Republic of the Philippines

Commission on Higher Education

OAS COMMUNITY COLLEGE
Oas, Albay

MODULE 1: Introduction to Globalization

SUBJECT CODE: GE 4

SUBJECT TITLE: The Contemporary World

MODULE TITLE: Concepts of Globalization

MODULE DESCRIPTION:

This module introduces the learners to the concepts and various definitions of globalization as a
process, condition, and ideology. It also exposes the learners to the academic and non-biased definition
of globalization based on political scientists, economists, and culture and communication experts.

This section introduces the learners to the concepts of globalization as a process, condition and
ideology. It also explores the political scientists’, economists’ and culture and communication experts’
definition of globalization.

This course introduces the students to the contemporary world by examining the multifaceted
phenomenon of globalization. Using the various disciplines of the social sciences, it examines the
economic, social, political, technological, and other transformations that have created an increasing
awareness of the interconnectedness of peoples and places around the globe. To this end, the course
provides an overview of the various debates in global governance, development, and sustainability.
Beyond exposing the students to the world outside the Philippines, it seeks to inculcate a sense of global
citizenship and global ethical responsibility.

EXPECTED OUTCOME/ OBJECTIVES: At the end of this module, you are expected to:

1. Examine the various conceptions of globalization;

2. Distinguish the different definitions of globalization from experts
3. Adopt a working definition of globalization.

PRE- TEST

Instructions: Write Agree if you think the statement is correct; otherwise, write Disagree.

__________ 1. Globalization is I and the world.

__________ 2. The world that we live in now is a product of globalization in the past.
__________ 3. The United Nations is a global government.

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MARY R. GAMBOA
OCC Instructor
 Republic of the Philippines
Commission on Higher Education
OAS COMMUNITY COLLEGE
Oas, Albay

__________ 4. The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) is a product of globalization.

__________ 5. Globalization is a system of ideas, beliefs, norms, values and ideals that are accepted as
truth by some groups of people.

LESSON CONTENT

Filipinos lives are, in one way or another, affected by global economic imperialism or a situation in which
one nation assumes economic power or influence over the others. Clearly, this is the age of
“Westernization” and/ or “Americanization of contemporary Filipinos, that is Filipinos adopt ideas and
behavior that are characteristics of the West and of the North America while relegating the ideas and
behavior traditional in their culture. Filipinos have become alien to Filipino products. The internet has also
made the world smaller and communication faster. As a result, the consumption of Western ideas and
adoption of behavior have become rapid and widespread.

VARIOUS CONCEPTIONS OF GLOBALIZATION AND ITS DIFFERENT DEFINITIONS FROM EXPERTS

EXPERTS/ DEFINITION
CONCEPTS
SCHOLARS
Reich (1998) says that it is a term whose meaning is obscure.
Schottle (1995) states that “globalization stands for quite a large public
spread across the world as one of the defining terms of the
20th century social consciousness. The term is often
distinguished more by what it is not, rather than by what it
is.
Globalization
is a Rosenau (1996) recognizes such a tendency when he states that
phenomenon. Globalization is not the same as Globalism, which points our
It is aspirations for an end state of affairs wherein values are
something shared by or pertinent to all the world’s five billion people,
that is their environment, their roles as citizen, consumers and
difficult to producers with an interest in collective action designed to
understand. solve common problems. Nor it is universalism- values that
embrace all humanity.

McGrew (1990) globalization is described as something that is comprised of

multiple sameness and interconnectedness that go beyond
the nation-states. It is a process in which individuals and
organizations in one part of the globe.

2|P a g e
MARY R. GAMBOA
OCC Instructor
 Republic of the Philippines
Commission on Higher Education
OAS COMMUNITY COLLEGE
Oas, Albay

Cerny(1997) defines it as a cluster of economic and political frameworks

and procedures deriving from the changing marks of the
interests and assets that comprise the foundation of the
international political economy- specifically, the expanding
structural differences of those interests and assets
Freeden (2003) Globalization denotes a range of processes nesting under
one rather unwieldy epithet. In part, its conceptual difficulty
to handle or control arises from the fact that global flow
On the first occur in different physical and mental dimensions
decade of the Appadurai Proposed five dimensions of global cultural flow namely:
21st century, (1996) ➢ Ethnoscapes
some scholars ➢ Technoscapes
argued that ➢ Mediascapes
globalization ➢ Financescapes
is a process ➢ Ideoscapes
These landscapes are created due to movements of people,
technologies, information through media, money,
commodities and political ideas.
Steger (2005 & The term globalization should be limited to a set of intricate
2014a) social processes that modify prevailing social statuses based
on the modern regime of self-dependent nation-states
Globalization Steger (2005) Uses the term globality to mean globalization as a condition.
as a condition For him, globality denotes “future social condition
characterized by thick economic, political and cultural
interconnections and global flows that make currently
existing political borders and economic barriers irrelevant
Gerring (1997) For some, ideology is dogmatic while for others, it connotes
political sophistication. Ideology may also refer to the
dominant mode of thoughts
Steger 2014b • Defines ideology as a system of widely shared ideas,
patterned beliefs, guiding norms and values and
ideals accepted as truth by some groups.
• An ideology is defined by core claims. Since
Globalization
globalization has core claims, hence, it is an ideology.
as an
• He uses the term globalism to mean globalization as
ideology
an ideology
• He identifies five core claims of Globalism.
1. Globalism is about the liberalization and global
integration of markets
2. Globalization is inevitable and irreversible
3. Nobody is in-charge of globalization
4. Globalization benefits everyone

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MARY R. GAMBOA
OCC Instructor
 Republic of the Philippines
Commission on Higher Education
OAS COMMUNITY COLLEGE
Oas, Albay

5. Globalization furthers the spread of democracy

in the world
Giensen &Pijl ( For a political scientist globalization serves as a challenge to
2006) nation-states. The strengthening of regional blocks like EU,
ASEAN and UN is gaining a stable ground. Similarly, the
emergence of global political norms is evident.
Trivett, (2011) There is the emergence of global corporations. Some of them
prefer to go to countries where they can earn more with the
least cost.
For an Globalization means increase of free trade, speed of trade,
Globalization economist global economic organization and regional trade blocks
defined For Globalization refers to the concept of the global village.
depending on communication Through globalization, the world has become a borderless
expertise, experts world. Communication technology makes the world shrink.
experience Closer contact between different parts of the world, with
and increasing possibilities of personal exchange, mutual
perspective understanding and friendship between "world citizens"
McLuhan Believes that media has connected the world in ways that
(1964) created a global village. Global village was McLuhan’s ideal in
the 1960’s that has become a reality during the latter part of
the century
For culture Globalization is referred to as cultural imperialism. It is the
experts conviction that there is a “better” culture. Some cultures see
other cultures as superior to theirs, forming inferior or
nondominant cultures

From the various competing conceptions of globalization, there is a need to come up with a working
definition and one objective working definition is that of Steger’s (2013):

“Globalization refers to the expansion and intensification of social relations and consciousness across
world-time a and world-space.”

From this definition, FOUR ATTRIBUTES OF GLOBALIZATION can be drawn.

1. Globalization has various forms of connectivity such that it can be economic, political or cultural.
• These forms, enabled by various factors, pressures or media, affect different degrees or
interconnection.
2. Globalization allows for the expansion and stretching of social relations.
• These can be observed in the existence of NGOs that operate in local, regional and
international setting.
3. Globalization intensifies and accelerates social exchanges and activities.
• Live telecast and the shift from snail mail to email and social media are proofs of this
attribute.
4. Globalization occurs worldwide.

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MARY R. GAMBOA
OCC Instructor
 Republic of the Philippines
Commission on Higher Education
OAS COMMUNITY COLLEGE
Oas, Albay

• Every person is a global citizen because he or she thinks about the issues of the world.

Globalization can be:

1. Cultural
2. Economic
3. Political
4. Social
5. Industrial
6. Technological
7. Ecological
8. Geographical

Cultural globalization
is the transmission of ideas, meanings, and values around the world in such a way as to extend and
intensify social relations. This process is marked by the common consumption of cultures that have been
diffused by the Internet, popular culture media, and international travel.

Economic globalization
refers to the increasing interdependence of world economies as a result of growing scale of cross-
border trade of commodities and services, flow of international capital and wide and rapid spread of
technologies (Shangquan, 2000).

Industrial Globalization
Every country in the world is moving towards specialization. Specialization may be referred to as the
phenomenon of producing only that product in which the country has competitive advantage in
terms of cost. For example, Singapore specializes in pharmaceutical while the US specializes in military
equipment. Therefore, the countries exchange their industrial products, which is known as trade, and
fulfill the requirements of their people. Every country of the world today is involved in trade and is
depended on some other country one way or the other. The US is the biggest economy in the world and
even that is depended on other countries for many of its needs. Hence the industries of the world today
are considered to be working not for their native countries but for the world as a whole.

Financial Globalization
It may be defined as the emergence of worldwide financial markets and better access to external financing
for corporate, national and sub-national borrowers. Some projects in the Philippines were sponsored by
foreign investors. They may be in the form of international organizations or independent investors. The
IMF and the World Bank today give funds to various countries for developmental projects. We may say,
that today the financial markets of the world have untied in such a way that finances are easily available
throughout the world.

Informational Globalization
This aspect of Globalization has perhaps had the greatest impact on the world today. Sitting at one end of
the world, you can have access to the information available in any other part of the world with just the
push of a button. Internet, television, telephone, fax, etc. are some of the inventions that may be
5|P a g e
MARY R. GAMBOA
OCC Instructor
 Republic of the Philippines
Commission on Higher Education
OAS COMMUNITY COLLEGE
Oas, Albay

considered as a part of the informational Globalization process where the information flow has
dramatically increased between geographically remote areas of the world.

Social globalization
refers to the sharing of ideas and information between and through different countries. In today’s
world, the Internet and social media is at the heart of this. Good examples of social globalization could
include internationally popular films, books and TV series. The Harry Potter/ Twilight films and books have
been successful all over the world, making the characters featured globally recognizable. However, this
cultural flow tends to flow from the center (i.e. from developed countries such as the USA to less
developed countries). Social globalization is often criticized for eroding cultural differences.

Ecological globalization.
The effects of globalization in the ecology are still not completely identified, though some studies suggest
that the process of globalization has many consequences in our ecology.

Globalization and the Politics.

Through globalization, political issues such as the rights of women and children are now currently
discussed, many laws are now already implemented regarding the issues on the rights of women and
children.

Globalization with technology.

Technology really plays a huge part in the life of every individual. Also through the advancement of
technology we can now already communicate with others despite the distance that separate us. And
through our technology today, the process of globalization is now taking place much faster.

Geographical.
Globalization is moving towards the trend of a borderless world. We can now explore different countries
without having any dangers.

NATURES OF GLOBALIZATION

1.Liberalization:
It stands for the freedom of the entrepreneurs to establish any industry or trade or business venture,
within their own countries or abroad.

2. Free trade:
It stands for free flow of trade relations among all the nations. Each state grants MFN (most favored
nation) status to other states and keeps its business and trade away from excessive and hard regulatory
and protective regimes.

3.Globalization of Economic Activity:

Economic activities are be governed both by the domestic market and also the world market. It stands
for the process of integrating the domestic economy with world economies.
6|P a g e
MARY R. GAMBOA
OCC Instructor
 Republic of the Philippines
Commission on Higher Education
OAS COMMUNITY COLLEGE
Oas, Albay

4.Liberalization of Import-Export System:

It stands for liberating the import- export activity and securing a free flow of goods and services across
borders.

5.Privatization:
Keeping the state away from ownership of means of production and distribution and letting the free flow
of industrial, trade and economic activity across borders.

6.Increased Collaborations:
Encouraging the process of collaborations among the entrepreneurs with a view to secure rapid
modernization, development and technological advancement.

7.Economic Reforms:
Encouraging fiscal and financial reforms with a view to give strength to free world trade, free enterprise,
and market forces.

Globalization accepts and advocates the value of free world trade, freedom of access to world markets
and a free flow of investments across borders. It stands for integration and democratization of the
world’s culture, economy and infrastructure through global investments.

SIGNS OF GLOBALIZATION

➢ Increase in international trade at a faster rate than the growth in the world economy.
➢ Increase in international flow of capital including foreign direct investment.
➢ Greater transborder data flow, using such technologies such as the Internet, communication
satellites and telephones.
➢ Greater international cultural exchange, for example through the export of Hollywood and
Bollywood movies.
➢ Terrorism. Terrorists now have attacked places all over the world.
➢ Multiculturalism. Spreading of multiculturalism and better individual access to cultural diversity,
with on the other hand, some reduction in diversity through assimilation, hybridization,
Westernization, Americanization or Sinosization of cultures.
➢ Erosion of national sovereignty and national borders through international agreements leading to
organizations like the WTO and OPEC.
➢ Greater international travel and tourism
➢ Greater immigration, including illegal immigration
➢ Development of global telecommunications infrastructure
➢ Development of a global financial systems
➢ Increase in the share of the world economy controlled by multinational corporations
➢ Increased role of international organizations such as WTO, WIPO, IMF that deal with international
transactions
➢ Increase in the number of standards applied globally; e.g. copyright laws
7|P a g e
MARY R. GAMBOA
OCC Instructor
 Republic of the Philippines
Commission on Higher Education
OAS COMMUNITY COLLEGE
Oas, Albay

ADVANTAGES OF GLOBALIZATION

Peaceful Relations
Most of the countries have resorted to trade relations with each other in order to boost their economy,
leaving behind any bitter past experiences if any.

Employment
Considered as one of the most crucial advantages, globalization has led to the generation of numerous
employment opportunities. Companies are moving towards the developing countries to acquire labor
force.

Education
A very critical advantage that has aided the population is the spread of education. With numerous
educational institutions around the globe, one can move out from the home country for better
opportunities elsewhere.

Product Quality
The product quality has been enhanced so as to retain the customers. Today the customers may
compromise with the price range but not with the quality of the product. Low or poor quality can adversely
affect consumer satisfaction.

Cheaper Prices
Globalization has brought in fierce competition in the markets.

Communication
Every single information is easily accessible from almost every corner of the world circulation of
information is no longer a tedious task, and can happen in seconds. The Internet has significantly affected
the global economy, thereby providing direct access to information and products.

Transportation
Considered as the wheel of every business organization, connectivity to various parts of the world
is no more a serious problem. Today with various modes of transportation available, one can
conveniently deliver the products to a customer located at any part of the world.

GDP Increase
Gross Domestic Product, commonly known as GDP, is the money value of the final goods and services
produced within the domestic territory of the country during an accounting year.

Free Trade
Free trade is a policy in which a country does not levy taxes, duties, subsidies or quota on the
import/export of goods or services from other countries. There are countries which have resolved to free
trade in specific regions. This allows consumers to buy goods and services, comparatively at a lower cost.

8|P a g e
MARY R. GAMBOA
OCC Instructor
 Republic of the Philippines
Commission on Higher Education
OAS COMMUNITY COLLEGE
Oas, Albay

Travel and Tourism

Globalization has promoted tourism to great heights. International trade among different countries also
helps in increasing the number of tourists that visit different places around the world.

External Borrowing
With the help of globalization, there is opportunity for corporate, national, and sub-national borrowers
to have better access to external finance, with facilities such as external commercial borrowing and
syndicated loans.

DISADVANTAGES OF GLOBALIZATION

Health Issues.
Globalization has given rise to more health risks and presents new threats and challenges for epidemics.
The dawn of HIV/AIDS. Having its origin in the wilderness of Africa, the virus has spread like wildfire
throughout the globe in no time. Food items are also transported to various countries, and this is a matter
of concern, especially in case of perishable items.

Loss of Culture.
With large number of people moving into and out of a country, the culture takes a backseat. People may
adapt to the culture of the resident country. They tend to follow the foreign culture more, forgetting their
own roots. This can give rise to cultural conflicts.

Uneven Wealth Distribution.

It is said that the rich are getting richer while the poor are getting poorer. In the real sense, globalization
has not been able to reduce poverty.

Environment Degradation.
The industrial revolution has changed the outlook of the economy. Industries are using natural resources
by means of mining, drilling, etc. which puts a burden on the environment.

Disparity.
Though globalization has opened new avenues like wider markets and employment, there still exists a
disparity in the development of the economies. Structural unemployment owes to the disparity created.
Developed countries are moving their factories to foreign countries where labor is cheaply available.

Conflicts.
It has given rise to terrorism and other forms of violence. Such acts not only cause loss of human life but
also huge economic losses.

Cut-throat Competition.
Opening the doors of international trade has given birth to intense competition. This has affected the
local markets dramatically. The local players thereby suffer huge losses as they lack the potential to
advertise or export their products on a large scale. Therefore, the domestic markets shrink.
9|P a g e
MARY R. GAMBOA
OCC Instructor
 Republic of the Philippines
Commission on Higher Education
OAS COMMUNITY COLLEGE
Oas, Albay

GLOBALIZATION IN THE PHILIPPINES

The country is taking part in the process of globalization ever since the country signed
agreements with World Trade Organization in 1995. Now, globalization is very effective in the Philippines,
it has allowed major changes in the nation like more labor, and more Filipino and foreign companies has
emerged in the nation in order to help the country’s developing economy. Globalization can make the
Philippines into a better nation if the Philippine leaders to make their economy more advance through
global trading and allowing more foreign investors to the help boost the economy. And by accomplishing
those goals, the Philippines should be able to reduce the poverty level as well as increase labor force for
job opportunities for those that are in need for a living. However, since the poverty level is still increasing,
most Filipinos has managed to find work overseas and they have managed to seek better living than in
the Philippines. The most effective factor in the Philippines is education. The society’s mentality is to be
educated and it’s with education that people in the nation see their opportunity for a better life in the
future.

Qualities and Characteristics of Globalization

Creation and Multiplication

involves creation of new and multiplication of existing social networks and cultural activities thus,
breaking the traditional norms and practices in the political, economic, and cultural realms of most
communities.

Expansion and Stretching

globalization is very evident in the expansion and stretching of social operations and connections, on how
the financial markets and trading operate around the globe like the (WTO) World Trade Organization,
ASEAN Economic Community, World Economic Forum and European Union brought to the expansion of
local economies through opening their economies to the other parts of the world.

Consciousness and Awareness

Globalization involves the human consciousness and awareness. People, as the primary actors of
globalization are the frontliners as reflected in their experiences. The human consciousness is critical on
how they impact the growing outcomes and markers of globalization. Their daily actions such as global
interdependence provide large-scale implications to the norms and practices of the borderless world.

SUMMARY

Globalization helps us in various ways such as it INCREASES COMPETITIONS between the markets having
them to improve the quality of products that they are selling. It also provides new jobs and it INCREASES
THE EMPLOYMENT RATE. Moreover, it also SPREADS THE KNOWLEDGE OF NEW INVENTIONS and
it helps in the SPREAD OF EDUCATION too. Without globalization we will not be able to be in our
10 | P a g e
MARY R. GAMBOA
OCC Instructor
 Republic of the Philippines
Commission on Higher Education
OAS COMMUNITY COLLEGE
Oas, Albay

current states nowadays. However, despite these positive effects, we still cannot deny the fact that there
will always be a negative impact of globalization.

One of the negative impacts of globalization is the ENVIRONMENTAL DEGREDATION where in the
environment is being ruined because the amount of raw materials needed to run industries and factories
is taking toll on the natural reserves of the planet earth.

Also, there is a growing GAP BETWEEN THE RICH AND THE POOR because the rich are getting richer
while the poor are struggling for a square meal and they are getting poorer and poorer every day.
Furthermore, it is also the reason why there is a RISE IN HEALTH RISKS because globalization bought
people from various countries together which makes it easier to transport viruses from one country to
the other. It is indeed that a globalization is a blessing and a curse at some point.

Globalization will always be there and it will never stop. It is only up to us how we will handle and take it.
Let us be flexible and open minded to the things that are coming to us but let us not forget to be cautious
because not everything we think are good is always good, because at the end of the day there will always
be an effect that we will never forget. ALWAYS REMEMBER THAT GLOBALIZATION IS FULL OF
OPPORTUNITIES AND THREATS.

Activity:

Go to your room and do an inventory of everything you have in your possession. You will find out that
the most essential among the things in your room are footwear, clothes, computers (if any), cellphones,
television. You may also notice, books, school supplies and equipment.

Organize your things into two types: first, things that are made in the Philippines and second, those
that are of foreign brand items.

Compare the list and determine which country make the most of your personal needs. In the process,
discuss why certain products are made in the Philippines while others are produced abroad.

REFERENCES:

• The Contemporary World 2019 by Tumoroh C. Brazalote and Ryan M. Leonardo

• The Contemporary World by Lisandro E. Claudio and Patricio N. Abinales
• https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/106591299705000412
• https://www.studocu.com/ph/document/nueva-vizcaya-state-university/bachelor-of-
science-in-public-administration/lecture-notes/meaning-and-nature-of-
globalization/7222512/view

11 | P a g e
MARY R. GAMBOA
OCC Instructor
 Republic of the Philippines
Commission on Higher Education
OAS COMMUNITY COLLEGE
Oas, Albay

POST TESTS:

Answer the following questions below.

1. Based from the discussion that we have, define globalization in your own understanding. (5
points)
2. What is the difference between globalization and globalism? (5 points)
3. Site an example of cultural imperialism in the following factors and explain each.
a. Music (3 points)
b. Fashion (3 points)
c. Movies (3 points)
4. Based from the different concepts and definition of globalization, on whose perspective do you
agree most? Why? (5 points)
5. Give 1 advantage of globalization that can greatly affect you as a student? Explain. (6 points)

12 | P a g e
MARY R. GAMBOA
OCC Instructor
 Republic of the Philippines
Commission on Higher Education
OAS COMMUNITY COLLEGE
Oas, Albay

13 | P a g e
MARY R. GAMBOA
OCC Instructor