MODULE 1

INTRODUCTION

As the semester progresses, we expect you to realize the relevance of the material gradually. The
succeeding lessons will introduce you to the major themes in the study of the world while providing
opportunities for you to connect this knowledge with your experiences as a Filipino student. At the
outset, though, why study this course? Why is it require for all students in higher education?

First, studying the outside world is a cure to parochialism or an outlook that is limited to one’s
immediate community. A person who is concerned only with his/her family, village, or even country is
parochial. The parochial person is, thus, close-minded. By teaching you about the world, this course
aims to stretch the limits of your imagination and outlook. We will share with you unfamiliar ideas
and cultures that may spark new interests and concerns. Not everything in this book will excite you,
and that is fine. However, we hope that, at the end of the semester, you would have discovered new
intellectual interests that you will continue to pursue. We also wish for you to explore the places,
peoples, ideas, and cultures that you care about and value. This expansion of one’s ethical horizons,
as you will see, is the very core of what it means to be a global citizen.

Second, it is important to study the world because it can teach you more about yourself. Knowing
about other countries allows you to compare your society with others. The experiences of
communities outside the Philippines may provide solutions to many of the country’s current
problems. They may also provide warnings about what not to do. Everyone, for example, desires
economic growth. Isn’t it beneficial if policymakers know what economic models and policies have
worked for other countries and what have not? Philippine national hero Jose Rizal said that anyone
who has learned about the world will be haunted by the “ghost of comparisons”. Once you know
about other societies, he says, you will not be able to look at your own in the same way: You will start
comparing and asking various questions, this drive to compare will happen even when you least
expect it; the urge is like a ghost that suddenly appears.

Lastly, you need to study the world because you will be interacting with it. In 2009, an average of
4,018 Filipinos per day left to become OFWs. In 2015, that number increased to 6,092. More and more
Filipinos are living and working abroad. For those of you who plan to work in another country after
graduation, this course cans serve as an orientation. Nevertheless, even those who choose to remain
in the Philippines must confront the phenomenon of globalization. Many of you will work for foreign
companies operating in the country, especially because of the growth of call centers and the business
process outsourcing (BPO) industry as a whole. Due to the internet, cheaper travel costs, and larger
trade of goods and services, the world has grown more interdependent. Filipinos are increasingly
becoming aware of this interdependence. You cannot avoid globalization so you might at as well
study it.

GENERAL OVERVIEW

This module will introduce you to the various drivers of the globalization process, with specific
focus on economics and politics. Although it emphasize that you experience globalization on an
“everyday” level, you must also realize that there are big institutions that create larger-scale changes.
This unit will first trace the emergence of these institutions historically. It will then move on to explain
how they affect the countries and people today.

Unit 1 : the Structures of Globalization

This unit will introduce you to the various drivers of the globalization process, with specific focus on
economics and politics. Although it emphasizes that you experience globalization on an ‘’everyday’’
level, you must also realize that there are big institutions that create large-scale changes. This unit will
first trace the emergence of these institutions historically. It will then move on to explain how they
affect the countries and people today.

The major learning outcomes of this unit are to:

 Analyze the various contemporary drivers of globalization; and

 Describe the emergence of global economic and political systems.

Lesson 1. What is Globalization?

At the end of this lesson, you should be able to:

1. Agree on a working definition of Globalization for the course;
2. Differentiate the competing concepts of Globalization; and
3. Narrate a personal experience of Globalization.
A story: Gio, Latif, and the Laksa.

When Gio was a second –year international affairs student in a university in Cebu City, he
obtained funding to join the school team participating in an international model UN competition in
Sydney, Australia. At the height of the competition, Gio made plenty of new friends and became
particularly close to Latif from the Malaysian team. The two first started talking when Latif asked Gio
where he was from. Upon discovering that the Gio was from the Philippines, Latif lit up and declared
that he was a big fan of Filipino actors Jericho Rosales and Kristine Hermosa. Gio was pleasantly
surprised to learn that Latif had seen every episode of the ABS-CBN telenovela Pangako Sa’yo ( the
promised). The show had aired on Malaysian TV a few years back, and its two stars had developed a
modest following.

Ashamed that he did not know as much about Malaysia as Latif knew about the Philippines, Gio
asked Latif what his country was like. Latif discovered, was from a Muslim university in Kuala Lumpur.
Gio asked him what he liked best about living in ‘’KL’’ and Latif immediately mentioned the food. Latif
explained that in Kuala Lumpur, one can find Chinese, Indian, and Malays cousins. He told Gio that
this assortment of food ways was the result of how the British reorganized Malaysian society during
the

colonial times. The British did little to change the way of life of the Malays who were the original
residents, but brought in Chinese laborers to work in the rubber plantations and tin mines, and
Indians to help manage the bureaucracy and serve as the initial professional core of a potential
middle class. One of the ways that these ethnic groups were identified was brought their food
ways.

According to Latif, Malaysia eventually became famous for these cousins which can be found
in the various ‘’hawker centers’’ across the nation’s cities and towns. These food stands are located
in outdoor food parks where locals and tourist taste the best of Malaysia, from nasi lemak to laksa.

Gio interrupted Latif and asked, ‘’what is laksa.?’’ He left more ashamed at his lack of
knowledge. ‘’ahh… let me show you what it is and how it is prepared!’’ replied Latif.

The next day, Latif took Gio to a Malaysian restaurant a few blocks away from the university.
Gio was surprised to discover that Malaysian food was readily available in Sydney. Having noticed
this, Latif explained to his Filipino Friend that, over the years, as more and more Malaysian
Students moved to Sydney to Study, Malaysian restaurant followed suit. Soon after, they were
catering not only to these students, but to Australia- born. ’’Sydneysiders’’ as well, whose culinary
tastes were becoming more and more diverse.

Gio finally had his first taste of laksa- a rice noodle soup in spicy coconut curry sauce. He
found the flavors intense since, like most Filipinos, he was not used to spicy food. However, in
deference to his friend, he persisted and eventually found himself enjoying the hot dish.
 After the meal, Gio and Latif went to a nearby café and ordered ‘’ flat whites”- an espresso
drink similar to latte, which is usually served in cafes in Australia and New Zealand. Both knew
what flat whites were since there were Australian – inspired cafes in both Kuala Lumpur and Cebu.

The new friends promised to stay in touch after the competition, and added each other on
Facebook and Instagram. Over the next two years, they exchanged e-mails and posts,
congratulated each other for their achievements, and commented on and liked each other’s
photos. Latif sent his mother’s recipe to Gio and latter began cooking Malaysian food in his home.

A few years after graduation, Gio moved to Singapore, joining many other overseas Filipino
workers (OFWs) in the city-state. The culture was new to him, but one thing was familiar: the food
served in Singapore was no different from the Malaysian food he had discover through Latif. He
would later learn from Singaporean Colleagues that the island country was one part of the British
colony of Malay and the postwar independent federation of Malaysia. Singapore, however,
separated from the Federation in August 1965 and became a nation state. Today, they may be two
distinct counties in this part of the world, but Singapore and Malaysia still share the same cuisine.

After he settled down in his apartment, Gio sought out and found a favorite laksa stall in
Newton Hawker Center. He would spend his weekends there with friends eating laksa and other
dishes.

One Saturday, while Gio was checking his Facebook fee along the very busy Orchard Road-
Singapore’s main commercial road- he noticed that Latif had just posted something 5 minutes
earlier. It was a picture from Orchard Road. Surprised but also excited, Gio sent Latif a private
message. Latif replied immediately saying that he too had moved to Singapore and was, at that
moment, standing in front a department store just a few blocks away from Gio was. The two
friends met up, and after a long hug and quick questions as to what each was up to, they ducked
into a café and renewed their international friendship… by ordering pair of flat whites.

ACTIVITY 1-1

Personal Concept Map of Globalization

You will engage in a free association exercise of ideas that associates with “globalization”. Based on the
story given, you shall synthesize a personal definition of the concept.

Guide Questions:

1. How have you experienced globalization?

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 2. Why it is crucial to emphasize that globalization is uneven?
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3. What is the difference between globalization and globalism?

Globalization
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Globalism
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5 Characteristics of Globalization

1. The expansion and intensification of social relations and consciousness across world-time and
world-space. – Manfred Steger

2. Globalization involves the creation of new social networks, and the multiplication of existing
connections.

3. Expansion, stretching and acceleration of these networks.

4. Intensification and acceleration of social exchanges and activities.

5. Globalization processes do not occur merely at an objective, material level but also involve the
subjective plane of human consciousness.
Assignments:

Make a reflection about the story: Gio, Latif and Laksa.

2 paragraphs

500 words.

Criteria:

Content- 50%

Grammar/usage/ mechanics- 25%

Quality of Writing-25%

Total- 100%