ISS 210-730: Society and the Individual
Globalization, Alter-Globalization and After Globalization
Spring Semester 2013
Michigan State University
Professor: Cristián Doña-Reveco, PhD
Teaching Assistant: Rachel Butts
Virtual Office hours
With Professor: Wednesdays Noon to 1:30PM
With Teaching Assistant: Mondays 7:00PM to 9:00PM
All office hours will be through the Angel Live chat and Live office hours system.
Welcome to the online section of ISS210: Society and the Individual! This class will be
taught as a completely online course with all of the course material (e.g. lecture content,
assignments, exercises, supplemental readings) available online.
*** ALL COMMUNICATION MUST BE THROUGH THE ANGEL SYSTEM ***
We do NOT meet face-to-face at any point during the semester. All assignments and exams will
be completed online through the ANGEL system. It is your responsibility to ensure that you have
a stable and reliable internet connection and appropriate resources. Should you have questions
about using ANGEL or experience technical difficulties, the ANGEL Helpdesk will be available
to assist you: (800) 500-1554 or locally at (517) 355-2345. Please do not contact the instructor
for help with technical or software problems.
After you are enrolled in the course, you will find a link to this section of Society and the
Individual by logging into ANGEL (www.angel.msu.edu). The course will be “open” the first
day of class at midnight (which is January 7, 2013). You will then be able to see the relevant
upcoming course “lecture” content and assignments as we progress through the summer session.
Technical Requirements
The following technical requirements are necessary to successfully complete this course:
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Have a computer and access to the internet/email (broadband access preferred)
Have Adobe Reader installed in your computer (Free here: http://get.adobe.com/reader/)
Know the ANGEL course management software system. You may contact the ANGEL
help desk toll free at (800) 500-1554 or locally at (517) 355-2345 for assistance or
troubleshooting. For information on computer technology requirements, see the Help
Guide located on the ANGEL homepage or view the MSU virtual University website at
http://www.vu.msu.edu
***Make sure to run through the online software “check list” on the class ANGEL site***
Background:
One of the most accepted and encompassing operational definitions of globalization is the one
proposed by Held and his colleagues1, where this phenomenon can “usefully be conceived as a
process (or set of processes) which embodies a transformation in the spatial organization of
social relations and transactions, generating transcontinental or interregional flows and networks
of activity, interaction and power”. Globalization is characterized by four types of change: First,
it involves a stretching of social, political and economic activities across political frontiers,
regions and continents. Second, there exists an intensification, or growing magnitude, of
interconnectedness and flow of trade, investment, finance, migration, culture, etc. Third, the
growing extensity and intensity of global interconnectedness can be linked to a speeding up of
global interactions and processes, as the evolution of world-wide systems of transport and
communication increases the velocity of the diffusion of ideas, goods, information, capital, and
people. And fourth, the growing extensity, intensity and velocity of global interactions can be
associated with their deepening impact such that the effects of distant events can be highly
significant elsewhere and even the most local developments may come to have enormous global
consequences. In this sense, the boundaries between domestic matters and global affairs can
become increasingly blurred.
This is not the only definition that exists. This concept has been used and misused by many
social scientists and journalists in its twenty year history. It is relevant, therefore, to critically
discuss other definitions that exist and the disciplines they come from. Economists consider that
globalization refers to a similarity of economic conditions and policies across national
boundaries and to an accelerated movement across national and regional barriers of economic
'goods', i.e. people, products, capital, especially intangible forms of capital (technology, control
of assets). Sociology has defined globalization as the compression of the world and the
intensification of consciousness of the world as a whole, and also to a social process in which the
constraints of geography on social and cultural arrangements recede and people are increasingly
aware that they are receding. Finally, history and anthropology consider that globalization is a
long-term historical process of growing worldwide interconnectedness. Each social science has
not only its own definition of globalization, but also a period of origin and a particular social
actor or domain that is involved in it.
From an everyday life perspective, globalization has been seen as an ultimate moment in the
development of the world. For many it has signaled the solution to all the problems of humanity
and the triumph of liberal democracy, trade and capitalism. Multiple social movements have
attempted to show an opposite light on this phenomenon highlighting the problems that
globalization brings to traditional cultures, languages and the environment. At the same time,
many have seen globalization as the ‘end of History’, without analyzing a post globalization
future.
1
Held, David; Anthony McGrew; David Goldblatt, and Jonathan Perraton. 1999. Global Transformations: Politics,
Economics and Culture, Stanford University Press, Stanford. Page 18.
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Course Objectives
By the end of the course the student should be able to:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
Define and understand critically the main definitions of globalization.
Evaluate and assess the impacts of globalization in the different areas of human action.
Apply concepts, theories and tools to explain the impacts of globalization.
Understand the development, influence and impacts of alter globalization movements.
Critically analyze the possible futures of globalization.
Evaluate the concept and reality of globalization and apply it to their fields of study.
Course Description
This course engages the topic of globalization from an interdisciplinary perspective. We will
study globalization theories from several disciplines, the influences of globalization as a
phenomenon in different aspects of social life, and discuss the implication of globalization in
everyday life. We will also analyze the rise of new social movements that opposed globalization
either completely or in one (or more) of its impacts (i.e. its impacts on nations, on the everyday
lives of individuals, on policy, and on social change). To achieve this you will be continuously
asked to exercise critical thinking skills and to apply concepts in order to evaluate theories,
concepts, and other developments. For critical thinking we will understand the application,
analysis, and evaluation of information and evidence gathered or generated through a methodic
and scientific approach with the objective of reaching clear, precise, consistent, and reasoned
conclusions about our world and its different societies.2
Required Readings and Sources
This course includes required readings as well as the viewing, listening or reading of other online
sources:
1.
2.
Books:
Steger, Manfred B. 2003. Globalization: A Very Short Introduction. Oxford: Oxford
University Press.
Pleyers, Geoffrey. 2010. Alter-Globalization. Cambridge: Polity.
Cazdyn, Eric M., and Imre Szeman. 2011. After Globalization. Malden, MA: WileyBlackwell (Available online through the MSU Library Website).
Selected articles from Ritzer, George. 2007. The Blackwell Companion to
Globalization. Malden, MA: Blackwell Pub (Available online through the MSU
Library Website).
Articles and book chapters on Angel when needed.
Online sources (websites, podcasts, videos and scholarly articles), to which you will
be directed when appropriate.
2
This definition has been abridged and paraphrased from http://www.criticalthinking.org/pages/defining-criticalthinking/766. A more in depth presentation of this concept can be found on the following links:
http://www.criticalthinking.net/EnnisStreamConc1991%20LowRes.pdf and
http://www.criticalthinking.net/longdefinition.html.
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Course Structure
Week
1&2
Date
Mon Jan 7 to
Sunday Jan 20
Activities
Topic
Readings
3
Mon Jan 21 to
Sunday Jan 27
Quiz
Topic
Readings
Mon Jan 28 to
Sunday Feb 3
Quiz
Topic
Readings
4
Quiz
5
Mon Feb 4 to
Sunday Feb 10
Topic
Readings
6
Mon Feb 11 to
Sunday Feb 17
Quiz
Topic
Readings
Quiz
7
Mon Feb 18 to
Sunday Feb 24
Topic
Readings
Quiz
Topic
Readings
Quiz
Spring Break – March 3 to 10.
9
Mon Mar 11 to Topic
Sunday Mar 17 Readings
8
Mon Feb 25 to
Sunday Mar 3
Quiz
10
Mon Mar 18 to Topic
Sunday Mar 24 Readings
Quiz
Definitions and Origins of Globalization.
Steeger Chapter 1 & 2, articles and other material
available on Angel.
Opens on Jan 18 at noon & closes Jan 20 at midnight.
Economic Dimensions of Globalization.
Steeger Chapter 3, articles and other material available
on Angel.
No quiz
Political Dimensions of Globalization.
Steeger Chapter 4, articles and other material available
on Angel.
Opens on Feb 1 at noon & closes Feb 3 at midnight.
Includes material from weeks 3 & 4.
Cultural Dimensions of Globalization.
Steeger Chapter 5, articles and other material available
on Angel.
No quiz
Ecological Dimensions of Globalization.
Steeger Chapter 6, articles and other material available
on Angel.
Opens on Feb 15 at noon & closes Feb 17 at midnight.
Includes material from weeks 5 & 6.
Ideologies of Globalization.
Steeger Chapter 7, articles and other material available
on Angel.
No quiz
Alter Globalization I
Pleyers Foreword, Part 1, Part 2 – Chapter 1.
No quiz
Alter Globalization II
Pleyers Chapters 3 & 4, articles and other material
available on Angel.
Opens on Mar 15 at noon & closes Mar 17 at
midnight. Includes material from weeks 7, 8 & 9.
Alter Globalization III
Pleyers Part 3, articles and other material available on
Angel.
No quiz
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11
Mon Mar 25 to Topic
Sunday Mar 31 Readings
Alter Globalization III
Pleyers Part 4 and Conclusion, articles and other
material available on Angel.
Quiz
Opens on Mar 29 at noon & closes Mar 31 at
midnight. Includes material from weeks 10 & 11.
12
Mon Apr 1 to
Topic
After Globalization I
Sunday Apr 7
Readings
Steeger Chapter 8; Cazdyn & Szeman, A Précis & Part
1; articles and other material available on Angel.
Quiz
No quiz
13
Mon Apr 8 to
Topic
After Globalization II
Sunday Apr 14 Readings
Cazdyn & Szeman, Part 2; articles and other material
on available on Angel.
Quiz
Opens on Apr 12 at noon & closes Apr 14 at midnight.
Includes material from weeks 12 & 13.
14
Mon Apr 15 to Topic
After Globalization III
Sunday Apr 21 Readings
Cazdyn & Szeman, Part 3 and Conclusion; articles and
other material available on Angel.
Quiz
No quiz
15
Mon Apr 22 to Topic
Conclusion: Wither Globalization?
Sunday Apr 28 Readings
Articles and other material available on Angel.
Quiz
Opens on Apr 26 at noon & closes Apr 28 at midnight.
Includes material from weeks 14 & 15.
Final Exam. May 2. Opens at 8AM & closes at midnight. Includes material from the entire
course.
Each of the modules which comprise the core course content will have its topics and extra
readings available online. Clear and specific instructions on how to complete the assignments
and when to submit them will be available online. Strict online submission procedures and
deadlines are associated with each exercise.
Course Requirements:
There are two requirements necessary for successful completion of this course and one final
exam (Please read the “EXEMPTION OF FINAL EXAM” below):
1) Online Quizzes. There will be 7 online biweekly quizzes. Each online quiz will count towards
10% of your final grade. Strict online submission procedures and deadlines are associated with
each quiz. Quizzes will open at noon every Friday and will close every Sunday at midnight. You
will have only one chance to take each quiz. There will be 5 randomly generated short answer
questions in each quiz, which means that it is unlikely that any two of you will get the same quiz.
Each question is worth 2 points. You will have one hour to answer the quiz, although they have
been designed to last no more than half an hour each. Questions in the quizzes will be based on
the reading material and other material available online at the Angel class website assigned every
week.
The schedule of quiz dates is available on the course structure introduced above.
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SINCE YOU HAVE 48 HOURS TO TAKE A QUIZ THAT LASTS ONE HOUR, THERE
WILL BE NO MAKE UPS ALLOWED FOR QUIZZES. IF YOU MISS A QUIZ DUE TO
A MAJOR SITUATION OUTSIDE YOUR CONTROL (FAMILY EMERGENCY)
CONTACT ME OR THE TA WITHIN 24 HOURS OF THE QUIZ)
(2) Participation in weekly discussion forum. You will be asked to make posts on an Angel
forum commenting to an online source or to a question and also to respond to two classmates’
postings. Your comments will be graded in relation to your comprehension of the online source
AND the weekly topic. Therefore make sure that you have understood the class material before
commenting. Comments must be based on class sources and must be made with respect and
collegiality. On the course website there is a rubric detailing the grading process of this
discussion forum.
To ease participation the class has been randomly divided into thirteen (13) groups. Each group
will have to post answers to the weekly question and two responses to other classmates’
comments. You will be informed of your group number by the instructor. Participation will count
for 30% of your final grade. Posts are due according to the following structure:
Group 1: Post answers on topics of Week 1 and 2 by Wednesday Jan 16 by midnight and to posts
made by classmates by Friday Jan 18 at noon.
Group 2: Post answers on topics of Week 3 by Wednesday Jan 23 by midnight and to posts made
by classmates by Friday Jan 25 at noon.
Group 3: Post answers on topics of Week 4 by Wednesday Jan 30 by midnight and to posts made
by classmates by Friday Feb 1 at noon.
Group 4: Post answers on topics of Week 5 by Wednesday Feb 6 by midnight and to posts made
by classmates by Friday Feb 8 at noon.
Group 5: Post answers on topics of Week 6 by Wednesday Feb 13 by midnight and to posts
made by classmates by Friday Feb 15 at noon.
Group 6: Post answers on topics of Week 7 by Wednesday Feb 20 by midnight and to posts
made by classmates by Friday Feb 22 at noon.
Group 7: Post answers on topics of Week 8 by Wednesday Feb 27 by midnight and to posts
made by classmates by Friday Mar 1 at noon.
Group 8: Post answers on topics of Week 9 by Wednesday Mar 13 by midnight and to posts
made by classmates by Friday Feb 15 at noon.
Group 9: Post answers on topics of Week 10 by Wednesday Mar 20 by midnight and to posts
made by classmates by Friday Feb 22 at noon.
Group 10: Post answers on topics of Week 11 by Wednesday Mar 27 by midnight and to posts
made by classmates by Friday Feb 29 at noon.
Group 11: Post answers on topics of Week 12 by Wednesday Apr 3 by midnight and to posts
made by classmates by Friday Apr 5 at noon.
Group 12: Post answers on topics of Week 13 by Wednesday Apr 10 by midnight and to posts
made by classmates by Friday Apr 12 at noon.
Group 13: Post answers on topics of Week 14 by Wednesday Apr 17 by midnight and to posts
made by classmates by Friday Apr 19 at noon.
Final Exam. The final exam will consist of two essay type questions. There will be between 4
and 6 possible questions and two will be randomly generated by Angel, which means that it is
unlikely that any two of you will get the same questions. Each question will be worth 15 points.
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The exam will open on May 2 at 8AM and will close the same day at midnight. You will have
two hours to answer both questions. A rubric for the evaluation of the exam will be posted on
Angel on Monday April 29.
SINCE YOU HAVE 16 HOURS TO TAKE THE EXAM THERE WILL BE NO MAKE
UPS. IF A MAJOR SITUATION OUTSIDE YOUR CONTROL ARISES (FAMILY
EMERGENCY) CONTACT ME OR THE TA BEFORE 6PM THE DAY OF THE EXAM.
Extra credit opportunities
There will be two extra credit opportunities. The first during the first and second week of the
semester and the second the last week. Each opportunity will be worth 5 points and has to do
with a pre and post evaluation of the class. Further information on these opportunities will be
sent via email.
EXEMPTION OF FINAL EXAM: Students will have the opportunity to be exempted from the
final exam. The conditions are the following:
A.
If your total percentage after the end of the regular semester (excluding the exam
obviously) is higher or equal to 89.5% you will be exempt from taking the final exam.
Your final grade for the class, therefore, will be equal to a 4.0.
B.
If your total percentage after the end of the regular semester (excluding the exam
obviously) is between 74.5% and 89.4% you will have the possibility to decide if you
want to take the final exam. If you decide not to take the exam your grade will be equal to
the percentage that you had after the end of the classes (i.e., if you have an 82% after
completing all the requirements, then your final grade will be a 3.0). If you decide to take
the exam your course grade will be worth 70% and the exam will be worth 30% of your
final grade.
C.
If your total percentage after the end of the regular semester (excluding the exam
obviously) is less than 74.5%, then you WILL HAVE TO take the exam. Your course
grade will be worth 70% and the exam will be worth 30% of your final grade. If you do
not submit the exam, your exam grade will be equal to a 0.
Grading Scale
4.0= 89.5 and above
2.0= 69.5-74.4%
3.5= 84.5-89.4%
1.5= 64.5-69.4%
3.0= 79.5-84.4%
1.0= 59.5-64.4%
2.5= 74.5-79.4%
0.0= 59.4% and below
Email
Please send all communications to the instructor via the Angel system. After the first week I will
NOT reply to any emails that are not sent through Angel. I will reply to any email by 24 hours on
weekdays and I do not reply to email on the weekends. If I do not reply to your email within the
24 hour weekday, you are welcome to send me a polite reminder. I check my email and answer
emails between Noon and 1PM and between 8:30PM and 10PM. That is the time frame that I
will be using to reply to your emails.
Please remember to use Angel for all email communication. Also use appropriate language when
writing an email. This means: Use proper headings and salutations. Use standard English (no
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SMS language allowed). Sign your email correctly. I am restricted by law to talk or write about
your grades or any other topic regarding your participation in this class with anyone but you or
those that you have given permission. Therefore if you do not sign your name I will not answer
your emails. Remember also to express your problem, concern, request or any other matter that
the communication deals with clearly.
Solving problems while using the Angel system
Please remember that the Angel system has a very good Help line. This is available 24 hours a
day 7 days a week. If you encounter any problem with quizzes, discussion boards or any other
parts of the online class, get in touch with the Angel help line via telephone BEFORE sending
me an email. This will allow you to solve technical difficulties which, if they are related to the
software, Angel technicians are more attuned to solve. It also provides you with a record of the
problem. Only after you contact the Angel Help line, contact me about the problem. Any
communication with me about technical problems must include the information provided by
Angel on this matter.
Academic Integrity
The College of Social Science/Department of Sociology adheres to the policies on academic
honesty as specified in General Student Regulations 1.0, Protection of Scholarship and Grades,
and in the all-University Policy on Integrity of Scholarship and Grades which are included in
Student Handbook and Resource Guide and on the MSU Web site. Academic dishonesty will be
reported to the registrar’s office.
Plagiarism is defined as presenting another person’s work or ideas as one’s own. You are
expected to do your own work on all exercises, assignments, and examinations. Students who
plagiarize will receive a 0.0 on the particular exercise, assignment, and examination or will fail
the course.
Netiquette is the proper manner in which an individual engaged in online exchanges should act
in order to represent the proper respect for fellow colleagues. For more information about this
please see: http://www.albion.com/netiquette/
Accommodation for Disabilities or Physical Limitations:
Michigan State University is committed to providing equal opportunity for participation in all
programs, services and activities. Requests for accommodations by persons with disabilities may
be made by contacting the Resource Center for Persons with Disabilities at 517-884-RCPD or on
the web at rcpd.msu.edu. Once your eligibility for an accommodation has been determined, you
will be issued a verified individual services accommodation (“VISA”) form. Please present this
form to me at the start of the term and/or two weeks prior to the accommodation date (test,
project, etc). Requests received after this date will be honored whenever possible.
Final Note
Some sections of the syllabus may be changed if it becomes necessary for the development of the
course.
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