THE CONTEMPORARY WORLD LESSON 8-13

Lesson 8 GLOBAL MEDIA CULTURES

What is Culture?

Culture is a way of life manifested in tangible objects and intangible ideas we hold dear.

Culture refers to humans’ way of life – how we present ourselves, what are the choices we make and how,
how we relate with one another, how we pursue our aspirations (Giddens, Duneier, Appelbaum, & Carr,
2017)

Tangible Objects

The clothes we use

The infrastructures we build

The things we create

Collectively referred to as material culture

Culture are articulated in symbols or illustrations that convey meanings.

It is also manifested in language or a system of symbols that enable members of society to communicate
with one another.

It is observed in our:

 Values - what we deem good, desirable & important;

 Beliefs - what we deem true;
 Practices - how we do things;
 Norms - rules, roles, and expectations that we have and others have relative to our membership in
a society.

Cultural Socialization

We learn culture from our homes and our communities through direct instruction from our parents or
through observation and participation in community affairs.

Cultural Exchange

It is when we go out and interact with people from other groups and experience a different culture.

What are these concepts?

1. Acculturation- adopting to certain values and practices of the new culture;

2. Accommodation- adopting to a lesser degree such that we may tend to adopt the new culture only
when we are in public;

3. Assimilation- adopting to a larger degree such that we begin to resemble the people in other group.

Globalization & Culture

Cultural Flow is a term used to refer to this dynamics of culture in the age of globalization.
Views on Cultural Flow

Cultural Differentialism - Cultures are inherently and strongly unique from one another and are not
significantly affected by input from other cultures in the process of globalization.

Cultural Hybridization - Creative process which yields combinations of global and local cultures when
external inputs interact with internal inputs.

Cultural convergence - Cultures across nation states becomes a little more similar and homogenous as a
result of globalization leading to a more isomorphic or uniform culture Cultural assimilation- Dominant
societies tend to influence others to be more like them.

Cultural imperialism - Cultures consciously impose themselves on other cultures.

Deterritorialization - When a culture is not anymore tied to the restrictions of the geographical space where
it originates.

Global Flows Affecting Cultural Realities

Global Flows

1. Ethnoscapes (movement of people)

2. Technnoscapes (fluid & interlinked global technology)

3. Financescapes (movement of huge amount of money across nation-states)

4. Mediascapes (fast production and transfer of information)

5. Ideoscapes (movement of political images)

As a result this phenomenon occurs:

Globalization- Integration or interpenetration of cultures amidst global flow giving birth to a hybridized form
that is unique from both its global and local origins.

Media Cultures

Media “a means of conveying something” “a channel of communication”

Lule articulated that intersection between globalization and media can be captured in 5 distinct areas:

a. Oral communication

b. Script

c. Printing press

d. Electronic media

e. Digital media

He further said that globalization could have bee unimaginable if media is unavailable.

Media Culture (Nick Stevenson, 2002)

1. Much of the modern culture is transmitted by the media of mass communication establishing an
inextricable link between the two.

2. Theories and perspectives on media can only be understood deeply by looking at the larger cultural
context theorized on and lived by the theorists.
3. These are “histories of intellectual exchanges” that need to be attended to for full grasp of the link
between culture and media.

Media and the Filipinos

Filipinos are also consumers of various forms of media.

In 2019 study, it was revealed that Filipinos are the world’s top user of social media, spending a little more
than 10 hours online daily (the world’s average online use is 6 hours and 42 minutes) as well as of internet
use in front of a computer, spending a little more than five hours daily (the world’s average internet usage
is 3 hours and 28 minutes) (Gonzales, 2019).

Issues in Media Culture

In the process of cultural hybridization, as Wang (2002, cited by Servaes & Lie, 2003) construed, are
cultural products a-culturised (without any substance associated with any culture), deculturalised (made to
be appealing to global audiences by removing culture-specific elements), or reculturalised (given another
cultural touch).

Lesson 9 GLOBALIZATION OF RELIGION

Religion

A unified system of beliefs and practice related to faith, the sacred, higher moral values.

- Notwithstanding, scholarly definitions of religion, people tend to have their own private and personal
views of what religion is (subjective meaning).

Subjective Meanings

Affiliation motivation - some affiliate with a religion to have positive social interaction with people (Van
Capellen et. Al., 2017)

Religious coping - others affiliate with a religion as a form of coping with stressful situations (Pargament,
1997).

Spiritual experience - an outcome of the experience of the mystical and the divine and a celebration of
their spirituality (Rankin, 2009).

Self-control and moral behaviors - some look religions as mechanisms of such (Association of
Psychological Sciences, 2011).
Religion in the Age of Globalization

Secularization

Secularization is the hypothesized demise of religion and its value in societies, manifested, for instance, in
the separation of the church and state.

Religious Pluralism & Tolerance

This phenomenon when a smaller group of shared identity maintains their cultural practices as long as it
aligns with the larger society’s norms is referred to as cultural pluralism.

Cultural pluralism requires a certain form of religious tolerance.

Religious tolerance is allowing others to abide by their own religious practices and beliefs, such as
consenting the establishment of places of worships. Religious tolerance is quintessential in fostering peace
in the community (Firdaus, 2018).

Interesting Case of Religious Pluralism

Baha’i Faith – a small religion with approximately 7 million followers around the globe (Grim, 2012, in
Fozdar, 2015). It is a relatively new religion teaching the essential worth of all religions and the unity of all
people.

Religious Fundamentalism

The belief that there is ONE set of religious teachings that clearly contains the fundamental, basic, intrinsic,
essential, inerrant truth about humanity and deity; that this essential truth is fundamentally opposed by the
forces of evil which must be vigorously fought; that this truth must be followed today according to the
fundamental, unchangeable practices of the past; and that those who believe and follow these
fundamental teachings have a special relationship with the deity.

- Not all forms of religious fundamentalism causes some form of physical harm, but either forms imply
some sort of “exaggerated in-group centrality and discrimination of out-groups”.

- Samuel Huntington (1993, 1996) hypothesized that in the post-cold War world, the next fundamental
source of conflict is cultural, instead of economic and political.

Globalization of Religion

Globalization of Religion is when universal religion is thematized alongside local particularity (Beyer 2007).

This is linked with deterritorialization - the flow of religious traditions in areas where these traditions are
unfamiliar or unpopular, paving way for the emergence of transnational religions- in which religion goes
global (Roudometof, 2015).

Four Forms of Globalization

Vernacularization

• Linking “religious universalism with vernacular language”

• Sacred practices remain to be tied to particular sacred language like Arabic to Islam

Indigenization

• Linking “religious universalism with local particularism”

• Religious practices are blended with indigenous practices like African traditional forms meet Christianity
Nationalization

• Linking “universal religion and local, national particularism”

• Emergence of local religions tied with universal religions like Church of England

Transnationalization

• Absorption of a universal religion into ones own culture; naturalization of religion

• Allegiance to global religious community like White Anglo-Saxon Protestant among Americans

Lesson 10 GLOBAL CITIES

Global Cities

Central sites for advanced services and facilities of telecommunication which are necessary for the
execution and the management of global economic activities. In those sites, corporate headquarters tend
to center, particularly companies that are operative in more than one country.

Examples: New York, London, Tokyo, Paris, and Singapore.

- The global city is, therefore, the main physical and geographical playground of the globalizing forces.

Cosmopolitanism

It is a phenomenon most readily associated with the global city: large, diverse cities attract people, material
and cultural products from all over the world.

The idea of cosmopolitanism usually invokes pleasant images of travel, exploration, and “worldly” pursuits
enjoyed by those who have benefited from globalization and who can, in some ways, consider themselves
“citizens of the world”

General Characteristics of Global Cities (Peralta, 2020)

▪ International, first-name familiarity (i.e., “Paris”, “London”).

▪ Active influence and participation in international events and world affairs (i.e., UN Headquarters in New
York City).

▪ A fairly large population.

▪ A major international airport (i.e., London Heathrow Airport) that serves as an established hub for several
international airlines.

▪ Presence of an advanced transportation system that includes several freeways and/or a large mass
transit network offering multiple modes of transportation.

▪ Presence of an international financial institutions, law firms, and stock exchanges (i.e., New York Stock
Exchange).

▪ Presence of advanced communications infrastructure on which modern transnational corporations rely.

▪ Presence of world-renowned cultural institutions (i.e., museums, universities)

▪ Presence of several powerful and influential media outlets with an international reach (i.e., The New York
Times, Agence France-Presse)
▪ Presence of major sports facilities, home teams in major league sports, and the ability and historical
experience to host sporting events (i.e., Olympics, World Cups).

Identification of Global Cities

In “The Global City” by Sassen (1996), she only identified three global cities: New York, London, and
Tokyo. An attempt to define and categorize world cities was made in 1999 by the Globalization and World
Cities Study Group and Network (GaWC). GaWC ranked cities based on provision of “advanced producer
services” such as accountancy , advertising, finance, and law by international corporations.

The GaWC inventory identified three world cities and several sub-ranks.

Alpha world cities (Full service world cities)

Beta world cities (Major world cities)

Gamma world cities (Minor world cities)

In 1994, GaWC redefined and recategorized the classifications as follows:

Well rounded global cities

Global niche cities - specialized global contributions

Subnet articulator cities

Worldwide leading cities

Global City Index

Consists of indicators and parameters used to determine and measure the categories of global cities and
to what extent they function as global cities. Global Cities Index uses criteria across five dimensions.

1. Business Activity - presence of headquarters, services firms, number of international conferences, value
of goods through ports and airports.

2. Human capital - size of foreign-born population, quality of universities, number of international schools,
international student population.

3. Information exchange - accessibility of major TV news, number of international news bureaus.

4. Cultural experience - number of sporting events, museums, performing art venues

5. Political engagement - number of embassies, consulates, international organizations, political

conferences.

Global Power City Index

Evaluates and ranks the major cities of the world according to their magnetism or their comprehensive
power to attract people, capital, and enterprises from around the world.

1. Economy- refers to market attractiveness, economic vitality, business environment, regulations, and risk.

2. Research & Development - refers to research background, readiness for accepting and supporting
researches, and research achievement.

3. Cultural interaction - refers to trendsetting potential, accommodation environment, dining and shopping,
and volume of interaction.

4. Livability - refers to working environment, cost of living, security and safety, and life support functions.
5. Environment - refers to ecology, pollution, and natural environment.

6. Accessibility - refers to international transport infrastructure and inner city transportation infrastructure.

Top 10 Global Power Cities (GPCI 2016 Yearbook)

1. London 6. Seoul

2. New York City 7. Amsterdam

3. Tokyo 8. Berlin

4. Paris 9. Hong Kong

5. Singapore 10. Sydney

Lesson 11 GLOBAL DEMOGRAPHY

What is Demography?

 Scientific study of the determinants and consequences of human population trends (Peralta, 2020)
 Demography is the statistical study of human populations. Demographers use census data,
surveys, and statistical models to analyze the size, movement, and structure of populations
(National Geographic).

What is Demographic Transition?

In demography, demographic transition is a phenomenon and theory which refers to the historical shift
from high birth rates and high death rates in societies with minimal technology, education (especially of
women) and economic development, to low birth rates and low death rates in societies with advanced
technology, education and economic development, as well as the stages between these two scenarios.
Although this shift has occurred in many industrialized countries, the theory and model are frequently
imprecise when applied to individual countries due to specific social, political and economic factors
affecting particular populations.

The Malthusian Theory

 Thomas Maltus (1766-1834)

Understanding the Malthusian Theory

In the 18th and early 19th centuries, philosophers broadly believed that humanity would continue growing
and tilting toward utopianism. Malthus countered this belief, arguing that segments of the general
population have always been invariably poor and miserable, which effectively slowed population growth.

After observing conditions in England in the early 1800s, Malthus penned "An Inquiry into the Nature and
Progress of Rent" (1815) and "Principles of Political Economy" (1820), in which he argued that the
available farmland was insufficient to feed the increasing world population. Malthus specifically stated that
the human population increases geometrically, while food production increases arithmetically. Under this
paradigm, humans would eventually be unable to produce enough food to sustain themselves.

The Demographic Transition

During the first half of the 20th century, demographers conceived the notion of the demographic transition.
The Demographic Transition Framework illustrates population growth in terms of discrepancies and
changes in two crude vital rates – mortality and fertility (Peralta, 2020).
The Stages

Stage 1: Preindustrial Society – high and unstable birth and death rates, population growth rate slow,
importance of children, low life expectancy.

Reason for the changes in birth rate

1. Children are needed for farming.

2. They die at an early age due to illnesses.

3. No family planning and conception/giving birth is encourage by religion and society.

Reason for the changes in death rate

1. Disease

2. Famine

3. Poor medical knowledge

Stage 2: Early Industrial Society – high birth rates, falling death rate, high population growth.

Reason for the changes in birth rate

1. Children are needed for farming.

2. They die at an early age due to illnesses.

3. No family planning and conception/giving birth is encourage by religion and society.

Reason for the changes in death rate

1. Improvements in medical care

2. Water

3. Supply and sanitation

4. Fewer children die

Stage 3: Late Industrial Society – low death rate, falling birth rate, high population growth.

Reason for the changes in birth rate

1. Improved medical care and diet.

2. Fewer children are needed for work.

Reason for the changes in death rate

1. Improvements in medical care.

2. Water

3. Supply and sanitation

4. Fewer children die

Stage 4: Post Industrial Society – low birth rate and death rate, low population growth.

Reason for the changes in birth rate

1. Family planning

2. Good health

3. Late marriages

4. Improving status of women

Reason for the changes in death rate

1. Good health care

2. Reliable food supply

3. People are living much longer

Criticisms of the Demographic Transition Theory

The demographic transition theory is only based on Western societies (Europe, America, Japan). It is not
inevitable that there will be a fall in fertility rates in less developed countries. The length of time that the
countries will traverse the stages, if they do, is unpredictable. Times have changed since the developed
world went through demographic transition (Peralta, 2020).

Fertility Transition Theory

- This theory states that fertility is declining in the less developed countries at a rate which exceeds the
rate of decline that was experienced in developed countries. It seems to be related directly to the extent to
which modern contraceptives are employed. In modern times, information about contraceptives is
widespread due to mass media.

- Stripped off the major points, the fertility transition theory asserts that while economic development can
create a climate conducive to reductions in fertility, it is a change in cultural attitude about large families
and a willingness to use contraception that matters, aside from the presence and availability of
contraception itself.

- Still, opposition to birth control and family planning are aplenty. The manufacture, distribution, and
education about use of contraceptives remain expensive. Religion can block birth control programs. Others
are of societal concerns: low status of women, lack of political and economic rights, and lack of access to
education.

Lesson 12 GLOBAL MIGRATION

Migration

Is the crossing of the boundary of a political or administrative unit for a certain minimum period of time. It
includes the movement of refugees, displaced persons, uprooted people, as well as economic migrants.

Migrant

Any person who is moving or has moved across an international border or within a state away from his/her
habitual place of residence, regardless of:

(1) the person’s legal status;

(2) whether the movement is voluntary or involuntary;

(3) what the causes for the movement are; or

(4) what the length of the stay is

- not all migration happens in positive circumstances.

- Today, more people than ever before live in a country other than the one in which they were born. In
2017, the number of migrants reached 258 million, compared to about 173 million in 2000. However, the
proportion of international migrants in the world population is only slightly higher than that recorded over
the past decades, equaling 3.4 percent in 2017, compared to 2.8 percent in 2000 and 2.3 percent 1980.

- While many individuals migrate out of choice, many others migrate out of necessity.

Two Categories of Migrants

1. Labor (or economic) migrants (and family reunification)

2. Forced migrants (asylum seekers and refugees)

Forced Migrants are those who are compelled to migrate due to adverse circumstances beyond their
control (i.e., war, persecution, etc.)

Asylum seeker is a person who seeks safety from persecution or serious harm in a country other than his
or her own and awaits a decision on the application for the refugees status under relevant international and
national instruments. In case of a negative decision, the person must leave the country and may be
expelled, unless permission to stay is provided on humanitarian grounds.

A refugee is person who, owing to a well-founded fear of persecution for reasons of race, religion,
nationality, membership of a particular social group or political opinions, is outside the country of his/her
nationality and is unable or, owing to such fear, is unwilling to avail himself/herself of the protection of that
country.

Drivers of Migration

 Economic & Demographic Drivers

 Environmental Drivers
 Human-made crises

Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs)

A person who is to be engaged, is engaged, or has been engaged in a remunerated activity in a state of
which he or she is not a citizen or on board a vessel navigating the foreign seas other than a government
ship used for military or non-commercial purposes or on an installation located offshore or on the high
seas; to be used interchangeably with migrant worker (RA 8042).

Common Reasons Why Filipinos Work Abroad

 Poverty
 Unemployment and Low Wages
 Enhancement of Professional Skills
 Curiosity
OFW Problems: Prevailing Issues and Concerns

1. Paying off Debts

2. Basic Needs that are too costly

3. Not enough savings in the bank

4. Unpaid loans from others

5. Marital conflict is a significant problem

6. Long Distant Parenting

7. Working Conditions Abroad

Lesson 13 SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT

Sustainable Development

“Sustainable Development is that which meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of
future generations to meet their own needs.”- Dr. Gro Harlem Brundtland, Prime Minister of Norway

Sustainable development was borne out of the recognition that the economic and social needs should be
balanced with the capacity of the environment to provide.

To achieve this, global actors and governments must make appropriate policies and actions that take into
account the entwined aspects of social, cultural, economic development, and environmental protection and
enhancement.

Different Interpretations of Sustainable Development

World Bank (1992)

Sustainable Development means considering the costs and benefits of development and environmental
policies. It also signifies focusing on meticulous economic analysis in order to reinforce environmental
protection.

IUCN, WWF, UNEP (1987)

Sustainable Development is about the conservation of ecological processes, the safeguarding of genetic
diversity, and the balanced utilization of species and ecosystems.

Prof. Edward Barbier (1987)

Sustainable economic development is about improving the poor people’s standard of living, in terms of
enhanced food source, increased real income, education, health services, water supply, and sanitation. It
is only indirectly concerned with cumulative economic growth.
Andrea Westall adds:

Suggestions on the Approach & Practice to Achieve Sustainable Development

United Kingdom

1. Living within Environmental Limits

2. Ensuring a strong, Healthy and Just Society
3. Achieving a Sustainable Economy
4. Promoting Good Governance
5. Using Sound Science Responsibly

United Nations

The UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs argues that sustainable development requires
“significant price corrections, a strong commitment to conserve natural abilities, a decrease in inequalities,
an addition of environmental accounting, a reinforcement of public spheres of life, a rerouting of the
financial sector to the felt economy, and sharing of income & employment. These will increase the well-
being of people, especially the poorest.”

In 2000, the global leaders from the UN member states reached a consensus and adopted the Millennium
Development Goals (MDGs) to pursue poverty reduction and human development. It is composed of eight
goals that are targeted to be achieved by the year 2015.

Millennium Development Goals:

In 2015, UN member states adopted the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to address poverty,
inequalities, and climate change by the year 2030. These goals are the embodiment of pursuing
development that encompass economic prosperity, social wellbeing, and environmental integrity.

Sustainable Development Goals:

Challenges to Sustainable Development

1. Instability

Increasing global instability, including the recent financial crisis, the political turmoil in the Middle East and
North Africa, and the problems caused by changing climate conditions has brought about growing
insecurity.

2. Implementation

Another challenge is translating development aims and targets into local level programs by financing and
delivering policies and packages that are relevant to the local context.

3. Governance

A final challenge is the way in which good governance among nation-states is coordinated and facilitated.
The World Bank defines good governance as the manner in which power is exercised in the management
of a country’s economic and social resources for development.