UNIVERSITY OF ABRA

Ciela Marie B. Pacopia, M.A.P.S.

Contact Number: +639976955194
Email address: [email protected]
Consultation hours: TTh, 10:30-12:00

THE CONTEMPORARY WORLD

COURSE COMPONENTS AND REQUIREMENTS

Below you will find the key information you need to successfully navigate and complete
this course.

Introduction
The 21st century is an age of globalization. Individuals no longer live their lives
exclusively within local and national communities, but are touched by, and interact with,
states, groups, firms and individuals across the world. With this, it is increasingly clear that
most important social problems have an international aspect that is best understood through
an integrated, interdisciplinary study that draws on a variety of tools and perspectives, not
just one. For this course, and as a starting point, we will formally employ perspectives and
concepts from three disciplines: political science, economics, and sociology. However, this
course will also draw upon several other disciplines – culture and language, history and
geography (“time and space”), as well as philosophy.
This course is designed to provide students with a comprehensive view of our
globalized world, with the multiple disciplinary tools and perspectives needed to understand
that world, and with the opportunity to concentrate and specialize on one of three broad
dimensions: political globalization, economic globalization, and cultural globalization This
course will teach students to consider issues broadly, to see linkages between and among
different problems, and to engage in creative and critical thinking. This course will also have a
strong multicultural content with an emphasis on how values impact a range of policy issues:
trade, money, development, population, hunger, overpopulation, climate change, culture,
environment, democracy, and security. This is a very ambitious undertaking, but a necessary
one for the people who live in the world and for future political, societal and business leaders
who will have to deal with its economic, political, and social problems.
COURSE OBJECTIVES
After completing the course, the student must be able to:

1. Familiarize and understand basic concepts and processes of globalization from different
frames/lenses;
2. Analyze the implications of globalization in different spheres, particularly in relation to
Philippine society;
3. Critique existing responses as well as articulate personal responses to globalization
challenges;
4. Recognize various social issues related to globalization, especially its impact on vulnerable
communities and the environment; and
5. Make sound and ethical decisions in responding to globalization issues as part of their
personal and social responsibilities.

Course Components

SCHEDULE OF TOPICS AND READINGS

I. Chapter 1 Introduction to Globalization (Week 1-2)
1. Definition
2. Approaches to the Study of Globalization
3. Theorizing Globalization
4. Globalization in the Philippines
CHAPTER II. Foundations of Globalization (Week 3)
1. Introduction
2. Waves of Nationhood (Treaty of Westphalia and Sovereignty, Expanding to the
Americas)
3. Early Waves of Economic Globalization (Silk Road, Mercantile Capitalism)
4. Early Waves of Economic Globalization (Colonial Wave, 1500s to 1860s)
5. Neo-Colonialism and Cold War Strategic Advantage
6. Shaping the Modern State
7. Early Globalization of Liberalism, and Establishing International Law and
Organization

CHAPTER III. The Structures of Globalization (Economic Globalization) (Week 4-5)

A. The Global Economy -Market Integration
1. Market Globalism as a New Ideology
2. The Emergence of the Global Economic Order
3. The Internalization of Trade and Finance
4. The Global Financial Crisis and the Challenge to Neoliberalism
5. Rise of Global Corporations

CHAPTER IV. The Global Interstate System (Political Globalization) (Week 6-7)
1. The Nation-state
2. Attributes of Modern International Politics
3. Contemporary Global Governance
4. Globalization and Terrorism
5. Human Rights, and Democracy

CHAPTER V. A World of Regions

A. Global Divides (Week 8)
1. The East and the West
2. The Three Worlds
3. The North and the South
B. Asian Regionalism (Week 9)
1. History of Conflict and Cooperation
2. Asia and Globalization: Challenges and Possibilities
Readings:

CHAPTER VI. Cultural Globalization (Week 10-11)

A. Global Media Cultures
1. Evolution of Media
2. Global Imaginary and Global Village
3. Media and Globalization
 • Media and Economic Globalization
• Media and Political Globalization
• Media and Cultural Globalization

CHAPTER VII. Global Population and Mobility (Week 10-11)

A. The Global City (Week 12)
1. Images of Globalized City
2. Theorizing the Global City
3. Hypermobility, Homogenization and Differentiation
B. Global Migration (Week 13)
1. Migration and Transnationalism
2. Migration and the Security Regime
3. North-South Comparative Perspectives

CHAPTER VIII. Towards a Sustainable World

A. Sustainable Development (Week 14)
1. Defining Sustainability
2. Key Pillars of Sustainability
3. Climate Change and Sustainable Adaptation
B. Global Food Security (Week 15)
1. Food Security and Human Security
2. The Political-economy of Food
3. Sustainable Food Systems

CHAPTER VIII. Global Citizenship (Week 16-17)

1. The Growth of Civil Society Movements
2. Democracy, Global Solidarity and Citizenship
3. Necessity for Shared Discourse and Perspective
4. The Filipino as Cosmopolitan Citizen: Issues of National Identity and Values

I. COURSE REQUIREMENTS

1. Readings. Reading materials for this course will be made available on-line. Students are expected
to read and comprehend the assigned readings before coming to class. This is essential for a
productive and interactive participation in the discussion.

2. Class Activities. Major activities of the class comprise (1) assigned group presentation on a topic,
(2) Papers and other written outputs (reflection papers, critical essays, and position papers, as
prescribed) and (quizzes) and (3) final requirement. Minor activities include all other class
dynamics such as small group discussions, debates, film viewings and the like. These are all graded
activities.
3. Exams. There are two major term exams for the course: the midterm and the final exam.
4. Term Paper: Please write a paper between 8 to 10 pages in length in one of the subjects related
to our course to be submitted right after the midterm examinations. The paper has to have line
 spacing at 1.5 or 2 and should be written using Times New Roman size 12. Use the APA style
(Author's surname, year, page number between brackets inside the text). Topic for the term
paper must be consulted to the instructor of the course.
5. Class presentation (10 points): You will sign up for one -two slots during the term, and in both
of those classes, you will make a 10 minutes presentation of a case study. This case study will
relate with the week's themes. I will post a specific question to guide the presentations each
week. More details about the assignment will be discussed later on.
6. Book Review The student will write a 5–7-page book review (not including the title page and
bibliography) on a book to be assigned by the instructor. The Book Review must include the
following sections: introduction, summary, analysis (praise and criticism), personal response,
and conclusion. The student must use 5–6 quotations from the book to support his/her claims
and present at least 7 geopolitical relevant points. The student must refer to the rubric and
instructions found in the Facebook Group for complete assignment requirements. The Book
Review must be written following the current APA format.
7. Current events: Students will also present (1-2minutes) a news article that relates a current
event to what we are discussing in class.
8. Map quiz
9. Movie review
10. Debate

II. REQUIRED AND SUPPLEMENTAL READING MATERIALS

Week/
Dates Topic /Activity
➢ Orientation to the Course
Week 1-2
➢ PART ONE:
➢ Reading 1. “Approaches to the Study of Globalization”. Manfred Steger.
Chapter 2. The SAGE Handbook of Globalization. Manfred Steger, Paul
Battersby, & Joseph Siracusa (eds.). Thousand Oaks :SAGE

➢ Reading 2. “Foundations of Globalization. Joann Chirico. Chp. 3. Chirico,

Week 3-4 J. (2013). Globalization: prospects and problems. Sage Publications. pgs.
60-84.

➢ Reading 3. “Theorizing Globalization”. Chapter 2. Globalization. The

Week 5 Essentials. George Ritzer. pgs. 28-54.
➢ Reading 4. “Globalization and Consumer Culture”. Douglas J. Goodman.
Week 6
Chapter 16. The Blackwell Companion to Globalization. George Ritzer
(ed.). pgs. 330-351.

MIDTERM EXAMS

➢ PART TWO:
Week 7-8
 ➢ Reading 5. “Economic Globalization: Corporations”. Peter Dicken.
Chapter14. The Blackwell Companion to Globalization. George Ritzer
(ed.). pgs. 291-308.

➢ Reading 6. May, Christopher, Who's in Charge? Corporations as

Institutions of Global Governance (December 2015). Palgrave
Communications, Vol. 1, 2015

Week 9 ➢ Reading 7. “Political Globalization”. Gerard Delanty and Chris Rumford.

Chapter 21. The Blackwell Companion to Globalization. George Ritzer
(ed.). pgs. 414-428.

➢ Reading 8._Martin Müller (2020) In Search of the Global East: Thinking

between North and South, Geopolitics, 25:3, 734-755, DOI:
10.1080/14650045.2018.1477757

Week 10 ➢ Reading 9. “Cultural Globalization”. John Tomlinson. Chapter 17. The

Blackwell Companion to Globalization. George Ritzer (ed.). pgs. 352-366.

➢ Reading 10. “Cities and Globalization”. Michael Timberlake and Xiulian

Ma. Chapter 12. The Blackwell Companion to Globalization. George
Ritzer (ed.). pgs. 254-271.

➢ Reading 11. Handling Immigration in a Global Era. Saskia Sassen

➢ Reading 12. Globalization and International Terrorism. Gus Martin

Chapter 33. The Blackwell Companion to Globalization. George Ritzer
(ed.). UK: Blackwell Publishing Ltd. 2007

Week 11 ➢ Reading 13. Globalization and Nation-Building in the Philippines: State

Predicaments in Managing Society in the Midst of Diversity.
Rommel C. Banlaoi

Week 12-13 ➢ Reading 14. “Globalization and the Environment”. Steve Yearley.
Chapter 11. The Blackwell Companion to Globalization. George Ritzer
(ed.). pgs. 239-255.

➢ Reading 15. Globalization: Its Impacts on the Philippine Environment.

Aurora Alerta-Lim.

➢ PART THREE:
Week 14-15 ➢ Reading 16. Rethinking Sustainable Development: Indigenous Peoples
and Resource Use Relations in the Philippines. Levita Duhaylungsod
 Week 16-17 ➢ Reading 17. Spirituality, Religion and Globalization. Sudhir H. Kale
http://jmk.sagepub.com/content/24/2/92

➢ Reading 18. Dealing With, Resisting, and the Future of Globalization.

Week 18 Chapter 12. Globalization: The Essentials. George Ritzer. 2011 John
Wiley & Sons Ltd.

FINAL EXAM

III. GENERAL GUIDELINES:

1. Since attendance is part of the final grade, everyone is required to complete all sessions.
2. For instances in which scheduled classes will be suspended due to Institutional or College
activities and national events, the students shall do independent study of the learning materials
sent by the instructor. Students may, however, send emails to the instructor should there be
questions or points of clarification related to the material. Students may request for a meeting
during the “consultation hour” set by the instructor.
3. Read in advance. This is a reading-intensive course. You are required to read an average of
around 30-50 pages per chapter (sometimes even more or, fortunately, even less), and you will
be expected to engage in class based on these readings. I understand that reading is a
demanding task. I have tried very hard to be very selective in assigning mandatory readings
but I also have to ensure that you are still able to appreciate the integrity and complexity of the
arguments in the discipline.
4. Use consultation hours. Feel free to consult with me about course or academic matters. This is
especially useful for those who think that they will benefit more from a brief one-on-one
session rather than a class format. Set an appointment via email as early as possible so I can
set aside time for our consultation.
5. No student would be allowed to enter the classroom if he/she is late for more than 20 minutes.
6. Proper decorum is a must to ensure a harmonious and lively environment for discussion. Avoid
unnecessary interruption. Attitude fitting for a college student is expected in class.
7. Related to proper decorum, use of mobile phones is strictly prohibited. All phones should be
turned off or put in silent mode. Should the use of phone be inevitable, the student may silently
exit the room without disrupting any on-going discussion. Failure to comply with this rule will
cause the class to take a quiz.
8. Absolutely no make-up exams will be given to those who miss any of the exams unless the
student has a valid excuse (i.e., illness) and an official excuse slip or medical certification noted
by the University Health Clinic.
9. No additional or special course work will be given to any student.
10. Eating is allowed inside the room except for any kind of food that may cause disturbance during
class sessions.
11. Contribute to discussions. You should consider our class a shared space where you can safely
contribute your thoughts. You are also encouraged to listen to others and respond thoughtfully.
 Keep in mind that a successful class is one in which our assumptions about the issues we
discussed are enriched or challenged through collegial discussions.
12. On Submission of outputs. The instructor prescribes a deadline for every course requirement.
Output such as term papers shall be submitted in two forms. One hard copy and one soft copy,
preferably in a word format (soft copy is for plagscan). Google drive link for the submission
of output will also be provided.
13. Late Submissions. Late submission of requirements is highly discouraged. Required projects
submitted thereafter shall incur a 5-point deduction for every day of late submission. A score
of zero shall be given to the student or the group of students who shall fail to submit the required
project five(5) days from the due date
14. Observe academic honesty. Students are expected to be honest in all of their academic work.
Academic honesty means, fundamentally, that any work you submit to this course must be
really yours unless proper credit is given to the owner of the work. Academic dishonesty, in
forms like plagiarism or cheating, will result in a failing grade in the course and a possible
disciplinary action by the university. To be sure that we're on the same page, I suggest that you
study more about plagiarism.

***This syllabus is tentative and subject to change in any part at the discretion of the instructor,
and that it is the student's obligation to keep aware of developments!