GE 3 - Midterms

In this session, we discussed how globalization has highlighted the shifting roles of nation-states and governments. We learned the different ways nation-states navigate the global interstate system by being conscious of both their global and local realities. Through the game, Prisoner's Dilemma, we were able to identify the motivations for why states cooperate and why international institutions exist.

Contemporary global governance emerged with the recognition of problems that defy solutions by a single state and the growing numbers and importance of non-state actors. One of the sources of global governance is Intergovernmental Organizations (IGOs), an entity created by a treaty involving two or more nations working in good faith on issues of common interest. The United Nations is arguably the most significant IGO of our time, ceaselessly working, up to this date, to uphold the missions in th

In our discussions about the global economy, we have identified the various structures that drive economic globalization and the processes that connect economies around the globe. We traced the different production processes as well as the globalization of consumption. While economic growth and development coincides with economic globalization, we also confront the tensions and inequalities that arise in these intense interconnections. Through Immanuel Wallerstein's The Modern World-System, we l

Market integration highlights how economies are becoming more interconnected and interdependent. Putting historical context to this process, we looked at the significance of the Bretton Woods System in showcasing international cooperation among different countries to create economic order. This system eventually established the US dollar as the global currency and gave birth to important International Financial Institutions (IFIs) that continue to serve in today's global economy. From the IMF to

Any discussion on cultural globalization would not be complete without talking about the significant impact of media in our lives today and how it has become the main driver of global cultural processes. Befittingly, we began our discussion by defining culture, using Edward T. Hall's "The Cultural Iceberg" to identify two important aspects of culture: Surface Culture and Deep Culture. We then highlighted how humans become carriers of cultures through cultural socialization and cultural exchang