The Contemporary World
CHAPTER 1
GLOBALIZATION
• The continuous evolution and unstable global order
• Social process of reshaping and remaking the world
order
• Spread of worldwide practices, relations
consciousness, and organization of social life
• A phenomenon gave rise to the interconnectedness
of human society that replaced the sovereign state
system with a multilateral system of global
governance (Justin Rosenberg)
• Refers to a multidimensional set of processes that
create, multiply, stretch, and intensity worldwide
social interdependencies and exchanges while at the
same time fostering in people a growing awareness
of deepening connections between local and the
distant (Held and McGrew)
GLOBALIZATION OR WESTERNIZATION?
• The idea of Westernization is deeply rooted in the
Western world where is often associated with the
Western culture and values
• This concept is famously used in referring to the
Western value system as it influences countries
outside its territory and sovereignty
• The world wide web (www)
QUALITIES AND CHRACTERISTICS OF
GLOBALIZATION
1. Creation and multiplication of social network and
cultural activities thus, breaking the traditional norms
and practices in political, economic, cultural realms
of most communities.
2. Expansion and stretching of social operations and
connections. This is reflected on how the financial
markets and trading operate around the globe.
3. Intensification and acceleration of human
activities. It describes how the process of world and
individual connection works.
4. Consciousness and awareness – people, as the
primary actors of globalization are the frontliners as
reflected in their experience.
CHAPTER 2
REALISM
• Focusses in the shifting distribution of power among
states.
• In the global context, there is also an issue of who
wields power among sovereign States; the core idea
of dominating the world is through the employment of
power.
• It affirms the idea that there is a shifting distribution
of power among States;
2 REASON WHY COUNTRIES OPEN THEIR
ECONOMIES
1. Financial returns of expanding markets offer new
economic opportunities to the capitalist
• Multinational corporation (MNC) – provides
additional profit and income to countries
where investments originated.
• Realists see economic alliance and
cooperation as a medium of flourishing
activities under favorable security conditions;
partnership
2. The continued centrality of political power and
military strength are obvious forces of
interdependence and realistic behavior of the more
and most powerful countries.
LIBERALISM
• Perspective in international relations where actors
and institutions emphasize relationship and
negotiations.
• Countries with democratic governance
LIBERAL ACCOUNTS DESCRIBE THE
TRANSFORMATION OF POLITICAL-ECONOMIC
STRUCTURE AND THE DEVELOPMENT OF GLOBAL
INTERCONNECTEDNESS IN TERMS OF THE FF:
1. Spread of Democracy and Institutions
• Not using harm threat to intimidate and
harm other nations.
• Rule of law; self-respect and social stability
• Transparency – measurement in sustaining
international cooperation and global
understanding.
• A country with weak political institution is
more likely to experience social and civil
unrest.
2. Global Economic Ties
• Liberals share common currency in
explaining globalization within the scope of
economic acceleration.
• They see economic ties and corporations
such as market integration and economic
alliances.
• Core belief: economic alliance and
integrating the domestic economy into
regional or economic bloc will deliver
prosperity and security.
3. International Organizations
• Liberals believe that the formation of
leading regional and international
organizations like global commerce and
governance are main instruments in the
maintenance of peace and solidarity.
• Following the international norms set by
international bodies; emphasizing the
importance of international institutions.
IDEALISM
• Guided by ethical and legal standards.
• Core belief: centrality of ideas and beliefs, emotions,
and collective values that shape the political and
economic landscape of the world.
• Value the importance of “appropriateness” and
“Transparency” in reshaping and framing rules
THE ROLES OF IDEAS AND TECHNOLOGY IN
GLOBALIZATION
• IDEAS – are non-material entities of culture
➢ Idealist always emphasize the significance of
ideas over material realities in realities of the
world.
➢ Realist claim that ideas matter and reality must
be accepted.
• KNOWLEDGE AND TECNOLOGY – they are
significant determinants of wealth and power.
• Innovations as a product of technological
development has rendered national borders
irrelevant in international system.
2 IMPORTANT INSTITUTIONS
1. Political institutions
2. Economic institutions
INSTITUTIONS
• consist norms, set of activities, regulative structures
that provide meaning and stability to the social
behavior of a group.
• A symbolic manifestation on the needs of society.
(Meyer and Rowan)
• Institutions will not be recognized as institution if it
does not shape the behavior of individuals.
(Giddens)
INTERANTIONAL INSTITUTIONS
• Are classified as intergovernmental organizations
that are formed by national governments.
• These are international formal org that sets rules
with the purpose of regulating the flow of
communication and movement of resources.
CHAPTER 3
GLOBALIZATION IN HISTORICAL PERSPECTIVE
(Thomas Friedman, Holton, Sholte, Lawson)
First phase (1492-1800)
• Period of mercantilism and the immediate rise of
British economy during the age of industrialization;
steam engine, printing press, railway system.
• The development of international networks and
regimes like the 1840 Anti-slavery Convention.
• The beginning of international fairs such as the
London World Fair of 1851.
• The establishment of the International Committee of
the Red Cross in 1863 (ICRC).
• The increasing formalization of International
relations through agreements and treaties of some
countries in Europe and the birth and formation of
new states.
• The significant increase in communication and
transportation; telegraph, telephone, radio, etc.
• The development of International competitions.
Second phase (1800 – 1950)
• World war II
• Formation of market integrations and the
institutionalizations of major economic activities in
the global market.
• The effect of Cold War and the rise of the Third
World in international arena.
• The increased attention to humanitarian works and
development aid.
• The introduction of global icons and American
consumerism.
Third phase (1950 – 2000)
• Influence of technology and internet; information age
• As part of modernity and the strong influences of
individuals to dictate the operation of global economy.
• Invention of first communication satellite
• The increasing power and influences of international
financial institutions; WB and IMF.
• The rapid rise of the US and the expansion of
investments and multinational firms from the western
world.
• The end of cold war and the formation of a new world
system and global order.
• The relative increase of social movements and global
civil society as well as transnational nongovernmental
organizations.
• The introduction of world wide web
• The increasing incidence of transnational crimes and
the growing role of migration in globalization.
• The rise of global attention given to environmental
concerns; global warming.
THREE DIMENSIONS OF GLOBALIZATION (Anthony
Giddens)
1. World Capitalist – as the primary force of globalization.
Capitalist states are the main engines of global
production and distribution of goods and services.
2. Nation State system – The concept of sovereignty in a
globalized world is understood as the best form of
asserting the and operation of a state in order to be
recognized.
3. World military – most states in the world have shifted its
focus in strengthening the military capability.
COLD WAR
• “First world”, “Second world”, “Third world”
• This period of bloodless conflict lasted 45 years
between US and Soviet Union.
• The conflict was caused by the aggressive behavior
and domestic policies of Soviet Union prompting other
countries esp. the US.
• “Russia on the march” – Henry Kissinger
• The cold war was a result of the United States
economic system of expansionist-capitalism.
• The war was a consequence of security response from
the two countries on the power vacuum and threat of
central Europe.
• US won through arms race and deterrence that
bankrupted Soviet Union.
First World
• Powerful economies and having stable governments,
robust financial markets, advanced and modern
infrastructure, low poverty rates, and high standard of
living; US, Canada, Australia, Japan, Singapore, etc.
• The wealth and economic stability of a first world
country could be used in influencing the economic
operations as well as influencing key decisions in
international arena like UN and WTO.
Second World
• Soviet Union, China and allies were parts of the second
world during cold war.
• This idea of world order is associated with the role of
political and military power during cold war.
• The communist countries of the second world are found
to be trapped between poverty and prosperity.
Third World
• Neutral and non-aligned countries
• The use of this category of world order is less
appealing now because scholars prefer to describe
countries as less developed and developing economy
or global south as part of political and economic
condition of the world.
• Third world has challenges in political spectrum of
institutional-building; these includes human rights,
freedom and democracy, dictatorship and repressive
regime.
• The third world is having governments that demand and
receive aid from the first world.
CHAPTER 4