The Contemporary World: Globalization Theories PDF

**THE CONTEMPORARY WORLD** - **GLOBALIZATION THEORIES** a. HOMOGENEITY Homogeneity **refers to the increasing sameness in the world** as cultural inputs, economic factors, and political orientations of societies expand to create common practices, same economies, and similar forms of governme...

**THE CONTEMPORARY WORLD** - **GLOBALIZATION THEORIES** a. HOMOGENEITY Homogeneity **refers to the increasing sameness in the world** as cultural inputs, economic factors, and political orientations of societies expand to create common practices, same economies, and similar forms of government. Homogeneity is linked to cultural imperialism. - A given *culture influences other cultures.* **Imperialism:** Building an empire by taking over other countries. **Global economic crisis** is one of the effects of homogeneity as seen on International Monetary Fund (IMF) "one size fits all" approach. **"One size fits all\"** is a description for a product that would fit in all instances. **McWorld-** is a term referring to the spreading of McDonald\'s restaurants throughout the world as the result of globalization, and more generally to the effects of international trade. **\'McDonaldization\'** of services and commercialization of goods as an element of globalization as a whole. **"Media Imperialism"**- TV, musics, books and movies, are perceived as imposed on developing countries by the West. b. HETEROGENEITY 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 is linked to cultural hybridization. ** Hybridization** - The process by which a cultural element blends into another culture by modifying the element to fit cultural norms. Ex. Language -- Taglish **Glocalization** -- *Global + Local;* Global forces interact with local factors or specific geographic area thus "glocal" is produced. **Glocalization** is combination of the word \"globalization\" and \"localization.\" The term is used to describe a product or service that is developed and distributed globally but is also adjusted to accommodate the user or consumer in a local market. - **DYNAMICS OF LOCAL AND GLOBAL CULTURES** a. CULTURAL DIFFERENTIALISM Cultures are **essentially different.** These differences arise conflict or clash. Example: - 9/11 Terrorist Attack represents the clash between Western and Islamic culture. b. CULTURAL HYBRIDIZATION It **emphasizes the integration of local and global cultures** (Glocalization for example). It results in "unique outcomes" Companies which have mastered glocalization are numerous. Starbucks, Lays, Pepsico, KFC, McDonald\'s Unilever, Ford, Gillette, Subway. c. CULTURAL CONVERGENCE Cultural convergence is the theory **that two cultures will be more and more like each other** as their interactions increase. Basically, the more that cultures interact, the more that their values, ideologies, behaviors, arts, and customs will start to reflect each other. The **English language** is a prime example of cultural convergence on a global scale. English has become main language of communication for people around the world. - **THE GLOBALIZATION OF RELIGION** **Religion** **plays a vital role in the lives of Filipinos for their lives are anchored in it**. It has affected their attitude, characters and perspectives in life. This truth is not exclusive to Filipinos. It is true to most of the former "Third World," developing countries, and even the West. - **Globalization** can refer to the **interconnectedness of all areas** of contemporary social life. - **Globalization** refers to the historical process by which all the world\'s people increasingly come to live in a single social unit. - **Religious pluralism** is the state of being, where every individual in a religiously diverse society has the rights, freedoms, and safety to worship, or not, according to their conscience. This definition is founded in the American motto e pluribus unum, *that we, as a nation, are gathered together as one out of many.* 1. **Globalization gave rise to religious nationalism** 2. **Globalization led to the turn of religion into public life** - Religion goes beyond the administration of sacraments for Catholics and focuses more on the social concerns 3. **Globalization affected the proliferation of international terrorism. For one, religious extremism** - **Jihad** is struggle or effort, and **it means much more than holy war** - Extremists believe that it is their duty to fulfill Allah's will through violence 4. **Globalization prompted the increase of individual religiosity** - individual's need to rely on his or her beliefs - - **3 MEANS TO SPREAD RELIGION** \*Media, Transportation, and Information Technology(IT) - **REGIONALIZATION** Regionalization involves, first of all consideration of various events and the needs of specific areas of the country. Global regionalization is a process which is parallel to globalization. Regions helps to protect public relations of globalization from negative impact and act as an independent subject of international relations. Regional organizations prefer regional partners. Regionalization is a sort of counter-globalization. The reason of regionalization is that globalization brings negative effects to their society. The main similarity is that, in both cases, there is a movement towards economic integration of more than one country. In regionalization, **you have the countries of a region** (say the EU) integrate their economy. In globalization, more than one region is involved. **EFFECTS OF REGIONALIZATION** **Positive effects**: Security, Confidence building, Culture and identity, Economic motivation **Negative effects:** Imitation, Lack of alternative - **CHARACTERISTICS OF GLOBALIZATION WHEN IT COMES REGIONALIZATION** 1. **HARDWIRED -** globalization relates **to the urge for a better life** and is hardwired to humans, because of our basic human need to make our lives better. 2. **CYCLES - difficult to find a single point of origin, globalization will soon disappear and reappear.** 3. **EPOCH - Epoch -- Past or History, what has occurred in the past is a key to the future and learning from it. Today's globalization is not unique since previous "waves" or epochs existed.** 4. **EVENTS - specific points/events that can be determined as origins of globalization.** 5. **BROADER, MORE RECENT CHANGES** - **GLOBAL DEMOGRAPHY** ** Demography refers to population. The study of statistics such as births, deaths, income, or the incidence of disease, which illustrate the changing structure of human populations.** ** Geopolitics is a study of the influence of such factors as geography, economics, and demography on the politics.** ** Fertility rate no. of babies born per day/year.** ** Mortality rate no. of people die per day/year.** ** Dependency ratio refers to the ratio between the number of people born as to the number of people die.** ** High dependency ratio is bad. It decrease the labor force, it slows economic financial stress, and signifies low health.** ** Why is there small mortality?** **□ Improved sanitation, Vaccines and antibiotics, Improved nutrition, Food production** ** Why does population change?** **□ Migration, Work, Family, Nutrition, Virus and diseases, War and Crimes** ** Why is population growth a blessing?** **□ The larger the population, the more people there will be to support your cause.** **□ A larger number of work force.** ** Why is population growth a problem?** **□ The more people on earth, the more resources are required** **□ Our earth has a limited carrying capacity which might result in climate change, desertification, and mass species extinction.** **□ High population means low industrialization and urbanization** ** How does population affect globalization?** **□ Certainly the movement of people around the world has accelerated the spread of diseases such as HIV/AIDS and SARS.** - **GLOBAL MIGRATION** ** Migration -- is the movement of either people or animals from one area to another.** **Reasons for Migration: Escaping hardship, conflict, and persecution. Seeking a better life. Displacement because of environmental factors. Family reunification. Employment. Studies. Following cultures of migration. Economic reasons: Remittances. Because it is facilitated. The "Just because" or "why not" factors** ** The nuances of movement** **VAGABONDS: "FORCED" are on the move "because they have to" to make their lives improve. A person who wanders from place to place without a home or job.** **TOURISTS: "VOLUNTARILY" are on the move because they want to be and they can afford it, traveling or visiting a place for pleasure.** **REFUGEES: are vagabonds forced to flee their home countries due to safety concerns.** **ASYLUM SEEKERS: are refugees who seek to remain in the country to which they flee** **LABOR MIGRATION are those who migrate to find work. It has two factors -- the push and pull.** **PUSH FACTORS: such as lack of employment opportunities in home countries, economic depression, war, small salary, and poor living benefits.** **PULL FACTORS: such as better job offers, availability of work elsewhere, higher compensation, similarity of language & culture, and better living benefits.** **BACKLASH OF MIGRATION** ** Backlash means a strong public reaction. Backlash is made in people's plea to open the boarders for two reasons:** **1. YOUNGER WORKFORCE: Immigrants constitute of younger workforce that does work which locals may not perform.** **2. REMITTANCES: send to the family in the country of origin improves the lives of the recipient, reduces poverty, as well as foreign reserves**