I.

COURSE TITLE: THE CONTEMPORARY WORLD

II. COURSE NUMBER: GE 102

III. COURSE DESCRIPTION:

This course introduces students to the contemporary world by examining the
multiplaceted phenomenon of globalization. Using the various disciplines of the
social sciences, it examines the economic, social, political, technological, and other
transformations that have created an increasing awareness of the
interconnectedness of peoples and places around the globe. To this end, the course
provides an overview of the various debates in global governance, development, and
sustainability. Beyond exposing the student to the world outside the Philippines, it
seeks to inculcate a sense of global citizenship and global ethical responsibility.

IV. TOTAL LEARNING TIME: 54 Hours in a Semester

V. OVERVIEW:

This module aims to be a guide to the students of CAPSU DAYAO who are
affected of this COVID-19 Pandemic. This is with regards to the solution to the
Commission on Higher Education (CHED) is trying to implement; specifically it is
called The Blended Learning. In this step, students are encouraged to the online
learning as well as the face to face learning. Preferably, this module is most
beneficial to those students who are stranded in their respective provinces. For all
we know that other municipalities in our province have a very poor internet
connection. This will still update them and encourage them to do independent
learning. And if by chance they have access to the internet, they could contact their
teachers for some additional module or clarifications about the said module.

VI. LEARNING OUTCOMES:

a. Distinguish different interpretations of and approaches to globalization.
b. Describe the emergence of global economic, political, social, and cultural
systems.
c. Analyze the various contemporary drivers of globalization.
d. Undestand the issues confronting the nation-state.

e. Assess the effects of globalization on different social units and their

responses.
 f. Analyze contemporary news events in the context of globalization.
g. Analyze global issues in relation to Filipinos and the Philippines.
h. Write a research paper with proper citations on a topic related to
globalization.
i. Articulate personal positions on various global issues.
j. Identify the ethical implications of global citizenship.

VII. INDICATIVE CONTENT:

CHAPTER 1 – Introduction to Globalization

-Defining globalization

CHAPTER 2 – The Structures of Globalization

-Market Integration
-The Global Economy
-The Global Interstate System
-Contemporary Global Governance

CHAPTER 3 – A World of Regions

-Global Divides: The North and the South
-Asian Regionalism

CHAPTER 4 – A world of Ideas

-Global Media Cultures
-The Globalization of Religion

CHAPTER 5 – Global Populatiom and Mobility

-The Global City
-Global Demography
-Global Migration
-Towards a Sustainable World
-Sustainable Development
-Global Food Security

VIII. DISCUSSION

CHAPTER 1: Introduction to Globalization

 Defining globalization – the most important change. It encompasses a

multitude of processes that involves the economy, political systems
and culture.

CHAPTER 2: The Structures of Globalization

  The Global Economy – economic globalization refers to the increasing
interdependence of world economies as a result of the growing scale of
cross-border trades.
 Market Integration – globalization made some countries, especially the
developing ones to gain more in global economy.
 The Global Interstate System
 The Contemporary Global Governance

Global Media Cultures

The media have an important impact on cultural globalization in two mutually interdependent
ways: Firstly, the media provide an extensive transnational transmission of cultural products and,
secondly, they contribute to the formation of communicative networks and social structures. The
rapidly growing supply of media products from an international media culture presents a
challenge to existing local and national cultures. The sheer volume of the supply, as well as the
vast technological infrastructure and financial capital that pushes this supply forward, have a
considerable impact on local patterns of cultural consumption and possibilities for sustaining an
independent cultural production. Global media cultures create a continuous cultural exchange, in
which crucial aspects such as identity, nationality, religion, behavioural norms and way of life
are continuously questioned and challenged. These cultural encounters often involve the meeting
of cultures with a different socio-economic base, typically a transnational and commercial
cultural industry on one side and a national, publicly regulated cultural industry on the other side.
Due to their very structure, global media promote a restructuring of cultural and social
communities. Just as media such as the press, and later radio and tv have been very important
institutions for the formation of national communities, global media support the creation of new
communities. The Internet, for example, not only facilitates communication across the globe, but
also supports the formation of new social communities in which members can interact with each
other. And satellite tv and radio allow immigrants to be in close contact with their homeland’s
language and culture while they gradually accommodate to a new cultural environment. The
common point of departure for the research programme and its individual projects is the
assumption that a series of international media constitutes a global cultural supply in itself and
serves as an independent agency for cultural and social globalization, in which cultural
communities are continuously restructured and redefined.

Thematic Areas
The research programme is organized around a set of thematic areas of particular relevance to
the processes of cultural globalization. These thematic areas will each be taken up in one or more
of the subprojects and concern:
 1) The experience of modernity in a global culture. A key element in the analysis of the
experience of modernity as both a general form of mentality and a mode of aesthetic
production, is the loosening of time and space from the bonds of locality and tradition. In
the globalized reality of high modernity, the disassociation of cultural and social activity
from local constraints has radical consequences: almost all of those institutions that
during the 19th and 20th century have ensured a modern structuring of cultural and social
experience, typically at a local or national level, have either been significantly influenced
by globalization or have been challenged by other transnational institutions
2) Socialisation and the formation of cultural identity. The media have increasingly become
an independent institution for socialisation and the development of cultural identity. With
a rapidly expanding international communication flow bringing media representations of
foreign cultures into local cultural environments, the premises of cultural metabolism
have changed and cultural reflexivity has increased at the level of the individual. On the
one hand, global media cultures represent a cultural otherness, at times a threat to cultural
tradition and autonomy
3) Mediated communities and action. The media and the communication technologies in
general have facilitated the formation of collective communities. They have also made
possible communicative and social action across time and space. Concomitant to
globalization we also see the formation of communities that are almost exclusively
established by means of media cultures (for instance music fan clubs, Internet chat groups
etc.). This increased ”medialization” of cultural communities has an impact on how
interaction takes place in such communities; in particular, interactions take on a more
abstract and symbolic character as compared to those taking place in social situations
with nonmediated interpersonal encounters.
4) Democracy and political culture. An important consequence of globalization is the
growth of multicultural societies, in which people of different cultural backgrounds
(ethnic, religious etc.) must coexist. Although the individual cultural groups may
maintain their own language, culture, and tradition, the different groups in a multicultural
society are obliged to deal with their mutual, collective problems in a common
political/public sphere.

The Globalization of Religion

Religions have crossed many boundaries, having been spread by immigrants, refugees,
aggressors, or by the founders of this country. Ultimately, cultural differences have changed
religious beliefs and traditions within religious practices. Our group simulation will attempt to
examine the globalization of religion by considering whether and how it might be possible to
improve the understanding and acceptance of diverse religious beliefs and cultural differences.
We will attempt to leverage such opportunities by engaging the advancement of technology,
communications, organizational strategies, economics, and sustainability in an interdisciplinary
approach. Four world religions have been selected for this simulation, and although names have
been changed, the religious profiles are from real world religions. The issues intend to explore
through this simulation are the cultural, political, economic, and technological influences on the
globalization of religion.
Discussion of Interdisciplinary Issues
Politics From an interdisciplinary point of view the link between politics and religion raises
many issues. Politicians are mostly concerned with the issues that they or their constituents want
to promote. In some cases these issues may not provide a benefit for the majority of the public.
Globalization has the same effect. Globalization may benefit some but not others. Religious
globalization may not benefit most and could harm some of those touched by it. Some of the
potential problems with religious globalization are related to virtues, values and ethics. To a
large extent major world religions have already seen globalization. Some form of most religious
factions and denominations exist throughout America and the rest of the world. Exceptions to
religious globalization are Cuba and others whose virtues, values, and ethics are controlled by
the politics of those countries.
Discussion of Interdisciplinary Issues – Economics
Religion and the economy are more closely tied than one would expect. As the economy has
grown in the major countries of the world, the main religions of each of those countries have
grown financially because its members have accumulated more wealth and are able to contribute
more dollars to finance the basic financial needs of the religion as well as its growth and
development. A look at the investment in buildings and architecture by the major religions of the
world speaks volume about the financial strength of major religions such as Christianity,
Protestantism, Judaism, Islam, Buddhism, Hinduism, Mormonism, Pentecostal, etc. The
economic growth of religions has also been driven by technology since mass media can be used
to spread the word and provide many of the benefits of church membership in the confines of
one’s own home. Missionary work is generally thought to be a traditional method of
evangelizing people that existed in generations gone by. However, missionary work is alive and
well in many third world countries where large religions send their young people to convert the
native people and expand the foundation of their religion. Today, most religions are not relegated
to the few countries where their roots began. Many religions are worldwide in one way or
another. Religions have been able to globalize because of their economic strength and
willingness to expand beyond their natural geographic borders to the global marketplace, in a
way that is very similar to what has taken place with economic growth.
Discussion of Interdisciplinary Issues -- Technology
Technology, within the scope of religious globalization, plays a major role in how and to whom
the religion and its doctrine extends. Human civilization has never been without technology, and
has relied upon the potential of technological advances in order to advance its own social
branches. It, can be stated that human civilization at some point in history was without religion
and had no purpose to create one. Up until the age of global dominance by the human race, it
was necessary to establish a universal form of living and thinking due to the ever growing need
to control and manipulate the minds and hearts of people all over. In today’s world, where
information and its instant quality are readily available to even the most remote of sectors in the
world, religion, if it is to survive, has adapted and utilized technology and its light-speed ability
to maintain a grip on its members. Religion and its ceremonies are still practiced within a temple
or church, yet we see the influence of technology upon religion as we now have a DVD version
of the bible for all Christian followers to appreciate, not only in the digital versatile disc version,
but there are possibly half a dozen channels on basic or digital cable dedicated to religious
practice and teachings. Religions have also made the leap onto the information superhighway,
which brings religious teachings into every home and monitor in a global setting. If by word of
mouth alone, we have seen religion spread globally over thousands of years, today with the
inception of instant technological gratification, we can assume that religion will continue to
strive and flourish. Technology is a major player in the world and allows for a greater rate of
transformation or resistance to spiritual definition.
Religion is an abiding force crossing through culture, politics, economy and technology. Ways
we see religion’s influence:
• Debate about whether humans have the right to create artificial life forms or to end life,
• Nation states that integrate religious values into their governments and politics. In the extreme,
we see Islamic theocratic governments in such places as Iran. In democracies, we see Christian
values playing a key role in foreign affairs,
• Technology is bringing different religious values together, via television, radio, cell phone and
the Internet (recall the Jewish guy praying at the Wailing Wall via cell phone, and that an
international television broadcast, CNN, made it known to the world?).
• Economic changes on a global level also are influencing the spread of religious values,
enabling prosperous nations to influence less prosperous nations.

The Global City

Saskia Sassen literally wrote the book on global cities back in 2001 (though her global cities
work dates back well over a decade prior to that book). She gave a definition that has long struck
with me. In short form, in the age of globalization, the activities of production are scattered on a
global basis. These complex, globalized production networks require new forms of financial and
producer services to manage them. These services are often complex and require highly
specialized skills. Thus they are subject to agglomeration economics, and tend to cluster in a
limited number of cities. Because specialized talent and firms related to different specialties can
cluster in different cities, this means that there are actually a quite a few of these specialized
production nodes, because they don’t necessarily directly compete with each other, having
different groupings of specialties.

In this world then, a global city is a significant production point of specialized financial and
producer services that make the globalized economy run. Sassen covered specifically New York,
London, and Tokyo in her book, but there are many more global cities than this.

A number of studies were undertaken to produce various rankings. However, when you look at
them, you see that the definition of global city used is far broader than Sassen’s core version.
Wikipedia lists some of the general characteristics people tend to refer to when talking about
global cities. It cites a very lengthy list, but some of them are:

 Home to major stock exchanges and indexes

 Influential in international political affairs
 Home to world-renowned cultural institutions
 Service a major media hub
 Large mass transit networks
 Home to a large international airport
 Having a prominent skyline
As the global city concept grew in popularity, various other organizations entered the fray. Most
of these newer lists take a very different a much broader approach closer to the Wikipedia type
lists of characteristics rather than a Sassen-like definition.

One example is AT Kearney’s list, developed in conjunction with the Chicago Council on Global
Affairs. Their most recent version is the 2012 Global Cities Index. This study uses criteria across
five dimensions:

 Business Activity (headquarters, services firms, capital markets value, number of

international conferences, value of goods through ports and airports)
 Human Capital (size of foreign born population, quality of universities, number of
international schools, international student population, number of residents with college
degrees)
 Information Exchange (accessibility of major TV news channels, Internet presence
(basically number of search hits), number of international news bureaus, censorship, and
broadband subscriber rate)
 Cultural Experience (number of sporting event, museums, performing arts venues,
culinary establishments, international visitors, and sister city relationships).
 Political Engagement (number of embassies and consulates, think tanks, international
organizations, political conferences)
Global cities in four basic ways:

1. Advanced producer services production node. This is basically Sassen’s original

definition. I think this one remains particularly important. Because the skills are
specialized and subject to clustering economics, the cities that concentrate in these
functions have a Buffett-like “wide moat” sustainable competitive advantage in particular
very high value activities. For cities with large concentrations of these, those cities can
generate significantly above average economic output and incomes per worker.
2. Economic giants. Namely, this is a fairly simple but important view of that simply
measures how big cities are on some metrics like GDP.
3. International Gateway. Measures of the importance of a city in the international flows of
people and goods. Examples would be the airport and cargo gateway figures.
4. Political and Cultural Hub. An important distinction should perhaps be made here
between hubs that may be large but of primarily national or regional importance, and
those of truly international significance. For example, there are many media hubs around
the world, but few of them are home to outlets like the BBC that drive the global
conversation.

Activity 5
What are the effects of Globalization in Religion in terms of:
1. Politics
2. Economics
3. Technology

Activity 6 #Essay
How do you define Global cities?
Give 4 examples and explain why they are considered as Global cities.

IX. EVALUATION

CHAPTER 1:
FLOW CHART. Using a flow chart, create a diagram showing the
importance of Globalization to the progress of our country.

CHAPTER 2:
ESSAY. Answer the given questions for development processing.
1. In what ways do international organizations help our country’s
economy?
2. Does the position of rich countries as giants in the economic chain
threaten the statues of less developed countries in the global market?
3. Do you think that Philippines is harmed as other countries transfer
their activities to us through outcoming?

CHAPTER 3: VENN DIAGRAM

VENN DIAGRAM. By means of a Venn Diagram, illustrate the

similarities and the differences of the Global Nort North and the Global South.

CHAPTER 4: ESSAY

Answer the following questions:

 1. Find an OFW or former OFW to be interviwed. Your respondent’s name
should not be revealed in class.
2. Use the following guide questions:
 How long have you stayed abroad?
 What are the purposes for your stay there?
 What were your most unforgettable experiences there? How will
describe them, good or bad?
 How will you compare the Philippines with other countries?
 Do you want to go abroad? Or to other countries in the future?
Why or why not?

X. ADDITIONAL READINGS
 DESIDERATA by Max Ehrmann
 The College Puzzle by Dr. Michael W. Kirst
XI. REFERENCES
 https://www.nordicom.gu.se/sites/default/files/kapitel-pdf/37_hjarvard.pdf
 https://oakland.edu/Assets/upload/docs/AIS/Syllabi/McCormack_Sample-
Simulation-1.pdf
 https://www.newgeography.com/content/003292-what-is-a-global-city
 https://aric.adb.org/emergingasianregionalism/pdfs/Final_ear_chapters/chapter
%202.pdf

Prepared By:

JENNY O. BIALEN MARVIC A. ALBARAN ROSAME C. DAÑOS

Course Facilitator Course Facilitator Course Facilitator