CHAPTER 1
DEFINING GLOBALIZATION
Introduction
Much has changed since time immemorial. Human beings have encountered many
changes over the last century especially in their social relationships and social
structures. Of these changes, one can say that globalization is a very important
change, if not, the "most important" (Bauman, 2003). The reality and omnipresence
of globalization makes us see ourselves as part of what we refer to as the "global
age" (Albrow, 1996). The Internet, for example, allows a person from the Philippines
to know what is happening to the rest of the world simply by browsing Google. The
mass media also allows for connections among people, communities, and countries
all over the globe.
So what is globalization? This question is probably an easy one to answer. However,
many scholars gave and tried to formulate its definitions. This resulted in different,
sometimes contradicting views about the concept. It cannot be contained within a
specific time frame, all people, and all situations (Al-Rhodan, 2006). Aside from this,
globalization encompasses a multitude of processes that involves the economy,
political systems, and culture. Social structures, therefore, are directly affected by
globalization.
Over the years, globalization has gained many connotations pertaining to progress,
development, and integration. On the one hand, some view globalization as a
positive phenomenon. For instance, Swedish journalist Thomas Larsson (2001) saw
globalization as "the process of world shrinkage, of distances getting shorter, things
moving closer. It pertains to the increasing ease with which somebody on one side
of the world can interact, to mutual benefit with somebody on the other side of the
world" (p. 9). On the other hand, some see it as occurring through and with
regression, colonialism, and destabilization. In the mid-1990s, Martin Khor, the
former president of Third World Network (TWN) in Malaysia, once regarded
globalization as colonization.
In this chapter, different definitions of globalization will be discussed. The task of
conceptualizing it reveals a variety of perspectives. To understand further the
concept, different metaphors will be used. These metaphors will also allow an
appreciation of earlier epochs before globalization and the present globalized world.
The final lesson in this chapter will be devoted to a general discussion of
globalization theories. The following section will highlight the different views
scholars have toward globalization.
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Human society has undergone major changes over time, especially in social
relationships and social structures.
Human society has undergone major changes over time, especially in social relationships
and social structures.
Globalization is considered one of the most significant changes of the modern era.
The widespread presence of globalization makes people see themselves as living in a
“global age.” (Global age refers to the period of history we are living in now, where the
world is highly connected and interdependent.)
Technology, especially the Internet and mass media, connects people, communities, and
countries worldwide.
Globalization is a complex concept with many definitions proposed by different scholars.
These definitions sometimes contradict each other and cannot be limited to one time
period or situation.
Globalization involves multiple processes affecting the economy, political systems, and
culture.
Social structures are directly influenced by globalization.
Some scholars view globalization positively, associating it with progress, development,
and integration.
Thomas Larsson describes globalization as the shrinking of the world and the easier
interaction between people across distances.
Other scholars view globalization negatively, linking it to regression, colonialism, and
destabilization.
Martin Khor described globalization as a form of modern colonization.
The chapter aims to present various definitions, perspectives, metaphors, and theories of
globalization.
It also compares earlier historical periods with the present globalized world and
highlights different scholarly views.
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The Task of Defining Globalization
Since its first appearance in the Webster's Dictionary in 1961, many opinions about
globalization have flourished. The literature on the definitions of globalization
revealed that definitions could be classified as either (1) broad and inclusive or (2)
narrow and exclusive. The one offered by Ohmae in 1992 stated, "... globalization
means the onset of the borderless world..." (p. 14). This is an example of a broad
and inclusive type of definition. If one uses such, it can include a variety of issues
that deal with overcoming traditional boundaries. However, it does not shed light on
the implications of globalization due to its vagueness.
Narrow and exclusive definitions are better justified but can be limiting, in the sense
that their application adhere to only particular definitions. Robert Cox's definition
suits best in this type: "the characteristics of the globalization trend include the
internationalizing of production, the new international division of labor, new
migratory movements from South to North, the new competitive environment that
accelerates these processes, and the internationalizing of the state... making states
into agencies of the globalizing world" (as cited in RAWOO Netherlands
Development Assistance Research Council, 2000, p. 14). Other definitions of
globalization are shown in chronological order in the Appendix. Each could fall to
either one of the two types of definitions.
No matter how one classifies a definition of globalization, the concept is complex
and multifaceted as the definitions deal with either economic, political, or social
dimensions. In fact, in a comprehensive study of 114 definitions by the Geneva
Center for Security Policy (GCSP) in 2006, 67 of them refer to economic dimension.
These definitions include political and social dimensions as well. The sheer number
and complexity of definitions do not mean that there is a remarkable improvement
in every definition given by scholars. Kumar (2003) took on a different argument
about the issue. To him, the debate about what can be done about globalization and
what it is are similar. This is in relation to what some academics have claimed about
defining globalization-it is a useless task.
A more recent definition was given by Ritzer (2015), "globalization is a
transplanetary process or a set of processes involving increasing liquidity and the
growing multidirectional flows of people, objects, places, and information as well as
the structures they encounter and create that are barriers to, or expedite those
flows..." (p. 2). Generally, this definition assumes that globalization could bring
either or both integration and/or fragmentation. Although things flow easily in a
global world, hindrances or structural blocks are also present. These blocks could
slow down one's activity in another country or could even limit the places a person
can visit.
If so, why are we going to spend time studying this concept? How can we appreciate
these definitions? How can these help us understand globalization?
First, the perspective of the person who defines globalization shapes its definition.
The overview of definitions implies that globalization is many things to many
different people. In 1996, Arjun Appadurai said, "globalization is a 'world of things'
that have 'different speeds, axes, points of origin and termination, and varied
relationships to institutional structures in different regions, nations, or societies'" (as
cited in Chowdhury, 2006, p. 137). In a more recent study, Al-Rhodan (2006) wrote
that definitions suggest the perspective of the author on the origins and the
geopolitical implications of globalization. It is a starting point that will guide the rest
of any discussions. In effect, one's definition and perspective could determine
concrete steps in addressing the issues of globalization. For example, if one sees
globalization as positive, the person can say that it is a unifying force. On the other
hand, if it is deemed as creating greater inequalities among nations, globalization is
negatively treated.
Second, to paraphrase the sociologist Cesare Poppi: Globalization is the debate and
the debate is globalization. One became part and parcel of the other. As Poppi
(1997) wrote: "The literature stemming from the debate on globalization has grown
in the last decade beyond any individual's capability of extracting a workable
definition of the concept. In a sense, the meaning of the concept is self- evident, in
another, it is vague and obscure as its reaches are wide and constantly shifting.
Perhaps, more than any other concept, globalization is the debate about it" (as cited
in Kumar, 2003, p. 95).
Third, globalization is a reality. It is changing as human society develops. It has
happened before and is still happening today. We should expect it to continue to
happen in the future. The future of globalization is more difficult to predict. What we
could expect in the coming years is what has happened over the past 50 years and
that is the fluidity and complexity of globalization as a concept, which made more
debates, discussions, and definitions than agreements on it.
Overall, globalization is a concept that is not easy to define because in reality,
globalization has a shifting nature. It is complex, multifaceted, and can be
influenced by the people who define it. Moreover, the issues and concerns involving
globalization have a wide range from the individual to society, from small
communities to nations and states, and from the benefits we can gain from it to the
costs it could carry. In his article, "The Globalization of Nothing," (2003) said,
"attitudes toward globalization depend, among other things, on whether one gains
or loses from it" (p. 190). Nevertheless, the task of defining globalization should
stimulate more discussions about it. More importantly, the fact that we experience
globalization should give one the interest of engaging in the study of it.
Metaphors of Globalization
In order for us to better understand the concept of globalization, we will utilize
metaphors. Metaphors make use of one term to help us better understand another
term. In our case, the states of matter-solid and liquid-will be used. In addition,
other related concepts that are included in the definition such as structures and
flows will be elaborated.
Solid and Liquid
The epochs that preceded today's globalization paved way for people, things,
information, and places to harden over time. Consequently, they have limited
mobility (Ritzer, 2015). The social relationships and objects remained where they
were created. Solidity also refers to barriers that prevent or make difficult the
movement of things. Furthermore, solids can either be natural or man- made.
Examples of natural solids are landforms and bodies of water. Man-made barriers
include the Great Wall of China and the Berlin Wall. An imaginary line such as the
nine-dash line used by the People's Republic of China in their claim to the South
China Sea is an example of modern man-made solid. This creates limited access of
Filipino fishers to the South China Sea. Obviously, these examples still exist.
However, they have the tendency to melt. This should not be taken literally, like an
iceberg melting. Instead, this process involves how we can describe what is
happening in today's global world. It is becoming increasingly liquid.
Liquid, as a state of matter, takes the shape of its container. Moreover, liquids are
not fixed. Liquidity, therefore, refers to the increasing ease of movement of people,
things, information, and places in the contemporary world. Zygmunt Bauman's
ideas were the ones that have much to say about the characteristic of liquidity. First,
today's liquid phenomena change quickly and their aspects, spatial and temporal,
are in continuous fluctuation. This means that space and time are crucial elements
of globalization. In global finance, for instance, changes in the stock market are a
matter of seconds. Another characteristic of liquid phenomena is that their
movement is difficult to stop. For example, videos uploaded on YouTube or Facebook
are unstoppable once they become viral. The so-called Internet sensations become
famous not only in their homeland but also to the entire world. Finally, the forces
(the liquid ones) made political boundaries more permeable to the flow of people
and things (Cartier, 2001). This brings us to what Ritzer (2015, p. 6) regarded as the
most important characteristic of liquid: it "tends to melt whatever stands in its path
(especially solids)." The clearest example is the decline, if not death, of the nation-
state.
Liquidity and solidity are in constant interaction. However, liquidity is the one
increasing and proliferating today. Therefore, the metaphor that could best describe
globalization is liquidity. Liquids do flow and this idea of flow (Appadurai, 1996; Rey
and Ritzer, 2010) will be the focus of the next discussion. Also, it should be
expected that this concept will appear in the succeeding lessons. The literature on
globalization makes use of the concept of flows.
Flows
The previous section described the melting process of solid phenomena followed by
the increase in liquidity. It is only logical to discuss the flows of liquid phenomena.
Flows are the movement of people, things, places, and information brought by the
growing "porosity" of global limitations (Ritzer, 2015). Think of the different foreign
cuisines being patronized and consumed by the Filipinos. Aside from local dishes,
many of us are fond of eating sushi, ramen, hamburger, and French fries-foods
introduced to us by foreign cultures. Clearly, foods are being globalized. Another
example of flows is global financial crises. As Landler (2008, p. C1) put it: "In global
financial system, national borders are porous." This means that a financial crisis in a
given country can bring ramifications to other regions of the world. An example of
which is the spread of the effects of American financial crisis on Europe in 2008. The
following are other kinds of flows that can be observed today: poor illegal migrants
flooding many parts of the world (Moses, 2006), the virtual flow of legal and illegal
information such as blogs and child pornography, respectively, and immigrants
recreating ethnic enclaves in host countries. A concrete example is the Filipino
communities abroad and the Chinese communities in the Philippines.