UNIVERSITY OF CALOOCAN CITY

Biglang Awa St., Corner Catleya St., EDSA, Caloocan City

COLLEGE OF EDUCATION

THE CONTEMPORARY WORLD

SUBJECT CODE: GEC 003
TOPIC OR LESSON: INTRODUCTION TO THE STUDY OF GLOBALIZATION
WEEK: 3
SUB-TOPIC/S: NONE

OVERVIEW OF THE TOPIC

This lesson discusses the introduction to the study of Globalization. It will emphasize on
the different definitions of globalization. The task of conceptualizing it reveals of 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.

Are you ready? Prepare your pen and paper and be ready to explore your journey in
learning!

LEARNING OUTCOMES

After going through this module, you are expected to:

a. Differentiate the competing conceptions of globalization.

b. Identify the underlying philosophies of the varying definitions of globalization.

c. Agree on a working definition of globalization for the course.

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 LEARNING OBJECTIVES

At the end of the lesson, students should be able to:

a. Familiarize the different definitions and perspectives about globalization;

b. Understand the different theories about globalization; and

c. Create a poster presentation about their own views of globalization.

ENGAGE

The word GLOBALIZATION is written below, write a basic understanding about

globalization in each representing letters.

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 T

Process Questions:

a. If you heard the word globalization, what concepts come first in your mind?
b. Is it new concept or term to you?

EXPLORE

This activity you will be given a time to find or look for a news article today (local and
international). Afterwards, you will give a short reaction for those articles.

LOCAL NEWS ARTICLE INTERNATIONAL NEWS ARTICLE

REACTION
REACTION

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 EXPLAIN

As we continue the lesson, let us study the different definitions, theories and views about
globalization.

Much has changed since time immemorial. Human beings have encountered many
changes over the last century especially in their social relationships and social
structures. Now, these are some Social Scientist gives their own versions of definition of
globalization.

Name of Social Scientist View of Globalization

Bauman, 2013 Globalization is a very important change, if not,

the “most important”.

Albrow, 1996 The reality and omnipresence of globalization

makes us ourselves as part of what we refer to as
the “global age”

Al-Rhodan, 2006 Globalization encompasses a multitude of

processes that involves the economy, political
systems, and culture. Social structures, therefore,
are directly affected by globalization.

Thomas Larsson, 2001 He 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.

Ritzer, 2015 Globalization is a transplanetary process or a set

of processes involving increasing liquidity and the
growing multidirectional flows of people, objects,

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 places, and information as well as the structures
they encounter and create that are barriers to, or
expedite, those flows.

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.

Metaphors of Globalization

In order for us to better undertand 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.
Solidity also refers to barriers that prevent or make difficult the of 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
Berlin wall. On the other hand, Liquid is 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 worl.

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.

Theories of Globalization

We have established the many definitions of and issues in defining globalization and the
metaphors that can use to understand easily the concept. We have also looked into its

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origins and history. This section will give you a glimpse of the important theories on
globalization.

Homogeneity refers to the increasing sameness in the world as cultural inputs,

economic factors, and political orientations of societies expand to create common
practices, same economies, and similar forms of government. Homogeneity in culture is
often linked to cultural imperialism. This means, a given culture influences other cultures.
Ritzer (2008) claimed that, in general, the contemporary world is undergoing the
process of McDonalization. It is the process by which Western societies are dominated
by the principles of fast food restaurants. Mcdonalization involves the global spread of
rational systems, such as efficiency, calculability, predictability, and control.

On the other hand, heterogeneity pertains to the creation of various cultural practices,
new economies, and political groups because of the interaction of elements from
different societies in the world. Heterogeneity refers to the differences because either
lasting differences of the hybrids or combinations of cultures that can be produced
through the different transplanetary processes.

ELABORATE

You will be asked to create a poster presentation showing your own concept and
understanding about Globalization. We follow the rubric below in grading your output
below.

Poster Presentation

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 RUBRIC FOR POSTER PRESENTATION
5 4 3 2 COMMEN
TS
Content All details Most details Few details No details
support the support main support to support
main idea idea, has main idea, the main
appropriately accurate lacks idea,
; information information accurate informatio
are accurate for almost all information n is
and detailed; subject and does inaccurate
and matter and not clearly and does
information the support not
adequately information visual’s support
supports the mostly purpose the
purpose of adequate and visual’s
visual supportive of purpose
visual’s
purpose
Creativi The use of The use of The use of There is a
ty color, design, color, design, color, little
and space is and space is design and attempt
outstanding, adequate and space is to use
have an the overall inappropria color,
original and design is te, the design

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 creative mostly design and space
design, and harmonious lacks appropriat
the overall and pleasing creativity ely, the
design is and design is
harmonious originality, dull and
and pleasing the overall presentati
design on has
lacks sloppy
harmoniou appearan
s and the ce
presentatio
n is
unpleasing
Present The idea was The idea was The idea The idea
ation clearly clearly not all is
presented presented but clearly irrelevant
based on the a little bit presented and no
poster confusing based on connectio
illustration based on the the poster n based
poster illustration on the
illustration poster
illustratio
n

EVALUATE

We discussed the different definitions of globalization. In this global age that we love in,
globalization gained various views from many authors and scholars. In turn, these
diverse definitions can affect how one can appreciate globalization as a process.
Furthermore, we analyzed globalization through conceptual metaphors such as solids,
liquids and flows.

In this activity, you are to see the actual application of globalization on the different
aspects of daily life such as politics, music, sports, film, celebrity, and disaster.

1. Answer the following questions:

a. Enumerate at least three of the most recent songs you have listened. Where did
they originate? Identify the nationality of the writer and/or artist for each music.

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 b. What gadgets or devices do you usually use to listen to music?
c. Where were these gadgets or devices made? Where is the company based?
d. How did you access these music? Did you purchase them online or listen to them
through YouTube, Spocify, and other music channels?
2. Using visual representation, create your generalizations and discuss: What
globalization? How would you define globalization?
3. What metaphors are you going to use in order to improve your own definition of
globalization? Enumerate at least three and explain one of them.

REFERENCES

The Contemporary World by Dr. Mariano Ariola LLB.Ed. LPT, Unlimited Books, Library
Services Publishing, 2018

Convergence: A College Textbook in Contemporary World by Dennis C. Coronacion

and Frolan C. Calilung, Books Atbp Publishing 2018

The Contemporary World

By: Prince Kennex Reguyal Aldama, Rex Book Store First Edition

ADDITIONAL
MATERIALS

Reading Materials
• Chapter 2 of textbook: “Approaches to the Study of Globalization” by Manfred
B. Steger
Steger, Menfred B. “Ideologies of Globalization.” 2005. Journal of Political Ideologies
10(1): 11-30.

PREPARED BY:

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Lenard C. Tulod, MATSS, LPT
Assistant Professor IV

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