Global Studies (GS) 421
Ethical Encounters
Wilfrid Laurier University
Instructor: Dr. Christy Landry
Lecture: Wednesday 7-10 pm in DAWB 1-101B
Office Hours: Wednesdays 5:30-6:30 pm
Office Location: tbd
E-mail: clandry@wlu.ca or via My Learning Space
COURSE DESCRIPTION
Globalization is above all an ethical challenge. Students in this course will critically discuss
diverse works on the ethical encounter that is globalization and will explore issues raised by the
growing coincidence of moral responsibility and global survival. The advent of globalization and
its rapid expansion signals the urgency of a critical reappraisal of morality. This reappraisal
requires considering the possible need to transcend cultural norms and even those maxims
defined by our Western abstract rationality. Indeed, globalization presents a moral challenge and
forces us to ask, "What does it mean to encounter the other ethically?"
In this course we will read texts that aim to explicate the very conditions of human communality
and furthermore, gesture towards a global ethos. In addition, our investigations into course texts
will flesh out and problematize the strategies inherent in thinking through a global ethic.
It is my hope that this seminar course will be an intense discussion of some of the most
fascinating and challenging developments in ethical theory particularly those relevant to
globalization. This course is designed to provide students with: (1) a critical understanding of key
concepts and issues in ethics, (2) the ability to reconstruct the views of the thinkers whose texts
are studied in the course; (3) the ability to use logical and critical thinking skills to analyze and
critically evaluate the ways in which the thinkers approach the intersection of morality and
globalization; and finally, (4) to state and support one's own view(s) on the global ethical
encounter with logical and critical precision, clarity, and rigor.
Ethics is a complex enterprise of study that requires sound and coherent analytical skills.
Students are therefore required to complete the weekly assigned readings before attending class.
Further, since ethics is concerned with well-reasoned arguments students are strongly advised to
expect rigorous analysis of any topic discussed in class, despite the level of controversy it bears
in the eyes of the general public.
REQUIRED TEXTS (both available for purchase at the Bookstore)
1. Global Ethics: An Introduction by Kimberly Hutchings. Cambridge & Malden: Polity Press,
2010.
2. Ethics in an Era of Globalization edited by Wim Vandekerckhove, M. S. Ronald Commers,
and An Verlinden. Hampshire & Burlington: Ahsgate, 2008. (On 3-hour reserve at the Library)
COURSE EVALUATION
1. Class Participation, worth 20% of the final grade
2. Three Reflective Commentaries, 5% each for a total of 15% of the final grade
3. Class Presentation and Report, worth 25% of the final grade
4. Term Paper, worth 40% of the final grade
20% Class Participation
I don’t expect you to say something brilliant in every class, but I do want everyone to participate
in the discussion. Ethical theory is best learned through dialogue, we must struggle with the ideas
and arguments that are presented, challenge them, and seek clarification. By joining the
conversation you will enhance your own learning experience, and also the learning experience of
everyone in the seminar. In order to do this students are expected to be present, have read the
texts assigned for that week, to have thought about the articles critically, and have questions,
concerns, or points for clarification prepared in advance. At the end of the course, you will be
asked to assign yourself a grade for class involvement based on the said criteria. This grade will
be averaged with the mark I will also assign you to determine your final grade for class
participation. Please note that missing more than 2 classes may result in a reduction of your final
mark.
15% Reflective Commentaries (3 @ 5% each)
During the semester you are required to complete 3 reflective commentaries. These papers should
be 2 pages, double-spaced. The purpose of the commentary is to offer your own thoughts about
the arguments presented in the readings and to formulate 3 discussion questions about what you
find to be the most constructive or problematic aspects of the argument made. In formulating
your questions you must explain their importance in terms of the key issues/arguments being
discussed that week. Your questions will be used in class discussion.
You can choose any readings from the course for your reflective commentaries, with the
following limitations:
(1) You can only do one per week
(2) You cannot do a commentary on the reading that you are presenting
(3) Commentaries must be handed in Week 2 through Week 11
It is up to you what works you want to cover and when you want to do these papers. They are due
on the Tuesday before they are discussed in class, by 11:59 pm in the My Learning Space
Dropbox.
25% Class Presentation and Report
Presentations will begin in Week 3. We will coordinate who is presenting each week during our
second class. On the day of your presentation you must hand in a written seminar paper (no more
2
than 1250 words) outlining the main ideas in your presentation. You may, but are not required to,
prepare materials for the class (e.g. handouts, Power Point presentation, video clips).
Presentations should be approximately 45 minutes (approximately 30 minutes of presentation
material, and 15 minutes of discussion.) In this presentation you will provide (1) an exegesis of
the text (concepts, theories, or ideas presented therein), (2) a critical evaluation of the text with
respect to problem of globalization, and (3) discussion questions designed to elicit responses
from the class.
Note: If you are working in partners keep in mind that each of you will bring something unique to
the partnership and thus I recommend working with one another's strengths. It is imperative that
you all participate equally given that you will receive the same grade.
Grading Criteria (See the grading rubric on MLS):
 Did you demonstrate a clear understanding of the reading?
 Is the presentation dynamic, innovative, engaging, but also clear and well organized?
 Did you suggest engaging and inspiring critical questions to spark seminar discussion?
 Did you respect the time limits?
 Is the written component of the presentation clear, concise, and incisive?
40% Term Paper
Your essay should be 12-15 pages double-spaced, Times New Roman, 12 pitch font. The essay
topics are up to you, but they will be cleared by me first. Your topic should be based on the
themes, ideas, problems, or issues raised in the course materials. Your essay may include material
from your seminar presentation, but is expected to go beyond ideas that you have already
presented. Submit your topic to me, in the form of a question that you take yourself to be
answering by March 5th by 11:59 pm in MLS Dropbox. Please do not hesitate to discuss your
topic with me during office hours. You will present an overview of your essay to the class on
Week 12. The final essay is due April 7th at 11:59 pm in the MLS Dropbox. No essays will be
accepted beyond the due date save for documented medical reasons. Plagiarism detection
software will be used.
Sample Essay Topics:
1. Go deeper into one particular article from Ethics in an Era of Globalization. For example,
discuss what moral responsibility looks like for Commers, Verlinden, or Gould, etc. Identify
what if any directives are given for global survival.
2. Argue the ethical position of one thinker's account in favour of another thinker's account. How
does s/he provide a more viable (globally appropriate) account of an ethical ethos in an era of
globalization?
3. Go deep into a thinker or approach not discussed in class. For example, you may choose to
discuss Buddhism or Natural Law ethics and its applicability to globalization.
4. Mix and match. You may wish to combine a work investigated in class with an ethical crisis of
our time.
COURSE POLICIES
Mobile Devices:
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Mobile devices of any kind are permitted in this course provided they are not taking way from the
instruction of the course and the learning of other students (e.g., noise level,
disturbing/distracting content). Both the instructor and the students are responsible for
administering this rule. Students who do not feel comfortable approaching another student can
email or talk to me in person. Students who fail to comply with this policy will receive a verbal
warning before being asked to leave the classroom for all or part of the course.
Grade Appeal Policy:
See My Learning Space for the grade appeal procedure.
COURSE OUTLINE AND REQUIRED READINGS
Part I: Setting the Groundwork
Week 1 (Jan 8) Introduction to Global Ethics
 Chapter 1: Introduction in Global Ethics: An Introduction (recommended)
Week 2 (Jan 15): Rationalism and its Alternatives
 Chapter 2: Rationalist Ethical Theories in Global Ethics: An Introduction
 Chapter 3: Alternatives to Ethical Rationalism in Global Ethics: An Introduction
Week 3 (Jan 22): International Aid and Development and Distributive Justice
 Chapter 4: Ethics of International Aid and Dev. in Global Ethics: An Introduction
 Chapter 5: Global Distributive Justice in Global Ethics: An Introduction
Week 4 (Jan 29): War and Peace
 Chapter 6: Ethics of War in Global Ethics: An Introduction
 Chapter 7: Ethics of Making and Sustaining Peace in Global Ethics: An Introduction
Week 5 (Feb 5): Glocal Ethics
 Chapter 8: Global Ethics in a Glocal Context in Global Ethics: An Introduction
Part II: Ethics in an Era of Globalization
Week 6 (Feb 12): What is the task of global ethics?
 Gould, " The New Global Ethics and its Three Faces" in Ethics in an Era of Globalization
 Berthoud, "Globalization Between Economism and Moralism" in Ethics in an Era of
Globalization
Reading Week
Week 7 (Feb 26): What is the task of global ethics?
 van der Anker, "Bridging the Gaps in Global Ethics: Grounded Cosmopolitan Praxis" in
Ethics in an Era of Globalization
 Todd Peters, "Justice in a World Gone Mad: Assessing the Ethical Landscape of
Globalization" in Ethics in an Era of Globalization
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Week 8 (Mar 5): Is global ethics possible?
 Commers, "Global Ethics and World Citizenship" in Ethics in an Era of Globalization
 Widdows, "Why and What Global Ethics" in Ethics in an Era of Globalization
 Essay topic due (MLS dropbox)
Friday, March 7: Last day to drop course(s) or withdraw from a 12-week Winter 2014
course(s) without failure and for possible tuition adjustment (tuition charge assessed at 55%
of course rate). If Presentation has been made and a sufficient number of Reflection
Commentaries handed in by February 26th you can expect to know 30% of your grade by
Friday, March 7. However, you must email me in advance for said grade.
Week 9 (Mar 12): Is global ethics possible?
 Dower, "Cosmopolitanism and Community" in Ethics in an Era of Globalization
 Caws, "Community and Society on a Transnational Scale" in Ethics in an Era of
Globalization
Week 10 (Mar 19): How can we "do" global ethics?
 St Clair, "Global Poverty: Development Ethics Meets Global Justice" in Ethics in an Era
of Globalization
 Mertens, "Reflections on Global Responsibilities and the Nature of Morality" in Ethics in
an Era of Globalization
Week 11 (Mar 26): How can we "do" global ethics?
 Verlinden, "Global Ethics as Dialogism" in Ethics in an Era of Globalization
 Böröcz, "Redistributing Global Inequality: A Thought Experiment" in Ethics in an Era of
Globalization
Week 12 (Apr 2): Wrap-Up
 Present paper topics
Essays Due Monday, April 7th by 11:59 pm in My Learning Space Dropbox
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