MODULE WEEK NO.

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Salay Community College
University Salay, Misamis Oriental
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General Education Department

GEC 6: The Contemporary World
2nd Semester of A.Y. 2024-2025

Introduction

This module introduces you to the term “Globalization” and how this concept
has been defined by many scholars around the world using different context &
perspective in order for you to arrive on a functional understanding of its
existence in the modern contemporary world.
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Rationale

Define & study “what is globalization?” based on the different perspectives

used across the word.
Intended Learning Outcomes

A. Recall the development of globalization

B. Identify the competing points of globalization to retain its basic concepts.
C. State the different discourses on the study of globalization

Learning

Defining/ Remembering Globalization:

The task to create a clear, definite meaning of Globalization

Discussion

THE CONTEMPORARY WORLD ( GEC 6 )

Jugie Jabello Tabas
Instructor
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Medium.com

DEFINING GLOBALIZATION

Much has changed around the world. Of these changes, one can say that
globalization has contributed a great part among the world (Bauman, 2003). Today we
are indeed part of what we call as the “global age” (Albrow, 1996). The internet for
instance allows you to know what is happening in the other side of the world. In
addition mass medias allow you to connect among people, communities, and countries
over and around the world twenty four-seven. So what is GLOBALIZATION ? it seems
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this question is so easy to answer. However, many scholars attempted to formulate a

standard definition of this term but only resulted into a differing, contradicting views
about this concept. It is because globalization encompasses itself a multitude of
processes that involves a multi disciplinary action and understanding. Try to browse on
these following definitions …….

I. Progress, Development and Integration:

Tomas Larsson (2001)

economic thinking.com cambridge.com

“ The process of world shrinkage, of distances getting shorter, things moving closer.”

II. Broad & Inclusive:

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Kenichi Ohmae (1992)

kohmae.com toolshero.com

“… globalization means the onset of the borderless world….”

III. Narrow & Exclusive

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Robert Cox (2000)

toronto university.com purdue university.com

“ …internationalizing of the production & labor, migration and state….”

IV. Flattened

Thomas L. Friedman (2005)

gstatic.com universitas21.com

“....the inexorable integration of markets, nation states and technologies to a degree never
witnessed before—in a way that is enabling individuals, corporations, and nation states to
reach around the world farther, faster, deeper, and cheaper than ever before ...”

V. Integration and/or Fragmentation

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George Ritzer (2015)

Amazon.com Wikipedia.com

“Globalization…..is a set of process involving increasing liquidity …flows & structures that are
barriers to, or can expedite these flows…..” - Ritzer (2015)

Metaphors of Globalization
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In order for you to better understand the concept of globalization paved way for people, things,
information, and places, you will try to define it using an example or metaphor.

1. Solid - also refers to barriers that prevent or make difficult the movement of
things. Perfect example of solid things is an ICE. Moreover, solids can either be
natural or manmade which for examples landforms or Great walls. It can also be
an imaginary lines like borders. However, very important to note that even how
hard solids are, they still have the tendency to melt and these phenomena
should not be taken literally but can be used to describe what is happening in
the world today.

A. Solidarity
science new journal.com
 limited mobility
 refers to the building blocks ( barriers )/ natural or manmade

2. Liquid – as a state of matter, takes the shapes of its container. Liquid are not
fixed therefore this state refers to the increasing ease of movement of people,
things, information, and places in the contemporary world.

B. Liquidity
New atlas.com
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 Not fixed or changing / increase ease of movement
 Movement is difficult to stop /tends to melt whatever stands along its path.

3. Flow – is the movement of people, things, places, and information brought about
by the growing porosity of global limitations (Ritzer, 2015). A concrete example
is the exchange of cultures from different countries due mainly to growing
communities and diaspora like Filipino communities abroad and foreign
communities in our country.

C. Flows
Juzaphoto
 Increase in liquidity
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 there is a movement of everything ( ex. Food, cuisines, migrants )

“Solidity refers to barriers that prevent mobility….liquidity is the increasing movement.....

....The movement of people, things, places, and information brought by the growing “porosity” of
global limitations” – Ritzer (2015)

geopolitics.com

GLOBALIZATION FLOWS

You have already established many samples and issues in defining globalization and the
metaphors used to understand the concept easily. The following discussions will give you a
glimpse of the important theories on globalization. You are going to analyze globalization
culturally, economically, and politically. In the meantime look at globalization first as a process
that increases either homogeneity or heterogeneity.

1. Homogeneity - the increasing sameness in the world

 One-size-fits all ( flow of nothing )
 Cultural imperialism ( Christianization, Americanization, McWorld , McDonaldization)
 Neoliberalism, Capitalism, Market Economy ( Global Economic Crisis )
2. Heterogeneity – the creation of various elements from different societies.
 Glocalization ( Hybrids or combination )
 Cultural Hybridization ( Jihads )
 Glocal Markets

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freeEducator.com

CHARACTERISTICS

Global Flows of culture tend to move more easily around the globe than ever before, especially
through non-material digital forms. There are three perspectives on global cultural flows.

A. Cultural Differentialism – “ catastrophic collision “

- 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”
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B. Cultural Hybridization – “ glocalization & integration “
- Emphasizes the integration of local and global cultures / evolution of
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”.

C. Cultural Convergence – “ deterritorialization “

- 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.

rawabetcenter.com

VIEWS

The previous discussions answered the question, What is Globalization? The next question is ,
Where did it start ?. This question is also difficult to answer because there are different views
about it. Nevertheless there is no harm if you look at the different perspectives regarding the
origin of Globalization:

I. Hardwired - According to Nayan Chanda (2007)it is because of our basic human

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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 their places in the late Ice age for the main reason of “ trade,
missionary work, adventure & conquest”

II. Cycles – For Scholte( 2005) Globalization is a long cyclical process and thus
finding its origin is a daunting experience( soon disappear and reappear ) 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.

III. Epoch - Ritzer( 2015 )- cited great epoch of globalization. These are also series
of ‘waves’( sequential occurrence ) and each has its own origin. Today’s
globalization is not a unique if that is the case. However, it does not treat epoch
as returning.

IV. Events - Composed of several points / specific events which characterized

globalization. Certainly with this view, more and more specific events will
characterize not just the origins of globalizations but also more of its history.
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V. Broad Changes – Changes happened in the last of the twentieth century. Scholars
today point to these notable changes as origins of globalization as we know
today. These are: Free world “ capitalism “, Emergence of American power /
multinational corporation, Demise of USSR and end of the Cold War.

Basic.com

Perspectives
1. Hyperglobalist - Legitimate process / a new age in human history
2. Skeptical - International process as becoming regionalized rather than globalized.
3. Transformationalist – no specific cause or outcome / national govt. are changing

Activity

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In this module you are exposed to the different definitions

&/or claims on globalization. With its many misconceptions, it created
ambiguities & biases which poses a big challenge on your part as a learner who
wish to establish a concrete meaning of this term. As a resolution, globalization
is therefore defined using various concept, views & metaphors in order to grasp
the main rationale or even arrive into a functional meaning of this
phenomenon.

Using the following lessons, state your own generalization or understanding of

the term & relate it to the actual application on the different aspects of your
daily life. Internalize the terms & concepts mentioned here and prepare
yourself to answer basic aspects of globalization through an online Self-test.
Test your knowledge on Remembering the Key Terms.
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Resources and Additional Resources

Aldama,P.K.(2018). The contemporary world, Quezon City Philippines ,Rex

Printing Company,Inc.

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