MULTIPLE GLOBALIZATIONS

Kinds of Globalization according to Arjun Apparudai (Heyman & Campbell, 2009)

(1) Ethnoscape-Global Movement of People, migration of people across
cultures and borders
(2) Mediascape-Flow of culture, use of media that shapes the way we
understand our imagined world
(3) Technoscape-Circulation of mechanical goods and software, cultural
interactions due to the promotion of technology
(4) Financescape-Global circulation of money, flux of capital across
borders
(5) Ideoscape-Realm where political ideas move around, global flow of
ideology

GLOBALIZATION-Process, Condition, or Ideology

Globalization as Process: changes in technology as well as in many aspects of human
existence ranging from cultural, economic and political systems that have brought a multi-
dimensional set of social processes that escalate deepening connections, worldwide
interdependence and social exchanges among people from all different parts of the world.

Globalization as Condition: Creation of linkages between people located at different

corners of the planet characterized by cultural, economic, and political interconnections
and global flows, which make any kind of barrier (be it political or economic) insignificant.

Globalization as Ideology: Explains that globalization exists in people’s minds because

of a set of coherent and complementary ideas and beliefs about the global order as
defined by six (6) core claims:
1. Globalization is about the liberalization and global integration of markets.
“Globalization is about the triumph of markets over governments. Proponents and
opponents of globalization agree that the driving force today is markets, inducing
the role of government. “The driving idea behind globalization is free-market
capitalism — the more you let market forces rule and the more you open your
economy to free trade and competition, the more efficient your economy will be.
Globalization means the spread of free-market capitalism to virtually every country
in the world

“The driving idea behind globalization is free-market capitalism — the more you let
market forces rule and the more you open your economy to free trade and

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 competition, the more efficient your economy will be. Globalization means the
spread of free-market capitalism to virtually every country in the world

As Joan Spiro (US Undersecretary of the State for Economic, Business, and
Agricultural Affairs in the Clinton Administration) put it, “One role [of government]
is to get out of the way — to remove barriers to the free flow of goods, services
and capital” (in Steger, 2009).

2. Globalization is inevitable and irreversible.

Manuel Villar, the former Philippines Speaker of the House of Representatives,
insisted that, “We cannot simply wish away the process of globalization. It is a
reality of a modern world. The process is irreversible.” Former President Clinton
on his speech on US Foreign Policy told the audience that: “Today we must
embrace the inexorable logic of globalization – that everything from the strength of
our economy to the safety of our cities, to the health of our people, depends on
events not only within our borders, but half way a world away.” Frederick W. Smith,
Chairman and CEO of FedEx Corporation proclaimed that, “Globalization is
inexorable and it is accelerating… Globalization is happening, it’s going to happen.
It does not matter whether you like it or not, it’s happening, it’s going to happen”
(in Steger, 2009).
3. Nobody is in-charge of Globalization
The third claim is founded on the classical liberal concept of the ‘self-regulating
market.’ The connection between ‘globalization-market’ and the adjoining idea of
’leaderlessness’ is plain and simple. As Steger (2009) puts it, “if the undisturbed
workings of the market indeed preordain a certain course of history, then
globalization does not reflect the arbitrary agenda of a particular social class or
group. In other words, globalists are not ‘in charge’ in the sense of imposing their
own political agenda on people. Rather, they merely carry out the unalterable
imperatives of a transcendental force much larger than narrow partisan interests.
Robert Hormats, Vice Chairman of Goldman Sachs, asserted that: “The great
beauty of globalization is that no one is in control. The great beauty of globalization
is that it is not controlled by any individual, any government, any institution.” In fact,
the meetings, the groups, the foundations, that all work on spreading neoliberal
principles and new world order principles have been deeply rooted in ancient
history.
4. Globalization benefits everyone (in the long run)
The characteristics of globalization are found to have led to expansion of wealth
and prosperity in the world. For those who have embraced globalization,
opportunities for growth and progress have opened up. With free trade and free
markets, societies may be lifted out of poverty while individual nations work hand
in hand with their respective regions and the entire global trading community to

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 build a world that trades in freedom and therefore grow in success (in Steger,
2009).
5. Globalization furthers the spread of democracy in the world.
There exists a similarity between the terms freedom, free markets, free trade and
democracy. Francis Fukuyama asserts that there is a correlation between a
country’s economic development and successful democracy (which actually
resulted from globalization). This democracy leads to the creation of civil societies
with a powerful middle class that will facilitate democracy (in Steger, 2009).
6. Globalization requires a global war on terror
This last claim combines the idea of economic globalization with openly militaristic
and nationalistic ideas associated with the American-led global War on Terror.
Before the September 11 attack, the economic globalization was dominated mainly
by Western Europe, US and Japan. These core states were challenged by Al
Qaeda’s Bin Laden during the 9-11 attack. Globalists believe that an aggressive,
militaristic US foreign policy will protect the gains of globalization. (in Steger, 2009).
Again, globalization is not so easy to define. The flourishing literature about
globalization has resulted in several approaches or theories that provide diverse
ways of interpreting the said social phenomenon. While there exists many
contradicting assumptions about it, it is best to discuss the major theories to give
us a clear view of globalization.

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