Subject: Contemporary World (Reporting)

Program: BSLEA 1ABC and BSIT 2ABC

MIDTERMS

Group 1: Chapter 5: Contemporary Global Governance Designs

- Roles and functions of the United Nations
- Challenges of the Global Governance in the 21st century
- State relevance amid Globalization

Today, global governance makes world affairs systematic, secured, and formulaic. Weiss &
Thakur (2014) describe global governance as the totality of norms, laws, policies, and bodies that
define, comprise, and facilitate transnational relations between citizens, states, cultures,
intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations. Rules and norms put everything in
order. Though global governance is rule-based, it has no central authority. However, there are
systems for international relationships that bind the states, people, and society together.
Since the United Nations (UN) has the most number of members among the established global
systems, this section discusses its organs, roles, and functions. UN is composed of six organs.
The General Assembly is the central deliberative and the only organ where all member-states
have equal representation in discussion and consideration, and policymaking. The Security
Council is the organ which has the commitment to preserve peace and security. The Economic
and Social Council is the main organ for cooperation, policy review, policy dialogue, and advice
on social, economic, and environmental issues. The Trusteeship Council is the organ tasked to
administer international oversight for 11 trust territories and to make sure that adequate
procedures are taken for independence and self-government. The International Court of Justice is
UN’s prime judicial organ. The Secretariat is the organ tasked to execute the daily activities as
assigned by the five other organs.

The United Nations was established after the Second World Was with one central mission-to
maintains international peace and security. Currently, with the world being faced with numerous
issues that threaten peace, UN serves as an actor in confronting these. In 1948, UN was
responsible for bringing human rights into the realm of international law through the Universal
Declaration of Human Rights. UN is also a space for its members to manifest their perspectives
through its core organs and committees. The organization has become an instrument for
governments to identify spaces of agreement and resolve problems collectively by enabling the
exchange of opinions between and among its members and by hosting consultations.

Aside from maintaining international peace and security and protecting human rights, UN also
carries the functions of delivering humanitarian aid, promoting sustainable development, and
upholding international law.

The organization utilizes good offices, diplomacy, and meditation. It does peacekeeping
processes in countries with domestic conflicts and peace-building tasks in countries freed from
conflict, lessening the risk of reversing into conflict and setting the groundwork for sustainable
peace and development. It agrees on the global battle for the removal of nuclear weapons and
other instruments of mass destruction. All of these are executed to maintain international peace
and security.

In order to protect human rights, UN scrutinizes situations and issues reported to them and
oversees the exercise of international human rights agreements. It takes responsibility for
reviewing, monitoring, reporting, and commending human rights from a country-based
perspective. It approaches human rights energy within the UN development system and boosts
awareness of the reasons and acts of genocides, warns relevant players where there is a danger of
genocide, promotes, and mobilizes for relevant action. Ultimately, it governs the conceptual,
institutional, political, and operational advancement of the Responsibility to Protect.

In delivering humanitarian aid, UN is responsible for coordinating responses to emergencies and

supports rapid humanitarian response for people affected by natural disasters and armed conflict.

The Millenium Development Goals was set to promote sustainable development. In 2015, this
was changed into the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). These goals are the blueprint to
achieve a better and more sustainable future for all. This collection of 17 global goals covers
social and economic issues including poverty, hunger, health, education, global warming, gender
equality, water sanitation, energy urbanization, environment, and social justice.
In order for international laws to be upheld, UN settles legal disputes referred to it by the
member-states. It also accords advisory opinions on questions that are of legal nature submitted
by legitimate UN organs and particular agencies.

The Security Council’s veto power over resolutions is one of the challenges that UN has been
facing since the organization’s foundation. For example, the UN resolution in December 2017
that required US President Donald Trump to withdraw the recognition of Jerusalem as the capital
city of Israel was vetoed by the United States in the Security Council. In effect, resolution was
not passed. Some states refuse to adopt resolutions and statements especially since the
membership is on voluntary basis. The new government of Lebanon openly defied the Security
Council’s many resolutions on the Israeli-Lebanon conflict. In 2017, the Philippines voted
against a United Nations General Assembly committee draft resolution on the human rights crisis
in Myanmar concerning the Rohingya people. These challenges seem to hinder some of the
functions of UN. Furthermore, Weiss and Thakur (2014), in their article titles, The United
Nations Meet the Twenty-first Century: Confronting UN based on knowledge, norms, policy,
institutions, and compliance:

1. In terms of knowledge, UN is underappreciated regarding how its convening capacity and

mobilizing power are utilized to help funnel and consolidate knowledge from outside and
ensure its discussion and dissemination among governments.
2. The contrasting moral structures of social behaviour in different member-states
complicate the formulation of a normative standard that can be applicable to all.
3. In formulating propositions, problems occur when only the member-states are heard. UN
belittles the helping hand of non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and the global
public opinion. Sometimes, recommendations are not executed.
4. Institutions can also be places where ideas are cornered and left behind. The modality and
processes for enforcing compliance with international norms and laws are not present. In
fact, some UN staff members violate, cheat, and challenge them.
Despite the establishment of global norms and international laws that nation-states should follow,
the nation- states are still relevant for there will be no intergovernmental organization without
them. Also, international and multinational agreements are designed by the states and propelled
by the initiatives that they undertake. As Bertucci & Alberto (2018) affirm, the sovereignty of
nation-states in the midst of globalization has not been diminished for the cooperation and
converted action among nation-states represent the greater exercise of their sovereignty.
Furthermore, the nation-states remain to be active agents of local and transnational realms of
concern.
To conclude, contemporary global governance defines the political scope of globalization.
Cooperation among nation-states is the only way to reform and advance the roles and functions
of interstate relationships despite real challenges being faced by United Nations.

Group 2: Chapter 6: A World of Regions

- North-south divide
- Global South vs. Third World Country
- Global relation in Latin America

LESSON 1: THE GLOBAL DIVIDES: THE NORTH AND THE SOUTH

Since the process of globalization is uneven. It follows that there is an imbalance in the socio-
economic and political categories of the world. The world is divided into north and south and
first, second and third.
The term Global South is a metaphor interstate inequality and a product of western imagination
(Claudio 2014). Countries that were colonized by the Spaniards in the southern part of American
continent are collectively called Latin America.
The Global south is also found in developed countries. Economically poor families,
underprivileged individuals, unfair labor practices and suppression of human rights and other
violations of basic rights in Europe.
Global South refers to the socio economic and political divide primarily focused on the southern
hemisphere of the 1569 mercatorian map. It consist of Africa, Latin America and Asia including
the Middle East. The Global south also connotes developing countries as opposed to rich,
industrialized and wealthy nation.
Global North refers to developed societies of Europe and North America, which characterized by
established democracy, wealth, technological advancement, political stability, aging population,
zero population growth and dominance of world trade and politics.

Also the Global North is the home of all members of the Group of eight.
- Canada
- France
- Germany
 - Italy
- Japan
- United Kingdom
- Russia
- America

It is also the abode of the four powerful permanent members of the United Nations Security
Council. It also to the developed countries in Asia, Australia and New Zealand.
By now, one can say that the terms Global South and Third World are conceptually the same.
They both refer to the conditions usually found in developing country. Countries who are in
developing stage will surely be called third world countries. The Philippines is considered third
word for it was colonized by European country. But the term Third World is the antecedent of
Global South (Claudio 2014). Arguably, the term Third World ceased to exist when the cold war
ended.

Second World Country it is term used during the cold war for the industrial socialist states under
the influence of soviet unions.
First World Country have a stable democracies and are characterized by the rule of law, a
capitalist economy and a high standard of living.

Group 3: Chapter 7: Asian regionalism

- Regionalism vs. Globalization
- Integration of Asian Region
- Challenges on Regionalization and Globalization in Asia

LESSON 2: ASIAN REGIONALISM

Governments, associations, societies and groups form regional organizations and/or networks as
a way of coping with challenges of globalization. Globalization has made people aware of the
world in general.

Edward D. Mansfield and Helen V. Miller state that economic and political definitions of regions
vary but there are certain basic features that everyone can agree on. First, regions are “a group of
countries located in the same geographical specified area”. Second, the words regionalization
and regionalism should not be interchanged, as the former refers to the “regional concentration
of economic flows” while the latter is a “political process characterized by economic policy
cooperation and coordination among countries”.
What makes Asian nations stronger than ever is the establishment of collaborations and
cooperation based on respect. For one, the ASEAN, as a regional bloc, pays full respect for
sovereignty and independence of its members through consensus and consultation
(Eliassen&Arnadottir, 2012)

In this light, Globalization, regionalization and regionalism are compared. The terms
regionalization and globalization are both related to integration. As defined in module 1,
globalization is the expansion and intensification of social relations and consciousness across
word-time and world space.
Regionalization, on the other hand is “the growth of societal integration within a region and to
the often undirected processes of social and economic interaction” (Hurrel 1995). In terms of
scope it is very clear that globalization is borderless. It happens around the world while
regionalization happens only in a specific geographical region.
Regionalism refers to regional concentration of economic flows while regionalization refers to a
political process by economic policy if cooperation and coordination are present among countries
(Mansfield & Wilmer, 1993). Regionalism also pertains to the process of intergovernmental
collaborations between two or more states (Eliassen&Arnadotir, 2012).

Asian regionalism is a new concept among the continental communities. The ASEAN
community is comprised of three pillars.
-Political Security Community
-Economic Community
-Socio-cultural Community
ASEAN has also partnered with three East Asian Countries
-China, Japan and South Korea It is called ASEAN +3

Aspects that lead to a greater Asian Integration First, Integration has been market driven
Second, formal institutions such as Asian Development Bank were established.
Third, economic grants and overseas development assistance are made available by better Asian
Economies. Fourth, production networks have expanded.
Fifth, cooperation among the ASEAN and East Asian countries
Lastly, if EU is a rules-based, ASEAN follows a consensus rule as an approach to decision
making.
In facing the challenges brought about by globalization. Asian countries have responded with
regional alternatives as big group, small group and local communities.

Group 4: Chapter 8: Global Media Cultures

- Evolution of Media and Globalization
- Cultural Globalization Processes
- Globalization of Culture and Media
- Cultural Demography

Lesson 1: GLOBAL CULTURE AND MEDIA

Culture refers to the unified style of human knowledge, beliefs, and behaviour from which
people learn, and the ability to communicate knowledge to the next generations.
Its development has been mainly influenced by media.
It is a carrier of culture. It is a tool for the interaction of people with different cultures.
Stages of Media and Cultural Globalization
Oral Communication
• Language allowed humans to cooperate.
• It allowed the sharing of information.
• Oral communication led to markets, trade and cross-continental trade.
• It also allowed the spread of religious teachings.

Script
• Distance became a strain for oral communication.
• Script allowed humans to communicate over a larger space and much longer times.
• It allowed the written and permanent codification of international economic, cultural,
religious and political practice.
Printing press
• There was a continuous production, reproduction and circulation of reading materials.
 • Written document was mass produced that anyone can access the information that they
want to know.
• Reading history books of the world allowed the exchange of culture and traditions.

Electronic media
• Characterized by its use of electricity.
• Electronic media includes the telegraph, telephone, radio, film, and television.
• The wide reach of these media continues to open up new perspectives in the economic,
political, and cultural processes of globalization.
Digital media
• Relies on digital codes. It can be created, modified, and stored in any digital electronic
device. Digitalized content is transmitted over the internet and computer networks.
• In politics, election campaign has a wider reach.
• In economics, it allows promotions of products and online shopping.

Pieterse (2004) asserts that the only outcomes of the influence of globalization on culture are
cultural differentialism, cultural convergence, and cultural hybridity

CULTURAL DIFFERENTIALISM
Cultural difference as immutable. As the West and non-Western civilizations interact or are
brought in contact through globalization, clash of civilizations such as that of the West and Islam
logically follows.
CULTURAL CONVERGENCE
Suggest that globalization engenders a growing sameness of cultures. However, the culture of
powerful and progressive countries becomes culture.
Ex. K-pop culture. Some teenage Filipinos prefer to dress up like their South Korean idols. A lot
of them also joined fan clubs in support of Koreanovelas, Korean boybands, among others.
Many Filipino music bands are influenced by jazz and the reggae music of the West.

Cultural Hybridity
Globalization spawns an increasing and ongoing mixing of cultures.
Ex. Chabacano, a Spanish-based creole language of the Zamboanga City and of some parts of
Cavite, which exemplifies hybridity in language prompted by the merging of two cultures.
This trend will further bring about new cultural forms, not only in language but also in food,
fashion, arts, music among others.
GLOCALIZATION
Coined from globalization and localization, new concept brought about by the increased
frequency of contact among cultures. This reinforces the fact that local cultures are not weak,
static, or fixed; they are built and understood a new each day in globalized world (Lule, 2014).
Local cultures continue to accommodate and assimilate cultures of the world due to
globalization.