GLOBALIZATION: CURRENT ISSUES
COURSE SYLLABUS
Fall 2011
Department of Political Science and International Relations, Khazar University
Course Instructor: Dr Richard Rousseau
Class Time: Tuesday 15:10 – 18:00 pm
Office hour: M, W 15:30 – 17:30; local 512
E-mail: rrousseau@khazar.org, rrousseau9@hotmail.com
INTRODUCTION
Globalization refers to a variety of political, economic, cultural, and social changes that are currently transforming
our world. Countries are increasingly interconnected by flows of information, trade, money, immigrants, technology,
and culture. Trans-national corporations and political organizations (e.g., the UN) have grown in size and influence,
as have the organized social movements that lobby or oppose them. The goal of the course is to clarify what
globalization is and how it is affecting societies around the world. For instance, how does global trade affect jobs
and the economy? And, how do those effects differ depending upon whether you live in the U.S., India, or South
Africa? How does the spread of political ideologies affect politics in the countries of Africa, Asia, and Latin America?
How do international social movements and protesters affect government policies in different societies? This course
provides an overview of globalization and its consequences, drawing on new theoretical ideas from sociology and
related fields.
COURSE OBJECTIVES
Throughout this semester, you should seek to:
• Develop a significant understanding of globalization terminology
• Become familiar with various common globalization theories
• Master selected traditional global problems
• Increase your knowledge and understanding of states and international economic organizations’ behavior in a
global world
• Heighten your awareness of current global issues such as states’ sovereignty, world economic production,
warfare, transnational corporations, (in) justice, (un) democracy, (in) security and their impact not only on world
politics as a whole but on you as an individual.
SUCCESSFUL STUDENT STRATEGIES:
1. Has excellent attendance, listen to the professor and take notes.
2. Reads text before class.
3. Asks questions, when material is unclear.
4. Reviews notes, graphs and text after class.
5. Studies in advance of the next exam.
TEACHING METHODOLOGY
This course is composed of lectures. You are expected to attend class regularly and take notes. A large segment of
the material for the exam is taken from lecture. I will use material for lecture that is not covered in the readings. If you
miss class, it is your responsibility to get the lecture notes from a classmate. I will not, under any circumstances, give
my lecture notes to students.
On certain class, a period might be dedicated to class discussion. I will let you know ahead of time what our topic of
discussion will be. I might give you some short articles to read in preparation for the class discussions. It is a good
way for you to reflect about the topic covered in class.
I repeat that students should be aware that lectures do not repeat all the main points of the readings but rather build
upon and add to them. There is important material in the readings that may be only lightly touched on in class or
omitted entirely from lectures if time is pressing. There is important material in lectures that is not covered at all in
the readings.
Students will have to attend all lectures and do their assigned readings regularly and actively participate in the
class. Students are encouraged to ask questions and raise issues in the lectures. Students are strongly
recommended to read newspapers (international news) and watch T.V. news, particularly CNN and ORT news. To
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complete this course, students will have to complete all home assignments, do three tests in the classroom, plus
quizzes. The instructor will have his “OFFICE HOURS” and students are encouraged to come to see their
instructors to discuss their individual problems and requirements. Time and place of "office hours" will be posted.
READINGS
Reading assignments are listed below. All readings are required unless otherwise indicated. Lectures will make
more sense if you’ve done the readings!
Required Text: Richard J. Payne, Global Issues: Politics, Economics and Culture, 1er Edition, 2007
COURSE REQUIREMENTS AND EVALUATION
Graduate students
--2 exams (30 points each) (mid-term, exam period)
--Quizzes (5) (3 points each)
--Term paper (2,000 words, to be submitted
on the last class)
--Attendance
60%
15%
15%
10%
Undergraduate students
--2 exams (30 points each) (mid-term, exam period)
--Quizzes (5) (6 points each)
--Attendance
60%
30%
10%
COURSE OUTLINE
PART I - FRAMEWORK OF ANALYSIS
The three chapters in Part I elaborate, in turn: the key issues in debates surrounding globalization; a general
definition of the development; and an account of the causal dynamics involved in globalization. These chapters
both specify the approach adopted in this course and compare that perspective with the main competing viewpoints
taken elsewhere in the literature on globalization.
Chapter 1: Globalization in History (A Definition of Globalization) and Theories of Globalization
Chapter 1 explores the vexed issue of definition in more detail. Four general conceptions are distinguished:
globalization as internationalization; globalization as liberalization; globalization as universalization; globalization as
westernization. In the remainder of the course, therefore, globalization refers in the first place to the advent and
spread of what are alternately called ‘global’, ‘supraterritorial’ social spaces. That said – as Chapter 2 also stresses
– the contemporary rise of supraterritoriality has by no means brought an end to territorial geography: global and
territorial spaces coexist and interrelate in complex fashions. Here it is argued that globalization has mainly
unfolded in recent history. The greatest expansion of global relations has transpired since the 1960s, and at the
moment the trend shows little sign of stopping, let alone reversing.
*Reading: Richard J. Payne, Global Issues: Politics, Economics and Culture, 1er Edition, 2007, Ch. 1
Chapter 2: What Causes Globalization? 1
Chapter 2 and 3 explores the causes Globalization. This issue is key, since our assessment of the consequences
of globalization depends largely on our interpretation of the forces that have generated the trend. The rise of
globalization has, it is suggested here, resulted mainly from a combination of: (a) the emergence of global
consciousness, as a product of rationalist knowledge; (b) certain turns in the development of capitalism; (c)
technological innovations, especially in communications and data processing; and (d) the construction of enabling
regulatory frameworks, especially through states and suprastate institutions.
*Reading: Richard J. Payne, Global Issues: Politics, Economics and Culture, 1er Edition, 2007, Ch. 2
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Chapter 3 What Causes Globalization? 2
See Chapter 2
*Reading: Richard J. Payne, Global Issues: Politics, Economics and Culture, 1er Edition, 2007, Ch. 3
PART II - CHANGE AND CONTINUITY: CONSEQUENCES OF GLOBALIZATION
Drawing on the general framework of analysis developed in Part I, Part II assesses in what ways and to what extent
globalization has affected the social order and societies. Globalization is simultaneously an effect and a cause.
Whereas Chapter 4 examines the social forces that have caused the globalization of the world, Chapter 4–10
consider how this reconfiguration of social space has in turn affected other aspects of social spheres and structures
(that is, globalization as causal force). In a word, has globalization while reorganizing geography also generated
wider social transformations at the economic, political, community and cultural levels?
Chapter 4: Economic Globalization and Production 1
In Chapter 4, the rise of globalization is found to have done little thus far to challenge the predominance of
capitalism, that is, an economy centred on surplus accumulation. On the contrary, the growth of global spaces has
encouraged several major extensions of capitalist activity, including information industries and consumerism. The
spread of global relations has also brought some notable shifts in the ways that processes of surplus accumulation
operate. Examples include offshore arrangements and transnational corporate alliances. However, globalization
has not put the structure of capitalism itself under threat. If anything, the current situation is one of hypercapitalism.
*Reading: Richard J. Payne, Global Issues: Politics, Economics and Culture, 1er Edition, 2007, Ch. 4
Chapter 5: Economic Globalization and Production 2
*Reading: Richard J. Payne, Global Issues: Politics, Economics and Culture, 1er Edition, 2007, Ch. 5
Chapter 6: Globalization and Governance 1
Chapter 6 examines the frequently heard claim that the contemporary globalizing world is witnessing a general
retreat or even a demise of the state. On the contrary, states have remained a key locus of regulation and have
thus far shown no sign of dissolution in the foreseeable future. However, globalization has prompted changes in
several significant features of the state, for instance, in terms of the constituencies that it serves and the policy tools
that it uses. In addition, the spread of global relations has encouraged increased regulatory initiative by a host of
substate, suprastate and nonstate agencies. In this way large-scale globalization during contemporary history has
opened an era of post-sovereign governance characterized by a multilayered and diffuse organization of regulation.
*Reading: Richard J. Payne, Global Issues: Politics, Economics and Culture, 1er Edition, 2007, Ch. 6
Chapter 7: Globalization and Governance 2
*Reading: David Held (ed.) A Globalizing World: Culture, Economics, Politics, p. 149-167
Chapter 8: Globalization and Community
Chapter 8 begins by assuming that, contrary to some theories, the nationality principle adopted after WW I can
survive in a time of spreading globalization. Indeed, so far the nation has shown every sign of keeping its status as
a major framework of social solidarity. On the other hand, contemporary globalization has often helped to loosen
the links between national projects and states, in particular by promoting a growth of substate nationalist
movements (for example, among the Welsh and the Kurds).
*Reading: Richard J. Payne, Global Issues: Politics, Economics and Culture, 1er Edition, 2007, Ch. 7
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Chapter 9: Globalization and Culture 1
Chapter 9 argue that the expansion of global spaces has facilitated the development of various communities, for
instance, connected to class, gender or religion. Furthermore, globalization has encouraged modest growth in
cosmopolitan attachments and an increase in hybrid identities and cultures.
*Reading: Richard J. Payne, Global Issues: Politics, Economics and Culture, 1er Edition, 2007, Ch. 8
Chapter 10: Globalization and Culture 2
See Chapter 9
*Reading: Richard J. Payne, Global Issues: Politics, Economics and Culture, 1er Edition, 2007, Ch. 9
PART III - POLICY ISSUES
The changes and continuities in social structures can have both positive and negative impacts on daily life. The
normative evaluation of globalization undertaken in Part III highlights themes of human security, social equity
(justice) and democracy. It makes an appraisal of neoliberal globalization policies. To date, globalization has often
increased insecurity, inequity and democratic deficits. Part III examines the policy frameworks that have dominated
the world’s management of the global space in the late twentieth century.
Chapter 11: Globalization and (In) Security
Chapter 11 investigates how the rise of globalization has affected conditions of safety and confidence. The
discussion examines human security in a multifaceted fashion, covering peace, ecological integrity, subsistence,
employment, identity, social cohesion and knowledge. The evidence is found to be mixed. In some respects
globalization has promoted increased human security, for example, with disincentives to war, improved means of
humanitarian relief, new job opportunities, and greater cultural pluralism. However, in other ways globalization has
perpetuated or even deepened warfare, environmental degradation, poverty, unemployment, exploitation of
workers, and social disintegration. Thus globalization does not automatically increase or decrease human security.
*Reading: Richard J. Payne, Global Issues: Politics, Economics and Culture, 1er Edition, 2007, Ch. 10
Chapter 12: Globalization and (In) Justice
Chapter 12 considers the hotly contested question of ‘Globalization and (In) Justice’. Social justice is examined
here in terms of the distribution of life chances between classes, countries, sexes, races, urban/ rural populations
and age groups. Again the evidence turns up mixed. On the bright side, globalization has in certain cases improved
possibilities for young people, poor countries, women and other subordinated social circles to realize their
potentials. More negatively, however, globalization has thus far sustained or increased various arbitrary hierarchies
in contemporary society. For example, gaps in opportunities have tended to widen during the period of accelerated
globalization on class lines as well as between the North (the so-called ‘First World’) and the South (the so-called
‘Third World’) and the East (the current and former state-socialist countries). Structural inequalities have also often
grown in respect of gender, race, urban/ rural divisions and generations. The resultant increases in social injustice
can be attributed at least partly to the spread of global relations.
*Reading: Richard J. Payne, Global Issues: Politics, Economics and Culture, 1er Edition, 2007, Ch. 11
Chapter 13: Globalization and (Un) Democracy
Chapter 13 addresses the problem of ‘Globalization and (Un) Democracy’. Here claims that the contemporary
social order offers greater popular power are assessed against arguments that globalization has deepened
democratic deficits. The growth of global politics has brought some promising developments in respect of
democracy, for example, through new information and communications technologies and an expansion of civil
society. However, on balance the evidence to date has favoured the critics. Thus far we have lacked mechanisms
to ensure that post-sovereign governance is adequately participatory, consultative, transparent and publicly
accountable.
*Reading: Richard J. Payne, Global Issues: Politics, Economics and Culture, 1er Edition, 2007, Ch. 12
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Chapter 14: The Future of Globalization and General Conclusion
Chapter 14 considers various measures that might steer globalization relations in more positive directions. A host of
policy revisions could allow globalization to yield increased human security, social justice and democracy within the
current generation. Implementation of these proposals faces many technical and political challenges, but with
creativity and determination different courses of globalization could be developed.
*Reading: Richard J. Payne, Global Issues: Politics, Economics and Culture, 1er Edition, 2007, Ch. 13
Warning
DO NOT leave all reading for the night before the exam. Complete reading assignments ahead of time or print them
out in advance. The excuses “I was sick lately”, “I was very busy in the last few courses”, and “I didn’t know…” will
not garner sympathy on the day of the three exams, given that you can print out the course required book at any
time during the semester at the university library or any place else.
Additional Readings/Handouts. I may assign additional readings – such as
topical newspaper articles.
Policies
Missed exams cannot be re-taken, except in unusual circumstances (e.g., medical issues). Cheating, Plagiarism,
etc. Academic violations such as cheating and plagiarism will be dealt with very severely, based on the specifics of
the case.
University Policies
Students in this course must abide by all relevant university policies, ranging from issues of general behavior to
academic issues such as plagiarism. It is your responsibility to be aware of university policies.
Commitment to Learning
There is no point in taking a course if you are not committed to learning. That means doing the readings, showing
up, concentrating, and participating in class discussion and group activities. We will struggle through ideas and
readings that are difficult and may seem boring if you do not yet understand them. It is your responsibility to be
committed.