WEEK 1 and 2 – Defining the Subject.

Objectives:

1. To be able to formulate your own definition of Globalization.

2. Students must be able to differentiate the Solidity and Liquidity of Globalization.

3. Students can enumerate and give an example of Cultural Differentialism, Hybridization, and
Convergence.

Readings.

Activity 1.1

In your own understanding, what can you say about the pictures above?

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Introduction

So, what is globalization? This question is probably an easy one to answer. However, many
scholars gave and tries to formulate its own definitions. This resulted in different, sometimes
contradicting views about the concept. Aside From this, Globalization encompasses a multitude of
processes that involves the economy, political system and culture. Social structures, therefore, are
directly affected by globalization.

In other words, Globalization has not only one or two definition/s, but a plethora contradicting
ideas that has its own individual roots.

The Task of Defining the 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 the definition could be
classified as either (1) Broad and Inclusive or (2) Narrow and Exclusive.

“…. Globalization means the onset of the borderless world…” Ohmae, 1992. Is an example of Broad and
inclusive definition.

“The characteristic of globalization trend includes 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 new internationalizing of the state…. Making
states into agencies of the globalizing world.”

The main difference between Broad and Inclusive vs Narrow and Exclusive, are their scope of
defining globalization. Broad and Inclusive offers a wider scope rather than focusing on a single topic, it
may be applied generally but it lacks quality such as clarity and often vague. On the other hand, Narrow
and Exclusive are more direct but it mostly focusses on a single process either political system,
economic, cultural, or social.

Activity 1.2

Label the following definition of Globalization, 1 for Broad and Inclusive or 2 for Narrow and Exclusive.

Author Definition Answer

Webster’s Online “Growth to a global or worldwide scale.”
Dictionary, 2006
The Canadian “The term ‘globalization’ describes the increase mobility of goods,
Government, 2005 services, labor, technology, and capital throughout the world.
Although globalization is not a new development, its pave has
increased with the advent of new technologies, especially in the area
of telecommunications.”
William Easterly, “…. the movement across international border of goods and factor of
2004 production.”
Robert O. “……Globalization describes a trend of increasing transnational flows
Keohane, 2002 and increasingly thick networks of interdependence.”
Malcolm Waters, “The key idea by which we understand the transition of human
2001 society into the third millennium.”
J.E. Elliott and P.V.
“Globalization is the establishment of the global market free from
Nikitin, 2003. sociopolitical control.”
Griffith University,“The process of developing, manufacturing, and marketing software
2000 products that are intended for worldwide distribution. This term
combines two aspects of the work: internationalization (enabling the
product to be used without language or cultural barriers) and
localization (translating and enabling the product for a specific
locale.”
Kiely and Marfleet, “… a world in which societies, cultures, politics and economics have,
1998 in some sense, com closer together.”