SAN JOSE COMMUNITY COLLEGE

San Jose, Malilipot, Albay

Course Title: The Contemporary World
Course Description:
This course introduces students to the contemporary world by examining the multifaceted phenomenon of
globalization. Using the 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 debates in global
governance, development, and sustainability. Beyond exposing the student to the world outside the Philippines, it seeks
to inculcate a sense of global citizenship and global ethical responsibility.
This course includes mandatory topics on population education in the context of population and demography.

Title: Defining Globalization

Learning Outcomes:
At the end of the modules the students should be able to
1. Distinguish different interpretations of and approaches to globalization.
2. Analyze contemporary news events in the context of globalization
3. Articulate personal positions on various local issues.
Introduction
Much has changed since time immemorial. Human beings have encountered many changes over the last century
especially in their social relationships and social structures. Of these changes, one can say that globalization is very
important change, if not, the “most important” (Bauman, 2003). The reality and omnipresence of globalization makes
us see ourselves as part of what we refer to as the “global age” (Albrow, 1996). The Internet, for example, allows a
person from the Philippines to know what is happening to the rest of the world simply by browsing Google. The mass
media also allows for connections among people, communities, and countries all over the globe.
So what is globalization? This question is probably an easy one to answer. However, many scholars gave and
tried to formulate its definitions. This resulted in different, sometimes contradicting views about the concept. It cannot
be contained within a specific time frame, all people, and all situations (Al-Rhodan, 2006). Aside from this, globalization
encompasses a multitude of processes that involves the economy, political systems, and culture. Social structures,
therefore, are directly affected by globalization.
Over the years, globalization has gained many connotations pertaining to progress, development, and
integration. On the other hand, some view globalization as a positive phenomenon. For instance, Swedish journalist
Thomas Larsson (2001) saw globalization as “the process of world shrinkage, of distances getting shorter, things
moving closer. It pertains to the increasing ease with which somebody on one side of the world can interact, to mutual
benefit with somebody on the other side of the world”. On the other hand, some see it as occurring through and with
regression, colonialism, and destabilization. In the mid-1990s, Martin Khor, the former president of Third World
Network (TWN) in Malaysia, once regarded globalization as colonization.
The Task of Defining Globalization
Since its first appearance in the Webster’s Dictionary in 1961, many opinions about globalization have
flourished. The literature on the definitions of globalization revealed that definitions could be classified as either (1)
broad and inclusive or (2) narrow and exclusive. The one offered by Ohmae in 1992 stated, “… globalization means the
onset of the borderless world…” This is an example of a broad and inclusive type of definition. If one uses such, it can
include a variety of issues that deal with overcoming traditional boundaries. However, it does not shed light on the
implications of globalization due to its vagueness.
Narrow and exclusive definitions are better justified but can be limiting, in the sense that their application
adhere to only particular definitions. Robert Cox’s definition suits best in this type: “the characteristics of the
globalization trend include the internationalizing of production, the new international division of labor, new migratory
movements from South to North, the new competitive environment that accelerates these processes, and the
internationalizing of the state… making states into agencies of the globalizing world” (as cited in RAWOO Netherlands
Development Assistance Research Council, 2000, p.14).
No matter how one classifies a definition of globalization, the concept is complex and multifaceted as the
definitions deal with either economic, political, or social dimensions. In fact, in a comprehensive study of 114 definitions
by the Geneva Center for Security Policy (GCSP) in 2006, 67 of them refer to economic dimension. These definition
include political and social dimensions as well.
A more recent definition was given by Ritzer (2015), “globalization is a transplanetary process or a set of process
involving increasing liquidity and the growing multidirectional flows of people, objects, places, and information as well as
the structures they encounter and create that are barriers to, or expedite, those flows…”. Generally, this definition
assumes that globalization could bring either or both integration and/or fragmentation. Although things flow easily in a
global world, hindrances or structural blocks are also present. These blocks could slow down one’s activity in another
country or could even limit the place a person can visit.
If so, why are we going to spend time studying this concept? How can we appreciate these definitions? How can
these help us understand globalization?
First, the perspective of the person who defines globalization shapes its definition. The overview of definition
implies that globalization is many things to many different people. For example, of one sees globalization as positive, the
person can say that it is a unifying force. On the other hand, if it is deemed as creating greater inequalities among
nations, globalization is negatively treated.
Second, to paraphrase the sociologist Cesare Poppi: Globalization is the debate and the debate is globalization.
One became part and parcel of the other. As Poppi (1997) wrote: “ The literature stemming from the debate on
globalization has grown in the last decade beyond any individual’s capability of extracting a workable definition of the
concept. In a sense, the meaning of the concept is self-evident, in another, it is vague and obscure as its reaches are
wide and constantly shifting. Perhaps, more than any other concept, globalization is the debate about it” (as cited in
Kumar, 2003)
Third, globalization is a reality. It is changing as human society develops. It has happened before and is still
happening today. We should expect it to continue to happen in the future. The future of globalization is more difficult to
predict. What we could expect in the coming years is what has happened over the past 50 years and that is the fluidity
and complexity of globalization as a concept, which made more debates, discussions, and definitions than agreements
on it.
Overall, globalization is a concept that is not easy to define because in reality, globalization has a shifting nature.
It is complex, multifaceted, and can be influenced by the people who define it. Moreover, the issue and concerns
involving globalization have a wide range- from the individual to society, from small communities to nation and states,
and from the benefits we can gain from it to the cost it could carry. In his article, “The Globalization of Nothing”, Ritzer
(2003) said,” attitudes towards globalization depend, among other things, on whether one gains or loses from it”.
Nevertheless, the task of defining globalization should stimulate more discussions about it. More importantly, the fact
that we experience globalization should give one the interest of engaging in the study of it.
Process Questions
1. What are the different interpretations of and approaches to globalization?
2. What are the advantages and disadvantages of using (a) broad and inclusive definition and (b) narrow and
exclusive definitions of globalization?
3. What do you think is the importance of defining globalization?
Activity 1
Personal Concept Map of Globalization:
Students will engage in a free association exercise of ideas they associates with “globalization” and list down
words/concepts. Based on the concepts they list, they will make a concept map and synthesize a personal definitions of
the concept.
Rubrics :
Content 3 points
Organization 3 points
Explanation 4 points
Total: 10 Points

Activity 2: News Report Critique

Students will find and read three news paper (local or international) discussing globalization. On a bond paper, they will
write summaries of each news, identifying what the underlying definitions of globalization the news writer use.

Activity 3: Four Pictures in One Word

Articulate personal position on various local/ global issues using four pictures

Resources: The Contemporary World by Prince Kennex Reguyal Aldama, Hand outs on Defining Globalization

Sir Rodel Baral