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MODULE 1 The Task of Describing Globalization

LEARNING OUTCOME

1. Identify and understand the working definitions of globalization for the course;
2. Differentiate the competing conceptions of globalization; and
3. Connect daily life experiences to the definition of globalization.

MOTIVATION PHASE

Activity 1 Globalization Map

Think of vocabulary words that can be connected to the given word. Write a

minimum of twenty (20) words but you are allowed to write as much as you can.

1.__________________ 11. _________________

2.__________________ 12. _________________

3.__________________ 13. _________________

4.__________________ 14. _________________

5.__________________ 15. _________________

GL OB A L I ZA T I O N
6.__________________ 16. _________________

7.__________________ 17. _________________

8.__________________ 18. _________________

9.__________________ 19. _________________

10._________________ 20. _________________

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PRESENTATION PHASE

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 e 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 Larsso (2001) saw globalization as the
“the process of world shrinkage, of distances getting shorter, things moving closer. It pertains to
the increasing ease with which somebody on the side of the world can interact, to mutual benefit
with somebody on the other side of the world”. On the other hand, some see it as occurring
through and with regression, colonialism, and destabilization. In the mid-1990s, Martin Khor, the
former president of the Third World Network (TWN) in Malaysia, once regarded globalization as
colonization.

In this module, 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 following section will highlight the different
views scholars have toward globalization.

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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 lf globalization revealed that
definitions could be classified either broad and inclusive or 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… makes states into agencies of the globalizing world” (as
cited in RAWOO Netherlands Development Assistance Research Council, 2000, p. 14).

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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 and what it is are similar. This is in relation to what some academics have claimed
about 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 increasingly 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?

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 Chowdury, 2006, p. 37). In a more recent
study, Al-Rhodan (2006) wrote that definitions suggest the perspective of the author on the

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origins and the geopolitical implications of globalization. It is a starting point that will determine
concrete steps in addressing the issues of globalization. For example, if one sees globalization
as positive, the person can say that it is unifying force. On the other hand, if it is deemed as
creating greater inequalities among nations, globalization is negatively treated.

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
selfevident, 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).

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 individua society, from small communities to nations and states, and from the
benefits we can gain from it to 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 act 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

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states of matter - solid - liquid - will be used. In additions, other related concepts that are included
in the definition such as structure and flows will be elaborated.

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 manmade. 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 ninedash 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 to the 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.

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Liquid, as a state of mater, 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) mad 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’s 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/module. Also, it should be expected that this concept will appear
in the succeeding modules/topics. The literature of globalization makes use of the concept of
flows.

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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 the 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. 1) 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 the 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. foods

2. global financial crises 3. illegal migrants

4. the virtual flow of legal and illegal information 5. immigrants recreating ethnic enclaves

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Activity 2 Analysis

Answer the following questions.

1. What are the advantages and disadvantages of using (a) broad and inclusive definitions
and (b) narrow and exclusive definitions of globalization?
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2. What do you think is the importance of defining globalization?
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Activity 3 Abstraction

Answer the following questions.

1. Do you agree with the idea that the contemporary world is characterized by high liquidity?
Why or why not?

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2. Using a visual representation, create your generalizations and discuss: What is

globalization? How would you define globalization?

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Activity 4 Application

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.

Answer the following questions.

1. 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.

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2. What gadgets or devices do you usually use to listen to music?

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3. Where were these gadgets or devices made? Where is the company based?

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4. How did you access these music? Did you purchase them online or listen to them
through YouTube, Spotify, and other music channels?
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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.
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ASSESSMENT PHASE

See Schoology.

REFERENCE:

Aldama, P. (2018). The contemporary world. Manila, Philippines: Rex Book Store.

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