SANTO TOMAS COLLEGE OF AGRICULTURE, SCIENCES AND TECHNOLOGY

Feeder Road 4, Brgy. Tibal-Og, Santo Tomas, Davao del Norte, 8112, Philippines

STCAST Learning Module

Course GE 3 – The Contemporary World
SEM/AY First Semester/2025-2026
Module No. 7
Lesson Title GLOBAL CITY AND MIGRATION
Description This course lesson examines the character of a global city and how global cities serve as
of the the engine of Globalization. This lesson will also emphasize why globalization is spatial.
Lesson

Learning Outcomes
Intended Students should be able to meet the following intended learning outcomes:
Learning  define the attributes of Global City
Outcomes  identify the Challenges of Global City
 analyse how cities as engines of globalization
Targets/ At the end of the lesson, students should be able to:
Objectives  develop a distinct definition of Global City
 recognize the Characteristic of Global City
 distinguished the challenges of becoming a Global City
 Understand why globalization is a spatial phenomenon

Student Learning Strategies

Online Activities A. Online Discussion via Google Meet
(Synchronous/
Asynchronous) Access the online discussion by joining a Google Meet link that will
be sent before the meeting.

Google Meet discussion schedule will be posted in Google Classroom

Learning Guide Questions

 What are the attributes of a global city to the world?
 What are the pros and cons of living in a Global City?
 Can you give an example of gentrification in your areas or nearby areas?

B. Those in asynchronous learning, this module is available and will be

attached in the Google Classroom.

STCAST LEARNING MODULE: GE 3 The Contemporary World

Prepared by: Eloisa P. Cortez , LPT, MAED
 SANTO TOMAS COLLEGE OF AGRICULTURE, SCIENCES AND TECHNOLOGY
Feeder Road 4, Brgy. Tibal-Og, Santo Tomas, Davao del Norte, 8112, Philippines

A lot of talks these days about so-called "global cities." But what is a global city?

The next question then becomes how to identify these global cities, and perhaps
determine how they function as global cities, beyond other things that they do as
cities.

A global city is also called a power city, world city, or world center, is a city that is
the central node in the global economic network (according to [Link]).
Global city status is beneficial and enticing since it will serve as a Key model for
other Cities. To understand what Global City is, First, we must analyze why
globalization is spatial.

First, globalization is spatial because it occurs in physical spaces. It happened when

foreign investments and capital move through the city, and when companies build
skyscrapers.
Second, globalization is spatial because what makes it move is the fact that it is
base on places. People move to a place because of the location itself. In other words,
cities act on globalization, and globalization affects cities.

Sakia Sassen is a Sociologist and a Professor of Sociology at the University of

Chicago. Sassen popularized the term "global city" in the 1990s. Her primary
Offline Activities criteria for identifying which city that can be considered a global city was their
(e-Learning/Self- economic stability. In her work, she initially identified three global cities and all of
which are the centers of global finance and capitalism, New York in California, USA,
Paced)
London in England UK, and Tokyo in Japan. More cities will become globalize in the
near future because of internationalism, and more people will experience it.
According to the studies, in 1950, only 30% of the world lived in urban areas. By
the year 2014, that number increased almost double by 54%. And it is expected to
increase by 66% by the year 2050. This data shows that Major Cities will be the
center of globalization.

As the term Global City popularized, The Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU) had
formulated new criteria to measure a city's economic competitiveness and support
Sassen's study. First is the market size; the EIU studies the volume of potential
buyers or sellers of products and services. Second is citizens' purchasing power,
EIU also examines how fast or slow the individuals to buy the products or services
to constitute a place and be entitled a global city. The third is the size of the middle
class; the EIU also studying the size of the middle-class people because they are the
ones who are driving the economy. It is impossible to measure the lower class
because most lower-class people do not buy products or services. Nor can they
measure the upper class because most of them are producers of the product or
services. And the last criterion is the growth potential. EIU examines the potential
growth of a city to determine if it can afford to compete with other global cities in
terms of the economy.

But it is not just the economy to say that a city can be called global. Like for
example, Los Angeles is the home of Hollywood, where movies made not just
STCAST LEARNING MODULE: GE 3 The Contemporary World
Prepared by: Eloisa P. Cortez , LPT, MAED
 SANTO TOMAS COLLEGE OF AGRICULTURE, SCIENCES AND TECHNOLOGY
Feeder Road 4, Brgy. Tibal-Og, Santo Tomas, Davao del Norte, 8112, Philippines

consumed by the Americans but for the whole world. Though Los Angeles is not as
wealthy as the Big Apple or New York, the L.A. can now compete in terms of cultural
influence. Another city in America that can be considered a global city is San
Francisco. It is the home for most powerful internet companies like Facebook,
Twitter, and Google. Melbourne is labeled Sydney's rival because others
considered it as "the most livable city." With a thriving cultural scene, a sound
transportation system, and a relatively comfortable life pace, we could assume
Melbourne a Global City. Shanghai plays a critical role in the economic supply chain
worldwide ever since China becomes the manufacturing center of the world. China
has one of the lowest costs in terms of the workforce industry. In 2013, Shanghai
port became the world's busiest container port, moving over 33 million container
units in just a year; therefore, because of this, we could also consider Shanghai a
global City. Global cities are also centers of authority; Washington D.C. is the seat
of American state power though that city may not be as wealthy as New York.
The Cities that house major international organizations may also be considered
centers of political influence. Jakarta, Indonesia, is not just the capital city but also
the location of ASEAN or the Association of Southeast Asian Nations Headquarters.
Singapore is a city-state, and that is a fact. With its gleaming buildings, Singapore
is often viewed as a symbol of Asian modernity. Lastly, global cities are hubs of
higher learning and culture. Tourists are often visiting Boston because they want
to see Harvard University, the world's top university. In other words, cities act on
globalization, and globalization acts on cities.

Many studies have developed multiple alternative methods to classify and

rank global cities and distinguish them from non-global cities.

One example is AT Kearney's list. The most recent version is the 2012 Global Cities
Index. The study uses different benchmark across five dimensions:

 Business Activity (Business headquarters, services firms, capital markets

value, the value of goods in airports and ports)

 Human Capital (population of foreign-born, quality of Education in

universities, number of international schools in the cities, the population of
international students, the population of residents with college degrees)

 Information Exchange (accessibility to major TV news channels) Internet

presence (number of search hits and population of the broadband subscriber
in the city)

 Cultural Experience (number of sporting event held in the city, numbers of

museums, performing arts venues}

 Political Engagement (number of embassies and consulates in the city, think

tanks, international organizations, political conferences)

Another chosen criterion for identifying a Global City is the Selection criteria. It is
based on a yardstick value. For example, suppose the producer-service sector is the
STCAST LEARNING MODULE: GE 3 The Contemporary World
Prepared by: Eloisa P. Cortez , LPT, MAED
 SANTO TOMAS COLLEGE OF AGRICULTURE, SCIENCES AND TECHNOLOGY
Feeder Road 4, Brgy. Tibal-Og, Santo Tomas, Davao del Norte, 8112, Philippines

largest. In that case, city A is a world city) or on an imminent determination. If the

producer-service sector of city A is greater than the combined producer-service
sectors of B other cities, Then City A is a world city). (Doel, M. and Hubbard, P.
2002). Global Cities can fall from ranking, as cities have become less cosmopolitan
and less internationally renowned.

Indicators for Globality

Here are some typical characteristics of global cities:

 A wide variety of international financial services, notably in finance,

insurance, real estate, banking, accountancy, and marketing. (Beaverstock,
J.V., 2006)
 Business headquarters of several multi-international corporations.
 The presence of financial headquarters, a stock exchange, and major financial
institutions.
 Dominate in the field of trade and economy in a large surrounding area.
 Has Major manufacturing centers with port and container facilities.
 Considerable decision-making power daily and at a global level.
 Centers for new ideas and innovation in business, economics, culture, and
politics.
 Centers for media and communications for global networks.
 Dominance of the national region with great international significance.
 High percentage of residents employed in the services sector and the
information sector.
 High-quality educational institutions, including renowned universities,
international student attendance, and research facilities. (O'Connor, K., 2006)
 Multi-functional infrastructure offering some of the best legal, medical, and
entertainment facilities in the country
 High diversity in language, culture, religion, and ideologies

THE CHALLENGES OF GLOBAL CITIES

Global cities became culturally diverse nowadays. When we look at the global
cities, we can see that they are so flawless, they show exciting, fast-paced,
cosmopolitan lifestyles, but such descriptions are lacking. Global cities also have
their undersides. Great inequality, poverty, and tremendous violence are also
present in these shining and shimmering splendid global cities. Global cities create
winners and losers like the wide-ranging processes of globalization.

Richard Florida is a Professor at the University of Toronto and the author of the
book "The New Urban Crisis." He notes that "Ecologists have found that by
concentrating their populations in smaller areas in the cities and metros decrease
human encroachment on natural habitats."

Based on the report of the Inventory of New York City Greenhouse Gas Emissions,
New Yorkers have the lowest per capita carbon footprint in the United States; it is
no surprise about that because of their extensive train system. In comparison,

STCAST LEARNING MODULE: GE 3 The Contemporary World

Prepared by: Eloisa P. Cortez , LPT, MAED
 SANTO TOMAS COLLEGE OF AGRICULTURE, SCIENCES AND TECHNOLOGY
Feeder Road 4, Brgy. Tibal-Og, Santo Tomas, Davao del Norte, 8112, Philippines

cities like Manila, Bangkok, Mumbai, and other cities are so compressed. The
problem is that the government is incapable of regulating their car industries. The
lack of public transportation is also a problem.

Cities worldwide consumed 78% of global energy though cities only cover 2% of
the world's total landmass. Hence, if we want to prevent global warming, this
massive energy consumptions in the cities must be controlled. (Richard Florida,
2005)

Not just working people or migrants are attracted to cities. Even harmful terrorists
also target cities, especially cities with global influence. They are the obvious
targets of terrorists due to their huge populations and their role as globalization
symbols. The 9/11 (September 11, 2001) attacks of Islamic terrorists Al-Qaeda
that kills almost 3000 people and a total of 25000 injuries and brought down the
twin towers of the World Trade Center in New York ([Link]). And the
November 2015 coordinated attacks in Paris by the extremists of the Islamic State
of Iraq and Levant (ISIL).

THE GLOBAL CITY AND THE POOR

There is a consistent massive inequality in terms of globalization. This
phenomenon is noticeable in any city around the world. In places like Mumbai,
Jakarta, and Manila, there are many massive shantytowns beyond the gleaming
buildings that we always see. Dualism in every corner of globalization.
Gentrification is a phenomenon of driving out the poor people in favor of newer,
wealthier residents. As a city attracts more capital and more prosperous residents,
real estate and rent prices go up, and lower-class residents are forced to relocate
to other cheaper areas. "A large global city may thus be a paradise for some but a
purgatory for others." – Richard Florida

GLOBAL MIGRATION
Since the beginning of Human Civilization, humanity has been on the move. People
move in search of better work conditions or better economic opportunities, join
families living abroad, or study in countries with a better education. Others move
to escape conflict such a war, persecution, terrorism, or human rights violations.
Still, others move in response to the effects of climate change, natural disasters
such as earthquakes, tsunami, or other environmental disasters.

According to the UN Migration Agency. In 2019, the number of foreign migrants

worldwide reached an estimated 272 million, 51 million more than in 2010.
Foreign migrants comprise 3.5 percent of the global population. Compared to 2.8
percent during 2000 and 2.3 percent in 1980, the number of international migrants
in the world population has also risen.
While many individuals migrate out of choice, many others migrate out of necessity
or better opportunity.

STCAST LEARNING MODULE: GE 3 The Contemporary World

Prepared by: Eloisa P. Cortez , LPT, MAED
 SANTO TOMAS COLLEGE OF AGRICULTURE, SCIENCES AND TECHNOLOGY
Feeder Road 4, Brgy. Tibal-Og, Santo Tomas, Davao del Norte, 8112, Philippines

WHO IS THE MIGRANT?

According to UN Migration Agency (IOM) defines a migrant as a person or
individual who is moving or has moved across an international border or within a
country away from his/her natural place of residence, considering the person’s
legal status or whether the transfer is involuntary or voluntary or what the length
of the stay is.

WHAT IS MIGRATION?
Two types of migration:

 Internal Migration refers to people moving from one area to another within
one country;

 International Migration, in which people cross borders down into five criteria:

First, are those Individuals who move permanently to another country

(immigrants).

Second, refers to workers who stay in another for economic woes that are, in
reality, caused by government policy and not by foreigners.

Third, are comprised of illegal migrants.

Fourth, are the migrants whose families have ‘‘petitioned‘‘ them to move to the
destination country.

Fifth, are refugees (also known as asylum seekers), I.e, those ‘‘unable or unwilling
to return because of persecution on account of race, religion, nationality,
membership in a particular social group, or political opinion.

Demographers estimate that 427 million people are currently living outside the
countries of their birth. Ninety percent of them moved for economic reasons while
the remaining 10% were refugees and asylum-seekers.

STCAST LEARNING MODULE: GE 3 The Contemporary World

Prepared by: Eloisa P. Cortez , LPT, MAED
 SANTO TOMAS COLLEGE OF AGRICULTURE, SCIENCES AND TECHNOLOGY
Feeder Road 4, Brgy. Tibal-Og, Santo Tomas, Davao del Norte, 8112, Philippines

Performance Task
Characteristic of a Global City

In this activity, you will identify the different factors/characteristics of your chosen city and
explain why your chosen city should be considered a GLOBAL CITY?

Choose one city from the following (Hong Kong, London, New York, Paris, Tokyo, Toronto, Sydney,
Taipei, and Seoul)

Understanding Directed Assessment

Rubrics

Criteria/
6 4 3 1
Points
The student submitted
The student submitted The student presented The student presented
Content complete and correct
complete and correct incomplete yet correct incomplete and incorrect
answers regarding the
answers regarding the answers regarding the answers regarding the
factors and
factors and factors and factors and
characteristics of Global
(6) characteristics of Global characteristics of Global characteristics of Global
City, but there are errors
City City City
in some parts
Clarity The answers are clear The answers have some The answers have
with no grammatical (1-7) grammatical major (8 and above)
error. errors. grammatical errors.
(4)

LSPU SELF-PACED LEARNING MODULE: GEC 103 The Contemporary World

Prepared by: Acero, A., Acorda, D., Buera R., Cortez, E., Ganibo, J.A., Gonzaga, J. and Ruzol, L._ CAS Faculty_
LSPU Siniloan
 SANTO TOMAS COLLEGE OF AGRICULTURE, SCIENCES AND TECHNOLOGY
Feeder Road 4, Brgy. Tibal-Og, Santo Tomas, Davao del Norte, 8112, Philippines

Learning Resources
Aldama, P. K., (2018). The Contemporary World. REX Book Store: Manila Philippines

Beaverstock, J.V., (2010). World City Networks From Below. Wayback Machine, GaWC,
Loughborough University, Loughborough Leicestershire LE11 3TU London England UK

Brazalote, Tumoroh, Leonardo, R., (2019). The Contemporary World Outcome-Based Module,
C&E Publishing Inc. Quezon City Philippines

Claudion, L., Abinales, P., (2018). The Contemporary World. C&E Publishing Inc. Quezon City,
Philippines

Doel, M., Hubbard, P., (2002). Taking World Cities Literally: Marketing the City in a Global Space
of Flows. City: A Journal of Urban Analysis, Vol. 6 No. 3: pp 351-368.

Florida, R., (2005) The New Urban Crisis: How Our Cities Are Increasing Inequality, Deepening
Segregation, and falling the Middle Class – What Can We Do About It. University of
Toronto, Ontario, Canada

O’Connor, K., (2006). International Students and Global Cities. Wayback Machine GaWC,
Loughborough University, Loughborough Leicestershire LE11 3TU London England UK

Sassen, S., (2002) The Global City: Strategic site/new frontier. Wayback Machine GaWC,

STCAST LEARNING MODULE: GEC 103 The Contemporary World

Prepared by: Eloisa P. Cortez , LPT, MAED