Conworld 2nd year x 1st semester PDF

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The Contemporary World...

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CONWORLD ( 2nd year : 1st semester ) The Study of Globalization : Aspects and Approaches Question : Why do we need to study the (contemporary) world? “ Though I’m not here , I’m really here. And I’m here in a different way because I am now here. “

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Global Imaginary

Framing Globalization

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BOOK : The Lexus and The Olive Tree (Understanding Globalization) - Thomas L. Friedman  Material and economy  Lexus is a high end automobile  Olive tree is about the values and challenges

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“Humanity is willing to compromise values for development.” Globalization : Key Themes and Characteristics (Manfred Steger) Globality 

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A social condition characterized by tight economic , political , cultural and environmental interconnections and flows , making currently existing borders and boundaries irrelevant By Manfred Steger

By Manfred Steger Is not “one size fits all” straight jacket Enables the flourishing of ones economy McDonald’s Theory Progress = War = relatively peaceful and stable country  Malls , establishments , etc = within the premises

A concept referring to people’s growing consciousness of belonging to a global community Destabilizes and unsettles the conventional parameters of understanding within which people imagine their communal existence

Globalization : Levels of Debate What are the impacts on the human condition? a) Security = Terrorists b) Equality = Milk Tea or Condo c) Democracy = Success or Economic growth and development What are the responses? a) Neoliberalism (markets) b) Rejectionism (localism or populism) c) Reformism (public policies) d) Transformism (social revolution)

open up the market to other countries government should provide

Contending Perspectives of Globalization Scarcity of Resources 1) Liberal or Hyper--global Perspective - in favor of Globalization  

Rely on other countries Pushes us to interconnect

K - 12 Program  

OFW’s that graduated college without K - 12 are inadequate Higher OFW abroad = higher lacking

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Globalization

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A set of social processes that appear to transform our present social condition of weakening nationality into one of globality ; human lives played out in the world as a single place ; redefining landscape of sociopolitical processes and social sciences that study these mechanisms

“End of Geography” ; “End of Nation-State” ; borderless world of flows Privileges an economic and technological logic Globalization as mutually beneficial , progressive and benign New , inevitable , levels off A new modernization theory? - much higher! The end of the “Cold War” and the “End of History” ; “There is no Alternative (TINA)” Pessimistic globalist perspective - emphasizes both homogenization (international std) and its negative consequences Hegemon - superior country such as USA & China

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Conservative or Skeptical Perspective

The Global Economy

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Underplays globalization : internationalization (trading) or regionalization Dominant view in IR : Realism ; Methodological Nationalism and Territorialism Certain types of Marxism or Structuralism adopt a strongly - state - centric perspective Rise of Anti - Global Authoritarian Populism / Nativism

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According to the IMF , “economic globalization” is the result of a historical process representing the result of human innovation and technological progress Characterized by the increasing integration of economies around the world through the movement of goods , services , and capital across borders

The International Trading System 3) Critical or Transformational Perspective       

Recognizes dissolution of old structures and boundaries (states , economies , communities) “The state as a space of flows” : power and politics are reconfigured ; they flow through , across and around territorial boundaries Speed and magnitude of changes Mobility , hybridity , complexity Global - local nexus = “Think Globally , Act Globally” Emphasis on unevenness and new hierarchies : globalization of superficiality (Fr. Adolfo Nicolas) ; globalization of indifference (Pope Francis)

Globalization versus Globalism  

Globalization represents the many processes that allow for the expansion and intensification of Global connections Globalism is a widespread belief among the powerful people that the global integration of economic markets is beneficial for everyone , since it spreads freedom and democracy across the world

Multiple Globalization versus Globalization as a single process 

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When did full economic globalization begin? 

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The Gold Standard  

Ethnoscape - refers to the global movement of people Mediascape - refers to the flow of culture Technoscape - refers to the circulation of mechanical goods and software Ideoscape - refers to the diffusion and sharing of political ideas Financescape - refers to the global circulation of money

Economic Globalization and The Global Economy Is there a global economic system?

According to Dennis O , Flynn and Arturo Giraldez , the age of globalization began when “all important populated continents began to exchange products continuously --- both with each other directly and indirectly via other continents Flynn and Giraldez trace this back to 1571 with the establishment of the galleon trade that connected Manila in the Philippines and Acapulco in Mexico. This was the first time the Americas connected to Asian trading routes

*insert the European View of the Age of Mercantilism*

Arjun Appadurai asserts that different kinds of globalization occur on multiple and intersecting dimensions of integration that he calls “scapes”     

The Silk Road as the oldest international trade route --- a network of pathways in the ancient world that spanned from China to what is now the Middle East and to Europe. (130 B.C. to 1453 B.C.) The Silk Road though international is not truly “global” because it had no ocean routes that could reach the American continent

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If you want to add more money , you must add more gold A system in which a currency is backed by gold reserves. Each unit of currency is worth a specific weight in gold  PROS : Long - term price stability. It is difficult for government to inflate prices. Fixed international exchange rates between trading nations reduces uncertainty.  CONS : A disadvantage for countries that do not produce gold. May limit economic growth. Economists say it can prolong economic recessions. Limits how central banks can respond to economic crisis. “Money backed by Gold”

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Open Trade System in 1867 as facilitated by United Kingdom , United States and other European countries adopted the GOLD STANDARD at an international monetary conference in Paris Established a common system as basis for currency prices and a fixed exchange rate system --- all based on the value of gold The gold standard proved to be a very restrictive system as it compelled countries to back their currencies with fixed gold reserves Gold as the International Monetary System (IMS). Monetary authorities are obliged to exchange their national currencies for gold at the official exchange rate

The Washington Consensus 

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The Bretton Woods System    

Create a global economic system Establishment of the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD or World Bank) to cater for the post war reconstruction projects And the International Monetary Fund (IMF) as the global lender of last resort

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Neo - liberal policies prescribed by the US Treasury Department , the IMF - WB , WTO and the GATT came to be called as the Washington Consensus. (1980’s - 2000’s) Advocated minimal government spending to reduce government’s debt ; Privatization of government services ; Reduction of tariffs Trade liberalization or opening up one’s economy as the key driver to achieve economic progress Advocates of the Neo - liberal policies like US President Ronald Reagan and British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher Both argued that economies should be run like households ( e.g. reduction of government expenses or belt tightening ) The Global Financial Crisis of 2007 - 2008 challenges the potency and effectiveness of Neo - Liberalism

Current Status of Economic Globalization GATT : General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade 

Several countries embraced deeper global economic integration through the GATT in 1947. GATT sought to reduce tariffs and other hindrances to free trade

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Economic Globalization is an uneven process It cannot be denied that the Washington Consensus has nurtured a system where the world or economies have become too integrated. Some of its prescriptions are necessary for countries to develop in the contemporary world

WTO : World Trade Organization 

The World Trade Organization (WTO) is the only international organization dealing with the global rules of trade between nations. Its main function is to ensure that trade flows as smoothly , predictably and freely as possible

Emergence of Neo - Liberalism   

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Oil Embargo and Stock Markets crashed in 1973 - 1974 Keynesian Economic Theory versus Neo - Liberalism (Friedrich Hayek and Milton Friedman) Hayek and Milton argued that the government’s practice of pouring money into their economies had caused inflation by increasing demand for goods without necessarily increasingly supply Both argued that government intervention in economies distort the proper functioning of the market. Hence , the birth of Neo - Liberalism

Countries US , Japan and European Union Developing countries By 2011 : more countries opened up their economies Developed countries Developing China including the Philippines , China , Argentina and Brazil  

% of Global Exports 65% 29%

45% 51%

According to the IMF , the global per capita GDP rose over five - fold in the second - half of the 20th century This growth created the large Asian economies like Japan , China , Korea , Hong Kong , Singapore

The downside part :

Treaty of Westphalia

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Developed countries maintained selective protectionist policies. They refuse to lift policies that safeguard their primary products that could similarly overwhelmed by imports from the developing countries.  Example : Japan’s refusal of rice imports US protectionist policy on its sugar industry Trade imbalances characterize economic relations between developed and developing countries The beneficiaries of global commerce have been mainly transnational corporations (TNC’s) and NOT governments TNC’s gain more profits while host countries are made to loosen tax laws , lower their labor standards and wages to attract foreign investors Governments more often bend their own environmental laws to attract investors to the detriment of their finite resources like oil , coal , minerals

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Ended the Thirty Years’ War signed by the major continental powers of Europe in 1648 Designed a system that would respect the sovereignty of each state It provided stability in Europe

The Rise of Napoleon Bonaparte The rise of Napoleon challenged the Westphalian system

How? Bonaparte believed in spreading the principles of the French Revolution --- liberty , equality , fraternity

Global Governance Can you imagine a world without international order?

French Hegemony

According to Hedley Bull :

Freedom of religion Promoted meritocracy in government service

Theorizing a World of Anarchy This ‘anarchy problematique’ continues to this day to play its part in seeking to understand the manner in which international relations functions in the absence of a central government and the manner in which cooperation manifests itself within an anarchical framework

Roots of Interstate System The Thirty Years’ War  

One of the longest and destructive wars in human history Religious war between Catholics and Protestants , the Holy Roman Empire , Spain , France , Sweden , and the Dutch Republic

Napoleonic Wars 1803 - 1815 challenged the power of kings , nobility , and religion in Europe Implemented the Napoleon Code Forbade birth privileges

“Men within each state are subject to a common government , sovereign states in their mutual relations are not.”

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Sovereignty of nation-states challenged by the concept of supra - nationalism

Restoration of the Westphalian System Battle of Waterloo in 1815

Anglo and Prussian armies defeated Napoleon Establishment of an alliance of “great powers” known as the CONCERT of EUROPE (UK , Austria , Russia , Prussia) Restored royal powers --- monarchial , hereditary and religious privileges before the ascend to power of Napoleon The Metternich system (Klemens Von Metternich)main architect of the “Concert of European powers” sought to restore the sovereignty of states

The Birth of Internationalism

B. Social Internationalism

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Karl Marx

The desire for greater unity and cooperation among nation-states

A. Liberal Internationalism

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Immanuel Kant (18th Century)  

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Imagined a form of global government “States like citizens of countries , must give up some freedom and establish a continuously growing state consisting of nations which will ultimately include the nations of the world.” Without a government , international system would be chaotic

Jeremy Bentham (18th Century)   

Advocated the creation of ‘international order’ that would govern that inter-state relations Coined the term ‘international’ in 1870 “The greatest good for the greatest number.”

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One of Mazzini’s biggest critics True form of internationalism should reject internationalism , which rooted people in domestic concerns instead of global ones Hence , the proletariat battle cry , “Workers of the world , unite!” The proletariat has no nation Marxist anti - nationalism : affinity to the nation retards the workers’ struggle

Communist International (Comintern) : 1919 - 1943     

Product of the Bolshevik victory in Russia Lenin’s tool to promote revolution Directed all the Communist parties around the world Dissolved by Joseph Stalin in 1943 to appease the Axis Powers (WW II) The collapse of Soviet Union in 1991 paved the way for the gradual disappearance of communist internationalism

Postwar Period Giuseppe Mazzini (19th Century)     

Major critic of the Metternich system Advocated the unification of Italian - speaking mini - states Believed in a Republican government System of free nations to create an international system / global cooperation

Woodrow Wilson (1913 - 1921)   

Nationalism as a pre - requisite internationalism Principle of self - determination - the world’s nation have a right to a free and sovereign government (international law , collective security , league) Prominent advocate of the League of Nations

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The establishment of the United Nations (UN) as the center of global governance Process of decolonization among Third World Countries Bandung Conference (1955). established to eradicate colonialism and neocolonialism of US and USSR (e.g. President Sukarno of Indonesia) Developing world as the Global South G22 and the anti - globalization movement Regionally - driven internationalism

The United Nations and Contemporary Global Governance 

Various intersecting processes that create this order  Example : organizations , NGO ‘ s

International Organization 

International Intergovernmental Organization or groups that are primarily made up of member states

Power of International Organization   

Power of Classification : Power of Fix Meanings : Power of Diffuse Norms :

* United Nations (UN)

global standards definition of terms spreading of ideas all over the world

- most prominent International Organization (IO) - successful for averting another war

Five Active Organizations General Assembly (GA) 

Main deliberative policy making and representative organization

Security Council (SC)   

Most powerful Military intervention Has 15 member states  5 permanent ones :  China  France  Russia  United Kingdom  United States of America

Economic and Social Council (ECO SOC)    

Has 54 members Principal body for coordination Policy review policy dialogue Reco on social and environmental issues as well as the implementation of internationally agreed development goals

International Court of Justice 

To settle legal disputes and give advisory opinions

The Secretariat  

International Civil Service United Nations employees not stake representatives...