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**UNIVERSITY OF THE CORDILLERAS** **College of Arts and Sciences** **Department of Political Science** **[MODULE 2 IN SOCIAL SCIENCE 103N ]** **[(THE CONTEMPORARY WORLD) ]** **LESSON 1** --------------------------------------------- **IDEOLOGICAL DIMENSIONS OF GLOBALIZATION** -----------...

**UNIVERSITY OF THE CORDILLERAS** **College of Arts and Sciences** **Department of Political Science** **[MODULE 2 IN SOCIAL SCIENCE 103N ]** **[(THE CONTEMPORARY WORLD) ]** **LESSON 1** --------------------------------------------- **IDEOLOGICAL DIMENSIONS OF GLOBALIZATION** --------------------------------------------- **OBJECTIVES:** +-----------------------------------------------------------------------+ | **At the end of the topic, students are expected to:** | | | | 1. differentiate the world order during the Cold War from the world | | order under globalization | | | | 2. use the world map to understand how America dominated the world | | during the Cold War and how China is replicating American | | strategies during this contemporary era of globalization | | | | 3. cite and explain the elements of neoliberalism | | | | 4. describe how neoliberalism had affected differently the economies | | of the Global North and the Global South | | | | 5. provide material evidence for the arguments against globalization | +-----------------------------------------------------------------------+ **TEACHING-LEARNING ACTIVITY/LESSON PROPER:** +-----------------------------------------------------------------------+ | **IDEOLOGICAL DIMENSIONS OF GLOBALIZATION** | | | | **[COLD WAR VS. GLOBALIZATION]** | | | | An ideology can be defined as "a system of widely shared ideas, | | patterned beliefs, guiding norms and values, and ideals accepted as | | truth by a particular group of people. Ideologies offer individuals a | | more or less coherent picture of the world not only as it is, but | | also as it ought to be. In doing so, they help organize the | | tremendous complexity of human experience into fairly simple, but | | frequently distorted, images that serve as guide and compass for | | social and political action". (Steger, 2003) | | | | The Cold War period was a battle of two ideologies (communism and | | dictatorship for the Soviet Union vs. capitalism and democracy for | | the United States). After the fall of the Soviet Union, the ideology | | of neoliberalism is what the Global North is now promoting. But | | before discussing what neoliberalism is, there is a need to have an | | overview of the comparison between the Cold War and Globalization and | | which comparison is tabulated below. | | | | +---------------------+---------------------+---------------------+ | | | **BASES** | **COLD WAR** | **GLOBALIZATION** | | | +=====================+=====================+=====================+ | | | **Dominant** | Cultural | Largely but not | | | | | homogenization on a | entirely the spread | | | | **Culture** | regional scale, | of Americanization | | | | | like the | -- from Big Macs to | | | | | Russification of | iMacs to Mickey | | | | | Eastern and Central | Mouse | | | | | Europe, or in an | | | | | | earlier time, the | | | | | | Turkification of | | | | | | the Ottoman Empire, | | | | | | the Hellenization | | | | | | of the Near East | | | | | | and the | | | | | | Mediterranean under | | | | | | the Greeks | | | | +---------------------+---------------------+---------------------+ | | | **Defining** | Division | Integration through | | | | | | its defining | | | | **Perspective** | | technologies: | | | | | | computerization, | | | | | | miniaturization, | | | | | | digitization, | | | | | | satellite | | | | | | communications, | | | | | | fiber optics and | | | | | | the Internet | | | +---------------------+---------------------+---------------------+ | | | **Symbol** | A wall (the Berlin | World Wide Web | | | | | Wall) which divided | which unites | | | | | everyone | everyone | | | +---------------------+---------------------+---------------------+ | | | **Defining** | The "treaty" | The "deal" | | | | | | | | | | **Document** | | | | | +---------------------+---------------------+---------------------+ | | | **Defining** | Weight -- | Speed -- the speed | | | | | particularly the | of commerce, | | | | **Measurement** | throw weight of | travel, | | | | | missiles | communication, and | | | | | | innovation | | | +---------------------+---------------------+---------------------+ | | | **Most Frequently | How big is your | How fast is your | | | | Asked Question** | missile? | modem? Countries | | | | | | that are most | | | | | | willing to let | | | | | | capitalism quickly | | | | | | destroy inefficient | | | | | | companies, so that | | | | | | money can be freed | | | | | | up and directed to | | | | | | more innovative | | | | | | ones, will thrive | | | | | | in an era of | | | | | | globalization | | | | | | unlike those which | | | | | | rely on governments | | | | | | to protect them | | | | | | from such creative | | | | | | destruction. | | | +---------------------+---------------------+---------------------+ | | | **Defining** | Fear of | Fear of rapid | | | | | annihilation from | change from an | | | | **Anxiety** | an enemy you knew | enemy you can't | | | | | all too well in a | see, touch or feel | | | | | world struggle that | -- a sense that | | | | | was fixed and | your job, community | | | | | stable | or workplace can be | | | | | | changed any moment | | | | | | by anonymous | | | | | | economic and | | | | | | technological | | | | | | forces that are | | | | | | anything but | | | | | | stable. | | | +---------------------+---------------------+---------------------+ | | | **What We** | Hotline for the | Internet -- a | | | | | White House and the | symbol that we are | | | | **Reach for** | Kremlin -- a symbol | all connected but | | | | | that we were all | nobody is in charge | | | | | divided but at | | | | | | least someone, the | | | | | | two superpowers, | | | | | | was in charge | | | | +---------------------+---------------------+---------------------+ | | | **Defining Defense | Radar -- to expose | X-ray machine -- to | | | | System** | the threats coming | expose the threats | | | | | from the other side | | | | | | of the wall | coming from within | | | +---------------------+---------------------+---------------------+ | | | **Demographic** | Limited | Rapid acceleration | | | | | | of the movement of | | | | **Pattern** | | people from rural | | | | | | areas and | | | | | | agricultural | | | | | | lifestyles to urban | | | | | | areas and urban | | | | | | lifestyles more | | | | | | intimately linked | | | | | | with global | | | | | | fashion, food, | | | | | | markets and | | | | | | entertainment | | | | | | trends | | | +---------------------+---------------------+---------------------+ | | | **Defining** | Built exclusively | Built around 3 | | | | | around | balances that | | | | **Structure of** | nation-states, and | overlap and | | | | | it was balanced at | | | | | **Power** | the center by two | affect one another | | | | | superpowers: the US | | | | | | and the Soviet | Traditional Balance | | | | | Union | between | | | | | | nation-states. US | | | | | | is the sole and | | | | | | dominant superpower | | | | | | and all nations are | | | | | | subordinate to it. | | | | | | The balance between | | | | | | US and the others | | | | | | still matters, like | | | | | | the expansion of | | | | | | NATO against Russia | | | | | |... | | | | | | | | | | | | Between | | | | | | nation-states and | | | | | | global markets. The | | | | | | global markets are | | | | | | made up of millions | | | | | | of investors | | | | | | (called "the | | | | | | Electronic Herd") | | | | | | moving money around | | | | | | the world with the | | | | | | click of a mouse, | | | | | | and this herd | | | | | | gathers in key | | | | | | global financial | | | | | | centers, such as | | | | | | Wall Street, Hong | | | | | | Kong, London and | | | | | | Frankfurt (called | | | | | | "the | | | | | | Supermarkets"). The | | | | | | herd and the | | | | | | supermarkets can | | | | | | destroy a | | | | | | nation-state by | | | | | | downgrading the | | | | | | bonds offered by | | | | | | these | | | | | | nation-states. | | | | | | | | | | | | Between individuals | | | | | | and nation-states. | | | | | | Because | | | | | | globalization has | | | | | | simultaneously | | | | | | wired the world | | | | | | into networks, it | | | | | | gives more power to | | | | | | individuals to | | | | | | influence | | | +---------------------+---------------------+---------------------+ | | | | **[SELLING GLOBALIZATION]** | | | | (excerpted from: Steger, M.B. (2003). Globalization: A very short | | introduction. New York: Oxford University Press) | | | | There are five claims that pro-globalization forces are promoting to | | sell globalization and which five claims are directly quoted from | | Steger (2003). | | | | 1. *[Globalization is about the liberalization and global | | integration of markets.]* | | | | | | | | a. Massive tax cuts | | | | b. Deregulation of the economy | | | | c. The downsizing of government | | | | d. Strict control on organized labor | | | | e. Privatization of public enterprises | | | | f. Liberalization of trade and industry | | | | g. The expansion of international markets | | | | h. The removal of controls on global financial flows | | | | i. The reduction of public expenditures, particularly social | | spending | | | | j. \'Monetarist\' measures to keep inflation in check, even at the | | risk of increasing unemployment | | | | Globalization is about the triumph of markets over governments. Both | | proponents and opponents of globalization agree that the driving | | force today is markets, which are suborning the role of government. | | (Business Week, 13 December 1999) | | | | One role \[of government\] is to get out of the way - to remove | | barriers to the free flow of goods, services, and capital. (Joan | | Spiro, former US Under-Secretary of State in the Clinton | | administration) | | | | Neoliberalism holds that market is always right, regulation is always | | wrong, private is good and public is bad, and taxes that support | | public services are the worst of all... neoliberalism is an extreme | | form of capitalism and the reigning ideology of the world's elites... | | under the neoliberal worldview, governments exist in order to create | | the optimal conditions for [private interests to maximize their | | profits] | | | | [and wealth], based on the theory that the profits and | | economic growth that follow will down from the top -- eventually. If | | it doesn't work, and stubborn inequalities remain or worsen, then | | according to this worldview, that must be the personal failing of the | | individuals and communities that are suffering. (Klein, N. \[2017\]. | | No is not enough. USA: Haymarket Books) | | | | 2. *[Globalization is inevitable and irreversible.]* | | According to the globalist interpretation, globalization reflects | | the inevitable spread of irreversible market forces driven by | | technological innovations. Let us consider the following | | statements: | | | | | | | | A. Today we must embrace the inexorable logic of globalization -- | | that everything from the strength of our economy to the safety of | | our cities, to the health of our people, depends on events not | | only within our borders, but half a world away\... Globalization | | is irreversible. (Bill Clinton, former US President) | | | | B. Globalization is inevitable and inexorable, and it is | | accelerating \... Globalization is happening, it\'s going to | | happen. It does not matter whether you like it or not, it\'s | | happening, it\'s going to happen. (Frederick W. Smith, Chairman | | and CEO of FedEx Corporation) | | | | C. We need much more liberalization and deregulation of the Indian | | economy. No sensible Indian businessman disagrees with this \... | | Globalization is inevitable. There is no better alternative. | | (Rahul Bajaj, Indian industrialist) | | | | Neoliberal policies are portrayed to be above politics; they simply | | carry out what is ordained by nature. This implies that, instead of | | acting according to a set of choices, people merely fulfil | | world-market laws that demand the elimination of government controls. | | As former British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher used to say, | | \'there is no alternative\'. If nothing can be done about the natural | | movement of economic and technological forces, then political groups | | ought to acquiesce and make the best of an unalterable situation. | | Resistance would be unnatural, irrational, and dangerous. The idea of | | inevitability also makes it easier to convince the general public to | | share the burdens of globalization, thus supporting an excuse often | | utilized by neoliberal politicians: \'It is the market that made us | | cut social programs.\'... the irresistible pressure of global forces | | demands that everyone will have to make sacrifices. | | | | 3. *[Nobody is in charge of globalization]*. People | | aren\'t in charge of globalization; markets and technology are. | | Certain human actions might accelerate or retard globalization, | | but in the final analysis, the invisible hand of the market will | | always assert its superior wisdom. Here are three expressions of | | this view: | | | | | | | | A. Many on the Left dislike the global marketplace because it | | epitomizes what they dislike about markets in general: the fact | | that nobody is in charge. The truth is that the invisible hand | | rules most domestic markets, too, a reality that most Americans | | seem to accept as a fact of life. (Paul Krugman, US economist) | | | | B. And the most basic truth about globalization is this: No one is | | in charge\... We all want to believe that someone is in charge | | and responsible. But the global marketplace today is an | | Electronic Herd of often anonymous stock, bond and currency | | traders and multinational investors, connected by screens and | | networks. (Thomas Friedman, New York Times correspondent and | | award-winning author) | | | | C. The great beauty of globalization is that no one is in control. | | The great beauty of globalization is that it is not controlled by | | any individual, any government, any institution. (Robert Hormats, | | Vice Chairman of Goldman Sachs International) | | | | The claim of a leaderless globalization process does not reflect | | reality in today\'s world. Rather, [it serves the political agenda of | | defending and expanding Northern interests while securing the power | | of affiliated elites in the global South]. Like the | | rhetoric of historical inevitability, the idea that nobody is in | | charge seeks to depoliticize the public debate on the subject and | | thus demobilize anti-globalist movements. Once large segments of the | | population have accepted the globalist image of a self-directed | | juggernaut that simply runs its course, it becomes extremely | | difficult to organize resistance movements. As ordinary people cease | | to believe in the possibility of choosing alternative social | | arrangements, globalism\'s capacity to construct passive consumer | | identities gains even greater strength. | | | | 4. *[Globalization benefits everyone]*. This claim lies | | at the very core of globalism because it provides an affirmative | | answer to the crucial normative question of whether globalization | | should be considered a \'good\' or a \"bad\' thing. Globalists | | frequently connect their arguments to the alleged benefits | | resulting from market liberalization: rising global living | | standards, economic efficiency, individual freedom, and | | unprecedented technological progress. Here are examples of such | | claims: | | | | A. There can be little doubt that the extraordinary changes in | | global finance on balance have been beneficial in | | facilitating significant improvements in economic structures | | and living standards throughout the world \... (Alan | | Greenspan, Chairman of the US Federal Reserve Board) | | | | B. Globalization\'s effects have been overwhelmingly good. | | Spurred by unprecedented liberalization, world trade | | continues to expand faster than overall global economic | | output, inducing a wave of productivity and efficiency and | | creating millions of jobs. (Peter Sutherland, Chairman of | | British Petroleum) | | | | C. We are at an optimistic time in our world: the barriers | | between nations are down, economic liberalism is decidedly | | afoot and proven to be sound, trade and investment are | | soaring, income disparities between nations are narrowing, | | and wealth generation is at record high levels, and I believe | | likely to remain so. (George David, CEO of United | | Technologies Corporation) | | | | However, the world\'s 200 richest people have doubled their net worth | | to more than \$1 trillion between 1994 and 1998. The assets of the | | world\'s top three billionaires are more than the combined GNP of all | | the least developed countries and their 600 million people. The same | | trend towards growing inequality can be observed even in the world\'s | | richest countries. | | | | There are numerous other indications confirming that the global hunt | | for profits | | | | actually makes it more difficult for poor people to enjoy the | | benefits of technology and scientific innovations. For example, there | | is widespread evidence for the existence of a widening \'digital | | divide\' separating countries in the global North and South. With | | regard to growing disparities in global health services, consider the | | story reported by BBC News on 31 October 2000: | | | | 5. *[Globalization furthers the spread of democracy in the | | world]*. This globalist claim is rooted in the | | neoliberal assertion that free markets and democracy are | | synonymous terms. Persistently affirmed as \'common sense\', the | | actual compatibility of these concepts often go unchallenged in | | the public discourse. Here are three examples: | | | | D. The level of economic development resulting from | | globalization is conducive to the creation of complex civil | | societies with a powerful middle class. It is this class and | | societal structure that facilitates democracy. (Francis | | Fukuyama, Johns Hopkins University) | | | | E. The emergence of new businesses and shopping centers in | | former communist countries should be seen as the backbone of | | democracy. (Hillary Rodham Clinton, US Senator from New York) | | | | F. The Electronic Herd will intensify pressures for | | democratization generally, for three very critical reasons - | | flexibility, legitimacy, and sustainability. (Thomas | | Friedman, New York Times correspondent and award-winning | | author) | | | | These [arguments hinge on a conception of democracy that | | emphasizes formal procedures such as voting at the expense of | | the direct participation of broad majorities in political and | | economic decision-making.] This \'thin\' | | definition of democracy reflects an elitist and regimented | | model of \'low-intensity\' or \'formal\' market democracy. In | | practice, the crafting of a few democratic elements onto a | | basically authoritarian structure ensures that those elected | | remain insulated from popular pressures and thus can govern | | \'effectively\'. Hence, the assertion that globalization | | furthers the spread of democracy in the world is largely | | based on a shallow understanding of democracy... democratic | | countries are losing out in the race for US export markets | | and American foreign investments. | | | | In 1989, democratic countries accounted for more than half of | | all US imports from the global South. Ten years later, with | | more democracies to choose from, democratic countries | | supplied barely one-third of US imports from developing | | countries. And the trend is growing. As more of the world\'s | | countries adopt democracy, more American businesses appear to | | prefer dictatorships. These findings raise the important | | question of whether foreign purchasing and investment | | decisions by US corporations are actually undermining the | | chances for the survival of fragile democracies. Why are | | powerful investors in the rich Northern countries making | | these business decisions? [For one, wages tend to be lower in | | authoritarian regimes than in democracies, giving businesses | | in dictatorships a monetary advantage in selling exports | | abroad]. In addition, lower wages, bans on labor | | unions, and relaxed environmental laws give authoritarian | | regimes an edge in attracting foreign investment. | | | | **Conclusion.** A critical examination of the five central claims of | | globalism suggests that the neoliberal language about globalization | | is ideological in the sense that it is politically motivated and | | contributes towards the construction of particular meanings of | | globalization that preserve and stabilize existing asymmetrical power | | relations. But the ideological reach of globalism goes far beyond the | | task of providing the public with a narrow explanation of the meaning | | of globalization. Globalism consists of powerful narratives that sell | | an overarching neoliberal worldview, thereby creating collective | | meanings and shaping people\'s identities. Yet, as both the massive | | anti-globalist protests from Seattle to Genoa and the Al Qaeda | | terrorist attacks of 11 September 2001 have shown, the expansion of | | this globalist ideology has encountered considerable resistance. xxx | | | | Achbar, M. & Abbott, J. (2003, September 10). The corporation. | | (YouTube files). | | | | Cooke, S. (2012). Revised version of enslavement of a lesser being. | | Retrieved from: https://www.p | | oetrysoup.com/poem/revised\_version\_enslavement\_of\_a\_lesser\_bein | | g\_371398 | | | | Geier, L. (2008). Just a bit of meditation. Retrieved from: | | | | just\_a\_bit\_of\_meditation\_\_112440 | | | | Martin, W. (2017). Americanisation. Retrieved from: | | https://www.poetrysouamericanisation\_917224p.com/poem/ | | | | Steger, M.B. (2003). Globalization: A very short introduction. New | | York: Oxford University Press. Retrieved from: | | | | | +=======================================================================+ | | +-----------------------------------------------------------------------+