THE CONTEMPORARY WORLD LISANDRO E. CLAUDIO PATRICIO N. ABINALES Publishin, . 138 C & E Publishing, Inc.lishing, Inc. on City © 2018 by C & E Publishing, Inc., Lisandro Claudio, and Patricio Abinales ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. No Part of this publication be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmi in any form, or by any means—electronic, mechanic photocopying, recording, or otherwise—without the pr written permission of the publisher. Cataloguing-in-Publication Data iz Claudio, Lisandra E. i318 C53 2018 sai, 182 p.: il cm. Includes bibliography and index. ISBN: 978-97 1-98-0862-6. 1. Globalizat NE nm. 2. World Economics. I. Abinales, __ Patri Book and Cover Design: Lynzel S. NaguitContents An Introductory Note to the Student ix The Relevance of this Course x This Book’ Approach xi Wnit1 The Structures of Globalization 1 \wuson1 Whatis Globalization? 2 Global Experiences 5 Some Description 6 Globalization: A Working Definition 7 Conclusion: Globalization from the Ground Up 9 bublication maj or transmit ic, mechanical ithout the pric jeuson2 The Globalization of World Economics 12 International Trading Systems 13 The Bretton Woods System 16 Neoliberalism and Its Discontents 17 The Global Financial Crisis and the Challenge to Neoliberalism 19 Economic Globalization Today 22 Conclusion 24 ata )E, Claudio and & E Publishing, insson3 A History of Global Politics: Creating an International Order 26 The Attributes of Today's Global System 27 The Interstate System 30 internationalism 31 Conclusion 37 es. L Abinales,LESSON4 = The United Nations and Contempo Unit 3 Movi Global Governance 39 and. Whatis an International Organization? 40 The United Nations 42 itason9 Glob Challenges of the United Nations 45 The “Pe Conclusion 46 It'sthe . Wormer LESSONS A World of Regions 50 The Fer Countries, Regions, and Globalization 51 Popula Non-State Regionalism 53 Conclu Contemporary Challenges to Regionalism 56 Conclusion 58 ienson10 — Glob What i Unit2 A World of Ideas: a Cultures of Globalization 61 The Pr :, - tos Integré lSSON6 The Globalization of Religion 62 a Realities 65 wssonu — Envi Religion for and against Globalization 66 and | Conclusion 69 shen LESSON7 Media and Globalization 72 eal Media and Its Functions 73 Climat The Global Village and Cultural Imperialism 75 Gab Critiques of Cultural imperialism 77 Conch Social Media and the Creation of Cyber Ghettoes 78 Conclusion 81 Conclusion: The LESSONS The Global City 83 Endnotes 135 Why Study Global Cities? 84 Bibliography 1 Defining the Global City 85 Indicators for Globality 86 Index 172 The Challenges of Global Cities 89 About the Auth The Global City and the Poor 91 Conclusion 931tempo! 40 , 62 m 75 Unit 3 LEASON 9 L8SON 10 LESSON 11 Movement and Sustainability 95 Global Demography 96 The*Perils" of Overpopulation 98 It's the Economy, Not the Babies! 101 Women and Reproductive Rights 102 The Feminist Perspective 104 Population Growth and Food Security 105 Conclusion 107 Global Migration 109 What is Migration? 109 Benefits and Detriments for the Sending Countries 112 The Problem of Human Trafficking 114 Integration 115 Environmental Crisis and Sustainable Development 119 The World’s Leading Environmental Problems 120 Man-made Pollution 122 “Catching Up" 125 Climate Change 127 Combating Global Warming 128 Conclusion 130 Conclusion: The Global Filipino 132 Endnotes 135 Bibliography 155 Index 172 About the AuthorsAn Introductory Note to the Student Why do you need to study the world? At first glance, the us a concept, is abstract. After all, your daily experiences onsidered interactions with your country. When you read ihe news, you read about the Philippines. When you engage in an oificial transaction like paying taxes, you deal with the Philippine government, Almost all of your classmates and teachers are Hilipino. However, you only need to step back a little bit to see that the World “out there” is already here. For example, you likely have yelatives who are overseas Filipino workers (OFWs). Every time these relatives visit or send something home, they are bringing part of the world with them. Even if you have not traveled outside the Philippines, you have likely heard stories about foreign \itries from these family members. Some relatives might have told you about the wonders of Rome. Others may have shown you pictures of San Francisco's Golden Gate Bridge. Others may have described the lights and towering buildings of Shinjuku. Needless to say, the media and the internet are also your windows to the contemporary world, You watch American movies and can probably sing at least one K-pop song. Ifa major political event occurs, you don't even need to go to CNN.com to find out nore details; friends are already posting articles on Facebook. Finally, your consumption habits are global, You have dined jn McDonald's, ridden in a Japanese car, maybe owned a Korean mobile phone, and eaten Australian beef. You are already a citizen of the world whether you are aware of it or not. Just by living your life, you automatically think about the contemporary world. This course will be your guide.The Relevance of this Course As the semester progresses, we expect you to realize the relevance of the material gradually. The succeeding lessons will introduce you to the major themes in the study of the world while providing opportunities for you to connect this knowledge with your experiences as a Filipino student. At the outset, though, why study this course? Why is it required for all students in higher education? First, studying the outside world is a cure to Pparochialism or an outlook that is limited to one’s immediate community. A person who is concerned only with his/her family, village, or even country is parochial. The parochial person is, thus, close-minded. By teaching you about the world, this course aims to stretch the limits of your imagination and outlook. We will share with you unfamiliar ideas and cultures that may spark new interests and concerns. Not everything in this book will excite you, and that is fine. However, we hope that, at the end of the semester, you would have discovered new intellectual interests that you will continue to pursue. We also wish for you to explore the places, peoples, ideas, and cultures that you care about and value. This expansion of one’s ethical horizons, as you will see, is the very core of what it means to be a global citizen, Second, it is important to study the world because it can teach you more about yourself. Knowing about other countries allows you to compare your society with others. The experiences of communities outside the Philippines may provide solutions to many of the country’s current problems. They may also provide warnings about what not to do. Everyone, for example, desires economic growth. Isn’t it beneficial if policymakers know what economic models and policies have worked for other countries and what have not? Philippine national hero Jose Rizal said that anyone who has learned about the world will be haunted by the “ghost of comparisons.” Once you know about other societies, he says, you will not be able to look at your own in the same way: You will start comparing and asking various questions. This drive to compare x will happen even when 3 {hut aucldenly appears. Lastly, you need te Witeracting with it. In 2 Wii to become OFWs. | More and more Filipino af you who plan to we {his course can serve ai whe choose to remail Sompanies operating i jiowth of call centers a \ndustry as a whole. Dt Jaryer trade of goods {iterdependent. Filipin interdependence. You « ge well study it. This Book’s App This book will not the world. Such an app any good world almai countries, Instead, thi jyues, The goal is not hut also to expose you ‘out there,” Centr globalization—the dee 4s, economies, cult this concept further. | studying globalizatio going on in our world As the study of | attention deliberately core courses of the 1lize the ons will Id while ige with gh, why. | higher hialism inity. A or even ninded. tch the ith you sts and | that is | would inue to , ideas, of one’s, means it can intries iences ons to rovide lesires what es and nyone ost of s, you | start npare will huppen even when you least expect it; the urge is like a ghost {hut suddenly appears. Jstly, you need to study the world because you will be Jioracting with it, In 2009, an average of 4,018 Filipinos per day Joli to become OFWs. In 2015, that number increased to 6,092. More and more Filipinos are living and working abroad. For those af you who plan to work in another country after graduation, {iis course can serve as an orientation. Nevertheless, even those who choose to remain in the Philippines must confront the phenomenon of globalization. Many of you will work for foreign sompanies operating in the country, especially because of the growth of call centers and the busines process outsourcing (BPO) Judustry as a whole. Due to the internet, cheaper travel costs, and lianjer trade of goods and services, the world has grown more Wlerdependent. Filipinos are increasingly becoming aware of this Hiterdependence. You cannot avoid globalization so you might at ‘ge well study it. This Book’s Approach This book will not take you on a country-per-country tour of ihe world, Such an approach is impractical and tedious. Moreover, any good world almanac can give you quick overviews of these countries. Instead, this book will focus on themes, problems, and jniues, The goal is not simply to tell you about what is “out there,” jut also to expose you to the ideas that allow you to make sense of tat “out there.” Central to the study of the world is the concept of ylobalization—the deepening global interconnec tedness of places, ideas, economies, cultures, and people. The first lesson will discuss this concept further. However, for now, it is sufficient to say that studying globalization allows one to step back and ask; “What is yoing on in our world today?” As the study of globalization progresses, we will take your attention deliberately away from the Philippines. Most of the core courses of the new general education (GE) curriculum ask xiquestions about yourself in a national context. You study Rizal; examine primary readings in Philippine history; and, in the course Understanding the Self, a section leads you to reflect on national identity. These courses are all necessary; you should reflect about Yourself and your country. This course, however, will challenge you to think beyond your country and ask what it means to be a citizen of the world, Thus, most of the examples and case studies will be about peoples and places outside of the Philippines, Nevertheless, we acknowledge the need to connect the study of globalization to local experiences. For this reason, we will use the boxed text with the label “Localizing the Material” to provide examples that are relatable to the Filipino reader, As for classroom activities, it will be up to your teacher to integrate, conduct, and facilitate them, After each lesson, however, ‘we provide guide questions which you may wish to answer before the class. As you answer these questions either on a notebook or just in your own mind, please do not lose sight of the main question of the course: What does it mean to be a citizen of the world? The course will be challenging. Much of the materials you will find are new and unfamiliar. Despite this, we hope that you will enjoy reading this book and taking this course. This may be one of the few times in your life as a college student when you are explicitly challenged to transcend the borders of your nation, your countrymen, and ultimately, your imagination. ~ Lisandro E, Claudio Patricio N. Abinalestudy Rizal; a the course n national lect about 1 challenge ans to bea ase studies hilippines, \e study of e will use to provide teacher to |, however, wer before notebook the main zen of the crials you > that you is may be n you are ‘ion, your Claudio Abinales The Structures _ of Globalization This unit will introduce you to the various drivers of the globalization process, with specific focus on economics and politics. Although it emphasizes that you experience globalization on an “everyday” level, you must also realize that there are big institutions that create large-scale changes. This unit will first trace the emergence of these institutions historically. It will then move on to explain how they affect the countries and people today. The major learning outcomes of this unit are to: + analyze the various contemporary drivers of globalization; and + describe the emergence of global economic and political systems.how the British reo fies. The British d Whio were the orig W work in the rub help manage the £ fore of a potential (joups were identi © Learning Outcomes Pecording to these cuisines whi Atthe end of this lesson, you should be able to; across the nation’s ] If outdoor food p Malaysia, from nasi Glo interrupte | ashamed at his lac 1s and how it is pre The next day, blocks away from: Malaysian food w this, Latif explaine more and more h Malaysian restaure fot only to these as well, whose ct diverse. Gio finally ha 4 spicy coconut « like most Filipino deference to his f |. agree on a working definition of globalization forthe course: 2. differentiate the competing conceptions of globalization; and 3. narrate a personal experience of globalization A Story: Gio, Latif, and the Laksa When Gio was a second-year international affairs student in a university in Cebu City, he obtained funding to join the school team participating in an international Model UN competition in Sydney, Australia, At the height of the competition, Gio made plenty of new friends and became Particularly close to Latif from the Malaysian team. The two first started ta king when Latif asked Gio where he was from. Upon discovering that the Gio was from the Philippines, Latif lit Up and declared that he was a big fan of Filipino actors Jericho Rosales and Kristine Hermosa. Gio was pleasantly surprised to learn that Latif had seen every episode of the ABS-CBN telenovela Pangako sa ‘Yo ("The Promise”). The show had aired on Malaysian TV a few years back, and its two stars had developed a madest following Ashamed that he did not know as much about Malaysia as enjoying the hot ¢ Latif knew about the Philippines, Gio asked Latif what his country ‘After the me was like. Latif, he discovered, was from @ Muslim university in Kuala ordered “flat whi Lumpur. Gio asked him what he liked best about living in “KL” usually served in and Latif immediately mentioned the food Latif explained that in what flat whites v Kuala Lumpur, one can find Chinese, Indian, and Malay cuisines. both Kuala Lump He told Gio that this assortment of foodways was the result ofWhat is Globalization? | 3 fhow the British reorganized Malaysian society during the colonial jwnes. The British did little to change the way of life of the Malays ‘who were the original residents, but brought in Chinese laborers jo work in the rubber plantations and tin mines, and Indians to jwlp manage the bureaucracy and serve as the initial professional coww of a potential middle class. One of the ways that these ethnic (youps were identified was through their foodways. According to Latif, Malaysia eventually became famous for {hese cuisines which can be found in the various "hawker centers” ‘across the nation’s cities and towns. These food stands are located {» outdoor food parks where locals and tourists taste the best of Malaysia, from nasi lemak to laksa. Gio interrupted Latif and asked, “What is laksa?” He felt more ashamed at his lack of knowledge. “Ahh. ..let me show you what it is and how it is prepared!" replied Latif. The next day, Latif took Gio to a Malaysian restaurant a few blocks away from the university. Gio was surprised to discover that Malaysian food was readily available in Sydney. Having noticed this, Latif explained to his Filipino friend that, over the years, as yore and more Malaysian students moved to Sydney to study, Malaysian restaurants followed suit. Soon after, they were catering Hot only to these students, but to Australia-born “Sydneysiders” dent in school retition ) made if from fasked is from. fan ‘ if om ‘96 well, whose culinary tastes were becoming more and more we diverse: ode of show Gio finally had his first taste of laksa—a rice noodle soup in 4 spicy coconut curry sauce. He found the flavors intense since, like most Filipinos, he was nat used to spicy food, However, in deference to his friend, he persisted and eventually found himself enjoying the hot dish. ‘After the meal, Gio and Latif went to a nearby café and ordered “flat whites’—an espresso drink similar to latte, which is \sually served in cafés in Australia and New Zealand. Both knew what flat whites were since there were Australian-inspired cafés in both Kuala Lumpur and Cebu. rs had sia as untry Kuala "kor hat in sines ult of OO4 | The Structures of Globalization Laksa: a rich and spicy rice noodle soup The new friends promised to stay in touch after the competition, and added each other on Facebook and Instagram. Over the next two years, they exchanged e-mails and posts, congratulated each other for their achievements, and commented On and liked each other's photos. Latif sent his mother’s recipe to Gio and the latter began cooking Malaysian food in his home. A few years after graduation, Gio moved to Singapore, joining many other overseas Filipino. workers (OFWs) in the city-state. The culture was new to him, but one thing was familiar; the food served in Singapore was no different from the Malaysian food he had discovered through Latif. He would later learn from Singaporean colleagues that the island country was once part of the British colony of Malay and the postwar independent Federation of Malaysia, Singapore, however, separated from the Federation in August 1965 and became a nation-state. Today, they may be two distinct countries in this part of the world, but Singapore and Malaysia still share the same cuisine, After he settled down in his apartment, Gio sought out and found a favorite laksa stall in Newton Hawker Center. He would spend his weekends there with with friends eating laksa and other dishes. One S slong the: toad—he earlier, It v excited, Gi | wying th: moment, away fron Jong hug ducked in ordering < Global Gio at in fact, ba throu ng We bi to illustr: how glol The spre popular «the am. ists, ted 2 to ing ate. the ian om art ent ay, ut What is Globalization? | 5 ‘A hawker center in Singapore One Saturday, while Gio was checking his Facebook feed long the very busy Orchard Road—Singapore's main commercial foad—he noticed that Latif had just posted sornething 5 minutes earlier, It was a picture from Orchard Road. Surprised but also t d, Gio sent Latif a private message. Latif replied immediately | ying that he too had moved to Singapore and was, at that moment, standing in front a department store just 4 few blocks ‘away fram where Gio was. The two friends met up, and after a long hug and quick questions as to what each was up to, they ducked into a café and renewed their international friendship... .by ordering a pair of flat whites, Global Experiences Gio and Latif’s story is fictional but very plausible since it i in fact, based on the real-life experience of one of the authors. It was through such friendships that one was able to appreciate the meaning and impact of globalization. We begin our definition of globalization with this narrative to illustrate how concrete the phenomenon is. The story shows how globalization operates at multiple, intersecting levels. The spread of Filipino TV into Malaysia suggests how fast this popular culture has proliferated and criss-crossed all over Asia.6 | The Structures of Globalization The Model UN activity that Gio and Latif participated in ig an international competition about international politics. Gio’ met Latif (a Malaysian involved in the model UN) in Sydney, a global city that derives its wealth and influence from the global capital that flows through it, Sydney is also a metropolis of families of international immigrants or foreigners working in the industries that also sell their products abroad. After the two had gone back to their home countries, Gio and Latif kept in touch through Facebook, a global social networking site that provides instantaneous communication across countries and continents, They preserved their friendship online and then rekindled this face-to-face in Singapore, another hub for global commerce, with 40 percent of the population being classified as “foreign talents.” What other hints of globalization did you find in the storyt Some Description Our discussion should begin with this intuitive sense that something is happening, and it is not affecting everyone in the same way. Gio's story is a very privileged way of experiencing global flows, but for other people, the shrinking of the world may not be as exciting and edifying. For example, it is very common for young women in developing countries to be recruited in the internet as “mail-order brides” for foreign men living in other countries, After being promised a good life once married to a kind husband in a rich city, they end up becoming sexual and domestic Servants in foreign lands. Some were even sold off by their “husbands” to gangs which run prostitute tings in these cities, Like Gio, they too have experienced the shrinking of the world, albeit negatively. Governments that decide to welcome the foreign investments on the belief that they provide jobs and capital for the country offer public lands as factory or industrial sites, In the process, poor people living in these lands, also called “urban Poor communities,” are being evicted by the government. The irony is that these people forcibly removed fr hy foreign compar and then told tha fyom their reloca’ (ninimum-wage w Because differ Of ways, it is des globalization goo discussion begins complex phenome an uneven process Globalizatio Most accoun jyrocess, When a *lobalization,” i markets to a wic trade. When act of the 1990s, the facilitated and p Hrade Organizat Globalizatio who eriticize ur organizations. I economic globs political activist broader terms. consider multi an interdisciplit general educati this one ‘The best s by Manfred Ste and intensificein is . Gio rey, a lis of n the » had ouch vides ents. this with that cing may non the ther ind stic heir ike beit nts: try por cS,” ple What is Globalization? | 7 forcibly removed from their “slums” are also the labor force sought by foreign companies. They had to be kicked out of their homes, and then told that they could take an hour or two of bus travel from their relocated communities back to the “old home” for minimum-wage work. Because different people encounter globalization in a variety of ways, it is deemed useful to ask simple questions lik globalization good or bad? Is it beneficial or detrimental?” The discussion begins with two premises. First, globalization is a complex phenomenon that occurs at multiple levels. Second, it is an uneven process that affects people differently. Globalization: A Working Definition Most accounts view globalization as primarily an economic process. When a newspaper reports that nationalists are resisting “globalization,” it usually refers to the integration of the national markets to a wider global market signified by the increased free trade. When activists refer to the “anti-globalization” movement of the 1990s, they mean resisting the trade deals among countries facilitated and promoted by global organizations like the World Trade Organization. Globalization scholars do not necessarily disagree with people who criticize unfair international trade deals or global economic organizations. In fact, many are sympathetic to the critique of economic globalization. Academics differ from journalists and political activists, however, because they see globalization in much broader terms. They view the process through various lenses that consider multiple theories and perspectives. Academics call this an interdisciplinary approach, and it is this approach used by the general education (GE) courses that you will be taking alongside this one. The best scholarly description of globalization is provided by Manfred Steger who described the process as “the expansion and intensification of social relations and consciousness across8 | The Structures of Globalization world-time and across world-space.”! Expansion refers to “both the creation of new social networks and the multiplication of existing connections that cut across traditional political, economic, cultural, and geographic boundaries.”? These various connections occur at different levels. Social media, for example, establish new global connections between people, while international groups of non-governmental organizations (NGOs) are networks that connect a more specific group—social workers and activists— from different corners of the globe. In the story, Gio was able to join a Model UN competition because his university was part of an international network. Intensification refers to the expansion, stretching, and acceleration of these networks.? Not only are global connections multiplying, but they are also becoming more closely-knit and expanding their reach. For example, there has always been a strong financial market connecting London and New York. With the advent of electronic trading, however, the volume of that trade increases exponentially, since traders can now trade more at higher speeds. The connection is thus accelerating, Apart from this acceleration, however, as the world becomes more fina ncially integrated, the intensified trading network between London and New York may expand and stretch to cover more and more cities, After China committed itself to the global economy in the 1980s, for example, Shanghai steadily returned to its old role as a major trading post. It is not only in financial matters that you can find these connections. In 2012, when the monsoon rains flooded much of Bangkok, the Honda plant making some of the critical car parts temporarily ceased production. This had a strong negative effect on Honda-USA which relied heavily on the parts being imported from Thailand. Not only was it unable to reach the sales targets it laid out, but the ability of the service centers nationwide to assist Honda owners also suffered. As a result, the Japanese car company’s global profits also fell! The final attribute of this definition relates to the way people Perceive time and space. Steger notes that “globalization processes do not occur mer involve the subjec words, people beg place and distance mouse-click away. and get a reply ins their distance as le also exposed one t this greater sense: Steger posits differentiated wit represents the mi intensification of belief among pc economic marke freedom and den forwarded in mec realize why it is p: For now, wh journalists critic not, criticizing s criticisms are we “globalization” a cannot simply be been integrated, Conclusion: the Ground All this talk Indeed, it may t because it is so | therefore, found a whole. Insteac instead of just or