A World of Regions & A World of Ideas

• Regionalism


  A political and economic phenomenon that favors a specific region over a larger area. It is a political ideology that can be motivated by shared identities, ethics, religion, ecological sustainability, or health.
• Regionalism


  • A group of countries located in the same geographically specified area
• Regionalism


  The expression of a common identity or purpose or political will among countries in a specific region. It entails cooperation, coordination, and the establishment of formal institutions or agreements to address shared challenges or promote mutual interests.
• Regionalization


  The process of creating or strengthening economic, political, or cultural ties within a specific geographic region involving the increased interdependence and integration of countries within that region through various means such as trade agreements, alliances, or cultural exchanges.
• Motivations for forming regions

  • Military defense
  • Pooling of resources
  • Protecting a country's independence from superpower politics
  • Mitigating economic crises
• Non-state regionalism


  Countries forming alliances based on common motivations, irrespective of their geographic proximity.
• Challenges to regionalism


  • Resurgence of militant nationalism and populism
  • Continuing economic crises
  • Sovereignty and regional stability
  • Differing vision of what regionalism should achieve
• Global South


  A metaphor for interstate inequality and a concept created by the West, particularly referring to countries colonized by the Spaniards in the southern part of the American continent, collectively known as Latin America. The division is characterized by socio-economic and political disparities primarily focused on the southern hemisphere, comprising Africa, Latin America, Asia, and the Middle East. The term also denotes developing countries compared to the rich, industrialized nations in the Global North.
• Third World


  Countries that had yet to industrialize fully
• Second World


  A term used during the Cold War for industrial socialist stated under the influence of the Soviet Union. Positioned between the impoverishment characterizing developing nations and the affluence associated with developed nations
• First World


  Countries that are characterized by stable democracies, the rule of law, a capitalist economy, and a high standard of living.
• Global North


  Encompasses the developed societies of Europe and North America. It is characterized by established democracy, wealth, technological advancement, political stability, an aging population, zero population growth, and dominance in world trade and politics.
• Aspects that lead to greater Asian integration

  • Integration has been market driven
  • Formal institutions such as Asian Development Bank were established
  • Economic grants and overseas development assistance are made available by better Asian economies
  • Production networks have expanded
  • Cooperation among the ASEAN and East Asian countries, Example: ASEAN + 3 (China, Japan, South Korea)
  • ASEAN follows a consensus rule as an approach to decision making
• Globalization and regionalization are the same for they refer to integration. Their difference lies on the scope. Globalization is worldwide, while regionalization focuses on a specific geographical region.
• Religion


  One of the binding forms of networks that have intensified people's sense of community across the world.
• Study of religion


  The study of religious practices, customs, beliefs, and rituals in the context of social structures such as religious institutions, education, community, and family.
• Religion (according to Emile Durkheim)


  A unified system of beliefs and practices relative to sacred things. These beliefs and practices bring together its adherents into one single moral community.
• Elements in defining religion

  • Beliefs that some things are sacred, set apart from the ordinary things
  • Practices (rituals) centered on the things considered sacred
  • A moral community (a church) resulting from a group's beliefs and practices; there is a function – the formation of solidarity
• For Emile Durkheim, the world's religions are [1] so varied that they have no specific belief or practice in common; [2] that all religions develop a community centered on their beliefs and practices; and [3] that all religions separate the SACRED from the PROFANE.
• Sacred


  Represents the interests of the group, especially unity, which were embodied in sacred group symbols, or totems. An aspect of life having to do with the supernatural that inspires awe, reverence, deep respect, even fear.
• Profane


  Involves mundane individual concerns or aspects of life that are not concerned with religion or religious purposes but, instead, are part of the ordinary aspects of everyday life.
• Protestant ethics and the spirit of capitalism (Max Weber)

  The moral principles of disciplined Protestantism, such as the doctrine of predestination and the importance placed on diligent labor, frugality, and effectiveness in one's worldly pursuits, significantly influenced the development of a capitalist mindset.
• Differences between religion and globalism

  • Religion is concerned with spreading holy ideas globally, while globalism wishes to spread goods and services
  • Religion is concerned with a Divine Entity that defines and judges human action in moral terms, while globalism is not worried about going to hell or heaven
  • Religious people are less concerned with wealth, while globalists deal more in the seal trade, raise the profits of private enterprises, improve government revenue collections, protect the elites from being excessively taxed by the state and naturally enrich themselves
  • When a religious person aspires to be a saint, the globalist trains to be a shrewd businessperson
  • Religious people are ascetic because they avoid anything material for simplicity, while globalists deal more in material goods and services
• Globalization has freed communities from the constraints of the nation state but in the process, it threatens to destroy the cultural system that binds them together. Religion seeks to take the place of these broken "traditional ties" to either help communities cope with their new situation.
• Gemeinschaft


  A type of society in which life is intimate; a community in which everyone knows everyone else and people share a sense of togetherness, sharing similar beliefs and practices, has a traditional tie in the community.
• Gesellschaft


  A type of society that is dominated by impersonal relationships, individual accomplishments, and self-interest.
• Religion is not the regressive force that stops or slows globalization, it is a pro-active force that gives communities a new and powerful basis of identity. It is an instrument with which religious people can put their mark in the reshaping of this globalizing world.
• Religion creates this US vs THEM mentality. The solidarity it provides a double edge sword.
• Many Filipinos are aware that being religious is not necessarily something to celebrate, as it has the potential to harm people. In a study, two-thirds of Filipinos believe that religion brings more conflict than peace and almost believe that individuals with strong religious beliefs tend to be more intolerant.
• From a macro perspective, there is a totalizing claim of religion in the country (THEOLOGICAL NATIONALISM), making it challenging to go against the teachings of the religion.
• Violent extremism


  The convictions and behaviors of individuals who endorse or employ violence to attain ideological, religious, or political objectives.
• Separation of church and state

  No law shall be made respecting an establishment of religion or prohibiting the free exercise thereof. The government functions autonomously, free from the impact of religious entities, and prevents religious groups from having unwarranted authority or sway in governmental matters.