Lesson 1: Globalization
- Oldest known international trade route (130
Contemporary World – Modern World (world is an
abstract concept)
Contemporary world – Globalization
Globalization
o intensification and expansion of the
interaction of people, states or
countries through the growth of the
international flow of money, ideas,
products and culture.
o primarily focused on the economic
process of integration that has social
and cultural aspects
Why study CONTEMPORARY WORLD?
a) To cure parochialism
b) To teach us more about ourselves
c) We will be interacting to it
Types of Globalization (Anthropologist Arjun
Appadurai)
a) Ethnoscape – global movement of people
b) Mediascape – flow of culture
c) Technoscape – flow of mechanical goods
and softwares
d) Financescape – global circulation of money
e) Ideoscape – flow of ideas mostly political
ideas
Lesson 2: Globalization of World Economy
Economic Globalization
- The International Monetary Fund (IMF)
regards “economic globalization” as a
historical process representing the result of
human innovation and technological
process.
- characterized by the increasing integration
of economies around the world through the
movement of goods, services and capital
across borders. These changes are the
product of people, organizations,
institutions and technologies.
Silk Road
BCE to 1453BCE);
- Silk Road was international, but not truly
“global” because it had no ocean routes that
could reach the American continent.
Dennis O. Flynn and Arturo Giraldez
- age of globalization began when “all
important populated continents began to
continuously trade to each other and had a
great impact to all countries concern.”
- traced this back to 1571 with the
establishment of the galleon trade that
connected Manila in the Philippines and
Acapulco in Mexico.
Galleon Trade
- part of the age or MERCANTILISM
- countries, primarily in Europe, competed
with one another to sell more goods as
means to boost their country’s income
(called monetary reserves later on).
- To defend their products from competitors
who sold goods more cheaply, these
regimes (mainly monarchies) imposed high
tariffs, forbade colonies to trade with other
nations, restricted trade routes, and
subsidized its exports.
- Mercantilism was a global trading system
with a lot of restrictions.
Mercantilism
- economic system of trade that spanned the
16th century to the 18th century.
- Sought to increase the prosperity and power
of a nation through restrictive trade
practices
- based on the principle that the world's
wealth was static, and consequently,
governments had to regulate trade to build
their wealth and national power.
- Goal is to increase the supply of a state’s
gold and silver with exports rather than to
deplete it through imports.
- Characteristics of Mercantilism:
o 1. The Belief in the Static Nature of
Wealth - Financial wealth was
considered limited (due to the rarity
of precious metals). Nations that
sought prosperity and power needed
to secure as much wealth as
 possible, at the expense of other
nations.
o 2. The Need to Increase the Supply
of Gold - Gold represented wealth
and power. It could pay for soldiers,
seafaring exploration for natural
resources, and expanding empires. It
could also protect against invasion. A
lack of gold meant the downfall of a
nation.
o 3. The Need to Maintain a Trade
Surplus - This was integral to
building wealth. Nations needed to
focus on selling their exports (and
collecting the associated revenue)
more than on spending on imports
(and sending gold out of countries).
o 4. The Importance of a Large
Population - Large populations
represented wealth. Increasing a
nation's population was integral to
supplying a labor force, supporting
domestic commerce, and
maintaining armies.
o 5. The Use of Colonies to Support
Wealth - Some nations needed
colonies for raw materials, a labor
supply, and a way to keep wealth
within its control (by selling colonies
the products their raw materials
helped to produce). Essentially,
colonies increased a nation's wealth-
building power and national security.
o 6. The Use of Protectionism -
Protecting a nation's ability to build
and maintain trade surpluses
encompassed prohibiting colonies
from trading with other nations and
imposing tariffs on imported goods.
Advantages of Mercantilism
- An advantage of mercantilism is that it
makes countries stronger. Countries that
depend on others give a lot of money for
goods and services. The world will get along
better. The country that gains from
mercantilism will also be better off. It will
have more guns and money. New ideas will
come up because people want to make
money and grow.
Disadvantage of Mercantilism
- A disadvantage of mercantilism is that it is
one-way with capitalism. It is well known
that mercantilism led to colonialism, which
was bad for both India and the US. People's
rights and will are less important than
money. Trade and business aren't the only
ways to tell how healthy a country is. There
are many parts to life. Countries fight
because of mercantilism. Every country will
want the best for itself, which will lead to
nationalism, war, mischief, and other
terrible things.
Gold Standard System
- more open trade system emerged in 1867
- fixed monetary regime under which the
government's currency is fixed and may be
freely converted into gold.
- can also refer to a freely competitive
monetary system in which gold or bank
receipts for gold act as the principal medium
of exchange; or to a standard of
international trade, wherein some or all
countries fix their exchange rate based on
the relative gold parity values between
individual currencies
Advantage and Disadvantage of the Gold Standard
System
The gold standard can make sure that all
participating countries have the same exchange
rates. It can also make foreign trade less uncertain.
But it might make things unfair between countries
that use the gold standard.
GREAT DEPRESSION
- global economic crisis started during 1920s
and extended up to the 1930s, further
emptying government funding.
- This was the worst and longest recession
ever experienced by the Western world.
Economist say that it was due to the gold
standard since it limited the expenditure of
countries.
Which is worst Inflation or deflation?
- It is worse than inflation to have deflation
because it means the economy is not
growing. Few people want to buy things and
services, so prices go down. When
companies do this, they have to cut back on
 production, which means lower wages and Neoliberalism
job cuts.
- typically support fiscal austerity,
What ended the Great Depression? deregulation, free trade, privatization, and a
reduction in government spending.
- The depression was finally over when the
- criticisms of neoliberalism, including its
country was geared up for the war. A huge
potential danger to democracy, workers’
number of men and women joined the
rights, and sovereign nations’ right to self-
military, and even more went to work in
determination.
well-paying security jobs. The United States
- neoliberal initiatives concerning free trade,
and the rest of the world were deeply
industry deregulation, income tax and
affected by World War II, and those effects
capital gains tax cuts all had bipartisan
are still felt today.
support.
The Bretton Woods System
- After the two WORLD WARS, world leaders
 Keynesianism advocates for government
sought to create a global economic system
intervention to manage the economy, while
that would ensure a longer-lasting global
neoliberalism emphasizes free markets and
peace.
limited government involvement.
- was inaugurated in 1944 during United
 Keynesianism advocates for government
Nations Monetary and Financial Conference
intervention in the economy to promote
to prevent the catastrophes of the early
stability and stimulate growth during
decades of the century from reoccurring
recessions. It emphasizes the importance of
and affecting international ties.
fiscal policy, such as government spending
- influenced by the ideas of British economist
and taxation, to influence aggregate
John Maynard Keynes who believed that
demand. Neoliberalism, on the other hand,
economic crises occur not when a country
promotes free markets, limited government
does not have enough money, but when
intervention, and deregulation, with a focus
money is not being spent and thereby, not
on individual freedom and economic
moving.
efficiency.
1) International Bank for Reconstruction and
What is the main advantage and disadvantage of
Development (IBRD, or World Bank) to be
the Neoliberalism?
responsible for funding postwar reconstruction
projects. - The best thing about neoliberalism is that it
believes free markets can make the
2) International Monetary Fund (IMF) which was
economy grow and bring about new ideas.
to be the global lender of last resort to prevent
Neoliberal policies support competition, less
individual countries from spiraling into credit
government control, and private businesses.
crises.
It can help resources be used more
Keynesianism efficiently and boost output. While the cons
with neoliberalism is that it might make
- When economies slow down, according to
income inequality worse. Neoliberalism's
Keynes, governments have to reinvigorate
focus on restricted government can also
markets with infusions of capital.
mean that social safety nets aren't strong
- aggregate demand—measured as the sum
enough and public services are cut, which
of spending by households, businesses, and
may hurt vulnerable groups more than
the government—is the most important
others.
driving force in an economy.
- Keynes advocated for government Stagflation
borrowing to increase demand by infusing
- occurs when there is a persistent high
the economy with capital to spend. When
inflation combined with high unemployment
there is enough capital in the market,
and stagnant demand in a country's
investments will be made, thus increasing
economy.
production and employment
 - decline in economic growth and
unemployment (stagnation) takes place
alongside a sharp increase in prices
(inflation).
- Oil Shock of 1973–74, was a period of
skyrocketing energy prices and fuel
shortages resulting from an embargo by
Arab oil-producing/exporting nations
(OAPEC/OPEC) in response to U.S. support
for Israel during the Yom Kippur War (war
between Israel and a group of Arab
countries, led by Egypt and Syria, from
October 6 to 24, 1973) . During this period,
the price of a barrel of oil nearly quadrupled
in less than a year.
Which is better Keynesianism or Neoliberalism
System? Why?
- Which one to choose between neoliberalism
and Keynesianism relies on the person and
the situation. Through free markets,
neoliberalism encourages economic growth
and efficiency. However, it can also make
income inequality worse and ignore social
support services. Keynesianism, on the
other hand, wants the government to get
involved in the economy to create jobs and
keep it stable. There are good and bad
points to both economic theories. Which is
better for people relies on the needs and
circumstances of each society.
Lesson 3: One World Government and The United
Nations
• First, there are countries or states that are
independent and govern themselves.
• Second, these countries interact with each
other through diplomacy.
• Third, there are international organizations,
like the United Nations (UN), that facilitate
these interactions.
• Fourth, beyond simply facilitating meetings
between states, international organizations
also take on lives of their own. The UN apart
from being a meeting ground for presidents
and other heads of state, also has task-
specific agencies like the World Health
Organization (WHO) and International
Labour Organization (ILO).
Nation is an Imagined Community (Benedict
Anderson) because of the connection we have with
each other.
State refers to a country with people, territory,
government and laws.
- Nation and state are closely related because
it is Nationalism that facilitates state
formation.
- 4 Attributes of a State
a) exercise authority over specific
population
b) governs specific territory
c) has a government that creates laws that
people follow
d) has sovereignty (internal and external
authority)
 Not all States are nations and not all
nations are states
 State not a nation = Taiwan is a state but
not the sole Nation
 1 Nation but 2 separate States = South
Korea and North Korea
 Nation within a state =
Bangsamoro(BARMM) is a nation that
recognizes the Philippines state. Quebec is a
Nation (French in nature) but within the
State of Canada
The Interstate System
 Treaty of Westphalia (1648) was the
inspiration of the League of Nations (pre-
WW2) and United Nations (post-WW2);
ended the Thirty Years’ War
 4 Principles for Interstate Relations (we got
from ToW)
1. National self-determination
(Sovereignty, Religion etc…);
2. Precedent for ending wars through
diplomatic congresses;
3. Peaceful coexistence among sovereign
states as the norm;
4. Maintained by a balance of power
among sovereign states and acceptance
of principle of non-interference in the
internal affairs of other sovereign states
 Westphalian System provided stability for
the nations in Europe until it was challenged
 by Napoleon Bonaparte - believed in
spreading the principles of the French
Revolution (liberty, equality and fraternity)
and thus challenged the power of kings,
nobility and religion in Europe; was
defeated in the Battle of Waterloo
 Napoleonic Code - forbade birth privileges,
encourages freedom of religion and
promoted meritocracy in government
service.
Internationalism
 A doctrine ta political principle that
advocates greater political or economic
cooperation among states and nations for
the theoretical benefit of all.
 hat nations should cooperate because their
common interests are more important than
their differences.
Why Nations should participate in international
affairs?
 Self Determination – the ability to desire to
fulfill its people’s economic, social, cultural
and political needs so that the nation can
continue to exist and grow
 Humanitarianism – “Humanitarian reasons”
 Peace and Security– it also involves;
monitoring and observing peace processes in
post-conflict areas and assist ex-combatants
in implementing the peace agreements they
may have signed(NATO). Peacekeeping
interventions designed to ensure peace
(China and Philippines).
 Economic Stability – Normally breaks down
the barriers(tariffs) that restricts
trade(North American Free Trade
Agreement, GATT, ASEAN Free Trade
Agreement AFTA)
Internationalism can be categorized into three
visions based on the goals of involvement:
1. Hegemonic internationalism: This vision
focuses on the dominance of one state or
group of states in global affairs.
2. Revolutionary internationalism: It aims to
transform the existing global order through
radical change.
3. Liberal internationalism: This vision
emphasizes cooperation among states
based on shared values and norms.
Types of Internationalism
1. Liberal internationalism believes
that through interaction and co-
operation, nations and states can
achieve common goals,
especially peace and prosperity.
2. Socialist internationalism aims
to attain global socialism through
revolutions. It is based on the
idea that humankind is bound
together by mutual sympathy
and compassion that could be a
basis for international
cooperation between nations or
the dissolution of the nation and
the recognition of one world and
one people.
UNITED NATIONS
International Oragnizations
International Organizations (IO) are
institutions drawing membership from at
least three states, having activities in
several states, and whose members are held
together by a formal agreement. There are
three main types of international
organizations
1) Inter-governmental organizations
(IGOs), which are composed of states as
members and have a formal legal status.
(UN, WTO, IMF)
2) International non-governmental
organizations (INGOs), which are composed
of private individuals or groups and have a
non-profit or humanitarian purpose.
(Amnesty International, Red Cross, and
Doctors Without Borders)
3) Multinational enterprises (MNEs),
which are composed of businesses that
operate across national borders and have a
profitoriented goal. (Coca-Cola, Toyota, and
Apple)
POWERS of IOs
1) Power of Classification – example:
since member states are required to accept
refugees, IOs can classify people as refugee
depending on their definition of refugee.
2) Power to fix meanings – example:
just recently UN defined security as not just
safety from military violence but safety from
environmental harm
 3) Power to diffuse norms – example:
“Human Rights”
Here are some of the top international
organizations and their functions:
1) United Nations: promotes
international cooperation and creates and
maintains international order.
corporation operates 31 field offices around
the world to promote Asia’s social and
economic development.
11) European Union (EU): The EU helps
member countries cooperate on economic,
political, and security matters. It facilitates
trade, shares a common currency, and
allows free movement among many
member countries.

2) North Atlantic Treaty Organization:

provides collective defense against security
LEAGUE OF NATIONS TO UNITED NATIONS
threats.
I. At the same year WW1 ended, The
3) World Trade Organization: regulates
League of Nations was created.
international trade.
II. Ironically US failed to join the LoN,
4) United Nations Educational,
despite the push of US President WW, due
Scientific and Cultural Organization
to strong opposition from their senate.
(UNESCO): promotes international co-
operation in education, science, and culture. III. The rise of the AXIS Power
(GermanyHitler, Italy-Mussolini and
5) United Nations Children’s Fund
JapanHirohito)Powers came about and
(UNICEF): UNICEF provides humanitarian
started WWII which dissolved the LoN.
and developmental aid to children
worldwide. IV. In WWII, Axis power was defeated
by the Allied Powers (US, UK, France,
6) World Health Organization (WHO):
Holland and Belgium)
WHO is a specialized agency of the United Nations ,
V. Using LoN’s principles and Liberal
it aims to achieve the highest attainable degree of
Internationalism Ideas the United Nations
health for all people.
(1946) was created.
7) World Economic Forum (WEF):
committed to improving the status of the world by
UNITED NATION
engaging commercial, governmental, intellectual,
and other leaders of society to influence global,
regional, and
industry agendas
8) World Wide Fund for Nature
(WWF): an international non-governmental
organization that seeks to preserve
wilderness and reduce the human effects on
the environment. 9) Association of South
East Nations (ASEAN): is an economic union
in Southeast Asia made up of ten member
states that promote intergovernmental
cooperation and facilitate economic,
political, security, military, educational, and
sociocultural integration among its
members and other Asian countries.
10) Asian Development Bank (ADB): is a
regional development bank headquartered Purpose of United Nations
in the Ortigas Center in Mandaluyong, The United Nations charter establishes four main
Metro Manila, Philippines. In addition, the goals for the organization:
 1) To maintain international peace and
security (primarily through peaceful
diplomatic means).
2) To develop friendly relations among
nations, granting equal rights to all and
working to strengthen global peace.
3) To create a forum which leverages
international cooperation to solve
economic, social, cultural, and humanitarian
challenges and promote human rights and
fundamental freedoms for all.
4) To be a hub and catalyst that
harmonizes the actions of its member
nations to achieve the organization's stated
goals of peace and security.
The General Assembly (GA)
Ø The only UN body in which every 193
member of the organization is represented
and allowed to vote.
Ø The UN General Assembly delivers
recommendations on many international
issues and manages internal UN
appointments and budget approval. Each
UN member state gets one vote in the
assembly. Decisions usually are reached by a
simple majority (2/3 of the votes or
129votes).
Ø The first session of the assembly
convened on Jan. 10, 1946, in London, with
51 countries represented.
Ø Numerous nonmembers, such as
states, organizations, and other entities
(e.g., the Vatican, the African Union, the
International Committee of the Red Cross,
and Palestine), maintain observer status,
enabling them to participate in the work of
the General Assembly.
Ø For years, the assembly has
struggled to make its work more substantive
and transparent, and experts say reform is
needed.
Ø The 2023 debate will center on
climate change, the war in Ukraine, and
countries’ progress toward their Sustainable
Development Goals (SDGs).
2) Security Council (UNSC)
Ø Its primary responsibility is the
maintenance of international peace and
security.
Ø The GA elects 10 of the15 members
of SC, and each member has one vote. The
other 5 (US, UK, France, Russia and China) is
known to be the Permanent 5 (P5) because
these countries were permanent members
since the founding of UN.
Ø It is the lead in determining the
existence of a threat to the peace or an act
of aggression. It calls upon the parties
involved to settle disputes peacefully and
recommends adjustments, solutions or
settlement. In some cases, it can resort to
imposing sanctions or even authorizing the
use of force to maintain international peace
and security.
Ø P5 holds a veto power over the
council
3) Economic and Social Council
Ø The Economic and Social Council is
the principal body for coordination, policy
review, policy dialogue and
recommendations on economic, social and
environmental issues, as well as
implementation of internationally agreed
development goals.
Ø It serves as the central mechanism
for activities of the UN system and its
specialized agencies in the economic, social
and environmental fields.
Ø It has 54 Members, elected by the
General Assembly for overlapping three-
year terms.
 Ø It is the United Nations’ central
platform for reflection, debate, and
innovative thinking on sustainable
development.
4) International Court of Justice
stations and on peacekeeping missions all
around the world. But serving the cause of
peace in a violent world is a dangerous
occupation. Since the founding of the United
Nations, hundreds of brave men and women
have given their lives in its service.

6) Trusteeship Council
v It is the principal judicial organ of the
United Nations. v Its seat is at the Peace
Palace in the Hague (Netherlands). It is the
only one of the six principal organs of the
United Nations not located in New York
(United States of America).
v The Court’s role is to settle, in
accordance
with international law, legal disputes submitted to
it by States and to give advisory opinions on legal
questions referred to it by authorized United
Nations organs and specialized agencies.
v The International Court of Justice
functions in accordance with its Statute (UN
Charter).
5) Secretariat 3) Issues of security especially
concerning
members of the Security Councils
Ø The Secretariat comprises the
Secretary- questionable “Veto power”
General and tens of thousands of
Ø The Trusteeship Council was
established in 1945 by the UN Charter, to
provide international supervision for 11
Trust Territories that had been placed under
the administration of seven Member States,
and ensure that adequate steps were taken
to prepare the Territories for self-
government and independence.
Ø The United Nations Trusteeship
Council suspended its operations on
November 1, 1994, a month after the
independence of Palau, the last remaining
United Nations trust territory. Although it
continues to exist on paper, its future role
and even existence remains uncertain.
Ø By a resolution adopted on May 25,
1994, the Trusteeship Council amended its
rules of procedure to drop the obligation to
meet annually and agreed to meet as
occasion required – by its own decision or
by the decision of its President, or at the
request of a majority of its members or the
General Assembly or the Security Council.

international UN staff members who carry out the

day-to-day work of the UN as mandated by the
CHALLENGES OF THE UNITED NATIONS
General Assembly and the Organization's other
principal bodies.
Ø The Secretary-General is Chief 1) Sovereignty of each states under UN
limits the functions of UN’s different organs
Administrative Officer of the Organization,
appointed by the General Assembly on the 2) UN is not the world government and
recommendation of the Security Council for a five- primarily relies on voluntary cooperation of
year, renewable term. The Secretary- states

General is also a symbol of the

Organization's ideals, and an advocate for all the
world's peoples, especially the poor and
vulnerable.The current Secretay-General of UN is
António Guterres, from Portugal (2017-present).
Ø UN staff members are recruited
internationally and locally, and work in duty