Introduction to Globalization

• The course facilitator is Ms. Marianie Mae Restauro.
• This course is an introduction to globalization.

Objectives

• To explain the concept of globalization.
• To define globalization in various contexts.
• To explore the historical development of globalization.

Definitions of Globalization

• Theodore Levitt, a German-born American economist and Harvard Business School professor, coined the term "globalization." in 1983.
• In a 1983 Harvard Business Review article, Levitt defines globalization as the changes in social behaviors and technology that allowed companies to sell the same products around the world, about the emergence of standardized, low-priced consumer products.
• Anthony Giddens portrayed globalization in 1990 as intensified worldwide social relations where local events are shaped by distant occurrences.
• According to David Held in 1999, globalization exemplifies the interconnectedness of regions near and far, allowing for enhanced social activity and power networking.
• Roland Robertson stated in 1992 that globalization denotes a compression of the world and greater consciousness of the world as an entity.

Globalization

• It refers to the increasing interconnectedness and interdependence of people, businesses, and governments worldwide.
• Globalization is driven by advancements in communication, transportation, and technology.

How did it start?

• Started with the collapse of the Soviet Union

Collapse of Soviet Union

• Created: Lithuania, Estonia, Russia, Latvia, Belarus, Moldova, Ukraine, Georgia, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, Kyrgyzstan, and Tajikistan

Cold War

• Included the space race
• Included Proxy Wars

Proxy Wars

• 1945-1949 Chinese Civil War
• 1946-1949 Greek Civil War
• 1948-1949 Berlin Blockade
• 1950-1953 Korean War
• 1954-1975 Vietnam War
• 1961-1962 Cuba
• 1967-1975 Cambodia Civil War
• 1973 Chile military junta
• 1973-1989 Middle East conflict
• 1977-1978 Ethiopia
• 1978-1992 Soviet occupation of Afghanistan
• 1976-1988 Angola Civil War
• 1980-1992 Salvadoran Civil War

How did the collapse of USSR contribute to the rise of globalization?

• THE END OF THE COLD WAR: The ideological conflict ended, and many countries aligned with or controlled by the USSR began to embrace market-oriented economies.
• EXPANSION OF MARKET ECONOMIES: Former Soviet states & Eastern European countries transitioned from centrally planned economies to market-based systems.
• GLOBAL POLITICAL INTEGRATION: Institutions like the UN, WTO, and IMF gained more influence promoting free trade, economic reforms, and global connectivity.
• LIBERALIZATION OF TRADE AND CAPITAL: Many post-Soviet states & former Communist countries adopted policies to liberalize trade, privatize industries, & attract foreign investment.
• SPREAD OF TECHNOLOGY AND IDEAS: The fall of the USSR allowed for the freer exchange of information, technology, and cultural influences.
• INTEGRATION OF FORMER COMMUNIST STATES INTO GLOBAL NETWORKS: Allowed for production and distribution of goods on a global scale, driving globalization.

Theories of Globalization

• Realism - the main goal of states is survival
• Liberalism - encourage global cooperation as a tool of advancing every state's individual goals.
• Constructivism - international politics is shaped by ideas, norms, and identities.

Realism

• Emphasizes the centrality of states as actors in the international system.
• Views the world as anarchic, with each state primarily concerned with survival and security.
• Power is the key currency, and states constantly strive to maximize relative power.
• Realists view globalization as primarily driven by the self-interest of powerful states.

Types of Realism

• Defensive Realism primarily seeks to maintain existing power and security
  • Defensive Realism are cautious and prioritize the status quo.
  • Defensive Realism Goal: To maintain a balance of power, ensuring no single state becomes dominant.
• Offensive Realism states seek to maximize their power and strive for regional or global hegemony (domination).
  • Offensive Realism Goal: To achieve and maintain dominance.

Liberalism

• Encourages global cooperation as a tool of advancing every state’s individual goals.
• Believes that states can achieve mutual gains through collaboration, and international organizations can help to manage conflicts and promote peace.
• States are not the only actors; international organizations, NGOs, and individuals also play significant roles.
• Liberals view globalization as a positive force that can lead to increased prosperity, peace, and democracy.

Constructivism

• Highlights the importance of ideas, norms, and identities in shaping state behavior and international outcomes.
• Argues that the international system is not simply a product of material factor like power but also of shared understandings and social interactions.
• Constructivists focus on how globalization is shaped by, and in turn, shapes ideas, norms, and identities.