The

Contemporary
World

An Introduction
to the Study of
Globalization
Jhanssen T. Tan, MBA, PCDEB, PSBE

“What is happening with automation and

globalization — it’s not going away.”

-Campbell Brown
Why study this course?

1. To avoid
Parochialism.
Why study this course?

2. The world teaches

us more about society.
Why study this course?

3. Filipinos are
increasingly interacting
with the world.
Why study this course?

4. “The world has

shrunk.”
Why study this course?

5. There’s no turning
back from the ideology
of globalization.
This Course’s Approach
•Globalization is
inherently
interdisciplinary.

•To see the

contemporary world
through a broader
perspective.

•Allow us to examine
various globalizing
processes.

•Forces us to ask
questions and
challenges what we
know.
For the The Different
Academic
Definitions of
Scholars:

Globalization
For the Political
“Expansion and • The Academic Scholars

Scientist:
• The Political Scientists

intensification •
•
The Sociologists

The Economists
of social
“The expansion
relations and Additionally, for the
of a global Political Scientist, the idea
consciousness
political system, of globalization is a
across world
and its challenge to the nation/
time and state and the regional
institutions, in
across world blocs.

which inter-
space.” -
regional It could mean an
Manfred Steger
transactions are emergence of different
managed.” - local or MNCs.

William
And a challenge to the
Thompson current political norms.
For the The Different
Sociologists:

For the Economists:

Definitions of
“On going Globalization
process that “It is the increasing • The Academic Scholars

involves economic •
•
The Political Scientists

The Sociologists

interconnected integration and • The Economists

changes in the interdependence of

national, regional,
economic,
and local economies
cultural, social, Additionally, for the scholar
across the world
and political through an
of culture and
spheres of communication, there is
intensification of always the ideology that:

society.” - Nicki cross-border

Lisa Cole movement of goods, 1. The world is shrinking.

services, 2. There is a “Global Village”.

technologies and 3. Cultural Imperialism will

capital.” - Rakesh live on.
Mohan Roshi
 The Global
Village
“Today, after more than a century of electric technology, we have extended our central nervous
system itself in a global embrace, abolishing both space and time as far as our planet is concerned.”

Marshall McLuhan (1911-1980) predicted

and popularized the concept of a Global
Village, a world interconnected by an
electronic nervous system.
Cultural
Imperialism/
Forced
Acculturation

The imposition by one usually politically or

economically dominant community of
various aspects of its own culture onto
another, non-dominant community.
“It is a process and
condition that involves
increasing
interconnectedness of
different parts of the
world through
common processes of
economic, political,
environmental, and
cultural changes.” Knox, Marton, Nash, (2010)
Connectivity

Connectivity can be Connectivity can be

diverse. (e.g. enabled by various
economic, political, factors such as the
social, cultural) media.
 •NGOs

•Friendships/
Relationships

Intensification •Government
Associations

Refers to the •MNCs

Expansion and
expansion, stretching, Stretching
and acceleration of
these networks. Not
•From Snail
only are global
Mail to
connections
Facebook

multiplying, but they •Live

are also becoming Television
Acceleration of
more closely-knit and •Increased Social Exchanges
expanding their reach. Travel and Activities
 It Occurs Subjectively
Globalization processes do not occur immediately at an
objective, material level but they also involve the
subjective plane of human consciousness.

“We think about

the world.”

…but do we

…really?
 It Occurs Subjectively
GLOBALIZATION PROCESSES TEND TO BE UNEVEN!
 Three Main
1. Goods and Aspects of
Services Globalization

Increased
Trade

Pool of Skills
and
Professions
 Three Main
2. People
Aspects of
Globalization

Immigration
and Culture

Jobs
 Three Main
3. Capital
Aspects of
Globalization

Money

Investment
The Circular Flow Model
GLOCALIZATION
Being GLOBAL, but
thinking LOCAL.
McDonaldization

Developed by American Sociologist George

Ritzer in 1933.

It is a phenomenon that occurs when society,

its institutions, and organizations are adapted
to have the same characteristics as in fast food
chains: Efficiency, Calculability, Predictability
and Standardization, and Control.
Advantages of Globalization

1. Free Trade/Reduced
Barriers

2. Promotes Economic Growth

3. Competition between
countries drive prices down

4. Cultural Intermingling

5. Increased Labor Pool

6. Ease of transport,
communication, &
information.
Disadvantages of Globalization

1. Creates problems for developed

countries because jobs are
transferred to lower cost countries.

2. Labor exploitation.

3. MNCs tend to influence political

decisions.

4. Rich, richer; poor, poorer.

5. Experts think that it also leads to

the incursion of communicable
diseases.

6. Environmental crises.
How about you?
Are you globalized?
What is your
globalization story?
 Sources

Claudio, Lisandro E. & Abinales, Patricio N. (2018). What is Globalization? Accessed from: The Contemporary World, pgs.
x-xii, 2-10.

https://www.britannica.com/topic/cultural-imperialism

https://www.livinginternet.com/i/ii_mcluhan.htm