Sociology 496 Globalization and Social Change: Institutions, Power and Inequality (revised)

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1 Sociology 496 Globalization and Social Change: Institutions, Power and Inequality (revised) Spring 2011 University of Wisconsin, Department of Sociology Tuesdays and Thursdays, 11:00 12:15 PM in Sterling Hall 1313 Professor Joseph Conti RM 8111, Sewell Social Science Building Office hours: Tuesdays 2-4 and by appointment Course Description This course is an extended introduction to contemporary social, economic, and political changes referred to as globalization. What is globalization and what is its history? Does economic globalization lead to development or only to new ways of concentrating wealth in the hands of the few? These questions suggest the overarching themes of the course, which include the institutional structures of globalization, how those institutional structures shape power and inequality, and the question of scale, or how institutional structures translate power and inequality from the global to the local and back, and, finally, possible alternatives to globalization. Course Overview. The first half of the course explores the recent history of globalization, examining the recipes for economic growth and models of world order in the post-world War II era. More specifically, we examine what Philip McMichael refers to as the Development Project and the transition to the Globalization project. We then examine the institutions of global governance and challenges to contemporary world order from financial instability and the rise of middle income countries. The second half of the course addresses eight claims made about globalization. These include: 1. Globalization undermines states 2. Globalization fosters Democracy 3. Globalization levels the playing field 4. Globalization creates prosperity for all (Globalization leads to development) 5. Globalization creates opportunity for all 6. Globalization = Americanization 7. Economic growth is essential: environment, happiness 8. There is No Alternative to Globalization Course Goals: Clearly, this is ambitious set of topics to cover over a single semester. The goal is not to definitely answer these questions, but to raise them in a meaningful way that will facilitate future inquiries into these themes and enhanced awareness about important contemporary issues. By the end of the course you will have a working understanding of how production, consumption 1

2 and work have taken on global dimensions and what that means for various peoples around the world. You will have a deeper understanding of how governance takes place in the global economy. The course is ideal starting point for students who wish to gain a systematic orientation to how social change is occurring in a global context. Course Requirements Attendance and participation: You are required to attend class and participate actively. Please do not arrive late or leave early, and please do not act in any way that would distract your instructor or the students around you. (If you must arrive late or leave early, please tell your instructor in advance, explain why, and do so quietly and discretely.) Repeated problems with attendance or participation, including distracting behavior during lectures or discussions, will result in a lower grade. If laptops, cell phones, or other devices prove distracting in class, they will be banned. Reading: You are expected to complete all required reading assignments before the class meetings in which they are discussed. Please note that this class involves a heavy amount of reading. To pass this course, you must be prepared to do the reading assignments consistently throughout the semester. Please bring the assigned readings with you to class. Required Readings: It is important that you purchase the specified edition. McMichael, Philip Globalization and Social Change. 4 th Edition. Pine Forge Press. Hebron, Lui and John F. Stack Globalization. 2 nd Edition. A course reader will be available in electronic form through the course page at learn@uw. Writing Assignments, Exams and Grades Grade Breakdown: Class Participation: 20% Minor writing assignments: 20% Midterm: 20% Final Exam: 40% Minor writing assignments: There will be five assignments. Your grade will be based on your best four grades. The task is to address the prompt I provide in 50 words or less. The goal of these assignments is encourage you to identify central themes and arguments in the readings and create a basis for class discussion. These assignments will be assessed based on quality, precision, word count and whether you address the prompt. The prompt will be announced in the class prior to the due date. It is due in the dropbox at Learn@UW. 2

3 Midterm and Final Exams: exams will be composed of short answer and short essay questions. The midterm will be held during class time as scheduled. The midterm exam will be held during class. The final exam will be held during the final exam period, Friday, 5/13/2011,7:45AM - 9:45AM Other Business If you require alternative arrangements for classes or exams due to a disability or religious observances, please speak with me as soon as possible. Academic Misconduct Naturally, academic misconduct of any sort will not be tolerated. If you have any questions about what constitutes academic misconduct generally, you must consult before proceeding in this course. Also, read the statement on academic misconduct posted on the learn@uw website. If you have questions about plagiarism specifically, you must consult the hand-out Quoting, Paraphrasing, and Acknowledging Sources, available at the Writing Center (6171 Helen C. White Hall). You are expected to be familiar with these guidelines before you submit any written work in this course. Lack of familiarity with these rules in no way constitutes an excuse for acts of misconduct. Any instance of cheating, plagiarism, or other misconduct will be dealt with strictly according to university policy, and severe penalties will be recommended to the Dean of Students. Weekly Schedule Minor Assignment Class Meeting Due Topic Reading Assignments 1 18-Jan Introduction to the Course: the debate over Globalization 2 20-Jan Hebron and Stack, Ch 1 & 2 The Promise of Globalization (1) Comparative Advantage and Globalization 3 25-Jan The Development Project McMichael, Ch. 2 & Jan The Development Project, part II (2) Rostow, The Sages of Economic Growth 5 1-Feb X The Development Project, part III (3) Gunder Frank, Development of Underdevelopment (4) Escobar, "The Problematization of Poverty 6 3-Feb McMichael, Ch. 4 The Transition to Globalization (5) Gerrefi, Rethinking Development Theory 3

4 7 8-Feb The Washington Consensus McMichael, Ch Feb X The Globalization Project McMichael, Ch Feb Institutions of Global Governance Feb Debt and the Global South: Life and Debt Feb Feb The Asian Financial Crisis and the Post-Washington Dissensus The Rise of Middle Income (6) Cavanaugh and Mander, "Unholy Trinity" (7) Conti The WTO Dispute Settlement Process (8) Gjelten, "Global Reality Challenges the IMF" (9) Lim Whose Model Failed? (10) Zakaria, "Post American World" Countries (11) Pieterse, "Globalization the Next Round" 13 1-Mar Globalization Undermines States 14 3-Mar Globalization Undermines States, part II: The Commanding Heights 15 8-Mar X Globalization Fosters Democracy Mar Midterm Exam (12) Ohmae, End of the Nation- State and Rise of the Region State (13) Slaughter, "The Real New World Order" Hebron and Stack, Ch 6 (14) Barber, "Jihad vs. McWorld" Hebron and Stack, ch. 5 (15) Chua, World on Fire 15-Mar 17-Mar Mar Mar SPRING BREAK Globalization Levels the Playing Field (16) Friedman, "It's a Flat World Afterall" Hebron and Stack, Ch 3 Prosperity for All Hebron and Stack, Ch4 (17) Sachs, The End of Poverty, Ch 1 & 2 4

5 19 29-Mar Mar X Opportunity for All McMichael, Ch 7 (18) Appelbaum, Giant Contractors Opportunity for All, part II (19) Bonacich and Appelbaum, Behind the Label (Introduction & Ch 2) (reader) 21 5-Apr 22 7-Apr Opportunity for All, part III Opportunity for All, Part IV: China Blue (20) Bonacich and Appelbaum, Behind the Label (Ch 6) (21) Rivoli, Travels of a T-Shirt (Ch. 6) Globalization = Apr Americanization Hebron and Stack, Ch 7 (22) Poster, Who's on the Line? (23) Rothkopf, In praise of cultural Globalization = Apr X imperialism? Americanization, part II (24) Magubane, "Globalization of Gangster Rap" Apr There is No Alternative Hebron and Stack, Ch Apr There is No Alternative McMichael, Ch Apr There is No Alternative Apr There is no Alternative: The Take (25) Fisher and Ponniah, Another World is Possible McMichael, Ch. 9 (26) Foran, Political Cultures of Opposition 29 3-May Economic Growth is Essential Hebron and Stack, Ch May Economic Growth is Essential (27) McKibben, The Durable Future 5

GEOL 443 SYLLABUS. Igneous and Metamorphic Petrology, Spring 2013 Tuesday & Thursday 8:00 a.m. 9:15 a.m., PLS Date Subject Reading

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