ILOCOS SUR

POLYTECHNIC STATE
Tagudin Campus
COLLEGE
MODULE
CHAPTER 3:
WORLD OF REGIONS

Intended Learning Outcomes: At the end of the lesson, the students are expected
to:
1. Define the term “Global South:
2. Differentiate the Global South from the Third World
3. Analyze how a new conception of global relations emerged from the
experiences of Latin American countries.

WHAT IS WORLD REGIONS?

• A region is an area with common features that set it apart from other areas.
• Areas on earth that differ from each other feature are called regions; such
features can be Physical, human, economic, cultural or political.
• Regions can vary in size from very small to half of the earth's surface.
• Especially those that pertain to identities, ethics, religion, ecological
sustainability, and health.
• Regions defined as a high degree of uniformity, Limited variability, and more
or less lasting boundaries.

MAJOR WORLD REGIONS

1. Europe
2. Russia and Neighboring counties
3. East Asia
4. Southern Asia and South Pacific
5. South Asia
6. North Africa and Southwestern Asia
7. Africa South of the Sahara
8. Latin America
9. North America

HOW REGIONS ARE FORMED?

A region is areas that include a number of places -- all of which have
something in common. Geographers categorize regions in two basic ways: physical
and cultural.
• Physical regions are defined by landform (continents and mountain ranges),
climate, soil, and natural vegetation.
• Cultural region is distinguished by such traits as language, politics, religion,
economics, and industry.

THE ADVANTAGE AND DISADVANTAGE OF REGIONALISM

• Advantages of regionalism include having individuals learn their roles in the
community.
• The Disadvantage of regionalism is that it can be too inclusive and keep new
individuals out.

Course Code: GenEd 107

Descriptive Title: The Contemporary World
Instructor: Mr. Romel V. Merin
 ILOCOS SUR
POLYTECHNIC STATE
Tagudin Campus
COLLEGE
MODULE

LESSON 1: GLOBAL DIVIDES: THE NORTH AND THE SOUTH

(FOCUS ON LATIN AMERICA)

After a three-year slowdown, South America will recover in 2017, but Mexico is
suffering from the impact of the shock caused by uncertainty over US economic
policy. In short: there are very different dynamics between the north and south
of Latin America.

“GLOBAL SOUTH”
 The phrase “Global South” refers broadly to the regions of Latin America,
Asia, Africa, and Oceania. It is one of a family of terms, including “Third
World” and “Periphery,” that denote regions outside Europe and North
America, mostly (though not all) low-income and often politically or culturally
marginalized. The use of the phrase Global South marks a shift from a central
focus on development or cultural difference toward an emphasis on
geopolitical relations of power.
 The Global South captures a reterritorialized geography of capitalism’s
externalities and means to account for subjugated peoples within the borders
of wealthier countries, such that there are economic Souths in the geographic
North and Norths in the geographic South.
 Global South refers to the resistant imaginary of a transnational political
subject that results from a shared experience of subjugation under the
contemporary global capitalism. This subject is forged when the world’s
“South” recognize one another and view their conditions as shared. (Lopez
2007).

THE GAP BETWEEN THE ‘NORTH’ AND ‘SOUTH’

Despite very significant development gains globally
which have raised many millions of people out of absolute
poverty, there is substantial evidence that inequality between
the world’s richest and poorest countries is widening. In 1820
western Europe's per capita income was three times bigger
than Africa’s but by 2000 it was thirteen times as big. In
addition, in 2013, Oxfam reported that the richest 85 people in
the world owned the same amount of wealth as the poorest half
of the world’s population.
Today the world is much more complex than the Brandt Line depicts as many
poorer countries have experienced significant economic and social development.
However, inequality within countries has also been growing and some commentators
now talk of a ‘Global North’ and a ‘Global South’ referring respectively to richer or
poorer communities which are found both within and between countries. For
example, whilst India is still home to the largest concentration of poor people in a
single nation it also has a very sizable middle class and a very rich elite.
There are many causes for these inequalities including the availability of
natural resources; different levels of health and education; the nature of a country’s

Course Code: GenEd 107

Descriptive Title: The Contemporary World
Instructor: Mr. Romel V. Merin
 ILOCOS SUR
POLYTECHNIC STATE
Tagudin Campus
COLLEGE
MODULE
economy and its industrial sectors; international trading policies and access to
markets; how countries are governed and international relationships between

countries; conflict within and between countries; and a country’s vulnerability to

natural hazards and climate change.

The term "First World" refers to so called developed, capitalist, industrial

countries, roughly, a bloc of countries aligned with the United States after World War
II, with more or less common political and economic interests: North America,
Western Europe, Japan and Australia.
"Second World" refers to the former communist-socialist, industrial states,
(formerly the Eastern bloc, the territory and sphere of influence of the Union of Soviet
Socialists Republic) today: Russia, Eastern Europe (e.g., Poland) and some of the
Turk States (e.g., Kazakhstan) as well as China.
“Third World” Despite ever evolving definitions, the concept of the third world
serves to identify countries that suffer from high infant mortality, low economic
development, high levels of poverty, low utilization of natural resources, and heavy
dependence on industrialized nations. These are the developing and technologically
less advanced nations of Asia, Africa, Oceania, and Latin America. Third world
nations tend to have economies dependent on the developed countries and are
generally characterized as poor with unstable governments and having high rates of
population growth, illiteracy, and disease. A key factor is the lack of a middle class —
with impoverished millions in a vast lower economic class and a very small elite
upper class controlling the country's wealth and resources. Most third world nations
also have a very large foreign debt.
GLOBAL SOUTH THIRD WORLD
 The South is now generally  The term "the Third World" was coined
called the "Global South", to in 1952 by the French demographer,
reduce confusion with the anthropologist, and economic
South of the US. historian Alfred Sauvy, who compared
it with the Third Estate, a concept that
 Global South Unit, equally emerged in the context of the French
highlights the empowering Revolution.
aspect the term has – and
the unprecedented upward  Most people in the Third World,
trajectory of its usage. In though ruled by European colonies,
theory, indeed, it appears to lived far from the global sources of
be a less hierarchical – or economic, political, and military power.
evolutionary. Until very recently,
most were subjugated, most illiterate,
 It has traditionally been and few would have been aware that,
used within even then, they formed a majority of
intergovernmental the world population.
development organizations
– primarily those that  But such awareness was growing
originated in the Non- among leaders within these poor
Aligned Movement – to refer countries, many of whom had been

Course Code: GenEd 107

Descriptive Title: The Contemporary World
Instructor: Mr. Romel V. Merin
 ILOCOS SUR
POLYTECHNIC STATE
Tagudin Campus
COLLEGE
MODULE
to economically educated, at least partly, in Europe or
disadvantaged nation-states America. This awareness and
and as a post-cold war exposure to Western culture raised
alternative to “Third World”. expectations and hopes, and inspired
However, in recent years many Third World leaders to try to
and within a variety of fields, improve colonial living conditions and
the Global South is win political independence.
employed in a post-national
sense to address spaces
and peoples negatively
impacted by contemporary
capitalist globalization.

GLOBALIZATION IN LATIN AMERICA

The trend of globalization is not a phenomena taking place outside of Latin
America, but is a trend in which regional social agents take part and affect the globe.
The trajectory of Latin American countries, to face the challenges of
globalization, has been marked by the economic models prevailing in the region
since the 19th century onwards. These models have determined the social, cultural
and political development of countries in Latin America in an increasingly globalized
world.
Globalization has increased the need to closely monitor international events;
 Highly specialized working teams on global markets.
 Frequent meetings with international institutions and authorities (e.g.
IMF, BIS)
 Increased use of resources to follow what is happening outside
frontiers.
CHALLENGES OF LATIN AMERICA
To close the income gap, it is necessary to go beyond basic requirements
(stability, openness, competition and institutions), and get a head-on involvement in
technological innovation, education and training of labor force.
Furthermore, the creation of consensus and incorporation of the civil society is
essential to the reform process, increasing political legitimacy and limiting reversal
possibilities.
Moreover, today's rare historical juncture is very good for undertaking the
needed structural reforms to enhance economic performance.
DEFINITION OF TERMS:
 Global North – may refer to countries that are geographically in the northern
hemisphere or to countries that are developed.
 Global South – may refer to countries that are geographically in the southern
hemisphere or to countries that are developing.

Course Code: GenEd 107

Descriptive Title: The Contemporary World
Instructor: Mr. Romel V. Merin
 ILOCOS SUR
POLYTECHNIC STATE
Tagudin Campus
COLLEGE
MODULE
Name: Date:
Course/Year/Section Score:

Activity 1
Direction: Choose one country considered to be part of the Global North and
another country considered to be part of the Global South. (2 points each)
Information Global North Global South
Country
Population
Gross National Product
Gross Domestic Product
Human Development Index

Activity 2
Answer the following briefly. (5 points each)
1. Is the Philippines a country in the Global South? Why do you think so?
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2. Is poverty a form of oppression? Explain your answer.
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Course Code: GenEd 107

Descriptive Title: The Contemporary World
Instructor: Mr. Romel V. Merin
 ILOCOS SUR
POLYTECHNIC STATE
Tagudin Campus
COLLEGE
MODULE
LESSON 2: ASIAN REGIONALISM

Intended Learning Outcomes: At the end of the lesson, the students are expected
to:
1. Differentiate between regionalism and globalization.

When regionalism is often seen as a political and economic phenomenon, the term
actually encompasses a broader area. It can be examined in relation to identities,
ethics, religion, ecological sustainability, and health. Regionalism is also a process,
and must be treated as an "emergent", socially constituted phenomenon, it means
that regions are not natural or given; rather, they are constructed and defined by
policymakers, economic actors, and even social movements.

WHAT ARE REGIONS?

(1) Regions are a group of countries located in the same geographically specified
area;
(2) Regions can be a combination of two regions;
(3) Regions can be a combination of more than two regions organized to regulate
and oversee flows and policy choices.
WHAT IS REGIONALISM?
- defined as a political ideology that favors specific region over greater area. It
usually results due to political separations, religions geography, cultural
boundaries, linguistic regions, and managerial divisions.
- is characterized by the involvement of almost all governments in the world,
but it also involves a wide variety of non-state actor. This results in a multitude
of formal and informal regional types of governance and regional networks in
most fields of politics.
- In politics, regionalism is a political ideology focusing on the
"development of a political or social system based on one or more" regions
and/or the national, normative or economic interests of a specific region,
group of regions or another sub national entity, gaining strength from or
aiming to

- strengthen the "consciousness of and loyalty to a distinct region with a

homogeneous population", similarly to nationalism.
- Regions may be delineated by administrative divisions, culture,
language and religion, among others.
- Regionalists aim at increasing the political power and influence
available to all or some residents of a region. Their demands occur in "strong"
forms, such as sovereignty, separatism, secession and independence, as well
as more moderate campaigns for greater autonomy (such as states' rights,
decentralization or devolution).
- Strictly, regionalists favor confederations over unitary nation states with
strong central governments. They may, however, embrace intermediate forms
of federalism. Proponents of regionalism usually claim that strengthening the

Course Code: GenEd 107

Descriptive Title: The Contemporary World
Instructor: Mr. Romel V. Merin
 ILOCOS SUR
POLYTECHNIC STATE
Tagudin Campus
COLLEGE
MODULE
governing bodies and political powers within a region, at the expense of a
central government, will benefit local populations by improving regional or
local

economies, in terms of better fiscal responsibility, regional development,

allocation of resources, implementation of local policies and plans,
competitiveness among regions and, ultimately, the whole country, consistent
with the principle of subsidiary.

THREE DISTINCT ELEMENTS OF REGIONALISM

 Movements demanding territorial autonomy within unitary states.
 The organization of the central state on a regional basis for the delivery of its
policies including regional development policies.
 Political decentralization and regional autonomy.

NEW REGIONALISM
-This article analyzes the emergence of a “new regionalism” and situates this
movement within the historical evolution of regional planning.
KEY CHARACTERISTICS
1. a focus on specific territories and spatial planning;
2. a response to the particular problems of the postmodern metropolitan region;
3. a holistic perspective that integrates planning specialties as well as
environmental, equity, and economic goals;
4. a renewed emphasis on physical planning, urban design, and sense of place;
and
5. a more activist or normative stance on the part of planners. The
implementation of new regionalist concepts is likely to come about not through
top-down regional government, but through incremental development of social
capital, institutions, ad hoc partnerships, and frameworks of incentives and
mandates between existing levels of government.

ORGANIZATIONS REPRESENTING THIS NEW REGIONALISM

 Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN)
 Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC)
 European Union (EU)
 North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA)
 Southern African Development Community (SADC)

- New regionalism is identified with the reformists who share the same values,
norms, institutions and system that exist outside of the traditional, established
mainstream institutions and systems.
- Their strategies and tactics likewise vary. Some organizations partner with
governments to initiate social change. Those who work with governments
(legitimizers) participate in institutional mechanisms that afford some civil society
groups voice and influence technocratic policy-making processes.
Example: The ASEAN issued its Human Rights Declaration in 2009, but the
regional body left it to member countries to apply the declaration’s principles as they
see fit. Aware that democratic rights are limited in many ASEAN countries. NEW
REGIONALISM organizations used this official declaration to pressure and promote
human rights.

Course Code: GenEd 107

Descriptive Title: The Contemporary World
Instructor: Mr. Romel V. Merin
 ILOCOS SUR
POLYTECHNIC STATE
Tagudin Campus
COLLEGE
MODULE
- in South America, left-wing governments support the Hemispheric Social
Alliance’s opposition to the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA),
while members of the Mesa de Articulacion de Asociaciones Nacionales y Redes de
ONGs

de America Latina y El Caribe (Roundtable of National Association and NGOs in

Latin America and the Caribbean) participate in “forums, summits, and dialogues
with presidents and minister.”
- Other Regional organizations dedicate themselves to specialized causes.
Activists across Central and South America established the rainforests in Brazil,
Guyana, Panama, and Peru.
- Young Christians from ASIA, AFRICA, THE MIDDLE EAST, and THE
AMERICAS AND THE CARIBBEAN formed the following:
REGIONAL INTERFAITH YOUTH NETWORKS to promote “conflict prevention,
resolution, peace, education and sustainable development”.
THE MIGRANT FORUM- in Asia is another regional network of NGOs and trade
union committed to protect and promoting the rights and welfare of migrant workers.
- These organizations primary power lies in their moral standing and their ability to
combine lobbying with pressure politics. Unfortunately, most of them are poorly
financed, which places at a disadvantage when dealing with their official counter
parts who have large state funds. Their impact in global politics is, therefore, limited.
- New regionalism differs significantly from traditional state-to-state regionalism when
it comes to identifying problem. For example, states treat poverty or environmental
degradation as technical or economic issues that can be resolved by refining existing
programs of state agencies, making minor changes in economic policies, and
creating new officers that address these issues.
- Another challenges for new regionalism is the discord that may merge among
them. For example, disagreements surface over issues like gender and religion, with
pro-choice NGOs breaking from religious civil society groups that side with the
church, Muslim imams, or governments opposed to reproductive rights and other
pro-women policies.
- Moreover, while civil society groups are able to dialogue with governments, the
latter may not be welcoming to this new trend and set up one obstacle after another.
The coordination of Action Research on AIDS (CARAM), lobbed ASEAN
governments to defend migrant labor rights. Their program of action, however,
slowed down once countries like Malaysia, Singapore, and Thailand refused to
recognize the rights of undocumented migrant workers and the rights of the families
of migrants.

DIFFERENCE BETWEEN REGIONALIZATION AND GLOBALIZATION

REGIONALISM GLOBALIZATION
• it is the process of dividing an area • It is the process of international
into smaller segments called integration arising from the
regions. interchange of world views,
Example: Division of nation into products, ideas, and other aspects
states or provinces such as technology etc.
• Business also use regionalization as • Increasing level of interconnections
management tool among people throughout the world.
• Is the theory or practice of regional • The speed and intensity of
rather than central systems of globalization in terms of World trade

Course Code: GenEd 107

Descriptive Title: The Contemporary World
Instructor: Mr. Romel V. Merin
 ILOCOS SUR
POLYTECHNIC STATE
Tagudin Campus
COLLEGE
MODULE
administration or economic cultural and the flow of financial
or political affiliation investments, increased markedly in
the 1990s.

THREE PROPOSITIONS OF ASIAN REGIONALISM

1. Geographical Asia is too diverse for Cultural Asia
- Cultural homogeneity is not a guarantee for regionalist community formation.
2. Geographical Asia is too Small for Globalizing Asia
- It is ironical to say that Asia is too small for Asia.
3. Geographical Asia is too Conflictual Internally for Strategic Asia.
- Action tends to be taken without explicitly distinguishing foes from friends.

FACTORS LEADING TO A GREATER INTEGRATION OF THE ASIAN

REGION
There are many factors that are leading the Asian Region into a greater
integration such as:

1. TRADE: The world economy is intertwined with each other whether we like
it or not. We all want or need something from another part of the world, and
global trade facilitates that.
2. SIMILAR CULTURE: The cultures of Asia are diverse but they do share
many things. This makes it an easier fit during times of negotiations
3. COMMON GOALS: The Asian region recognizes the mutual benefit of a
slow integration. The territories involved are not far from each other and the
industriousness of its population can work as a powerful negotiating block
against those from other parts of the world.

Old Regionalism New Regionalism

• Bipolar such that it was • Multipolar as it is open for
produced in a schism between multilateral engagement and
opposing political alliances collaborations among countries
• Imposed by the superpowers • Spontaneous and sought
• Secures economic security voluntarily by constituents
within alliances • Open inasmuch as it is multipolar
• Specific to economic and • Comprehensive and
political objectives multidimensional (political,
• Focused only on nation-states cultural, economic, social)
• Involves non-state actors

Course Code: GenEd 107

Descriptive Title: The Contemporary World
Instructor: Mr. Romel V. Merin
 ILOCOS SUR
POLYTECHNIC STATE
Tagudin Campus
COLLEGE
MODULE

Name: Date:
Course/Year/Section Score:

Activity 1:
Direction: Make a Venn Diagram explaining the difference between
1. Regionalism and Globalization (20 pts.)
2. Old Regionalism and New Regionalism (20 pts.)

Activity 2:
Direction: Choose a particular country in East Asia, South Asia, or Middle East.
Research about this country and create a five-minute vlog about your discoveries. In
your vlog, enumerate 10 important facts that people should know about this country.
Send the soft copy of your vlog to your instructor.
Write your plans and concept notes for the vlog on the space provided. (50 points)
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Course Code: GenEd 107

Descriptive Title: The Contemporary World
Instructor: Mr. Romel V. Merin
 ILOCOS SUR
POLYTECHNIC STATE
Tagudin Campus
COLLEGE
MODULE
Rubric for VLOG

Criteria Excellent (25%) Very Good (20%) Good (15%) Poor (10%)

Content Vlog demonstrated exceptional Vlog demonstrated Vlog demonstrated Vlog did not
knowledge in the enumeration of excellent knowledge in the some knowledge in the demonstrated
facts about the chosen country. enumeration of facts about enumeration of facts knowledge in the
the chosen country. about the chosen enumeration of facts
country. about the chosen
country.

Supporting Presentation Multimedia or poster greatly Multimedia or poster Multimedia or poster Multimedia or poster
enhanced the enumeration of facts somewhat enhanced the enhanced the does not enhance
about the chosen country. enumeration of facts about enumeration of facts presentation.
the chosen country. about the chosen
country.

Organization Entire presentation was well Most of the presentation Some of the Presentation did not
organized. Information flowed in a was well organized and presentation was well flow and information
logical manner. flowed in logical manner. organized or was presented in an
information was illogical manner.
presented in an illogical
manner.

Oral Presentation Student presenting the infomercial Student presenting the Student presenting the Student presenting the
could be easily understood infomercial could be easily infomercial did not infomercial could not
throughout entire presentation. understood throughout speak clearly be understood.
Excellent posture and eye contact. most of the presentation. throughout the Student displayed
Good posture and eye presentation. Student poor posture and eye
contact. displayed poor posture contact was not
and eye contact was established.
not established.

Course Code: GenEd 107

Descriptive Title: The Contemporary World
Instructor: Mr. Romel V. Merin
 ILOCOS SUR
POLYTECHNIC STATE
Tagudin Campus
COLLEGE
MODULE

Course Code: GenEd 107

Descriptive Title: The Contemporary World
Instructor: Mr. Romel V. Merin