International Society of Globalization Age
| Lecturer | Richard WESTRA, Designated Professor |
|---|---|
| Department | G30, 2014 Spring |
| Recommended for: | L(S),Ec(S),Sc(P,C,B),En(P,C),Ag(B) (2・1.5 hours / session One session / week 15 weeks / semester) |
Purpose and Aim of this class
This class aims to introduce students to the topic of globalization. The main goal is to provide students with a non-specialized overview of the economic, financial, political and social tendencies of current globalization. Students will be exposed to debates over globalization as to its identifying features and positive or negative impacts for the human future. Students also examine the ideologies of globalization and will be encouraged to make assessments about globalization for their individual place in the world.
Related subject
The study of globalization is necessarily interdisciplinary within the social sciences and will touch on questions of economics, politics, international law and sociology.
Class Contents
- What is globalization?
- Is current globalization genuinely different from other periods in modern history of internationalization in our economic, political and social lives?
- What are the main debates over current globalization?
- Does globalization mean the end of states and borders?
- What has happened to global trade?
- What are the prospects for non or less-developed countries under globalization?
- How does international "financialization" relate to globalization?
- How does humanity benefit from globalization and how is it negatively impacted? And does it matter where one is in the world to either reap benefits from globalization or suffer its consequences?
- Are there dominant sets of ideas which support globalization?
- Is there an alternative to globalization?
Notice for students
This class is open to all students and will not presuppose prior acquaintance with the topic of globalization or economics, politics and social science studies. But students must be prepared to do some reading. And they must be prepared to follow detailed lectures. Students may withdraw from the course anytime before submitting the first assignment or test.
Textbooks
- Richard Westra, The Evil Axis of Finance: The US-Japan-China Stranglehold on the Global Future (Atlanta, GA: Clarity Press, 2012)
Reference Books
- Robert Albritton, Bob Jessop and Richard Westra (eds.) Political Economy and Global Capitalism: The 21st Century, Present and Future (London: Anthem, 2010).
- Richard Westra (ed.) Confronting Global Neoliberalism: Third World Resistance and Development Strategies (Atlanta, GA: Clarity Press, 2010).
- Richard Westra Political Economy and Globalization: Frontiers of Political Economy Series (London: Routledge, 2009).
Lecture Handouts
Grading
- Mid-term test:10%
- Short take home essay : 10%
- Class participation : 10%
- Short final essay : 30%
- Final exam : 40%
- TOTAL : 100%
Last updated
March 12, 2020