1
AS/SOSC: 1750 9.0 Urban Economies: Comparing Canada and the Third World: 2013-2014
Course Director: Professor Indhu Rajagopal
Webpage: http://www.yorku.ca/rajagopa/
Office: FC 229, 736-5054 (pl. leave a message)
Course description: This Course examines contemporary urban economic issues in the
Developed and the Developing World. We will study political economies using the World
System Theory and apply relevant concepts to compare the enduring consequences of
colonialism in Canada and the Third World. We will focus on contemporary issues, i.e., global
financial crisis, market instability, national debt, etc., and examine their impact on the developed
and the developing economies. We will use ‘the role of the state, class and elite’ as key concepts
in comparing the economic development of India, Mexico, and Canada. At the micro level, we
will analyze how global political and economic systems affect people’s lives and concerns, e.g.,
of poverty, education, jobs, youth and women. Our macro-economic focus will be world market,
multinational corporations (MNCs), climate and trade
Lecture:
Mondays 12.30–2.30: TEL 0006
(Attendance will be marked by your TAs by eye-view in the lecture hall toward your grade for
participation, and attendance in lecture as well as in tutorials is required to pass this course
(There will be a ten-minute break between the two hours)
Please make appointments right after the lectures, if you wish to meet with me at a time
convenient for you.
Tutorial:
1. M 10:30-12:30
TEL 0006
2. M 2:30-4:30
TEL 0006
Assignments:
Term I:
Mid-term tests
Quiz on:
10% (on Oct 21) 12.30-1.30 in TEL 0006
Course concepts (see, lectures) as applied to: ‘The End of Poverty’ 2009 (DVD) (105 min)
http://www.filmsforaction.org/watch/the_end_of_poverty/; and the following Youtube videos
http://www.youtube.com/user/GlobalPOV: Ananya Roy’s The #GlobalPOV Project: "Who Sees Poverty?"
(12.21 min) "Who Profits From Poverty?" (12.20 min).
Quiz on DW & class lectures
Essay Test (Comparative Essay using course concepts)
10 % (on Nov 25) 12.30-1.30 in TEL 0006
15 % (on Dec 2) 12.30-2.30 in TEL 0006
Lecture and Class participation
(Attendance required)
10%
-------------------------------Mid-term Total
45%
Term II:
2
Final Essay: one topic with 2 components: (length 10 pages max.)
Comparing the Developing World (India or Mexico) & Canada
1. Theoretical framework & thesis (must use the posted format)
10% (Feb 17)
(Following our feedback on your framework is very important for writing the essay)
2. Complete essay (upload to turnitin & e-mail a copy to your tutor)
Final test in March (quiz & short Qs. from Lectures, class readings,
DVDs & Youtube videos
Lecture and Class participation (attendance required)
Second-term total
Whole-year total
15% (March 17)
19% (March 31)
11%
--------------------------55%
--------------------------100%
Required readings: I have kept in mind your slim budgets and came up with this list of bare
minimum you need to buy from the bookstore:
Markandaya, Kamala. (1954). Nectar in a Sieve. New York: Signet.
The End of Poverty (2010) DVD (http://www.filmsforaction.org/watch/the_end_of_poverty/) and
Youtube videos http://www.youtube.com/user/GlobalPOV: Ananya Roy’s The
#GlobalPOV Project: "Who Sees Poverty?" (12.21 min) "Who Profits From Poverty?"
(12.20 min);
Griffiths, Robert J. (2013-14). Annual Editions: Developing World. Guilford, CT:
Dushkin/McGraw-Hill.
A list of articles on Canada for Term II (a course kit is available for purchase in York
Book Store)
Recommended readings:
Latest Encyclopedias on the Developing World
On Plagiarism: Assignment for the first tutorial: you are requested to take test on the following
link until your result is 100% correct, and e-mail your result to your tutor.
Click this link: http://www.library.yorku.ca/cms/help-with-research/academicintegrity/
Lecture themes:
Academic Year: 2013-2014
Month
Important dates to note
(Tutorials before the lecture, will meet during the first week of classes)
September: Fall term classes: Important Dates
Course Lectures & Tutorials start on Sept 9 (Monday)
3
Introduction
Theme: Poverty
Youth & poverty: Rukmani & The End of Poverty (DVD)
Women in development
Concepts & theoretical perspectives – World System Theory (WST)
Video: Stepping from the shadows 1998 20 min
Video: Turbulences, National Film Board 1997 52 min
October:
Monday, Oct 14
Thanksgiving (University Closed)
Oct 21 Quiz 12.30-1.30 in lecture class TEL 0006 on ‘The End of Poverty’ (DVD) (105 min)
http://www.filmsforaction.org/watch/the_end_of_poverty/; and the following Youtube videos
http://www.youtube.com/user/GlobalPOV: Ananya Roy’s The #GlobalPOV Project: "Who Sees Poverty?"
(12.21 min) "Who Profits From Poverty?" (12.20 min);
Lecture theme: Neoliberalism & WST: Globalization
World order
World economy : Colonial vs. 21st C Financial control
Debt & development
Video: Factory & the Marketplace Revolution
November: How do you construct a thesis?
Assignment due on Nov 3 (required as part of overall class participation grade): Briefly
discuss in your own words without any quotations, the writers’ theses of the DW #26 & #27
(total one page or 250 words), typed and double spaced– e-mail it to your tutor before or on
Nov 3.
Nov 4 Lecture theme: Concepts- Core vs. periphery, State, class, and elite
Political change in Developing countries
Political economies of India & Latin America
Nov 25: Exam Review
Monday, December 2, Part 1: Essay test and Part 2: Multiple choice Test in Lecture Hall
(TEL 0006) 12.30-2.20
Dec. 9 Mon - Jan. 5: No classes - Happy Holidays
Term II
Happy New Year: 2014
January 6, 2013 (Monday): Classes resume
Lecture theme: Canadian and Third World economies: People & development
Industrialization: Core vs. periphery; Is Canada a core country?
What impact do MNCs have on Emerging economies and Newly industrializing countries
4
(NICs)?
Film: Meltdown 3 DVDs
January 13: Library Sessions held during your Tutorial Hour (T 1: 10:30-11:30 and
(T 2: 2:30-3:30 pm) in Instruction Rm 531 in .Scott (will be confirmed in lecture class)
– Attendance will be taken in the library session and after the library session your
class continues in your normal tutorial room.
February:
Theme: Canadian economy:
Trade & development
Children and poverty
Women and work
Film:
The Bank of Canada17 min VC #3770
Reading Week: Feb 15-21 No Classes
During the reading week, Feb 19 (Wednesday): Theoretical Framework & thesis Assignment
due (Please use the framework format posted on line and send it by email to your tutor for
final grading (weight: 10%))
March:
Theme: Unemployment, Fiscal policy, Deficits, Poverty
Are jobs leaving Advanced Industrial Countries (AICs)?
March 17 (Mon.) Essay due – Upload (Full essay& (APA style) references) to Turnitin
online
Also, please send a copy (Full essay, appendix and references) as text attached to your
email to your tutorial leaders
March 31: Final Exam in TEL 0006
F/W classes end
Have a Wonderful Summer