Module 12: Our Globalized World

Overview

Congratulations! You have reached the last module of IS110! So far, we have defined globalization as the expansion and intensification of social relations and consciousness across world-time and world-space. In other words, globalization is both about processes and perception. The processes of globalization include the economic, the political, and the cultural, all driven by the technology of interconnectedness. Economically, the world is increasingly being integrated through manufacturing chains, global stock exchanges, and multinational corporations. These processes have the ability to lift the masses out of poverty or enrich the elite at the top, or both. Much of the direction that these economic processes have, will, or could take are dependent on the political structures they are embedded in. These political structures are an expression of western norms, from the sovereign state system to the UN system. They also have supported the neoliberal economic order that emerged in the 1970s. This system has generated great wealth and raised many out of poverty but it is also responsible for rising inequality within and between states. The economic and political aspects of globalization have been underwritten by the processes of cultural globalization. It is here where the ideas of what globalization ‘is’ and ‘should be’ are contested. Building on this debate, we looked at the role of diplomacy and international law, terrorism, human rights, global inequity, the environment, and the role of civil society. So far, we have examined the meaning of globalization and the issues we confront in a globalized world. This last unit looks forward, to those who are thinking about what globalization might mean in the future, the problems we might face, and what we should do about them.

Objectives

When you have finished this module, you should be able to do the following:

  1. Detail the importance of ideas in our globalized world
  2. Describe how power and control is changing in our globalized world
  3. Debate the possible role for political solutions to contemporary problems
  4. Discuss the requisite mindset to achieve progress in addressing the contemporary problems of globalization

Module Instructions

  1. Watch ‘Alex Tabarrok: How ideas trump crises’ https://www.ted.com/talks/alex_tabarrok_foresees_economic_growth?utm_campaign=tedspread&utm_medium=referral&utm_source=tedcomshare
  2. Complete Learning Activity #1
  3. Watch ‘Paddy Ashdown: The Global Power Shift’ https://www.ted.com/talks/paddy_ashdown_the_global_power_shift?referrer=playlist-the_big_picture&utm_campaign=tedspread&utm_medium=referral&utm_source=tedcomshare]
  4. Watch ‘James Glattfelder: Who Controls the World?’ https://www.ted.com/talks/james_b_glattfelder_who_controls_the_world?language=en&referrer=playlist-the_big_picture&utm_campaign=tedspread&utm_medium=referral&utm_source=tedcomshare]
  5. Complete Learning Activity #2
  6. Watch ‘Simon Anholt: Which country does the most good for the world?’ https://www.ted.com/talks/simon_anholt_which_country_does_the_most_good_for_the_world?referrer=playlist-the_big_picture&utm_campaign=tedspread&utm_medium=referral&utm_source=tedcomshare
  7. Watch ‘Ashraf Ghani: How to rebuild a broken state’ https://www.ted.com/talks/ashraf_ghani_on_rebuilding_broken_states?utm_campaign=tedspread&utm_medium=referral&utm_source=tedcomshare
  8. Complete Learning Activity #3
  9. Watch ‘Lesley Hazelton: The doubt essential to faith’ https://www.ted.com/talks/lesley_hazleton_the_doubt_essential_to_faith?referrer=playlist-the_big_picture&utm_campaign=tedspread&utm_medium=referral&utm_source=tedcomshare]
  10. Watch ‘Anand Giridhaeadas: A letter to all who have lost in this era’ https://www.ted.com/talks/anand_giridharadas_a_letter_to_all_who_have_lost_in_this_era?utm_campaign=tedspread&utm_medium=referral&utm_source=tedcomshare
  11. Complete Learning Activity #4

 

Learning Material

Introduction

We are going to watch and listen to some of the leading voices in global affairs and the issues associated with globalization. The first video is presented by Alex Tabarrok, a professor at George Mason University. He will speak to the need for, and importance of, ideas in tackling the issues confronting our globalized world. The second section will cover the ideas of power and global influence. Paddy Ashdown, a British politician and former diplomat will speak to the changes to governance that are being driven by the interconnectedness. James Glattfelder will speak to the degree of control being exerted in this interconnected world, reducing the complex international economy to the decision making power of a very few. The third section will look at the role of political processes. Simon Anholt, an advisor to the governments of over 54 states, will argue the need to reconceptualize the role states play in world order and what we should expect, or demand, of our own states. Ashraf Ghani, the President of Afghanistan, will speak to the importance and means of rebuilding failed and broken states which have proven to be a breeding ground for instability. The fourth section will speak to the need of open mindedness if we are going to move forward in addressing contemporary problems in a meaningful and sustainable way. Lesley Hazelton, a reporter and expert on the Middle East, will speak to the need to end fundamentalism by embracing doubt. Finally, Anand Giridharadas, a reporter and writer, will read a letter written from the perspective of those who have benefited from contemporary forms of globalization to those who have lost or feel that they have lost. Together, these last two presenters provide some insight in how to proceed in this increasingly interconnected world if we want to collectively live healthy, prosperous, meaningful lives.

Section One: The importance of ideas in our globalized world

Learning Activity 12.1

Use the following questions to guide an entry in your journal

  1. How did ideas shape globalization in the 20th century?
  2. What ideas will shape the 21st century?
  3. How can globalizing the world lead to the development of new ideas?
  4. Why is this significant?

Section Two: Power and Control

Learning Activity 12.2

Use the following questions to guide an entry in your journal

  1. How does Ashdown conceive of both the form and need of global governance?
  2. How is power shifting horizontally?
  3. How does the degree of global interconnectedness redefine security and the means to achieve it?
  4. According to Glattfelder, what is the utility in understanding the world as a complex system?
  5. What are nodes and why are they significant?
  6. What risk does this analysis identify? What can be done about it?
  7. Together, what do these two videos suggest are important moving forward in our globalized world?

Section Three: Political solutions to global problems

Learning Activity 12.3

Use the following questions to guide an entry in your journal

  1. What is the ‘good country index’?
    1. Check out the website: https://goodcountry.org/
  2. Why is it important?
  3. How are politicians, businesses, and individuals all part of this process?
  4. What does Ghani identify as the two assumptions underpinning the contemporary global order?
  5. How are these assumptions experienced differently in the world?
  6. How must the state be reconceptualized?
  7. How must capital be reconceptualized?
  8. How will this contribute to a more peaceful and sustainable global order?

Section Four: The importance of open mindedmess

Learning Activity 12.4

Use the following questions to guide an entry in your journal

  1. Why is doubt essential to tackling contemporary problems in our globalized world?
  2. How does fundamentalism undermine the possibility of progress?
  3. Why is faith important in our globalized world?
  4. According to Giridharadas, who is fearing what?
  5. What has been witnessed but not understood?
  6. How does this letter frame the tensions of contemporary globalization?
  7. How can progress be achieved by the nations of ‘us’ and ‘them’ if we find a means to collaborate?