Republic of the Philippines

Commission on Higher Education

Region VIII – Eastern Visayas
Samar Colleges, Inc.
Catbalogan City

READINGS ON THE CONTEMPORARY WORLD

INSTRUCTOR: Ms. Jennifer D. Pabilada
(Compiled)

Many 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 a very important change, if not, the “most important” (Bauman, 2003).

So, what is globalization? This is question is probably an easy one to answer. However, many scholars gave
and tired to formulate its definition. 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.

❖ TASK OF DEFINING GLOBALIZATION

The literature in the definitions of globalization revealed that definitions could be classified as either (1)
broad and inclusive or (2) narrow and exclusive.

Broad and inclusive is best exemplified to the one offered by Ohmae in 1992 stated, “globalization means
the onset of the borderless world”. 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 inclusive 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: “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).

Broad and Inclusive Definition

Broad and Inclusive Globalization is describing the opportunity by which people or factors behind a certain
development in a country benefit as well. In a nutshell, broad and inclusive globalization gives everyone a
chance to participate in a management in a such way that the perspectives or plans a country has
reflected in their policies.

Advantages of Broad and Inclusive Globalization

• Equal opportunities for everyone.

• Secured opportunities for everyone.
• growth for the countries.
 • Development of the nations.

Disadvantages of Broad and Inclusive Globalization

• Reshaping of government institutions to cater for everyone.

• Economic processes need to be reorganized.
• Social processes require reorganization.
• Failure to focus on the country's own people and policies.

Narrow and Exclusive Definition

In the English language, exclusivity is the restriction or the limitation within the group, area or people. in
terms of globalization, narrow and exclusive means that the focus of the globalization would be limited to
the country alone.

Advantages of Narrow and Exclusive Globalization

• Focuses on the development of the country.

• Enhancement of the policies in a country.
• Supported by people.
• Gives importance to the people and the cultures inside the country.

Disadvantages of Narrow and Exclusive Globalization

• Result to trade wars with other countries.

• Limited perspective.
• Failure to establish connections with other countries.

❖ METAPHORS OF GLOBALIZATION
Global liquidity came into existence by the increase and development of globalization itself. As the world
progressed and moved on to more advanced methods, it left behind traditional “solid” values or terms for
a more liquid life.

By solid or solidity, Bauman refers to being immobile, unable to adapt, and limited to specific traditional
values or norms. With the rise of global liquidity or globalization- people, forces, or industries all over the
world have become more flexible. Such as they’re more mobile, readily able to communicate, travel, and
adapt to changes, they have the power to shape their lives according to their wants and the world right
now.

Solidity suggests barriers that either slow movement or no change are all that is possible.

Liquid is a state of matter, that takes the shape of its container, which means liquids are not fixed;
therefore, it refers to the increasing ease of movement of people, things, information & places in the
contemporary. world.

Characteristics of Liquidity

There are several characteristics of liquidity, which are as follows:

• The liquid does not have a fixed shape; it cannot contain one particular shape for too long, and it
changes according to the situation or circumstances.
• It is not fixed or penned down, whether in space or in time.
 • The most crucial characteristic of liquidity is time; the concept of liquidity does not wait for anyone;
time can make or destroy the said person/business/state.
• Liquid phenomena cannot be restricted, limited, or stopped at all. The entire point of liquidity is to
flow through any or all barriers. One cannot limit the activities of foreign trade, financial
transactions, or the exchange or drugs; it is inevitable and will happen one way or another.

❖ GLOBALIZATION THEORIES
HOMOGENEITY – refers to the increasing sameness in the world as cultural inputs,
economic factors and political orientations of societies.

HOMOGENEITY IN ECONOMY – refers to the recognition of the spread of idea

about neoliberalism, capitalism and the market economy in the world.

HOMOGENEITY IN POLITICAL REALM – is as if one takes into account the emerging

similar political models of governance in the world.

Disadvantage of homogeneity
- Stiglitz (2002), blamed the International Monetary Fund (IMF) for its “one-
size-fits-all” approach which treats every country in the world as the same. In
the end, rich countries become advantageous in the world economy at the
expense of poor countries, which leads to inequality among nations.
HETEROGENEITY pertains to the creation of various cultural practices, new
economies, and political groups because of the interaction of elements from
different societies in the world.
HETEROGENEITY refers to the differences because of either lasting difference of the
hybrid or combinations of cultures that can be produced through the different
processes.

It is associated with cultural hybridization.

Glocalization is the combination of the words “globalization” and “localization”

used to describe a product or service that is developed and distributed globally, but
is also fashioned to accommodate the user or consumer in a local market. It is the
interpretation of the global and the local, resulting in unique outcomes in different
geographic areas. Glocalization focuses on the uniqueness and differences within
and between areas of the world; individuals have room to express themselves in
order to adapt, innovate, and maneuver within a glocalized (coined by Roland
Robertson, 1992) world.
❖ DYNAMICS OF LOCAL AND GLOBAL CULTURE
Three Perspectives on Global Cultural Flows
1. Cultural differentialism emphasizes the fact that cultures are essentially different and are only
superficially affected by global flows.

The interaction of the culture is deemed to contain the potential for catastrophic collision (theory
on the class of the civilization of Samuel Huntington in 1996) – conflict. [Christianity vs Muslim]

2. Cultural hybridization approach emphasizes the integration of local and global cultures.
“hybrid” – mix or combination.

Key concept is the glocalization of Roland Robertson in 1992

Another key concept is the theory of Arjun Appadurai’s “Scapes” in 1996, where global flows
involve people, technology, finance, political image and media, and the disjuncture between them
which lead to the creation of cultural hybrid.

3. Cultural convergence approach stresses homogeneity introduced by globalization. 2 or more things

come together to form new things.

“Con” - together

“deterritorialization” – means that it is much more difficult to tire culture to a specific georgraphic
point of origin.
Example: The song “GENTO” may have a KPOP genre but the language used is Filipino. Foreigners
may find it difficult to trace the origin or country point of the song.