Contemporary World PDF

CONTEMPORARY WORLD The Concept of Globalization Globalization is the process by which the world, previously isolated through physical and technological distance, becomes increasingly interconnected. It is manifested by the increase in interaction between peoples around the world that...

CONTEMPORARY WORLD The Concept of Globalization Globalization is the process by which the world, previously isolated through physical and technological distance, becomes increasingly interconnected. It is manifested by the increase in interaction between peoples around the world that involves the sharing of ideas, cultures, goods, services and investment. IMPORTANCE OF STUDYING CONTEMPORARY WORLD 1. Global Awareness: It helps individuals understand current global issues, trends, and events. This awareness is crucial for informed decision-making in an interconnected world. 2. Cultural Understanding: By studying contemporary societies, people gain insights into different cultures, promoting empathy, tolerance, and cooperation. 3. Economic Relevance: Understanding global markets, economic trends, and international trade prepares individuals to navigate and contribute to today’s dynamic economies. 4. Political Literacy: Contemporary world studies enhance awareness of international politics, governance, and diplomacy, which are critical for global peace and cooperation. 5. Problem-Solving: The study enables individuals to address modern challenges such as climate change, technological advancements, and social inequalities by understanding their causes and impacts. 6. Adaptation to Change: The modern world is evolving rapidly. Studying its developments helps individuals and societies adapt to technological, social, and cultural shifts. Different Definitions of Globalization Globalization is “the geographic dispersion of industrial and service activities, for example research and development, sourcing of inputs, production and distribution, and the cross-border networking of companies, for example through joint ventures and the sharing of assets.” - Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development Globalization is “the word used to describe the growing interdependence of the world’s economies, cultures, and populations, brought about by cross-border trade in goods and services, technology, and flows of investment, people, and information.” – Peterson Institute for International Economics  [Globalization] is “the increased interconnectedness and interdependence of peoples and countries, is generally understood to include two inter-related elements: the opening of international borders to increasingly fast flows of goods, services, finance, people and ideas; and the changes in institutions and policies at national and international levels that facilitate or promote such flows. Globalization has the potential for both positive and negative effects on development and health.” – World Health Organization  [Globalization] can thus be defined as “the intensification of worldwide social relations which link distant localities in such a way that local happenings are shaped by events occurring many miles away and vice-versa. This is a dialectical process because such local happenings may move in an obverse direction from the very distanciated relations that shape them. Local transformation is as much part of globalization as the lateral extension of social connections across time and space.” – Anthony Giddens Globalization as Globaloney: Some group of scholars believed that the term is imprecise, and this could be divided into three camps based on their arguments: rejectionists, skeptics, and modifiers. What are the three arguments to globalization? 1. Rejectionists Rejectionists are the scholars who dismiss the usefulness of the term “globalization”. Craig Calhoun argues that the concept is vague and it is as complex as nationalism. Susan Strange refers to the concept of globalization as a vacuous term-- it refers to “anything from the internet to a hamburger.” Linda Meiss refers to it as a big idea resting on slim foundations. Given this supposed vagueness of the concept of globalization, some rejections offer the following solutions or remedies to understand the concept. Holton argues that we should abandon metatheory and move to middle-range theory. Stegger also argues that we should combine social-scientific and interpretive approaches in understanding globalization. 2. Skeptics Contrary to the rejectionists, the skeptics are the scholars who emphasize the limited nature of the concept of globalization. One of these scholars is Horster Thompson, who argues that the world economy is not global because it is only concentrated in Europe, Eastern Asia, and North America. Aside from this argument, the skeptics also note that economic activities are still national in origin and scope; hence, without a truly global economic system, there can be no globalization. They also argue that globalization, as a concept, is being used to benefit the neoliberal interests. 3. Modifiers The modifiers argue that globalization is a historically imprecise concept. One example of this is Wallerstein and Frank, proponents of the World Systems Theory, who argued that the modern capitalist economy has been global since its inception. In connection to this, modifiers argue that globalizing tendencies have been proceeding along the continuum of modernization for a long time. Basically, there is nothing new. Wallerstein further argues that “global integration is driven largely by economic forces.” In connection to this, Neomarxists and New World System scholars argue that criticisms of globalization focus on quantitative analyses (mostly economic) and neglect qualitative shifts in social and political relations.