Why Contemporary World?

• Market economies and private enterprises that

• We are living in different circumstances and ideas have replaced state-controlled economies and
of the present age in a colloquial "in modern times services;
like these". • An abundance of planetary goods and services
• We need to look at the situation which considers that have arisen to fulfill consumer demand - real
the past and future; our cultural- way of life and at and imagined;
the same time understanding the world of having • Economic disparities between rich and poor
diversity. regions and countries that drive people to migrate,
• Since our world is diverse, we practice what both legally and illegally, in search of a better life;
anthropologist called as "Cultural Relativism" ; this • An army of international workers, managers, and
is to understand diverse culture and the uniqueness executives who give is powerful economic force a
of one's culture without prejudice and biases. human dimension
• Economic and technological advances are
characteristics of the contemporary world and there Metaphors of Globalization
are fundamental aspects of it. The metaphors of globalization describe the
process of globalization and how these phenomena
Different debates about Globalization can be best articulated. In general, it is described in
There are different issues about globalization that two opposing poles - the solid and liquid, and how it
most people would debate about like the issue of flows.
global governance. This aspect of globalization
resonance with the stability of government of each Solid and Liquid
state. Other issues are equitable development Solidity refers to barriers that prevent or make
among nations and countries around the world and difficult the movement of things.
how humans will survive in the future which is Furthermore, solids can either be natural or
crucial in maintaining sustainability of world's man-made.
resources like food security and energy resources.
Defining Globalization
Defining Globalization • The term globalization first appeared in Webster's
• One of the most important challenges facing the Dictionary in 1961; it is then classified as either (1)
world in the 21st century is globalization; to look at broad and inclusive or (2) narrow and exclusive;
the concept of "Globalization" it is generally defined • Ohmae (1992) stated that "globalization means
as the increasing interconnectedness of people and onset of the borderless world" — an example of a
places through converging economic, political and broad and inclusive type of definition
cultural activities. • Robert Cox's definition is narrow and exclusive -
"the characteristics of globalization trend include
Attributes of Globalization: the internationalizing of production, the new
• Global communication systems that link all international division of labor, new migratory
regions and most people on the planet movements from South to North, the new
instantaneously; competitive environment that accelerates these
• Transportation systems capable of moving goods processes, and the internationalizing of the state..
quickly by air, sea and land; Making states into agencies of the globalizing
• Transnational business strategies that have world".
created global corporations more powerful than
many sovereign nations; Recent definition by Ritzer (2015) - "globalization is
• New and more flexible forms of capital a transplanetary process or a set of processes
accumulation and international financial institutions involving increasingly liquidity and the growing
that make 24-hour trading possible; multidirectional flows of people, places, and
• Global agreements that promote free trade; information as well as the structures they encounter
and create that are barriers to, or expedite, those
flows"; this assumes that globalization could bring Heterogeneity pertains to the creation of various
either or both integration and/ or fragmentation; cultural practices, new economies, and political
although things flow easily in a global world, groups because of the interaction of elements from
hindrances or structural blocks are also present, different societies in the world.
these blocks could slow down one's activity in
another country or could even limit the places a Heterogeneity refers to the differences because of
person can visit. either lasting differences or of the hybrids or
combinations of cultures that can produced through
Flows the different transplanetary processes.
Flows is the movement of people, things, places,
and information brought by the growing "porosity" Contrary to cultural imperialism, heterogeneity in
of global limitations (Ritzer, 2015). As Landler culture is associated with cultural hybridization.
(2008) put it: "in the global financial system,
national borders are porous". This means that a Contrary to cultural imperialism, heterogeneity in
financial crisis in a given country can bring culture is associated with cultural hybridization. A
ramifications to other regions in the world. more specific is "glocalization" coined by Roland
Robertson (1992). It explain that as global forces
Globalization Theories interact with local factors or a specific geographical
Globalization as a process increases either area, the "glocal" (global+ local) is being produced.
homogeneity or heterogeneity. This is not only happening in culture but also in
economic issues and in political institutions.
Homogeneity - refers to the increasing sameness
in the world as cultural inputs, economic factors Dynamics of Local and Global Culture
and political orientations of societies expand to Global flows of culture tend to move more easily
create common practices, same economies, and around the the globe than ever before, especially
similar forms of government. Homogeneity in through non-material digital forms. There are three
culture is often linked to cultural imperialism. This perspectives on global cultural flows. These
means, a given culture influences other cultures. differentialism, hybridization and convergence.

In homogeneity, a given culture influences other In the convergence of culture around the globe
cultures. A good example is Americanization these concepts describe different processes like:
through global economy that brought American • "Glocalization" or the interpenetration of the
products, ideas, images, practices and behavior to global and local resulting unique outcomes in
the world. This process also spread ideologies like different geographic areas.
capitalism, neoliberalism and the market economy (Giulianotti & Robertson, 2007)
in the world. The political realm also suffers
homogenization if one takes into account the • Arjun Appadurai's "Scapes" in 1996, where
emerging similar models of governance in the global flows involve people, technology, finance,
world. political images, and media and the disjuncture
between them, which lead to the creation of cultural
Ritzer (2008) claimed that, in general, the hybrids.
contemporary world is undergoing the process of
McDonaldization. It is a process by which Western • Global cultural flow, a theory coined by Arjun
societies are dominated by the principles of fast Appadurai, demonstrated the definition and effects
food restaurants. It involves the global spread of of cultural flows in 5 distinct scapes: ethnoscapes,
rational systems, such as efficiency, calculability, technoscapes, financescapes, mediascapes and
predictability, and control. ideoscapes. Global cultural flow is a result of the
process of globalization.
1. Ethnoscapes refer to the shifting landscape of regional organizations prefer regional partners over
people across culture and borders such as tourists, the rest. Regional organizations respond to the
immigrants, refugees, exiles, guest workers. An states' attempt to reduce the perceived negative
example of ethnoscapes is Australia - a multi-ethnic effects of globalization. Therefore, regionalism is a
country with one of the most linguistically and sort of counter-globalization.
culturally diverse populations in the world.
According to Hurrell (2007) "one world/ many
2. Technoscapes are the transmission of cultures worlds relationship. Regional developments in one
through the flow of technology. New types of part of the world have affected and fueled
cultural interactions and exchanges are brought regionalization everywhere else in a sort of
about by technology, particularly the Internet. The contagion or domino effect. This fact, along with
globally integrated information network has become increasing developments in interregional
a powerful tool in shaping how culture and cooperation, shows the regionalization process is
communication are transmitted across the globe. global in nature. Therefore, regionalization is
Nowadays, it is extremely easy to access an online intimately linked to globalization since it is a part of
forum and hear an English man complaining about it and it builds on it."
politics or watch a Brazilian dancing Samba.
Globalization and Regionalization
3. Financescapes refer to the global movement of The process of globalization and regionalization
money, including currency, trade and commodity. reemerged during the 1980s and heightened after
Countries nowadays are allowed to freely exchange the end of Cold War in the 1990s. At first, it seems
good. However, it leads to the intensification of that these two processes are contradicting, but the
competition amongst corporations. regionalization of the world system and economic
activity undermines the potential benefits coming
4. Mediascapes refers to the electronic capabilities from a liberalized global economy. This is because
of production and dissemination of information regional organizations prefer regional partners over
through media. the rest. Regional organizations respond to the
states' attempt to reduce the perceived negative
5. Ideoscapes are the global flow of ideologies. effects of globalization. Therefore, regionalism is a
Mediascapes and ideoscapes have a close sort of counter-globalization.
relationship as they usually work upon the reliance
of the other scape. Ideas can be disseminated via According to Hurrell (2007) "one world/ many
media platforms. An example is Michael Jackson, worlds relationship. Regional developments in one
famously known as the king of Pop. He used his part of the world have affected and fueled
fame to promote world peace, equality and human regionalization everywhere else in a sort of
rights through his songs. These songs were then contagion or domino effect. This fact, along with
broadcasted on media and his ideology increasing developments in interregional
approached thousands of his fans around the cooperation, shows the regionalization process is
world, which helped shape their perceptions and global in nature. Therefore, regionalization is
inspire them. intimately linked to globalization since it is a part of
it and it builds on it."
Globalization and Regionalization
The process of globalization and regionalization Regionalization (Hurrell (2007) - societal
reemerged during the 1980s and heightened after integration and the often undirected process of
the end of Cold War in the 1990s. At first, it seems social and economic interaction. Different from
that these two processes are contradicting, but the regionalism (Ravenhill, 2008) which is the formal
regionalization of the world system and economic process of intergovernmental collaboration between
activity undermines the potential benefits coming two or more states.
from a liberalized global economy. This is because
Huntington (2006), believed that culture and identity
guide regionalization. For him "in the post-Cold
War world, states increasingly define their interests
in civilization terms". Non-state actors, such as
Trans National Corporations (TNCs), act as a
driving force toward regionalism. These TNCs,
whose host countries are not part of a given
regional trade agreement, find themselves in a
disadvantaged commercial situation with respect to
competing companies belonging to the regional
organization in question.

• Ravenhil (2008) said that disadvantaged TNCs

will lobby their national governments to sign similar
trade agreements in order to end their
disadvantaged commercial situation.

• Many policy makers and scholars think that

globalization must be regulated and managed. The
threats of an "ungoverned globalization" can be
countered what Jacoby and Meunier (2010) called
managed globalization - refers to all attempts to
make globalization more palatable to citizens.
HISTORY OF GLOBALIZATION consumerism, and rationalism. Such phenomena
Topic 1 The Globalization of Religion advocate scientism and secularism.

Globalization of Religion • This, in fact, pushed Scholte (2005) to speak of

Today, most religions are not relegated to the the anti-rationalist faiths. Since he equated
countries where they began. Religions, have, in rationalism with globalization and considered
fact, spread and scattered on a global scale. religion anti-rationalist, it can be deduced that
Globalization provided religions a fertile milieu to religion is anti-globalization.
spread and thrive. Globalization has also allowed
religion or faith to gain considerable significance • According to Scholte (2005) "transplanetary
and importance as a non-territorial touchstone of relations helped to stimulate and sustain some
identity. Being a source of identity and pride, renewals of anti-rationalists faith, but global
religion has always been promoted by its networks have more usually promoted activities
practioners so that it could reach the level of involving rationalist knowledge. Contemporary
globality and be embraced by so many people as revivalist movements have largely replayed a
possible. long-term tendency - one that well predates
contemporary accelerated globalization - whereby
Turner (2007) explained that globalization certain religious circles have from time to time
transforms the generic "religion" into a revolted against modern secularism and scientism."
world-system of competing and conflicting religions.
This process of institutional specialization has • As Scholte (2005) made clear "Accelerated
transformed local, diverse and fragmented cultural globalization of recent times has enabled
practices into recognizable systems of religion. co-religionists across the planet to have greater
Globalization has, therefore, had the paradoxical direct contact with one another. Global
effect of making religions more self-conscious of communications, global organizations, global
themselves as being "world religions". finance, and the like have allowed ideas of the
Muslims and the universal Christian Church to be
Such conflicts among world religions exhibit a solid given concrete shape as never before".
proof confirming the erosion and the failure of
hybridization. Globalization, as stated in the above Topic 2: Origins and History of Globalization
excerpt, makes religions more conscious of Origins and History of Globalization
themselves as being "world religions" reinforcing There are many perspectives about how
their respective specific identities. These identities globalization started and these are the five different
are strengthened by globalization and cannot, in perspectives:
any way, intermingle or hybridize. 1. Hardwired
2. Cycles
Religion seek to assert its identity in the light of 3. Epoch
globalization. As a result, different religious 4. Events
identities come to the fore and assert themselves. 5. Broad changes
Such assertions of religious identities constitute a
defensive reaction to globalization. Scholte (2005), Hardwired
in this respect, maintained, "At the same time as According to Chanda (2007), it is because of our
being pursued through global channels, assertions basic human needs to make lives better that made
of religious identity have, nationalists strivings, globalization possible. Therefore, one can trace the
often also been partly a defensive reaction to beginning of globalization from our ancestors in
globalization". Africa who walked out from the said continent in the
late Ice Age. This long journey finally led them to
• It had been difficult for religion to cope with values all-known continents today, roughly after 50,000
that accompany globalization like liberalism, years ago.
Chanda (2007) mentioned that commerce, religion, founding of the modern internet in 1988, and the
politics and warfare are the "urges" of people terrorist attacks on the Twin Towers in New York
toward a better life. These are respectively (2001).
connected to four aspects of globalization and they
can be traced all throughout history: trade, Broader, More Recent Changes
missionary work, adventures and conquest. • These broad changes happened in the last of the
20th century.
Cycles Scholars today point to these three notable
• For some globalization is a long-term cyclical changes as the origin of globalization that we know
process and thus, finding its origin will be a today. They are as follows:
daunting task. What is important is the cycles that 1. The emergence of the United States as the
globalization has gone through (Scholte, 2005). global power (post-World War II)
Subscribing to this view will suggest adherence to 2. The emergence of multi-national corporations
the idea that other global ages have appeared. (MNCs)
There is also the notion to suspect that this point of 3. The demise of the Soviet Union and the end of
globalization will soon disappear and reappear. the Cold War

Epoch Topic 3: Global Demography

• Ritzer (2015) cited Therborn's (2000) great Global Demography
epochs of globalization. These are also called Demographic transition is a singular historical
"waves" and each has its own origin. The following period during which mortality and fertility rates
are the sequential occurrence of the epochs: decline from high to low levels in a particular
1. globalization of religion (4th-7th centuries) country or region.
2. European colonial conquests (late 15th century)
3. Intra-European wars ( late 18th to early 19th The broad outlines of the transition are similar in
centuries) countries around the world, but the place and
4. Heyday of European imperialism (mid-19th timing of the transaction have varied considerably.
century to 1918)
5. Post-World War Il Period • The transition started in mid or late 1700s in
6. Post-Cold War period Europe. During that time, death rates and fertility
began to decline. High to low fertility happened 200
Events years in France and 100 years in United States. In
• Specific events are also considered as part of the other parts of the world, the transition began later. It
fourth view in explaining the origin of globalization. was only in the 20th century that mortality decline in
Several points can be treated as the start of Africa and Asia, with the exemption of Japan.
globalization. Gibbon (1998), for example, argued According to Maddison (2001), life expectancy in
that Roman conquests centuries before Christ were India was only 24 years in the early 20th century
its origin. Rosenthal (2007) gave premium to the while same life expectancy occurred in China in
voyages of discovery - Christopher Columbus's 1929 until 1931.
discovery of America in 1492, Vasco De Gama in
Cape of Good Hope in 1498, and Ferdinand • Fertility decline in Asia did not begin until 1950s
Magellan's circumnavigation of the globe in 1522. and so on. In the case of Japan, it was until the
1930s that "total fertility rate did not drop below five
• The recent years could be also regarded as the births per woman" (Shigeyuki, et. al. 2002).
beginnings of globalization with reference to This resulted in rapid population growth after the
specific technological advances in transportation World War 11, affecting the age structure of Asia
and communication. Some examples include the and the developing world.
first transatlantic telephone cable (1956), the first Specifically, the baby boom in the developing world
transatlantic television broadcasts (1962), the was caused by the decline of infant and child
mortality. The West, on the other hand, experienced 2007).
baby boom that resulted from rising birth rates.
Migration is traditionally governed either by "push"
A remarkable effect of the demographic transition, factors such as political persecution, economic
as Shigeyuki et. al, (2002) stated, is" the enormous depression, war and famine in the home country or
gap in life expectancy that emerged between Japan by "pull" factors such as favorable immigration
and the West on the one hand and the rest of the policy, labor shortage, and similarity of language
world on the other". By 1820, the life expectancy at and culture in the country of destination (Ritzer,
birth of Japan and the West was 12 years greater 2015). Global factors, which facilitate easy access
than other countries. to information about the country of destination, also
exert a significant influence.
There was a reverse in global population shares
during the 20th century as Africa, Asia, Latin • According to Malkin (2007), the Philippines is one
America and Oceania had high levels of population of the leaders when it comes to the flow of
growth rates. The United Nations projected the remittances ($14.7 billion), next to India ($24.5
population growth will be shifted toward Africa. It is billion) and China ($21.1 billion).
estimated that by 2150, the regions share to the • The term "diaspora" has been increasingly used
world population will be almost 20 percent, to describe migrant communities. Paul Gilroy's
relatively much greater than its share in 1820 (7%) (1993) conceptualization of the diaspora as a
and 1900 (6%). Also in 2150, there will be a transnational process, which involves dialogue to
projected increase of two billion if we combine the both imagined and real locales.
populations of Asia, Latin America and Oceania.
Diasporization and globalization are closely
Topic 4: Global Migration interconnected and the expansion of the latter will
Migration is one key factors of globalization. The lead to an increase in the former (Dufoix, 2007).
nuances of the movements of people around the Today, there exists "virtual diasporas" (Laguerre,
world can be seen through the categories of 2002) which utilize technology such as the internet
migrants - "vagabonds" and "tourists" (Bauman, to maintain the community network.
1998).

• Vagabonds are on the move "because they have

to be" (Ritzer, 2015) - they are not faring well in
their home countries and are forced to move in the
hope that their circumstances will improve.
Tourists, on the other hand, are on the move
because they want to be and because they can
afford it. Refugees are vagabonds forced to flee
their home countries due to safety concerns
(Haddad, 2003). Asylum seekers are refugees
who seek to remain in the country to which they
flee.

• According to Kritz (2008), those who migrate to

find work are involved in labor migration. Labor
migration is driven by "push" factors as well as
"pull" factors. Labor migration mainly involves the
flow of less-skilled and unskilled workers, as well as
illegal immigrants who live on the margins of the
host society (Landler,