevails. He admits tha
globalization is a contested concept.
COMPETING CONCEPTIONS OF GLOBALIZATION e 4
Perhaps the most common conception concerning globalization is the DOSition
that this process and phenomenon is inevitable, acceptable, and generally favorable,
Especially among capitalists and superpower nations, globalization is nothing but
beneficial and should thus be accepted and promoted. |
But not everyone welcomes this contemporary world phenomenon. There are
those who state that globalization is “globaloney,” that is, a nonsensical or absurd ideg
or talk on global issues. Steger reports that there are scholars who dismiss the concept
for different reasons and to varying degrees (Steger, 2014):
Rejectionists
inthis camp, scholars perceive globalization asa “power word,” like “nationalism”
and “development”, For them, power words like globalization explain everything and
nothing; they are mere labels slapped on everything but never a tool of analysis,
According to Steger, Supporters of globalization can adopt either of the two Possible
ceeares to this position. Either they can try to demonstrate its ulility through empirical
generates its own reality, and this Teality ¢;
the concept itself is meaningful. |
They clai .
national in seope, ¥ claim, for instance, that Most trades remain
Some promoters of Blobali
i zation reg) one
bea vital structure of pons tort by Pointing out that there couldModifiers
‘These so-called modifiers consider globalization as simply one of many similar
phases in history. They thus conclude that the phenomenon should be viewed not as
adistinctive affair but merely one moment ina more general theory of world history.
Some pro-globalization reply to this criticism by pronouncing that our
contemporary situation is exceptional in history, and that this distinctiveness is much
more significant than this period's commonalities with other periods or placement
within an inclusive historical theory.
FOUR MAIN DIMENSIONS OF GLOBALIZATION
Steger contends that globalization has four main dimensions:
cal, (3) cultural, and @) ecological, with ideological aspects of each category.
politic
‘These categories relate to four major domains of social life. Each of
ation. Within each dimension, there are also
is considered a conception of globaliz:
various competing conceptions of globalization.
The Economic Dimension of Globalization
Economic globalization refers to the intensificati
economic connections around the world. With global
porations, powerfulinternationa
gional trading systems. ‘Thus, at least four things mark econ
massive transnational cor}
large re
1. The Advent ofa New Global Economie Order.
This contemporary global economic
order arose after the Second World War,
when the Bretton Woods Conference laid
the found
Monetary Fund (MF), World Bank, and
ation (WTO). The
officially
World Trade Org
Bretton Woods Conference,
known as the United Nations Monetary
and Financial Conference, was the
2 of 730 delegates from all 44
nt Washington
New
meet
Allied nations at the Mour
Hotel, located in Bretton Woods,
Hampshire, United States, from July
1.22, 1944, The gathering regulated the
international monetary and financial
order after the conclusion of World War
ttand established the International Bank
for Reconstruction and Development
(IBRD) and the IMF.
ations for the International 3
(4) economic, (2)
these dimensions
‘on, increase, and stretching of
lization in economy emerged
economic institutions, and
omic globalization:
© Then US. Treasury Secretary Henry
Morgenthay Jr. (center, standing) in his
address to the delegates of the Bretton
Woods Monetary Conference in 1944.
This gathering regulated the international
monetary and financial order after World War
Mand established the International Bank for
Reconstruction and Development (IBRD) and
the International Monetary Fund (IME)
image source: htt//naveworidbankora/
cerdaboutlerchnesstonyexhibis/ereto"-
woods manetary ca
‘nforrnetion in the National Aches)
1920
La
3.
|
Steger explains that the economic dimension of globalization
dominated by neoliberal capitalism, a brand of capitalism that compatiny,
favors neoliberalism, As a policy model of economics, neoliberalism transfor,
control of economic factors to the private sector from the public sector,
promotes, among other things, that governments must limit subsidies, limi, |
protectionism, open markets up to trade, It also aims to eliminate fixeg
exchange rates, support deregulation, allow private property, and privatize —
businesses run by the government, Neoliberalism is usually associate
with laissez-faire, an economic policy that advocates a least amount of staig
interference in the economic concerns of individuals and society,
Neoliberalism liberalized financial transactions in the 1980s. Since then,
the most noteworthy economic developments have been the growing power of
transnational corporations, the internationalization of finance and trade, ang
greater role of international economic institutions, However, history admits
some major global economic setbacks such as the Great Recession of 2008 to
2010, the more recent European debt crises, and China’s economic slowdown,
The Internationalization of Trade and Finance. Free trade advocates hope _
that eradicating trade barriers among nations will lead to growth in global
wealth, achieve international relations, and disseminate new technologies
around the world. Globalization in financial trading is said to have caused
increased mobility among various parts of financial industry, with less
restraints and more investment opportunities. Since the 1990s, liberalization
of financial transactions has been speeded up by Internet-based technologies
and satellite systems.
The Increased Power of Transnational Corporations. In the contemporary
globalized world, much of the world’s investment capital, technology, and
access to international markets have become underthe control of transnational
corporations. These transnational corporations have become a great rival to
nation-states in their economic power.
The Enhanced Role of International Economic Institutions. Today, one cannot
doubt that huge international economic institutions such as IMF, the World
Bank, and the WTO play essential roles in making rules of a global economy,
This type of economy is now sustained in the global North and South. (The
so-called Global South is made up of Africa, Latin America, and developing:
Asia including the Middle East. The Global North includes all the members
of the G8 and the four of the five permanent members of the United Nations
Security Council.)
In addition, some claim that economic globalization is characterized by
the Western-based transnational corporations running the globe to their own
advantage especially under neoliberal capitalism. Globalization is marked by
its confidence in free markets and emphasis on minimal state intervention.‘THE POLITICAL DIMENSION OF GLOBALIZATION
Steger 0m) defines political globalization as the intensification and expansion
of political interrelations around the world. The political dimension of globalization
includes aspects such as the modern nation-state system and its evolving rolein today’s
world, effects of globalization to state sovereignty, role of global governance, growing
impact of intergovernmental organizations, direction of the global political systems,
global mangle! flows, and environmental policies affecting our planet. Steger admits
that these themes respond to the develo|
framework of the nation-state. ete sta Sarre aye
On the question whether the major causes behind globalization are mainly
political or economic in origin, hyperglobalizers and globalization sceptics have
contrasting opinions. Hyperglobalizers believe that political globalization is principally
driven by economic and technologic forces. Politics is said to be rendered practically
powerless by an overpowering techno-economic juggernaut (Le., a huge, powerful,
and overwhelming force or institution) that is said to crush all governmental efforts
to reestablish restrictive policies and regulations. Hyperglobalizers contend that
globalization encompasses the waning of bounded territory (a decrease in territorial
poundaries) and states losing control of things within their borders.
Globalization sceptics totally disagree and explain that the hasty expansion of global
ducible neither to market principles nor to the advancement
0 be the main factor that pushes forward
fe with neoliberal governments’ political
at when.
economic activities is re
of computer technology. Politics is said t
globalization as it is alleged to originat
decisions to remove international trade restrictions on capital. It is claimed th:
these decisions were effected, global markets and new technologies emerged. Scepties
hold that territory does matter, so they advocate the operation of conventional political
units in the form of global cities or modern nat
Steger seems to imply that the p
their dominant role
tion-states.
litical effects of globalization include
to transnational corporations, though
unter a progressively borderless
action of coming to live permanently in a foreign
litical unit consisting of a self-governing sovereign
who share a common culture, history,
In sum,
nation-states indeed losing t
in return sanctioning immigration controls to €0!
world. Immigration denotes the
country. Nation-state refers to a p
state which is inhabited by subjects or citizens
and language.
In a nation-state, the government has central control over its territory, ideally
nation-state thus include (a) central political organization
pounded territory, the use of violence
hthelawwithin the
(b) independence and
anda sense of shared
speaking. Dimensions of the
anda monopoly on
e national territory, and to: defend
sovereignty; (¢) diplomatic
history, language, culture,
which exercises control over
toenforceorderand compliance wit
the state against external aggression;
representation to other nation-states;
and identity among the citizens
2Modern nation-state’s beginning,
ean be traced back to 1648, the
Peace of Westphalia which endeq
religious wars, among the leading
European powers: ‘That Peace alloweg
centralization of political powey
and development of professiona)
{© Ths 1648 painting by Dutch painter Bartholomeus Van diplomacy and state aaministsation,
eee nc choles cacbrovog itnatertiay CCN neds of globalization
end of the wor of religions in Europe. The treaty signed during the 1970s, the internationa)
in Minster is one of the three treaties thatcomprisethe soeiety of independent states haq
pecome a global web of politica)
Peace of Westphatia.
[image source: https:/[Link]/2013/i0/24/an-
jnterdependencies which challenged
the sovereignty of nation-states. In
unknown-life-from-the-past-the-guy-in-the-celebration-of-
h of a “new world order” which signaled
the-peace-of-munster/}
1990, US President Bush proclaimed the birt!
the death’of the Westphalia nation-state model.
Indeed, there are reasons to believe thatina globalized world, power becomes less
and less located in territorially based nation-states, put in global social formations,
one can see how vulnerable
* networks, and transnational corporations. For instance,
nation-states have become at not having any practical control over exchange rates,
thereby becoming unable to protect their currency as they are necessiatated to depend
on decisions made by others.
Globalization seems to weaken bounded territory and cause the upsurge of @
Jobal networks and no longer in
borderless world. Political affairs appear to occur in g
f globalization, states’s role in defining the
states based on territory. As a consequence 0!
direction of social life in their own territory becomes weaker. Global markets enforce
their own standards which challenges the role of
objectives. As the sovereignty of nation-states decreases, contemporary globalization
also weakens the traditional boundaries of states and strengthens supraterritorial
f governments to set national policy
spaces.
Furthermore, political globalization results in the rise of supraterritorial
institutions and relatedly seems to create dramatic global governance. Some less
optimistic scholars nonetheless contend that creation of a global democracy is just
an abstract idealism and that some nation-states will eventually not accept this global
democracy,
THE CULTURAL DIMENSION OF GLOBALIZATION
Cultural globalization is the intensification and expansion of cultural flows
across the globe. Culture is a very extensive concept and often used to describe the
whole of human experience, including the economic and political. In the discussion
on globalization, however, Steger means it to refer to “the symbolic construction
a
22articulation, and dissemination of meaning, Given that
language, Music, and images constitute themajor forms of
symbolic expression, they assume special significance in the
sphere of culture” (2017, para. 1).
Aperceptibleaspectofthecultural globalizationistheflow
ofsome cuisines such as American fast food chains. The two
mostsuccessful global food and beverage outlets, MeDonald’s
and Starbucks, are American companies repeatedly named
as examples of globalization, with over 37,000 and 29,000
locations operating worldwide, respectively as of 2018
(Statistita, n.d). Thus, American sociologist George Ritzer
(born 1940) developed the term McDonaldization to refer to
the principles of the fast food Festaurant coming to dominate eras Gr ena
more and more sectors of American society as well as of the McDonaldization.
rest of the world. Mmage source: https//
The most common interpretations of cultural TCR eaae
globalization are the thoughts that the world is becoming
more uniform and standardized, through a technological, commercial, and cultural
synchronization proceeding from the West. Moreand more sociologists are nonetheless
arguing against this thesis.
Some topics under the cultural dimension of globalization include (a) the
development of a global culture (or lack thereof), (b) the role of the media in forming
our desires and identities, and (c) the globalization of languages.
‘The development ofa giobal culture (or lack thereof)pertains to the tension between
sameness and difference in the emerging global culture. Thereis the debate on whether
there is an increasing homogeneity (ie, the world is becoming smaller, and we are all
becoming more alike) or increasing heterogeneity (ie., the world is fragmenting, and we
are emphasizing our difference more).
Some claim that globalization all the more reinvigorates niche cultures instead
of abolishing them, thereby increasing cultural heterogeneity. However, pessimistic
hyperglobalizers argue that globalization causes the rise of a homogenized popular
culture which is generally based on a Western culture industry, For them, cultural
globalization is best seen as”cultural imperialism” which is typically moving
towards "Americanization” of the world. The diversity of existing cultures is said to
be diminishing as the world is being homogenized or “Americanized” despite the
resistance of some countries.
Optimistic hyperglobalizers agree with the rise of sameness in cultural globalization,
but they positively believe that it will have good results. For instance, some of them
hope that Americanization of the globe leads to spreading out of democracy and free
markets,
23Bc eh iter coi ng rat a
a sociologist and theorig, ot
On the other hand, Roland Robertson (born 1938;
in Scotland, United Kingdon)
globalization who lectures at the University of Aberdeen
It of “glocalization” in which there is a),
talks about “cultural hybridity” as a resul
interaction between local and global cultural traits: Cultural hybridization refers ty
the mingling of cultures as a result of globalization, and the ensuing ¢reation of ney,
and unique hybrid cultures that are not reducible to either local or global culture,
Glocatization refers to the interpenetration of the tocal and the global resulting j,
unique outcomes in various geographic areas. ‘as a result of cultural globalization,
there is less stable sense of identity among people around the world.
Today, one cannot doubt the crucial role of transnational media corporations jy |
@isceminating popular culture and in forming our desires and identities. Powenfy
media facilitate cultural globalization. Nowadays, media is am enormous commerciay
market which is said to amount to creation of @ global oligopoly like the oil. Globaj_
media networks are owned by a small group of transnational corporations, which are
said to affect journalistic integrity. 1
‘Assisted by our flourishing mobile digital devices and the Internet, the leading 1
g of our age—such as individualism (stresses human —
consumerism (encourages the —
‘elf-reliance and liberty).
and several religious _
ever-increasing amounts),
ed, and intensely impact the
symbolic systems of meanin;
independence and individual st
acquisition of goods and services in
idiscourses—can be more effortlessly and swiftly circulate
way we experience our daily lives. Through media and new technologies, cultural |
nation. In interaction with —
practices are not located (or not! exclusive) ina fixed town or
prevailing global themes, cultural practices are also obtaining new meanings. }
A very significant aspect of cultural globalization is the change in patterns of _
Janguages around the. globe. In globalization of languages, some languages are used in
international communication while some others are set aside,
Some opposing hypotheses exist about the effects of globalization to language.
Some claim that it leads to fortification of native tongues. In contrast, some forecast —
the rise of a "globisb” language. There are at least five variables which influence the
globalization of languages: (a) number of languages, (b) movements of people, ©
foreign language learning and tourism, (d) Internet language, and (e) international
scientific publications.
THE ECONOMIC DIMENSION OF GLOBALIZATION
The ecological dimension of globalization studies the effects of global unions om
environmental issues. There is an. inevitable link between all humanity and the planet
Earth. Ecological globalization refers to worldwide environmental issues which include
population growth, access to food, global reduction in biodiversity, the gaP betwee
rich and poor as well as between the global North and global South, human-inducet
climate change, and global environmental degradation.
a3 4Globalization undeniably affects ecology. For instance, because of increasing
globalization, people usually inadvertently introduce non-native animals, plants, and
even diseases into new localities, Invasive species and pathogens, like fire ants from
south America and the SARS virus from China, can create huge, costly problems. “The
U.S. currently spends over $120 billion per year on measures to prevent and eradicate
invasive species. Understanding ecosystem connectivity across a range of scales - from
Jocal to regional to continental - will help scientists predict where savant species are
likely to go next” (“Ecological Globalization”),
Globelization’s overall ecological effects, as impacted by the economic, political
andculturalaspects of globalization, are now acknowledged as possibly life threatening
for the earth. The process of globalization heightens the unrestrained population
growth, extravagant consumption patterns in the global North, food shortages,
reduced biodiversity, global warming, and climate change. Since the Industrial
Revolution, global human activities have been causing various ecological problems,
including resource and food shortages and transboundary pollution (such as the
stunning amount of trash and plastics that find their way into our our planet’s soil and
oceans), The global impact of major environmental disasters includes the destruction
ofthe Fukushima nuclear reactor in Japan in the wake of the 2011 earthquake andthe
2010 British Petroleum oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico,
The major manifestations and consequences of environmental degradation are
all global issues. All of these problems are global, as they are results of aggregated
human actions, and so they entail a coordinated response. While some progress has
been made such as at the 2015 United Nations Climate Change Conference in Paris,
only few multilateral measures have been implemented.
The competing conceptions in ecological globalization center on the seriousness
ofthe mentioned ecological issues. While others doubt the urgency of the issues, many
contend that the current phase of globalization has been harshly damaging to the
environment, and action is needed now. Steger (2017), for instance, claims that the
scale, speed, and depth of the earth’s environmental decline have been unparalleled.
Unless people are willing to change the underlying cultural and religious value
structure, together with the social and economic dynamics of uncontrolled capital
accumulation, the condition of Mother Earth is expected to further worsen.
Steger further claims, “The deteriorating ecological health of our planet will
become the most pressing global problem by mid-century at the latest. We simply
can no longer afford business-as-usual. ... And if we don’t switch from fossil fuels to
alternative forms of clean energy any time soon, we will reach our ecological point of
no return” (2017), (For detailed discussions on globalization and environment, read
the Appendix B: “Human-Environment Systems” and Appendix C: “Climate Change:
Causes, Effects, and Solutions” J.)
25UNDERLYING PHILOSOPHIES AND IDEOLOGIES IN GLOBALIZATION
Ideology is usually defined as a system of ideas and ideals, especially one that forms
the basis of economic or political theory and policy. Steger expanded this meaning hy
defining ideologies as “patterned clusters of, normatively-imbued ideas and concepys,
including particular representations of power relations, carrying claims to social truth
—as, for example, expressed in liberalism, conservatism, and socialism" (2017),
Asa system of commonly shared beliefs, ideas, norms, and values among group
of people, ideology is frequently used to legitimize some ‘political interests or to
justify prevailing power structures. Ideology links certain human actions with, some
generalized claims. :
There is a need to make a distil
Globalization isa social process of intensifying global
isan ideology that endows a concept of globalization with certain values or values. For
instance, as an operation or planning of economic and foreign policy on a global basis,
globalism may give the concept of neoliberal values and meanings to globalization.
Like all social processes, globalization functions on a cross-cutting deologica)
dimension packed with beliefs, claims, accounts, and norms, about the phenomenon
itself, Steger (2017) mentions three main types. of globalisms or ideologies that provide
the concept of globalization with certain meanings and values and meanings: market
globalism, justice globalism, and religious (or jihadist) globalisms.
inction between globalization and globalism,
interdependence, while globalism,
MARKET GLOBALISM
‘Market globalism pursues to grant globalization wit
free-market norms. Market globalists promise a consumerist, neoliberal, free-market
world. This ideology is advocated by some powerful individuals, who claim, among
other things, that globalism spreads democracy and benefits everybody.
‘Stegerconsiders market globalism the dominant ideology of our time, and believes
that it has six major ideological claims:
4. Globalization is about the liberalization and global integration of markets,Market
globalists seem to suggest that the actual results of market interactions are
neither intended nor foreseen, but are the upshots of the workings of what Scottish
economist and philosopher Adam Smith (1723-1790) popularly called the invisible
hand, that is, the unobservable market force that is said to help the demand and
supply of goods in a free marketto attain equilibrium automatically).
2. Globalization is inevitable and [Link] is held that the diffusion of market
forces powered by technological advances is unavoidable and irrevocable
in globalization. Neoliberals and market globalists employ this assertion t
persuade people to adopt the natural discipline of the market if they want (0)
succeed, which entails the removal of government controls over the market§
In other words, they claim that global integration of markets should be
submissively accepted and yet should be aggressively pursued.
fh neoliberal meanings and
: ygNobody is in charge of globalization, As former US
Under Secretary of State for Economic, Business, and
Agricultural Affairs Robert Hormats said, “The great
beauty of globalization is that no one is in control. The great
beauty of globalization is that it is not controlled by any,
individual, any government, any institution" (Steger, 2017).
It is claimed that everything that works on disseminating
new world order principles and neoliberal principles have
been severely rooted in ancient history, This claim aims
to neutralize antiglobalist movements and depoliticize the
public debate on globalization.
Globalization benefits everyone. Market globalists try
to sell globalization as a source of hope for the future. ‘g gobert Hormots:
They talk about its advantages like the increasingly rapid “The great beauty of
dissemination of information, technological innovations, 9/222!zatlon is that
mie i noone is in control.
and the proliferation of skilled jobs. One comment against the great beauty of
this, however, is that the opportunities of globalization globalization is that
are spread unequally and that wealth and power are nar connillely
concentrated among a particular group of people, regions, government, any
and corporations. institution.
[image source:
Globalization furthers the spread of democracy in the world. jrips,/commons.
Democracyis derived fromthe ancient Greekterm démokratia wikimediaorg/whi/
which means “rule of the people”. Itis commonly defined as eects
a form of government in which the supreme power is vested
in the people and exercised directly by them or by their elected agents under a
free electoral system. The market globalists’ claim that globalization furthers
the spread of democracy in the world is based on the neoliberal contention
that democracy is synonymous with freedom, free markets, and free trade.
However, some scholars believe otherwise and argue that globalization even
poses a threat to the democratic state instead of aiding its expansion. For
them, globalization even weakens the vital requirements of state autonomy,
patriotism, and national identity.
Globalization requires war on terror, ‘This claim combines the concept of
economic globalization with militaristic and nationalistic ideas associated
with the American-led global War on Terror. This nonetheless creates some
logical contradictions. For instance, the globalists’ dependence on the coercive
powers of the state to protect their project logically contradicts both their idea
of the “self-regulating market” and their claim of globalization’s historical
“inevitability”.
27JUSTICE GLOBALISM i :
Justice globalism upholds an alternative vision of globalization based on egalitarigg
ideals,of global solidarity and distributive justice: ‘This ideology from the Politica
Left contests market globalism, Political Left or Loft-wing polities is that wisely Supports
. social equality and egalitarianism and usually in opposition to social hierarchy,
Justice globalism’s critique of market globalism includes the jelaim that
“liberalization and global integration of free markets Jead to greater social inequalitie,,
environmental destruction, the escalation of global conflicts and violence, the
weakening of participatory forms of democracy, the proliferation of self-interest ang
consumerism, and the further marginalization ofthe powerless around the worlqr
(Steger, 2017). i
Justice globalists admit that globalization may be
inevitable, but assert that its final form and character
y + fee
4 VU} MAW MEE can and must be shaped by intentional policies that
Y ‘ highlight egalitarian principles. They envision a global
Y a a4 civil society with fairer relationships and ecological
safeguards. They oppose market globalists who view
© The ‘Black Flog of Jihad’: neoliberalism as the only way.
+ Justice globalism involves seven key values: (1)
Whadism'is a 21st-century
neologism found in Western transformative change, (2) participatory democracy, (3)
Janguages to label islamist militant i see
ee ee oe iecdmmniite equality of access to resources and opportunities, (@
movements (allegedly) rooted in social justice, (5) universal rights, (6) global solidarity,
‘slam and threatening to the West. and (7) sustainability. The ideology further promotes
fimage source: [Link]] i »
three different strategies: (1) reform, (2) autonomy, and @)
transformation.
RELIGIOUS GLOBALISM
Religious globalism endeavors for a global religious community with dominance:
over secular structures. These globalisms fight against both market globalism and
justice globalism as they seek to champion religious beliefs and values that are
said to be under severe attack by the powers of consumerism and secularism in the
globalized world.
Manly religious globalisms which pu
imagined in global footings in defence of faiths are usually, but not always,
with the political Right. Right-wing politics generally refers to the conservative
reactionary section of a political party or system. It believes that some social ode!
and hierarchies are inevitable, natural, normal or desirable, and thus should b?
suopartad atall costs on the basis of natural law, tradition, or economics, The original
Right (in France) was created as a reaction against the “Left” and comprised those W”
supported hierarchy, tradition, and religion-based leadership,
ue to activate a religious community
ociated
28‘The surge of religious globalisms includes Christian global findamentalism, Falats
Gong syncretism, and Buddhism, Apparent in some variants of all three monotheistic
religions, religious globalism’s most remarkable strain today, however, is what
Steger calls as Jihadist Islamism, The term Jihadism (also jihadist movementand thas i
movement) is a 21"-century neologism found in Western languages to label Islamist
militant movements considered as military movements (allegedly) rooted in Islam and
assumed to be threatening to the West.
The Jihadist globalism advocated by some radical Islamists seeks to incite their
global community of believers into violent action. Jihadist Islamists complain about
the contemporary age of Jahiliyyah (age of ignorance and pagan idolatry) and call fora
transformed universalism of a global umma (the whole community of Muslims bound
together by ties of religion). The 9/11 attack demonstrates the disturbing effect that
jihadist globalism can have, considering the fact that Osama Bin Laden and Al-
Qaeda terrorists fed on the supposed “Americanization” of the world to validate
their activities.
So in the wake of 9/11, Jihadist Globalism has been pitted against Imperial
Globalism, which can be said'to be influenced by market and justice globalism. While
Imperial Globalism seeks to use the United States’ economic and military power to
allegedly democratize the world and wage war on terror, Jihadist Globalism seeks to
weaken the West’s military and economic power and reestablish the Umrha through
armed or unarmed struggle.
AWORKING DEFINITION OF GLOBALIZATION
Many have tried to define globalization in various ways with relative suecess. Some
assert that defining it cannot be done, while others claim that doing so would limit the
term's meaning. Still, there are those who have challenged these two positions and
fashioned some working definitions,
A working definition is that which is taken for an Occasion and may not entirely
conform to established or authoritative definitions. It is a tentative definition being
developed that can be tailored to construct an authoritative
Of well-established definitions would be grounds for
Working definition. Hence, it would be
definition. Not knowing
Picking or developing a
better here for us to introduce some working
definitions of the term globalization, even though we admit that defining this term is
anything but easy,
The website [Link] enumerates some definitions from some
known scholars of globalization (“Concept of Globalization,” 2017);
1. “Globalization asa concept refers both to the com
intensification of consciousness of the w
“Globalization compresses the time an
Games Mittelman)
pression of the world and the
orld as a whole,” (Roland Robertson)
2. id space aspects of social relations.”=
2 —
—
a
nse enlargement gy
imme
1 market both OF Whig
so ;
oy the sere world mat
eile a s of modernity,
ation pivot » stages ty,
mreconcepis of BIODNTIEET gpthehorile | gartier stay!
| Tne cont aod an 08 ammneiote 0 .
world comm te and fi sion on exchanges
ere rangi restric %
seems for mere raat ‘f sys
| ee sanneeon) jon of steer 4 complex global System of
/ oe rremimytsonor eur nly integote a sie” (ror G. Palmer)
4, “The di easing) a result:
jers and the increhs
e that
exchange thal :
thought of a8 @
in the’ Spal
as emerged aso” ot of processes) which
: a sel :
sation of social relation
rganiZ
,, intensity velocity: ang
} across bord
production and
§, “Globalization may be
embodies vin terms of thelr @HO™ Tg and networks of
and transaction-asse corral or inter A
impeach-genterating transcont » (David Hel
wer! ae
ty i e exercise of power!" “ Ea
activin interaction and th re ron ‘
= defined as the intensification orld wide social relations
"Globalization can be def
: thaped by
a | happenings are s!
fhich link distant localities in such a way that loca
which link dist
: Giddens)
oo vice-versa.” (Anthony
ares oe Be) hand, Manfred Steger (2017) holds
Nn
that globalization can best be deserbesl az
expansion and intensification of social relations
and consciousness across world-time and world
space,” As a process, Steger further explains that
gobalization is a forceful and transformative
one which entails that people are leaving behind
the condition of modern nationality and are
moving towards the new condition of postmodern
globality, though they have not yet reached it. He
admits that globalisation is not
(9 process that encompasses the
but'a set of processes that fur
Bue, course and consequences and ur n
of transnational and transculturol seve on many 1
integration of human ond non-human —CiMNSions an
iron nd
atthe *
Umage source: Systane
© Dr-AbRochon: “Globalization 4 single process,
nction concurrently
levels and in various
Seem to transform our present
Social condition of w akening nation: lity
slobality,
Al. Rodhan, Sel
‘ story. com into one of
Finally, Dr, Nayes pp
of the Program
nior Se
OM the Gee hor Scho!
la Geos
SECUTIY defines gobatpar Ili tions of gi a ie
Y defines globalization a = Sf Globalizatio
atid Conse OM 88 “a Drone ation and ‘Tr; ational
and conse QUENCES Of tran, cea Process that eneompase nd Transnation!
human activities (1p dha "4 transeultup “SSeS the causes, courses
“odhan, 201
al integra
), “eration of human and not
30
a
ee
preset
bier
pefine the following tert
{,, Eeonomic globalizat
(Sel has
= a
Se
a
ee eee
2. Laissez-faire
3. Political globalizat
4. Hyperglobalizers