CHAPTER 1 - INTRODUCTION TO GLOBALIZATION

Lesson Overview

This module provides an overview and understanding of the contemporary world which is characterized
by globalization. Although the world has attempted to globalize since the 19th Century, the term has never
become a buzzword throughout the world until the discovery and development of the internet during the 1970s.
Nowadays, globalization has been integrated into the daily lives of the people. Because of this, as a student it is
significant to understand the various drivers of the globalization process. Academic literature describes it as a
process, a condition, a system, a force, and an age. It is important not only to understand but to live, to imbibe
and to overcome the challenges of globalization.

At the completion of this module, you will be expected to develop a personal concept of globalization.

QUESTIONS FOR STUDENTS:

1. What is globalization?
2. How do you experience globalization?
3. Why is it important to understand the structure of the contemporary world?

Introduction

Much has changed since time immemorial. Human beings have encountered many changes over the last century
especially in their social relationships and social structures. Of these changes, one can say that globalization is a
very important change, if not, the "most important" (Bauman, 2003). The reality and omnipresence of
globalization makes us see ourselves as part of what we refer to as the "global age" (Albrow, 1996). The
Internet, for example, allows a person from the Philippines to know what is happening to the rest of the world
simply by browsing Google. The mass media also allows for connections among people, communities, and
countries all over the globe.

So, what is globalization? This question is probably an easy one to answer. However, many scholars gave
and tried to formulate its definitions. This resulted in different, sometimes contradicting views about the
concept. It cannot be contained within a specific time frame, all people, and all situations (Al-Rhodan, 2006).
Aside from this, globalization encompasses a multitude of processes that involves the economy, political
systems, and culture. Social structures, therefore, are directly affected by globalization.

Over the years, globalization has gained many connotations pertaining to progress, development, and
integration. On the one hand, some view globalization as a positive phenomenon. For instance, Swedish
journalist Thomas Larson (2001) saw globalization as "the process of world shrinkage, of distances getting
shorter, things moving closer. It pertains to the increasing ease with which somebody on one side of the world
can interact, to mutual benefit with somebody on the other side of the world" (p. 9). On the other hand, some
see it as occurring through and with regression, colonialism, and destabilization. In the mid-19905, Martin Khor,
the former president of Third World Network (TWN) in Malaysia, once regarded globalization as colonization.

In this chapter, different definitions of globalization will be discussed. The task of conceptualizing it
reveals a variety of perspectives. To understand further the concept, different metaphors will be used. These
metaphors will also allow an appreciation of earlier epochs before globalization and the present globalized
world. The final lesson in this chapter will be devoted to a general discussion of globalization theories. The
following section will highlight the different views scholars have toward globalization.

The Task of Defining Globalization

Since its first appearance in the Webster's Dictionary in 1961, many opinions about globalization
have flourished. The literature on the definitions of globalization revealed that definitions could be classified
as either (1) broad and inclusive or (2) narrow and exclusive. The one offered by Ohmae in 1992 stated, ...
globalization means the onset of the borderless world..." (P. 14). This is an example of a broad and inclusive
type of definition. If one uses such, it can include a variety of issues that deal with overcoming traditional
boundaries. However, it does not shed light on the implications of globalization due to its vagueness.
 Narrow and exclusive definitions are better justified but can be limiting, in the sense that their
application adhere to only particular definitions. Robert Cox's definition suits best in this type: "the
characteristics of the globalization trend include the internationalizing of production, the new international
division of labor, new migratory movements from South to North, the new competitive environment that
accelerates these processes, and the internationalizing of the state... making states into agencies of the
globalizing world" (as cited in RAWOO Netherlands Development Assistance Research Council, 2000, p.
14). Other definitions of globalization are shown in chronological order in the Appendix. Each could fall to
either one of the two types of definitions.
No matter how one classifies a definition of globalization, the concept is complex and multifaceted
as the definitions deal with either economic, political, or social dimensions. In fact, in a comprehensive study
of 114 definitions by the Geneva Center for Security Policy (GCSP) in 2006, 67 of them refer to economic
dimension. These definitions include political and social dimensions as well The sheer number and
complexity of definitions do not mean that there is a remarkable improvement in every definition given by
scholars. Kumar (2003) took on a different argument about the issue. To him, the debate about what can be
done about globalization and what it is are similar. This is in relation to what some academics have claimed
about defining globalization- it is a useless task.
A more recent definition was given by Ritzer (2015), "globalization is a transplanetary process or a
set of processes involving increasing liquidity and the growing multidirectional flows of people, objects,
places, and information as well as the structures they encounter and create that are barriers to, or expedite,
those flows..." (p. 2). Generally, this definition assumes that globalization could bring either or both
integration and/or fragmentation. Although things flow easily in a global world, hindrances or structural
blocks are also present. These blocks could slow down one's activity in another country or could even limit
the places a person can visit.
If so, why are we going to spend time studying this concept? How can we appreciate these
definitions? How can these help us understand globalization?
First, the perspective of the person who defines globalization shapes its definition. The overview of
definitions implies that globalization is many things to many different people. In 1996, Arjun Appadurai
said, "globalization is a 'world of things' that have 'different speeds, axes, points of origin and termination,
and varied relationships to institutional structures in different regions, nations, or societies'" (as cited in
Chowdhury, 2006, p. 137). In a more recent study, Al-Rhodan (2006) wrote that definitions suggest the
perspective of the author on the origins and the geopolitical implications of globalization. It is a starting point
that will guide the rest of any discussions. In effect, one's definition and perspective could determine
concrete steps in addressing the issues of globalization. For example, if one sees globalization as positive, the
person can say that it is a unifying force. On the other hand, if it is deemed as creating greater inequalities
among nations, globalization is negatively treated.
Second, to paraphrase the sociologist Cesare Poppi: Globalization is the debate and the debate is
globalization. One became part and parcel of the other. As Poppi (1997) wrote: "The literature stemming
from the debate on globalization has grown in the last decade beyond any individual's capability of
extracting a workable definition of the concept. In a sense, the meaning of the concept is self-evident, in
another, it is vague and obscure as its reaches are wide and constantly shifting. Perhaps, more than any other
concept, globalization is the debate about it" (as cited in Kumar, 2003, p. 95).
Third, globalization is a reality. It is changing as human society develops. It has happened before and
is still happening today. We should expect it to continue to happen in the future. The future of globalization
is more difficult to predict. What we could expect in the coming years is what has happened over the past 50
years and that is the fluidity and complexity of globalization as a concept, which made more debates,
discussions, and definitions than agreements on it.
Overall, globalization is a concept that is not easy to define because in reality, globalization has a
shifting nature. It is complex, multifaceted, and can be influenced by the people who define it. Moreover, the
issues and concerns involving globalization have a wide range from the individual to society, from small
communities to nations and states, and from the benefits we can gain from so the costs it could carry. In his
article, "The Globalization of Nothing" Ritzer (2003) said, "attitudes toward globalization depend, among
other things, on whether one gains or losses from it" (P. 190). Nevertheless, the task of defining globalization
should stimulate more discussions about it. More importantly, the fact that we experience globalization
should give one the interest of engaging in the study of it.
Metaphors of Globalization
In order for us to better understand the concept of globalization, we will utilize metaphors.
Metaphors make use of one term to help us better understand another term. In our case, the states of matter-
solid and liquid--will be used. In addition, other related concepts that are included in the definition such as
structures and flows will be elaborated.
Solid and Liquid
The epochs that preceded today's globalization paved way for people, things, information, and places to
harden over time. Consequently, they have limited mobility (Ritzer, 2015). The social relationships and
objects remained where they were created. Solidity also refers to barriers that prevent or make difficult the
movement of things. Furthermore, solids can either be natural or man-made. Examples of natural solids are
landforms and bodies of water. Man-made barriers include the Great Wall of China and the Berlin Wall. An
imaginary line such as the nine-dash line used by the People's Republic of China in their claim to the South
China Sea is an example of modern man-made solid. This creates limited access of Filipino fishers to the
South China Sea. Obviously, these examples still exist. However, they have the tendency to melt. This
should not be taken literally, like an iceberg melting. Instead, this process involves How we can describe
what is happening in today's global world. It is becoming increasingly liquid.
Liquid, as a state of matter, takes the shape of its container. Moreover, liquids are not fixed.
Liquidity, therefore, refers to the increasing ease of movement of people, things, information, and places in
the contemporary world. Zygmunt Bauman's ideas were the ones that have much to say about the
characteristic of liquidity. First, today's liquid phenomena change quickly and their aspects, spatial and
temporal, are in continuous fluctuation. This means that space and time are crucial elements of globalization.
In global finance, for instance, changes in the stock market are a matter of seconds. Another characteristic of
liquid phenomena is that their movement is difficult to stop. For example, videos uploaded on YouTube or
Facebook are unstoppable once they become viral. The so-called Internet sensations become famous not only
in their homeland but also to the entire world. Finally, the forces (the liquid ones) made political boundaries
more permeable to the flow of people and things (Cartier, 2001). This brings us to what Ritzer (2015, p. 6)
regarded as the most important characteristic of liquid: it "tends to melt whatever stands in its path
(especially solids)." The clearest example is the decline, if not death, of the nation-state.
Liquidity and solidity are in constant interaction. However, liquidity is the one increasing and
proliferating today. Therefore, the metaphor that could best describe globalization is liquidity. Liquids do
flow and this idea of flow (Appadurai, 1996; Rey and Ritzer, 2010) will be the focus of the next discussion.
Also, it should be expected that this concept will appear in the succeeding lessons. The literature on
globalization makes use of the concept of flows.
Flows
The previous section described the melting process of solid phenomena followed by the increase in
liquidity. It is only logical to discuss the flows of liquid phenomena. Flows are the movement of people,
things, places, and information brought by the growing "porosity" of global limitations (Ritzer, 2015). Think
of the different foreign cuisines being patronized and consumed by the Filipinos. Aside from local dishes,
many of us are fond of eating sushi, ramen, hamburger, and French fries-_foods introduced to us by foreign
cultures. Clearly, foods are being globalized. Another example of flows is global financial crises. As Landler
(2008, p. C1) put it: "In global financial system, national borders are porous." This means that a financial
crisis in a given country can bring ramifications to other regions of the world. An example of which is the
spread of the effects of American financial crisis on Europe in 2008. The following are other kinds of flows
that can be observed today: poor illegal migrants flooding many parts of the world (Moses, 2006), the virtual
flow of legal and illegal information such as blogs and child pornography, respectively, and immigrants
recreating ethnic enclaves in host countries. A concrete example is the Filipino communities abroad and the
Chinese communities in the Philippines.
1. What are the advantages and disadvantages of using (a) broad and inclusive definitions and (b)
narrow and exclusive definitions of globalization?
2. What do you think is the importance of defining globalization?
3. Do you agree with the idea that the contemporary world is characterized by high liquidity? Why or
why not?

Activity: The World Made Closer

 We discussed the different definitions of globalization. In this global age that we live in,
globalization gained various views from many authors and scholars. In turn, these diverse definitions can
affect how one can appreciate globalization as a process. Furthermore, we analyzed globalization through
conceptual metaphors such as solids, liquids, and flows.
In this activity, you are to see the actual application of globalization on the different aspects of daily
life such as politics, music, sports, film, celebrity, and disaster.
1. Answer the following questions:
a. Enumerate at least three of the most recent songs you have listened. Where did they originate?
Identify the nationality of the writer and/or artist for each music.
b. What gadgets or devices do you usually use to listen to music?
c. Where were these gadgets or devices made? Where is the company based?
d. How did you access this music? Did you purchase them online or listen to them through YouTube,
Spotify, and other music channels?
2. Using a visual representation, create your generalizations and discuss: What is globalization? How
would you define globalization?
3. What metaphors are you going to use in order to improve your own definition of globalization?
Enumerate at least three and explain one of them.