Reviewer Notes – SS1D Lecture 1: Introduction to Globalization

Chapter 1: The Concept of Globalization

Globality (Steger)
- Is a social condition characterized by tight economic, political, cultural, environmental interconnectedness
and flows, making currently existing borders and boundaries irrelevant.
- End point/goal of globalization.

Globalization
- Social process of reshaping and remaking the world order.
- Phenomenon of spreading worldwide practices, relations, consciousness, and organizations of social life.
Definition of Held & McGrew:
- Refers to a multidimensional set of social processes that create, multiply, stretch and intensify
worldwide social interdependencies and exchanges while at the same time fostering in people a growing
awareness of deepening connections between the local and the distant.

Globalization as a Multidimensional Process

1. Economic Globalization
2. Political Globalization
3. Cultural Globalization

1. Economic Globalization
- Increasing linkages of national economies through trade, financial flows, foreign direct investments (FDI) by
multinational firms.
- Close examination of the evolving structure of global economic markets and their principal institutions.
- Economic Systems
- Power of Transnational Corporations (TNCs)

2. Political Globalization
- Power-relations among nation-states.
- Issues on state sovereignty.
- Impacts of intergovernmental organizations.
- Prospects of global governance.

3. Cultural Globalization
- Does globalization increase cultural homogeneity or lead to greater cultural heterogeneity?

- Appadurai’s 5 conceptual dimension or “scapes” constituted by cultural flows:

1. Ethnoscapes – shifting populations
2. Technoscapes – development of technologies
3. Finanscapes – flow of global capital (i.e. “Starbuck’s Theory”)
4. Mediascapes – electronic capabilities to produce and disseminate information (i.e. “Doctrine of the Post-Truth
Era”)
5. Ideoscapes – ideologies of states and social movements

Globalization as a Phenomenon (4 distinct qualities/characteristics)

1. Creation & Multiplication
2. Expansion & Stretching
3. Intensification & Acceleration
4. Consciousness & Awareness

1. Creation and Multiplication

- “Innovation”
- Social and cultural activities break traditional norms

2. Expansion and Stretching

- Local economies open to other parts of the world

3. Intensification & Acceleration

- “Digital Age / Post-Modern era”
- The farthest have the access to the reach of the central portion of global events

4. Consciousness and Awareness

- People as primary actors of globalization; they impact the outcomes of
globalization
- “Global Imaginary” – consciousness of belonging to the global community

Why is Globalization Relevant?

1. Cure to our parochialism
Parochialism – concern only about sa group mo.
2. Allows us to compare our society
3. We interact with it
Hyperglobalist
- Perspective as an approach which sees globalization as a new epoch in human
history.
- Totally agrees with the advantages of globalization.
- Optimist view of globalization.

Globalization Critics
1. Rejectionist
2. Skeptics
3. Modifiers

1. Rejectionist
- Disputes the usefulness of globalization as a sufficiently precise analytical framework
- “Globalization is a myth”
- Totally disagree to globalization

2. Skeptics
- Limited nature of current globalizing process
- The world is not really as integrated as many globalization proponents believe (“Westernization” rather than
“Globalization”)
- Not a phenomenon but one centered in Europe, America and some parts of Asia
- “Globalization is only for the rich countries”
- Do not totally agree with the arguments of globalization

3. Modifiers
- Disputes the novelty of the process while acknowledging its existence
- Those who refer to globalization as a recent process miss the bigger picture and fall prey to their narrow
historical framework.
- “Globalization is not new”

Chapter 2: Competing Theoretical Approaches

- Realism
- Liberalism
- Idealism

How do countries engage/respond to globalization?

3 Theoretical Approaches to Globalization

1. Realism
2. Liberalism
3. Idealism

1. Realism
- POWER TO DOMINATE AND CONTROL
- Core idea of dominating the world is through the employment of POWER
- Economic power – market and resources
- Political power – military and territory
- Technological power – logistics and systems
- Countries that have the power to dominate and control the world are those economies that have the “powers”
to affect and influence the operation worldwide

Realist countries open their economy:

- Economic opportunities
- Interdependence (ex. Bush doctrine: “will act alone, if necessary”)
- Adheres to the Principle of “Self-Help”
- Machiavellian Principle: “It is better to be feared than loved”
- Statism: The state has the substantial centralized control over social and economic affairs

2. Liberalism
- RELATIONSHIPS AND NEGOTIATIONS
- Importance of INTERACTION and COMMUNICATION and focus on solving problems and conflicts affecting
them.
- DIPLOMACY as a response to avoid conflict
- To avoid international conflict, negotiations and dialogue are potential mechanisms in confronting issues among
parties.

FACTORS:
1. Spread of democracy and institutions
- Not use threat to intimidate /harm other nations
- Vital functions of rule of law
- Transparency as measurement in maintaining international cooperation and global understanding
- Democracy has been utilized as a sociopolical apparatus in challenging political actors who act beyond their
power and control
- People as main engine of reforming political institutions
2. Global economic ties
- Market integration and alliance
- Promotion of free market
- Global economy works in a single and unified system
- Core belief is that economic alliance and integrating domestic economy into regional or economic bloc will
deliver prosperity and moral understanding of multi-state interest.
3. Idealism
- Has also the attributes of liberalism
- Notion that values, and norms play pivotal roles in sustaining and reforming the process and works of
individuals, group, and nations.
- This theory emphasizes on the functions of ideologies, frameworks, systems, and identities in understanding
globalization and international order.
- Its core beliefs centers on the centrality of ideas, beliefs, emotions, and collective values that shape the political
and economic landscapes of the world.
- Alexander Wendt and Hugh Ruggie are the two most prominent founders of this school of thought.
- Idealism presents the changing norms and evolutions of individuals, groups, and states with the goal of
influencing the dynamics and pattern of social structure.
- They value the importance of “appropriateness” and “transparency” in reshaping and framing rules affecting the
general welfare of its members, may it be individual or collective. Idealists emphasize appropriate policies and
decisions during the state of conflict as it advances the moral aspects and ethical dynamics of actions.

Ideas-- are non-material entities of culture; it embodies one’s perception of his social world or environment. It
defines on how values, norms, and beliefs are used by governments and institutions in hold and exercising of
power (Nau, 2008)
International institutions-- are classified intergovernmental organizations that are formed by national
governments. These are international formal organizations that set rules and with the purpose of regulating the
flow of communication and movement of resources. Governments engaged in internationalizing their
organizations because of retaining and asserting control over global activities and networks brought by global
changes and transformations.

Globalization Reviewer (Based on Thomas Friedman: The Lexus and the Olive Tree)

The Lexus and the Olive Tree

The Lexus
- Symbolizes modernization, progress, and the global system—think high-speed growth, technology, capitalism, and
integration into international markets.
- It represents the pursuit of prosperity, efficiency, and cutting-edge innovation.

The Olive Tree

- Embodies tradition, cultural identity, heritage, and local roots.
- It stands for the values, history, and sense of belonging that give individuals and communities stability and meaning.

Balance of Lexus and Olive Tree

Globalization According to Thomas Friedman

Globalization
- is the new international system that replaced the Cold War system.
- It is about integration and interconnection across economies, politics, technology, and culture.
- Unlike the Cold War (which divided the world), globalization connects the world through markets, finance, and
information.

Cold War vs Globalization

Cold War
- A system of division (1945–1991) between the U.S.
(capitalism/democracy) and the Soviet Union (communism)
- About walls (barriers, separation, iron curtain).
- Driven by nuclear weapons, military alliances, and ideology (capitalism vs communism).
- Nation-states (U.S. and USSR with their allies).
- The Berlin Wall (division, East vs West).
- Limited freedom; countries were forced to choose sides.

Globalization
- A system of integration (after the Cold War) where countries are interconnected through trade, technology, finance, and
culture.
- About networks (connections, interdependence, internet, free trade).
- Driven by technology, finance, and information (the three democratizations).
- Not only nation-states but also corporations, markets, investors, organizations, and even individuals
- The Internet/Web (connectivity, sharing, borderless world).
- Expands freedom but also creates new pressures (competition, loss of tradition, need to adapt quickly).
The Three Democratizations
1. Democratization of Finance
- Global financial markets and capital flows opened up to more people and countries.- In the past, only wealthy
nations had access to investment capital; now, developing countries can also attract foreign investments.
- Investors (big and small) can move money across borders instantly, influencing economies everywhere.

2. Democratization of Technology
- Access to modern tools—computers, the internet, mobile phones, and software—spread worldwide.
- Ordinary people, not just governments or big corporations, can now access information, communicate globally, and
innovate.

3. Democratization of Information
- Information that was once controlled by governments, elites, or big institutions is now widely accessible.
- Through TV, radio, news outlets, and especially the internet, ordinary citizens can know what’s happening around the
world in real-time.

1. Barriers to Entry Collapsed

2. Golden Straitjacket – all the economic rules
3. Electronic Herd – energy source of the new system
4. Interactions to Electronic Herd