Pamela N.

Mahinay The Contemporary World

PS201 Mr. Edwin Padrilanan

Establish the major arguments of the proponents of each of the paradigms

presented in class. which of these paradigms do you think is the most practical in
their validity based on your understanding of their applicability on actual historical
antecedents? discuss fully.

MAJOR ARGUMENTS OF EACH PARADIGMS:

WORLD SYSTEM PARADIGM

An encounter to world history and social change that proposes a global economic
system in which some countries benefit while others suffer. In this approach, it
subdivides the world into three dimensions: core, semi-periphery, and periphery
countries. Core countries are distinguished by high levels of industrialization and
urbanization wherein it became dominant capitalist countries that extort labor and
raw materials from periphery countries. They possess enormous control over global
trade and economic agreements. On the other hand, Semi-periphery countries
mediates between core and peripheral nation and it is characterized as less developed
compared to the core nation but more advanced than peripheral countries. In this
case, it exploits peripheral countries while being exploited by core countries. Lastly,
the periphery countries are denoted as underdeveloped nation, heavily exploited and
highly reliant on core countries as it is characterized as nation with low technology
development, illiteracy, agrarianism, weak military, unstable government, and high
poverty-rate. Therefore, in correlation to the core, it has no major impacts on the
world market. Basically, it focuses on how rise and fall of the state, inequality of
income, social unrest and imperialism affects the nation’s economic progress.

SPACE, TIME AND GLOBALIZATION

According to an English sociologist and psychologist Antony Giddens, time and space
are being separated. He mentioned in this theory the notion of TIME SPACE
DISTANCIATION which refers to the stretching or extension of social interactions
across time and space. It aims to address how different factors affect the way of how
people define the space and time. Based on this theory, time is something to be filled
and space is to be annihilated. As we do activities, we fulfilled the time and occupy
the space. As the conceptualization changes, it alters the dynamics of interaction
hence it is possible to interact across the world even though we are not in the same
time and place despite the distance. It is the spread of relation across time and space
caused by human advancements such as innovations of technologies, economic
relations, and cultural interactions across the world. This dispersal has been aided in
the modern era by globalization, which is supported by new modes of transport and
communication such as space crafts, satellites, air freight, commercial shipping and
information technology. These cost - effective ways of space-time and allows new
forms of spatial distribution to emerge all over the world. On the other hand, David
Harvey formulates the concept of TIME SPACE COMPRESSION which analyzes
different phenomena in place, space and scale. Time space compression is also
defined as acceleration of economic activities that breaks the spatial barriers and
distances. It leads to the interconnectedness of the world into remarkable changes.
According to Harvey, through globalization, capitalist has more opportunities to
expand their productions as they are no longer limited by time and space. With time
space compression, we can feel that we are less distant between each other across
the world because of the technology advancements such as the convenient brought
by the internet. To sum it up, Gidden and Harvey’s perspective has differences and
similarities. On one hand, Gidden’s notion of Time space distanciation is more
sociological in nature wherein he focuses on how local and worldwide social relations
give impacts to each other. In this case, physical interactions are no longer required
with people distant from them in order to dominate them. It becomes a theoretical
paradigm which disregards spatial barriers as the social relations stretched out the
globe. On the other hand, Harvey’s Time space compression is economic in nature.
His theory suggests that globalization has allowed a shrinking world that greatly
benefits capitalism. Despite of the differences of these two theories in nature, both
agrees that globalization will be minimized if the barriers will not be extract by the
time and space.

TRANSNATIONALISM

This refers to the various ties and interconnections that connect various people and
institutions across national borders. It also refers to the international exchange of
citizens, ideologies, technology, and money between nations. It includes the
economic influences of global corporations, also known as transnationals, as well as
development organizations between governments. This theory argues a loss of
control over a nation-borders, state's inhabitants, and territory. According to William
Robinson, the main concepts addressed by transnational analyses involve economic
globalization, state transnationalization, classes, political systems, and culture. It is
frequently serves as a vehicle for globalization. When transnationalism combined with
the ideology of globalization, it is commonly results in changes to the economic,
socio-cultural, and political characteristics of all countries involved. This approach
presented 3 major types of transnationalism: Economic, socio-cultural, and political
transnationalism. Economic transnationalism refers to the flow of money and human
capital across national borders. For example, migrants send much of money they
earn back to their home country. Both sending and receiving countries getting
benefitted from these exchanges. On the other hand, socio-cultural or immigrant
transnationalism includes a number of different interactions in which foreign-born
residents exchange social and cultural ideas and concepts across national borders on
a regular basis. This can range from immigrants remaining politically active in their
home country, including voting, to actually standing for election. This paradigm is a
way of explaining the migrants, complicated economic relationships, and culturally
diverse communities that are increasingly determining the modern world.

NETWORK, SOCIETY SCHOOL OF THOUGHT

Network Society is affiliated with the understanding of globalization's social

inferences and, as a result, with use of telecommunications in society. The growth of
network society is primarily focused on network society theory rather than network
society history. Manuel Castells expound that economic growth is defined as a
network of production, culture, and power that is constantly shaped by advancements
in technology ranging from communication technologies to genetic manipulation.
According to Castells, in order to embrace these new technologies, the rules of global
capitalism must be modified. He presented three main trends that started in the late
1970’s for the emergence of network society: The first one was Microelectronics and
the Information Technology Revolution; The second one was the industrial crisis in
both capitalist and authoritarian societies; Third and last was the huge cultural
challenge presented by the birth of social movements in the late 1960s. Network
society is formed across new non-geographically bound forms of time and space:
Timelessness and the flow of space. Castells recognizes that while social networks
are not new, the variance in a network society is that social networks are powered
by microelectronic communication technologies such as the internet or mobile
phones. As Castell is generally optimistic about the network society, considering a
concept that it will lead to a more integrated, productive, embracing, and accessible
global society, he applies this theory to information-age social structures dominated
by decentralized networks instead of hierarchical and bureaucratic institutions.
 GLOBAL CULTURE PARADIGM

According to John Spacey, global culture is a communal experience of norms,

symbols, and ideas that correspond to a global level or standard wherein countries
adjust as a result of constant development in order to improve their standard of living
and adhere to global standards. Under this concept, it was mentioned three
perspectives: Cultural Differentialism, Cultural Hybridization, and Cultural
Convergence. Cultural Differentialism entails barriers that prevent flows that serve
to centralize cultures. Cultures tend to be diametrically opposed to one another.
Countries that adopt this viewpoint are ethnocentric and centered on their own
culture. For example, one of the leading countries, China, strictly patronizes their
own brand names, which range from cell devices to their own version of YouTube
called Youku. On the other hand, Cultural Hybridization is a culture mixing and
integration of global and local cultures that can contribute unique combinations. In
this case, locally present cultures within the country are combined with global
cultures. Chicken Sopas, for example, is a popular Filipino dish served in fast food
restaurants such as Jollibee. Another perspective is Cultural Convergence wherein
when cultures are subjected to many of the same global flows, they tend to become
more similar. It portrays that the more cultures collide or interact, the more their
values, ideologies, behaviors, and customs begin to duplicate one another. Certain
aspects of global cultures, such as technology, have become the most prominent
descriptors of countries. For instance, mobile phones, are indeed advantageous for
instant communication and information retrieval. This is why, in today's world, most
countries are preoccupied with technology. In conclusion, this paradigm argues that
each countries have their own different ways of handling cultures brought about by
globalization. Some embraces changes while some develop purely by their own roots.

GLOBAL CAPITALISM

Global capitalism is a fascinating study in the relationship between human

socialization and societal development. In the perspective of global capitalism, one
can observe a pessimistic view of one culturally homogenized world and an even
more relativistic postcolonial theory of a general disbandment of the modernity. This
concept entails that free and open economic structure connects people from all over
the world together to promote production innovations, facilitate cultural and
knowledge interactions, and to generate employment opportunities to struggling
economies around the world, and provide consumers with an abundant supply of
affordable commodities. However, while many people benefit from global capitalism,
many others, though not the majority, do not. Even highly privileged individuals in
global capitalism may come to believe that they lack sufficient resources to control
the perceptions they wish to control. As capitalism enhances those who are at the
possible cost of the many, leading to conflict over resources such as food, water,
land, employment opportunities, and other manpower. It also generates political
conflict over the system's characterizing conditions and relations of production, such
as worker strikes and public protests, and uprisings against economical destruction.
Conflict caused by global capitalism can be inconsistent, quick, or long-term, but it is
frequently threatening and costly to people's lives despite of duration.

MARXISM THEORY

This is one of the political theories that focuses on how social classes, money, means
of productions affects the society. It is a social, political, and economic
conceptualization introduced by Karl Marx. Marx and Engels develop this theory
because they were able to notice that there are conflicts between social classes and
economic progress within a society. In this case, Marx argues that the society was
divided into two categories: ruling class and working class. Under the ruling class,
are the ones who have the properties, economic supremacy or what they called
“bourgeoisies”. On the other hand, working class are distinguished as wage-earner
people who are being exploited by the capitalists in ruling class. They are called
“proletariats”. Before this theory developed, conflict of inequalities between social
classes were indeed visible in the society. Therefore, Marx and Engels want to end
this social conflict by upgrading the status of proletariats. This theory argues for the
revolution to destroy the barrier economic supremacy of capitalists towards the
workers. This approach wants to eradicate economic power control over social
institutions as Marxism wants to modify and create a change on how social classes
play a role in economic progress in the society. Basically, this theory was formulated
to promote equality.

POLITICAL REALISM

This approach was presented as a theoretical framework for explaining, sculpting,

and administering political interactions. The primary goal of political change, whether
domestic or foreign, is assumed to be control. It is also a collection of interconnected
theories of international relations that highlights the relationship between the state,
national interests, and power in global politics. Based on how they see the root causes
of interstate conflict, realism can be divided into three categories: Classical realists,
neorealists, and neoclassical realists. Power or interest is the fundamental concept
that differentiate politics as a distinct discipline. It also indicates that states should
avoid moral battles or ideological violent confrontations in order to avoid disputes,
and instead seek agreement based solely on the fulfillment of their common goals.
According to Morgenthau's six realism principles that contain repetitions and
inconsistencies, we can present the major picture from them wherein power or
interest is the fundamental concept that distinguishes politics as distinct discipline.
On the other hand, Morgenthau does not follow Machiavelli's approach of completely
separating ethics from politics. He claims that, despite being political animals who
pursue their own interests, individuals are moral animals. He also believes that
political behavior has moral value even when it is not guided by universal moral
standards and it requires extra care and is ultimately aimed at achieving national
emergence. The most prominent theory in international relations is realism.
Globalization is associated with both Western and American culture. Both realism and
globalization have distinct conceptualizations of their processes. Political Realism
links its ideas to Globalization in the notion that the 21st century is becoming more
realistic.

- From all those different paradigms presented above, I can say that the most
relevant and applicable in our today’s society from our history was the Marxism
Theory. During the early Filipino era, there are already divisions between
people based on their status. The society can be distinguished and separated
according to these social classes: The Maginoo which known as noble or ruling
class; Timawa which characterized as freeman class; Maharlika are classified
as warrior class; Alipin who are known as the indentured class in the society.
Just like in the society before Marxism was established, the people can be said
to be divided into groups: Ruling class (bourgeoisie) and the Working Class
(proletariats). The Ruling class are the ones who have the economic supremacy
and mostly the owner of the means of productions or what they called
capitalist. On the other hand, working class are the people who are getting
paid by the bourgeoisie, basically they are the wage-earners. During the 19th
century, there’s no equality between the capitalist and workers within a
community therefore, Marxists want to modify and create a change on how
social classes affect the society. This approach aims to promote equality
regardless of what social class the people were.

Nevertheless, in our today’s generation, there’s still inevitable inequality

between people and our society. However, there’s a progress and change on
how we define social classes in our modern society. Through this paradigm,
we can see that there’s a big change when it comes to the treatment of people
with economic supremacy towards the working people. For example, the owner
of the business gives enough wage and salary for their employees. Is it
 because as globalization simultaneously evolves as time passes by and there
are various dimensions that also become intensified. As political globalization
occurs, the growth and expansion of political system also took place. As we
can see in our present situation, today’s capitalism is less exploitive because
of the help of the emerging globalized political complex such as established
rights and laws pertaining to economic equalities. I believed that this paradigm
led to break the barriers that hinders the impartiality of people based on social
classes towards the society which is indeed relevant in our today’s world.

What is the relationship between globalization and the nation-state? In the course of
the development of globalization, is it imperative to claim that the role of the state
has been undermined or is it the other way around? discuss your answer fully.

A nation-state is an organizational system in which people with a collective

culture live within a country with firm territorial boundaries and a solitary state. On
the other hand, Globalization has become an important aspect of contemporary social
relationships as it refers to the expansion of various facets such as business, politics,
and every aspect of people's lives. It leads to an increased interdependence among
countries, implying that the world is becoming more unified and standardized.
However, there is a close relationship between the two: The most important aspect
of this concept is the intensification of global consciousness, which means that
globalization instills in people a sense of unity with the world as Nation-state bonds
with culture, history, language, territory, nationality, and even religion.

Economic growth in globalization is frequently driven by rapid technological

developments and alteration in information technology and communication within a
nation-state. Globalization has indeed continued to exist, but it became a much
accelerated and more intense process than the past. The dilemma here is whether
the globalization undermines the nation state and the national economic control.

Globalists argue that the growing number of powerful superstate forces, as

well as global crisis such as environmental issues, enterprises, terrorism, foreign non-
governmental organizations, and means of communication such as the Internet, have
undermined nation-state supremacy. Skeptics argue that the nation-state remains
important, and that we somehow live in an international community rather than a
globally integrated one in which the nation-state is expected to undermine. They
believe that nation-states are modifying in response to globalization's demands and
complexities. However, Globalization should not be viewed in opposition to the
nation-state system because it both causes and results in state transformation.
Trace the development of the concept of modern globalization since it first appeared
in the 1940s. what were the factors that have led to its development as a full-blown
approach and integrated body of knowledge? what makes globalization a contested
concept? explain fully.

With the discovery of America (1492) and the voyage to Africa (1498),
globalization begins around 1492-1498. The nineteenth century have seen a
substantial growth in globalization. It goes back even further. Before the nineteenth
century, the world economy was fragmented and totally deglobalized. The nineteenth
century saw a significant increase in globalization wherein it called “big globalization
bang”. There has been a variety of evolution through the eras according to Kevin H.
O’Rourke and Jeffery G. Williamson in “When Did Globalization happen?” which has
become a factor in the development of globalization. Prior to the 18th century during
the first era, long-distance trade was strictly limited to non-competing goods. As
these goods have no alternatives in importing countries, exchange in these goods
seemed to have no effect on domestic production. Their presence or absence had no
influence on the wealthy's standard of living. The second era begins in the early
nineteenth century with the rise of trade in essential competing goods. Long-distance
trading partners experienced a significant income distribution effect as a result of
globalization forces. The third era recognizes the exchange of both basic and highly
differentiated manufactured goods. It is characterized by the increasing dominance
of skills and new technologies.

The advanced process of globalization most likely began around the middle of
the nineteenth century, while increased capital and labor mobility, combined with
lower transportation costs resulted in a smaller world. However, since globalization
increases trade volume, it seems rational to use market volume to estimate
globalization: if volume of trade grows, it must be because of globalization. All of
those eras that was mentioned above, form the concept of the development and
process of globalization from the beginning up until now. As time passes by, different
occurrences marked our history which influenced our present economy. Although the
development of globalization is not that immediate despite of all those progress and
expansions across the world it still plays a significant part on the global economy,
but only in a long run. As globalization also requires the dismantling of monopolies,
the control of long-distance trade, a technological revolution that creates
transportation convenient and easy, giving rise in domestic price changes and
resource reallocation.
 Globalization becomes a contested concept because of different evidences
presented from the past. Various historians with different perspectives, contradictory
and competing views expressing different ideologies. Several arguments become the
basis of the wide idea of globalization. The globe is shrinking while our goods and
markets are being expanded by the development of new technologies, new
inventions, and services as globalization is defined as complex and multifaceted that
deals with various dimensions of factors that affect our modern phenomena.

Define the following terms:

a. Globalization:
It refers to how trade and technology have made the world a more connected
and interdependent. Globalization encompasses the economic and social
changes that have contributed as well.

b. Globalism:
It focuses on understanding all of the present world's interconnections and to
wider range that underpin and justify them. While it is most commonly
associated with world-systems, it can also be used to describe other global
trends.

c. Economic Development:
Defined as the development of affluence that results in advantages. It is more
than an employment creation program, an opportunity to invest in the
expansion of your market and the prosperity and wellbeing for all citizens.

d. Economic Integration:
Economic integration is an international convention between countries that
generally involves reducing or elimination of trade barriers as well as the
collaboration of fiscal and monetary policies. It is also often referred to as
globalization because it occurs frequently among neighboring countries.

e. Connectivity:
The state of being bonded, intertwined or connected. On the other hand, it is
the ability to establish a link between two or more points in a system.

f. Network Society:
The Network Society is a form of future environment wherein widespread
internet connectivity motivates individuals and community transformation.
g. Time-space distanciation and compression:
Time-space distanciation refers to the expansion or stretching of social
interactions and systems across time and space as a result of developments in
human transportation and communication strategies, and thus socialization.
Whereas, Time-space compression refers to the set of systems that affect the
relative distances among places to bid.

h. Political realism:
Refers to the collection of related theories of international relations that
focuses on the role of the state, national interests, and power in global politics.
A political philosophy that attempts to explain, concept, and propose political
relationships.

i. Transnationalism:
It refers to the spread and intensification of social, political, and economic
processes between and even beyond nation-state sovereign authority
boundaries.

j. Mcdonaldization of societies: It refers to the growing presence of the fast-

food business concept in general populace institutions. This concept can be
described as the sense for which fast-food restaurant principles have been
returning to dominate even more industries of previous idea about the
international homogenization of cultures due to the globalization.