Contemporary World Notes

Introduction to Globalization

  • Globalization: Multidimensional social processes intensifying worldwide social interdependencies and exchanges.

  • Rosenberg: Globalization interconnected human society, replacing the sovereign state system with multilateral global governance.

  • Ritzer: Spread of worldwide practices, relations, consciousness, and organization of social life.

  • Theory: Rooted in works of Marx, MacKinder, and Robertson; gained attention in the 1960s and 1970s.

  • Reshaping world order: Social institutions transcend territories, expanding economic, political, and technological reach.

Qualities and Characteristics of Globalization (Held & McGrew, 2002)

  • Creation/Multiplication: Social networks and cultural activities break traditional norms.

  • Expansion/Stretching: Social operations and connections expand (e.g., WTO, ASEAN Economic Community).

  • Intensification/Acceleration: Human activities intensify, connecting world and individuals.

  • Consciousness/Awareness: Human consciousness critical in impacting globalization's outcomes and markets.

Globalization vs. Westernization

  • Westernization is associated with Western culture and values.

  • Westernization reflects U.S. and European political, economic, and technological influence.

Theoretical Approaches to Globalization

  • Three sociological perspectives: Realism, Liberalism, and Idealism.

Realism

  • Focus: Shifting distribution of power among states.

  • Core Idea: Domination through power.

  • Countries open economies for:

    • Financial returns in expanding markets.

    • Political power and military strength.

  • Economic alliances flourish under favorable security conditions.

Liberalism

  • Perspective: Actors/institutions emphasize relationships and negotiations.

  • Focus: Solving problems and conflicts.

  • Evident in countries with democratic governance.

  • Conflict avoidance: Negotiation and dialogue.

  • Transformation Factors:

    • Spread of Democracy/Institutions: Challenges actors exceeding power.

    • Global Economic Ties: Market integration and alliances for prosperity/security.

    • International Organizations: Instruments for peace and solidarity.

Idealism

  • Notion: Values and norms are pivotal.

  • Emphasis: Ideologies, frameworks, systems, and identities.

  • Core beliefs: Ideas, beliefs, emotions, and values shape political/economic landscapes.

  • Wendt & Ruggie: Prominent founders.

  • Values "appropriateness" and "transparency."

Role of Ideas and Technology

  • Ideas: Non-material cultural entities shaping perceptions.

  • Technology Trends:

    • Knowledge/tech determine wealth/power.

    • Fast pace of technological change.

    • Dispersed knowledge/tech via communication revolution.

Institutions and Globalization

  • Institutions: Norms and structures providing meaning/stability.

  • Meyer & Rowan: Institutions as symbolic manifestations of societal needs.

  • Giddens: Institutions shape individual behavior.

  • Global governance directed by political/economic institutions.

  • Liberalists: Institutions important for international order/stability.

  • Intergovernmental organizations regulate communication/resource movement.

Globalization in Historical Perspectives

  • Advances in technology, transportation, finance, and communications resulted in uniform practices.

  • Holton, Sholte, and Lawson provided useful checklists on the phases of globalization.

Phases of Globalization (Thomas Friedman)

  • Globalization 1.0 (1492 – 1800): Mercantilism.

  • Globalization 2.0 (1800 – 1950): Age of Industrialization, Pax Brittanica.

  • Globalization 3.0 (1950 – 2000): Technology and Internet Age.

Dimensions of Globalization (Anthony Giddens)

  • World Capitalist Economy: Capitalist states drive global production/distribution; multinational corporations are powerful.

  • Nation-state System: Sovereignty emphasized; nation-states pursue collective objectives.

  • World Military: Strengthening military power.

Three Worlds and World Order

  • First World: Powerful economies with stable governments (e.g. United States, United Kingdom).

  • Second World: Communist countries (e.g. Soviet Union, China).

  • Third World: Less developed economies.
    World order associated with political/military power during Cold War.

Global Economy

  • Global economy is highly interdependent; exchanges create opportunity but also risk.

Economic Systems

  • Market Economy: Decision making by private individuals; promotes competition (e.g., Hong Kong, New Zealand).

  • Command Economy: Central planning; production/market controlled by a single authority (e.g., North Korea, Cuba).

  • Mixed Economy: Combination of market and command; state can take over private companies (e.g., Philippines, United States).

International Trade

  • System where goods cross national boundaries for money/goods.

  • Trade Theories:

    • Descriptive Theory: Natural order of trade under laissez faire.

    • Prescriptive Theory: Government interference.

  • Perspectives on International Trade:

    • Economic Liberals: Free trade is efficient if two countries can produce more goods and trade; specialization etc.

    • Mercantilists: Higher export than import.

    • Structuralists: Core states have advantage through unequal exchange.

  • Why Countries Engage in International Trade:

    • Use of Excess Capacity in Demand.

    • Cost Reduction and Increase of Profit.

    • Cheaper Supplies.

    • Addiction to Product Line.

    • Reduction of Risk.

    • Foreign Policy Tool.

Transnational Corporations

  • TNCs: Business organizations competing in regional/global markets.

International Economic Institutions and Market Integration

  • Economic integration enhance competitiveness.

  • Free Trade Area (FTA): Trading bloc reducing internal tariffs.

  • World Trade Organization (WTO):

    • Implementation of the latest GATT agreements

    • A venue for trade negotiations

    • A dispute settlement body responsible for resolving trade problems

    • Review and assess national and international trade laws and policies

    • Assist members and developing economies by providing technical assistance and training programs

  • World Bank (WB)

    • The International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD), or World Bank is an international agency with 189 member-countries operating in 130 countries worldwide to finance the reconstruction of war-torn countries.

  • International Monetary Fund (IMF)

    • Responsible in supervising exchange rate system, providing loan programs to economies experiencing balancing payments adjustments, and review domestic economic policies.

  • European Union (EU)

    • political economic regional organization of 28 member-economies in Europe and guided by its core values, considered as integral part in the way of life of its citizens.

  • Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN)

    • The ASEAN Political-Security Community, ASEAN Economic Community, and ASEAN Socio-Cultural Community are the three main pillars of ASEAN.

Global Governance

Global Governments and Governance

  • Global governance involves domestic institutions and governments solving large-scale problems at the global level.

  • Gaps and Issues in Global Governance:

    • Jurisdiction Gap: Lack of authority.

    • Incentive Gap: Uneven authority distribution.

    • Participation Gap: Disagreement on issues.

Political Systems

  • Political System means the system, or the form of practice employed by the state.

  • Individualism vs Collectivism: i)individualism emphasizes individuals over collective goals and ii)collectivism stresses the importance of the collective goals over individual freedom and interests.

  • Democracy vs Totalitarianism: i)Democratic institutions and governance focus on the role individuals in political decision making and ii) Totalitarianism is built on the idea that society and citizens have no right and freedom of expression.

Political Layers and Geopolitics

  • Geopolitics: Concentration on a country's location and geography as the basis of its national interests.

  • Multilateralism

    • Bipolar -it happens if there are only two great powers dominating the distribution of power.

    • Tri-polar or tri-polarity- exists if there are only three states dominating the distribution if global order.

    • Multipolar or multi-polarity-is situation when more states are involved in the distribution of global power.

  • Global Political Institutions - United Nations (UN) can act on issues confronting humanity.

Global Civil Society and Non-Governmental Organizations

  • Civil society and non-governmental organizations or NGOs are the third sector of the society aside from the government and business.

Global Civil Society (GCS)

  • GCS is a global and international network of NGOs with the purpose of influencing governments and organizations in various issues and concerns.

  • Characteristics of NGOs

    • An NGO must be entirely independent from the control of any government

    • NGOs are not considered as political party

    • NGOs perform their tasks not because of generating income or profit.

  • Roles of Civil Society Organizations as Watchdog, Advocate, Service Provider, Expert, Capacity Builder, Incubator, Representative, Citizenship Champion, Solidarity Supporter, Definer of Standards

Global Development and Divide

Development

  • Development is a complex and multidimensional concept occurring in an uncertain condition.

  • Four Dimensions of Development

    • Economic Development-focused on the qualitative aspect of change that sometimes people failed to determine like the increased quality of life, social improvements and innovations.

    • Human Development-expansion of capacities that contribute to the advancement of society through the realization if individuals', firms', and communities' potential

    • Sustainable Development-meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.

    • Territorial Development- focuses on the interrelationships of human activities between rural and urban areas

Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

-17 Sustainable Development Goals established as part on the success of the Millennium Development Goals of 2015.

Global South

-Global south is widely used in social sciences like sociology, political science, and economics and refers to countries that are excluded if not deprived from socioeconomic prominence like Africa, Middle East, South America, South Asia and countries within Pacific.
-Causes of Global Divide
-Globalization in the 1990s- intensified economic boundaries and countries that can not cope with the demands of the rich and developed countries suffer most of the potential damage of globalization.
-Uneven Immigration-rise of migrant workers and citizens seeking greener opportunities in other countries.
-The hegemonic nature if international economic relations-outcomes of the evil practices of western countries and abuse of capitalists who control most of the world's wealth.