THE CONTEMPORARY WORLD

2021

UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHERN MINDANAO

Kabacan, Cotabato
 THE CONTEMPORARY WORLD

GE 3

ROSELYN M. CLEMEN

2021

UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHERN MINDANAO

Kabacan, Cotabato
Author’s Declaration

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GE 3: The Contemporary World

iv
USM VISION
Quality and relevant education for its clientele to be globally
competitive, culture sensitive and morally responsive human resources for
sustainable development

USM MISSION
Help accelerate socio-economic development, promote harmony
among diverse communities and improve quality of life through instruction,
research, extension and resource generation in Southern Philippines.

UNIVERSITY QUALITY POLICY STATEMENT

The University of Southern Mindanao, as a premier university, is
committed to provide quality instruction, research development and extension
services and resource generation that exceed stakeholders’ expectations
through the management of continual improvement efforts on the following
initiatives.
1. Establish Key Result Areas and performance indicators across all
mandated functions;
2. Implement quality educational programs;
3. Guarantee competent educational service providers;
4. Spearhead need-based research outputs for commercialization,
publication, patenting, and develop technologies for food security,
climate change mitigation and improvement in the quality of life;
5. Facilitate transfer of technologies generated from research to the
community for sustainable development;
6. Strengthen relationship with stakeholders;
7. Sustain good governance and culture sensitivity; and
8. Comply to customer, regulatory and statutory requirements.

Chapter I. Introduction to the Study of Globalization

Lesson 1. Concepts and Its Underlying Philosophies
of Globalization

Lesson 2. Theorization of Globalization

COURSE GUIDE

This module was prepared for you to work diligently and honesty. Remember
GE 3: The Contemporary World
5
that this is meant for you to deepened your knowledge and increase your
awareness about globalization.
1. Focus your attention
2. Do your best in answering questions
3. Submit on time
4. Write neat and legibly and make sure no erasure
5. Make your answers complete and concise as possible
6. Do not allow yourself to copy other’s work just work independently.

Course Information
Course Title The Contemporary World
Course Code GE 3
Pre-requisite/Co- NONE
requisite

Course Description
This course introduces students to the contemporary world by examining the
multifaceted phenomenon of globalization.

Using 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 issues in global
governance, development and sustainability.

Course Objectives/Outcomes
Upon passing the course, you must be able to:
1. Describe the different interpretations and approaches to globalization
and the emergence of global economic, political, social and cultural
systems.
2. Identify the various contemporary drivers of globalization and related
issues.
3. Describe issues confronting the nation-state in the context of
globalization.
4. Discuss the ethical implications of global citizenship

Course Learning/Study Plan/Schedule

Week/Date Topic Teaching Learning Assessment
(Deadlines) and Materials
Learning

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 Activities
WEEK 1 A. Orientation Modular Modules Exam
Power point Article Critique
B. Introduction
Presentation
to the study of
Quiz E Books
Globalization E Journals
Exam
a.Concepts
Reading
Assignments

Reflection

WEEK 2 The Structures Modular Modules Exam

of Power point
Globalization Presentation
a. The Global
Quiz E Books
Economy E Journals
Exam
b.Market Reading
Integration Assignments

Reflection

WEEK 3 A World Modular Modules Exam

Regions Power point
a.Global
Presentation
Divides : North
Quiz E Books
and E Journals
Exam
South Reading
Assignments

Reflection

WEEK 4 Global Modular Modules Exam

Governance Power point
a. Roles and Presentation Case Study
Functions of
Quiz E Books
E Journals
Exam
the United
Nations Reading
Assignments

Reflection

WEEK 5 Asian Modular Modules Exam

Regionalism Power point
a.
Presentation
Regionalization
Quiz E Books

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 vs. Exam E Journals
Globalization Reading
Assignments

Reflection

WEEK 6 Global Media Modular Modules Exam

Culture Power point
a. Evolution of
Presentation
Media and
Quiz E Books
E Journals
Exam
Globalization
Reading
Assignments

Reflection

WEEK 7 The Modular Modules Exam

Globalization Power point
of Religion Presentation
Quiz E Books
a. Effects of E Journals
Globalization Exam
to Reading
Religion Assignments

Reflection

WEEK 8 Global Modular Modules Exam

Population and Power point
Global
Presentation
Demography
Quiz E Books
E Journals
Exam
a. Effects to
Global Reading
Population Assignments

Reflection

WEEK 9 Midterm
Exam
WEEK 10 The Global City Modular Modules Exam
a.Attributes of
Power point
Global Cities
Presentation
Quiz E Books
b.Criticisms of E Journals
Exam
Global Cities
Reading

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 Assignments

Reflection

WEEK 11-12 Global Modular Modules Case Study

Migration Power point
a.Factors of Presentation
Global
Quiz E Books
Migration E Journals
Exam
b.Push and Pull Reading
Factors of Assignments
Migration Reflection
c. Overseas
Filipino
Workers

WEEK 13-14 Sustainable Modular Modules Exam

Development Power point
a. Sustainable
Presentation
Quiz E Books
Development E Journals
Exam
Goals
Reading
Global Food
Assignments
Security
Reflection
a.

Factors
influencing
Global

Food Security

WEEK 15-17 Global Modular Modules Case Study

Citizenship Power point
a. Ethical
Presentation
Obligations of
Quiz E Books
Global E Journals
Exam
Citizenship Reading
Assignments

Reflection

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 WEEK 18 FINAL
EXAM

Course Requirements/Assessment and Evaluation

Scheme/Grading System
Mid-term Period shall be based in accomplishing the following tasks:

Answer and submit all the exercises comprising of selected response

items and the open-constructed response items (Self-help Task), and
take the Mid-term Examination on the 10th week. Exact date will be
announced via online / mobile means or through the learning hub.

Final-term Period shall be based in accomplishing the following tasks:

Answer and submit all the exercises comprising of selected response

items and the open-constructed response items (Self-help Task), and
take the Final-term Examination on the 18th week. Exact date will be
announced via online / mobile means or through the learning hub

Grading System : Mid-term Grade + Final-term Grade = Semestral Grade

House Rules/Class Policies

1. Follow directions the first time you are given.
2. Be punctual. Get to work and answer immediately. Turn in all your
work (homework, modules, classwork, projects, workbooks, portfolio)
on time.
3. Be prepared. Come with an open mind and ready to learn. Bring all
the necessary materials to class. Practice and prepare well for
presentations.
4. Be honest. Cheating will not be tolerated. Do your own work and
study for tests/ quizzes/ exams.
5. Be successful. Work until time is up and follow the objective posted

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 CHAPTER I
Introduction to the Study of Globalization

Intended Learning Outcomes

By the end of this topic/chapter, you must be able to:
1. Differentiate the competing conceptions of globalization
2. Identify the underlying philosophies of the varying definitions of
globalization

Lesson 1: Concepts and Its Underlying

Philosophies of Globalization
Conceptions of Globalization
The emergence of globalization brought us to become more sociable and
increases our awareness on technological aspect through this we have
interactive movement on different sphere such as political, social, cultural,
economic and technology which we best describe as “ globalization” .
Before, the “ global age, ” people, things, information, places, and objects
tended to harden over time. Their common characteristics was
“ solidity, ”which is the characteristic of being limited to one place. Wherein
solidity also refers to the persistence of barriers that prevented free movement
of people, information, and objects in that period. Although solidity persists yet
it is “ fluidity ” that is more describe the face of the “ global age. ” Many years
it seemed solid has tended to “ melt ” and become increasingly mobile or
turn into liquid state.
Consequently, a range of technological developments in transportation and
communication have enabled far greater global movement of what was
previously solid. ” Globalization is increasingly characterized by flows of liquid
phenomena including people, objects, decisions, information, and places. In
spite of greater liquidity and ever - more flows of various types, the world is
still characterized by great inequality. While globalization flows more easily
through the developed world, it bypasses many locales in the less developed
world.
Such concept of globalization can be also assess through metaphors of
heavy, light, and weightless. In the early years , there has been movement
from that which is heavy to that which is light and most recently to that which
approaches weightlessness. Pre - industrial and industrial societies were
characterized as “ heavy, ” by that which is difficult to move. Moreover,
advances in transportation and technology made goods, people, and places
lighter. Since we are currently in an era defined not only by lightness but also

GE 3: The Contemporary World

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increasingly by weightlessness.
Different definitions from the
different authors:

Globalization is the worldwide

integration of economic, technological,
political, cultural, and social aspects
between countries (Hamilton, 2008).

Also the uprising of global economic, political, environmental and social

activities. Expanding international capitalism, mainly through the reach of
multinational corporations; the activities of the more important international
political organizations such as the United Nations, World Bank, International
Monetary Fund and World trade Organization

Globalization is reshaping how we have traditionally gone about studying

the social world and human culture and a field of globalization studies is
now emerging across the disciplines (Appelbaum and Robinson, 2005)

Globalization can be thought of to be the result of the opening-up of the global

economy and the concomitant increase in trade between nations. In other
words, when countries that were hitherto closed to trade and foreign
investment open-up their economies and go global, the result is an increasing
interconnectedness and integration of the economies of the world. This is a
brief introduction to globalization. Further, globalization can also mean that
countries liberalize their import protocols and welcome foreign investment into
sectors that are the mainstays of its economy. What this means is that
countries multinational corporations.

Schirato and Webb (2003) view ‘globalization’ as a ‘discursive regime, a

kind of machine that eats up anyone and anything in its path’. They
suggest that ‘globalization functions as a set of texts, ideas, goals, values,
narratives, dispositions and prohibitions, a veritable template for ordering
and evaluating activities, which is “filled in” or inflected with the interests of
whoever can access it’.

Globalization is an historical process that began with trade and migration in

the distant past, but has recently accelerated as a result of the international
spread of capitalism, rationalism, industrial production, and economic
liberalism. Also in globalization used then to refer to the ongoing growth of
interconnections and interdependencies in economics, politics, and culture in
which social ties across boundaries have become more regularized and
routine.

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 The manifestations of globalization include the spatial reorganization of
production , the interpenetration of industries across borders, the spread of
financial markets, the diffusion of identical consumer goods to distant
countries, massive transfers of population. (Mittelman, 2000)
Furthermore, there are broad approaches involved in globalization. In the first,
it is a process that has been going on since the dawn of history, hence a
5,000–10,000 year time frame. In the second, it is a process coterminous with
the spread and development of capitalism and modernity, hence a 500 year
frame. In the third, it is a recent phenomenon associated with such processes
of post-industrialization, post modernization or the restructuring of capitalism,
hence a 20–30 year frame. These mentioned approaches are the
manifestation of globalization in the global perspective.

Finally, There are six core claims of globalism in the study conducted by
STEGER, 2005

1. Globalization 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

Formative Assessment 1

Activity 1: Design Thinking Process

Brainstorm yourself with the working concept of globalization and come up

with a design using the different materials on hand such as pencil, bags or
other things . Make a design relating to the different working concepts. You
can use those materials as your sign or symbols for globalization.

Place your design inside the space provided and write your discussion below

_____________________________________________________
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_____________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________
FACTS about Globalization

Globalization in Economics

Refers to the prevalent international movement of goods, capital services,

technology and information. It is the increasing economic integration and
interdependence of national, regional and local economies across the
world.

Globalization in Politics

Politics can take place above the state through political integration
patterns such as the European Union and through intergovernmental
organizations such as the International Monetary Fund , the World Bank
and the World Trade Organization . Numbers of political activities can be
transcend through national borders through global movement and non-
governmental organization (NGO).

Globalization in Culture

Refers to 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
level. And also to processes of commodity, exchange and colonization
which have a longer history of carrying cultural meaning around the globe.

Globalization in Religion

Religion plays a vital role in globalization which all people’s come to live in
a single social unit . The impact of globalization have brought into a
religious pluralism and it provides a fertile ground for a variety of
noninstitutionalized religious manifestations and for the development of
religion as a political and cultural resource.

Globalization in Technology

Technology globalization is speeded in large part by technological

diffusion, the spread of technology across borders.
GE 3: The Contemporary World The rapid improvement
in the spread of technology to peripheral14 and semi-peripheral nations.
Global Issues
These are the contemporary
issues involve multifaceted
dimensions such as political,
economic, social historical and
geographic components. The
interconnected and series of event
happened in the global
perspectives affected all human
kind.

 Population - Our population is growing that no one will be startled by

that the rate of growth, and the fact that the present growth of
population is in unprecedented in human history.
 Food Production - How much food is produced in the world at
present? Is there enough for everyone? The answer maybe surprising
that we have enough food.
 The Energy - Climate Crisis are we running out of energy? Of course
not. Everything is made out of energy .These laws also state that
energy cannot be created; all we can do is to transform it from one
state to another.
 Military issues- major force in managing peace and security,
especially in inter - state relations.
 Economic - promote actions that would lead to reductions in global
inequality.
 Environmental - (e.g. pollution, hazardous wastes) which are dealt
with primarily through the United Nations Environment Programme.
 Poverty - International trade generally increases wealth. But it does
not always distribute that wealth equally. The International Monetary
Fund (IMF) reported that the gap between rich and poor countries has
grown within the past several decades. The gap between people within
countries has grown as well.

Impact of Globalization

The wider effects of globalization, increased global awareness and the growth
of illicit cross border activities. Moreover, the global interconnectivity which
probably facilated the illegitimate transaction of activities such black market
and other human trafficking.

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For the people living in deprived parts of the world , global awareness raises
their expectations and lower their tolerance of the situation they are in. this is
probably a factor in the spread of democracy and growing demands for
political freedoms where these are still denied.
For people in richer countries, the information revolution is helping to forge a
sense of global community and transnational solidarity. This is a manifestation
of global coalitions among nation states involving different universal issues
such as human rights, humanitarian aid and labor exploitation.

Unskilled and indigenous people are particularly the vulnerable one. The high
rising building and increase mobility of economic enterprise lead them to
displaced and massive dislocation , environmental degradation and violations
of human rights.

Lesson 2: Theorization of Globalization

Theorizing Globalization
These are the underlying philosophies of the varying definitions of
globalization

1. Imperialism
- is a broad concept that describes
various methods employed by one
country to gain control (sometimes
through territorial conquest) of
another country (or geographic

area) and then to exercise control,

especially political, economic, and
territorial, over that country (or
geographic area), and perhaps
many other countries.

2. Colonialism
- generally involves settlers as well
as much more formal mechanisms

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 of political control than those of imperialism.

Decolonization or “the process of revealing and dismantling colonialist

power in all its forms. This includes dismantling the hidden aspects of those
institutional and cultural forces that had maintained the colonialist power and
that remain even after political independence is achieved”.
3. Neo – Liberalism

Neo-liberal and laissez-faire

economic ideologies favoring
free trade, free circulation of
capital, and freedom to invest
anywhere have encouraged
the growth of a complex
international system of
economic interdependence
that transcends national
borders. (Filmer 1995).

In the context of
modernization theory it tends to
view the West as a map for global development . There are more modern
practices and modes of thought developed over the traditional ways which
modern societies adopted and these can be introduced from without, so that
the West has a central role to play in the modernization of developing social
orders (Hulme and Turner, 1990)

Also in the study of Robinson, 2007, Globalization theories there are three
broad approaches. In the first, it is a process that has been going on since the
dawn of history, hence a 5,000–10,000 year time frame. In the second, it is a
process coterminous with the spread and development of capitalism and
modernity, hence a 500 year frame. In the third, it is a recent phenomenon
associated with such processes of post-industrialization, post -modernization
or the restructuring of capitalism, hence a 20–30 year frame.

GE 3: The Contemporary World

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 Activity 2

Queries to Ponder
1. How can these
people survive in
the midst of
globalization?
2. Can globalization
help improve their
lives?

1.____________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________
2.____________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________

CHAPTER EXAM

I. Multiple Choice:

1. An investment by a firm in one nation - state in a firm in another nation -

state with the intention of controlling it.
a. Colonialism c. Foreign direct investment
b. Transnational d. Multinational Corporation
2. The methods employed by one nation- state to gain power over an area(s)
and then to exercise control over it.
a. Imperialism c. Liberalism
b. Colonialism d. Conservatism
3. A theory that emphasizes the fact that the kinds of programs discussed
above led not so much to the development of the nation - states of the South,
but more to a decline in their independence in specially in US.
a. Dependency c. Neo-liberalism
b. Colonialism d. World System
4. Development of the nation- states of the South contributed to a decline in
their independence; to an increase in their dependence on the North.
a.World System Theory c.Dependency Theory
b.Marxist Theory d. System Theory
5. The process that interconnect individuals and social groups across specific
geo -p olitical borders.

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 a. Transnationality c. Imperialism
b. Globalization d. Transnationalism

6.Globalization flows more easily through the developed world , it bypasses

many locales in the _______ developed world.
a. More b. less c. highly d. remotely

7. Pre - industrial and industrial societies were characterized as “______” by

that which is difficult to move.
a. city b. light c. urban d. heavy
8.The map for global tends to views West as ________ theory.
a.Imperialism b. Migration c. Modernization d. Laize Faire
9. Unskilled and ________ people are considered as vulnerable one in
globalization.
a. old b. indigenous c. ignorant d. victim
10. ________ “the process of revealing and dismantling colonialist power in
all its forms. This includes dismantling the hidden aspects of those institutional
and cultural forces that had maintained the colonialist power and that remain
even after political independence is achieved”.
a. Imperialism b. Colonialism c. Decolonization
d. Neo-Liberalism

II. Matching Type :Connect pictures to the given words below . (2x2pts)

1. a. energy

2. b. economic

3. c. poverty

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4. d. environmental

5. e. Military

f. Food production

III. Identification

1. Name the two words that explain what globalization is. 10pts.
________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________

2. Identify at least 2 global issues and relate to your actual observation in

your own community 20pts
________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________

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 Activity 3: (SELF TASK)

Essay Questions (Write At least 250 words per question)

1. How does Globalization encourage global awareness and

community?

________________________________________________
________________________________________________
________________________________________________

2. What are the chief Concerns about the impacts of

Globalization?

________________________________________________
________________________________________________
________________________________________________
________________________________________________

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