DEFINING

GLOBALIZATION
CHAPTER 1
At the end of this chapter, you should be able to:

1) Differentiate the competing conceptions of globalization;

2) Identify the underlying philosophies of the varying definitions of globalization; and
3) Agree on a working definition of globalization for the course.

Introduction
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 internet, for example, allows a
person from the Philippines to know what is happening to the rest of the world simply by browsing
Google. Aside from this, globalization encompasses a multitude of processes that involve the
economy, political systems, and culture. In this chapter, different def initions of globalization will be
discussed.
 T h e T a s k o f D e f in i n g
The literature onGlobalization
the def initions of globalization revealed that def initions could be
classif ie d as either (1) broad and inclusive or (2) narrow and exclusive. No matter how one
classif ies a def inition of globalization, the concept is complex and multifaceted as the def initions
deal with economic, political, or social dimensions.

Firstly, def ining globalization is shaped by the perspective of the person who def ines it.
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. Secondly, to paraphrase the sociologist Cesar Poppi:
globalization is the debate and the debate is globalization. One became part and parcel of the
other. Thirdly, 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. Overall,
globalization is a concept that is not easy to def ine because in reality, def ining globalization has a
shifting nature. It is complex, multifaceted, and can be influenced by the people who define it.
M e t a p h o r s o f
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 dif ficult 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. Imaginary lines such as the Nine-Dash Line being used by the
People’s Republic of China in their claim to the West Philippine Sea is an example of modern man-made
solid. This created limited access of Filipino f ishermen to the West Philippine Sea. Obviously, these
examples still exist. However, they have the tendency to melt. This should not be taken literally being
like an iceberg melting. Instead, this process involves how we can describe what is happening to
today’s global world. It is becoming increasingly liquid.
 Solid and
Liquid
Liquids are not f ixed. Liquidity, therefore, refers to the increasing ease of
movement of people, things, information, and places in the contemporary world. First,
today’s liquid phenomena change quickly and its aspects, spatial and temporal, are in
continuous f luctuation. This means that space and time are crucial elements of
globalization. Another characteristic of liquid phenomena is that their movement is
dif ficult to stop. For example, the videos being uploaded on YouTube or Facebook are
hard to halt once they become viral.

Liquidity and solidity is in constant interaction. Liquidity is the one

increasing and proliferating today. Therefore, the metaphor which could best describe
globalization is liquidity.
 Flow
s
Flows are the movement of people, things, places, and information brought by the

growing “porosity” of global limitations (Ritzer 2015). Think of the 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.

The following are other kinds of f lo ws that can be observed today: poor illegal migrants

f lo oding many parts of the world (Moses 2006), the virtual f lo w of legal and illegal

information such as blogs and child pornography, respectively, and immigrants recreating

ethnic enclaves in host countries. A concrete example are the Filipino communities abroad

and Chinese communities in the Philippines.

 Globalization
Theories
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 inf luences other cultures. For example, the
dominant religion in our country is Christianity which was brought to us by the Spaniards. In
terms of the economy, there is recognition of the spread of neoliberalism, capitalism, and the
market economy in the world (Antonio 2007). Global economic crises are also products of
homogeneity in economic globalization. In the end, rich countries become advantageous in
the world economy at the expense of poor countries; leading to increased inequality among
nations. The political realm also suffers homogenization if one takes into account the
emerging similar models of governance in the world.
 Globalization
Theories

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 of either lasting
differences or of the hybrids or combinations of cultures which can be produced through the
different transplanetary processes. Contrary to cultural imperialism, heterogeneity in culture
is associated with cultural hybridization. Economic issues are not exempted from
heterogeneity.
 Hardwire
d
According to Nayan Chanda (2007), it is our basic human
need to make our lives better that made globalization possible.
Chanda mentioned that commerce, religion, politics, and warfare are
the “urges” of people toward a better life. These are respectively
connected to four aspects of globalization and they can be traced all
throughout history: trade, missionary w ork, adventures, and
conquest.
 Cycles

For some, globalization is a long-term cyclical process and thus,

f in ding its origin will be a daunting task. What is important, are the cycles
globalization has gone through (Scholte 2005). Subscribing to this view will
suggest adherence to the idea that other global ages have appeared. There
is also the notion to suspect that this point of globalization will soon
disappear and reappear.
 E po c
h
Ritzer (2015) cited Therborn’s (2000) six great epochs of globalization. These
are also called “waves” and each has its own origin. Today’s globalization is not unique if
this is the case. The difference of this view from the second view (cycles) is that it does
not treat epoch as returning. The following are the sequential occurrence of the epochs:

1) Globalization of religion (4th-7th Centuries)

2) European colonial conquests (late 15th Century)
3) Intra-European wars (late 18th – early 19th Centuries)
4) Heyday of European imperialism (mid-19th Century to 1918)
5) Post-World War II period
6) Post-Cold War period
 Event
s
Specific events are also considered as part of the fourth view in explaining the origin
of globalization. If this is the case, then several points can be treated as the start of
globalization. The recent years could also be regarded as the beginnings of globalization with
reference to specific technological advances in transportation and communication.

Some examples include the f ir st transatlantic telephone cable (1956), the f ir st

transatlantic television broadcasts (1962), the founding of the modern Internet in 1988, and the
terrorist attacks on the Twin Towers in New York (2001). Certainly, with this view, more and
more specif ic events will characterize not just the origins of globalization but more of its
history.
B r o a d e r, M o r e R e c e n t
Changes
Recent changes comprised the f if th view. These broad changes
happened in the last of the twentieth century. Scholars today point to these three
notable changes as the origin of globalization that we know today. They are as
follows:

1) The emergence of the United States as the global power (Post-World

War II)
2) The emergence of multinational corporations (MNCs)
3) The demise of the Soviet Union and the end of the Cold War
 B r o a d e r, M o r e R e c e n t
Changes
Before MNCs came into being, their roots are from their countries of origin during the
eighteenth to early nineteenth centuries. The US, Germany, and Great Britain had in their homeland
great corporations which the world knows today. However, they did not remain there as far as their
production and market are concerned. For example, Ford and General Motors originated in the US but
in the twentieth century they exported more automobiles and opened factories to other countries.

More recent than the f irst one would be the fall of the Soviet Union 1991. This event led to
the opening of the major parts of the world for the f ir st time since the early twentieth century. Many
global processes – immigration, tourism, media, diplomacy, and MNCs – spread throughout the planet.
This paved way for the so-called “free” world. China, even though the government remains communist,
is on its way to becoming a major force in global capitalism (Fishman 2006). Moreover, China is also
globalizing in terms of other aspects such as their hosting of the Olympics in 2008.