57116 Globalisations: Contestation and Formation

Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences: Social Inquiry
Credit points: 8 cp
Result Type: Grade, no marks

Handbook description

This subject concentrates on the way in which the global south was created through the processes and consequences of globalisation. It analyses the development of some theories of globalisation and transnationality through political, economic, social and post-colonial approaches. It discusses case studies in Asia, Africa, Latin America and the Middle East to analyse transnational systems and the degree to which national polity, economy and society have become globalised. It examines some key issues relating to globalisation: global protest, environmental justice, international feminism, international institutions, post-colonial contestations and religious identities.

Subject objectives/outcomes

To introduce students to the analysis of globalisation.
To enable students to critique the concept of globalisation.
To provide students with an understanding of the intellectual debates about the theories of globalisation.
To enable students to analyse the relationships between the processes of globalisation and the creation of the global south.
To develop students' written and oral communication.

Contribution to graduate profile

RELEVANCE OF SUBJECT TO OVERALL AIM OF COURSES

This subject focuses on international and regional themes. Globalisation: Division and Change gives students key tools of analysis and evaluation, enabling them to apply critical analytical perspectives to a rapidly changing world. Students gain a critical cross-disciplinary knowledge of social, political and cultural phenomena across time and space in local and global contexts. They are made aware of the multiple dimensions of social difference and inequality, especially in terms of race, ethnicity and gender.

This subject will:

give students key tools of analysis and evaluation
enable them to apply critical analytical perspectives to a rapidly changing world
impart a critical cross-disciplinary knowledge of social, political and cultural phenomena across time and space in local and global contexts
impart awareness of the multiple dimensions of social difference and inequality
develop students' ability to relate cultural, social, political and historical concepts/theories/approaches to empirical research and practice, the analysis of public issues, and to daily and personal life.

Teaching and learning strategies

Lectures (One hour per week) Seminars (Two hours per week)

Whereas lectures are more formal large-group learning situations in which key areas of the topic are covered, seminars involve active learning and teaching and offer opportunities for students to discuss, debate and clarify issues raised in the lectures and readings. Attendance at seminars is compulsory and students will be assessed on their participation in their group discussions. In addition, there is extensive use of UTS Online.

Content

This subject concentrates on the way in which the global south was created through the processes and consequences of globalisation. It analyses the development of some theories of globalisation and transnationality through political, economic, social and post-colonial approaches. It discusses case studies in Asia, Africa, Latin America and the Middle East to analyse transnational systems and the degrees to which national polity, economy and society have become 'globalised'. It examines some key issues in globalisation: global protest, environmental justice, international feminism, international institutions, postcolonial contestations and religious identities.

This subject surveys various contesting perspectives on the recent global transformations which are mostly theorized under the title of "globalisation". It discusses the inadequacies of one-sided definitions and theorizations, and explores the complexities of global social changes and their impacts on different aspects of social life such as identity, culture, equality, security, welfare, democracy, health, environment, etc. The course takes an interdisciplinary approach, combining perspectives from sociology, political science and international relations, global studies and cultural studies. It pays particular attention to global dilemmas such as global inequality, global poverty, environmental degradations and growing networks of crime, corruption, violence and terrorism. Finally, by drawing upon critical interpretations of globalization and the situated viewpoints of oppression and resistance among marginalized people, the course will open up an alternative angle towards understanding current global social changes.

Globalisation may be associated with the with the idea that the world is being rapidly moulded into a shared social space by economic and technological forces and that developments in one region of the world can have profound consequences for individuals and communities in others. Globalisation is also associated with a sense that the sheer scale of contemporary social and economic change appears to outstrip the capacity of national governments or citizens to control, contest or resist that change.

Some of the questions we will discuss in this subject include whether globalisation is associated with the creation of unequal economies and poverty. Does globalisation impose new limits to politics? How does globalisation affect the environment, social movements and religious identities? There are many theories of globalisation and intense disagreement about whether the processes of globalisation are beneficial or not. This subject introduces students to these disagreements. It aims to question our assumptions and raise as many questions as it answers.

We assume in this subject that knowledge is contingent and is best accessed by debate and critical social inquiry. Knowledge is seen as a product of particular circumstances, or specific historical legacies. We need to evaluate all interpretations in terms of where and when they are produced. The subject, therefore, focuses on a variety of conflicting interpretations of the process of globalisation. These interpretations, whether celebratory or critical, gain broad acceptance as a result of the wider social and historical contexts in which they are embedded, as much as from any claim they might make to objectivity. Our task is to understand these contexts, and to shed light on the claims that are made.

Assessment

Assessment item 1: Group Debate

Objective	a, c, e
Value	25%
Due	Week 9
Task	Each group will participate in an online discussion followed by an in class debate and the submission of a 1,000 word report by each student.
Further Information	You will receive notices about the Subject through UTS Online, and can discuss the weekly topics on the Discussion Boards from Week 2. You are encouraged to participate in these discussions each week, to assist you in reviewing and understanding the readings. Tutorials for the first half of the semester are devoted to class discussion and group work. You are required to attend the lectures and do the weekly readings. In Week 1 your tutor will divide the tutorial group into 4 discussion groups and appoint facilitators for each week. These groups should begin to discuss the readings and questions online. Every week there will be a debate between these groups on the significance and implications as well as the pros and cons of the seminar questions [a variety of media (internet, A-V, tapes, etc) and techniques (role-play) may be used]. Each group will then choose one topic on which to construct a written report that analyses the debate in the context of the readings. The discussion report is written up and submitted online in Week 6.

Assessment criteria	Demonstrated ability to: engage in a thorough examination of issues in this area articulate clearly views on these topics explain and defend views in an academic forum to report succinctly on an intellectual discussion.

Assessment item 2: Literature review

Objective	b, c,
Value	25%
Due	Week 9
Word Limit	1,000 words
Task	Each student will select a reading, summarise the author's perspective, and use other perspectives from the Reader to critique and reflect on his/her approach.
Further Information	You may use examples to illustrate your discussion. At the end of the Review you should provide a couple of concluding paragraphs assessing the reading you have selected. You should provide details of all your sources including the case studies and quotes. You may use points from the group discussion of these readings on UTS Online in Weeks 2-6.

Assessment criteria	Demonstrated ability to: critically analyse arguments and theories in the field of social inquiry;y reflect on the merits and flaws in these arguments and theories evaluate the approaches using real-world cases

Assessment item 3: Case Study Facilitation

Objective	c, d, e
Value	10%
Due	Weeks 9-14
Word Limit	250 words
Task	Each student will prepare and facilitate a 15 minute class discussion
Further Information	The weekly seminar process changes in Week 8 to focus on discussion of the lecture and readings. Each student in a discussion group chooses a topic to facilitate for Weeks 9-14. The nominated Facilitator for each week should post a Facilitation Statement of about one page on UTS Online by the Thursday morning of the week before the tutorial, identifying the key issues and points of contention or questions. Each other person in the group should read the Facilitation Statement and readings for each week and prepare to discuss their own ideas and responses to the Facilitation Statement in class. NB: The Facilitator reads additional material and prepares his/her statement of the key issues in the readings, citing ONE case study. The statement must be writeen in academic format. it should contain a set of focus points or questions to provoke discussion and comment on issues arising from the set reading. The case study must relate to these issues and centre on an issue or event outside Australia. It may draw on information from newspaper articles, magazine articles or bookes; it must contain details of sources. The Facilitator brings a hard copy of this statement to the tutorial, using it as the basis for discussion. At the tutorial, the Facilitator leads a debate in their discussion group about the tutorial readings, guided by the tutorial questions, and drawing on the case study, for about half an hour. The Facilitator prepares a brief report of discussion (disagreements, further questions, conclusions etc) and presents this to the tutorial as a whole. After presentations from each of the Facilitators for that week, the tutorial moves to a general discussion, comparing case studies and discussing broader issues.

Assessment criteria	evidence of thoughtful and thorough reading of set texts identification of the issues raised in the lectures and texts presenting salient focus points/questions for discussions deploying a relevant example to illustrate these issues and theme engaging class members in a discussion stimulating debate

Assessment item 4: Research Essay

Objective	b, c, d, e
Value	40%
Due	Week 14
Word Limit	2,500 words
Task	Select an essay from the list provided.
Further Information	The essay or project will need to be well structured and researched, drawing on a wide variety of sources, and properly footnoted with bibliography attached. We will be discussing your choice of topic in the seminars - it may involve analysing a political problem, e.g. the problems in the reconstruction of the new South Africa, the Middle East peace process; it may take the form of a historical account of one country or region; or it may be a more general overview of one or more of problems globalisation, e.g. debt, the status of women, environmental problems, famine and poverty.
List of Essay Questions	A list of essay questions will be posted on UTS Online

Assessment criteria	Demonstrated ability to: Address the topic and explore its implications Read and analyse writings in the area Identify relevant issues raised by the literature Conduct independent research (beyond the set readings) Develop and argument/point of view Provide evidence to support that view Correct referencing and English expression.

Effective assessment also demands a high level of personal discipline, self-motivation and organisation of time. If students are not clear about any requirement, or need any assistance or additional information, please contact the subject co-ordinator.

Minimum requirements

Students are expected to read the subject outline to ensure they are familiar with the subject requirements. Since class discussion and participation in activities form an integral part of this subject, you are expected to attend, arrive punctually and actively participate in classes. If you experience difficulties meeting this requirement, please contact your lecturer. Students who have a reason for extended absence (e.g., illness) may be required to complete additional work to ensure they achieve the subject objectives.

Indicative references

Recommended sources of information for essay writing:

Essay Writing Guideline by Hamed Hosseini (available on the UTSOnline, Course Documents)
Recommended online databases for searching journal articles:
Web of Science, Ingenta, ProQuest 5000 international, Sage Politics and International Relations, Current Content (OVID), Sociofile (Social Services Abstracts + Sociological Abstracts), JSTOR, Blackwell Synergy Online.For the meanings of Social Scientific Terms/Concepts/Jargons (you may face in your readings) always check: Oxford Reference Online Dictionaries (available on the UTS library databases)
Key journals
Alternatives, local, global; International Sociology; Review of International studies; International politics; International Organisation; International Affairs; Global Governance; Globalizations; Capital and Class; Monthly Review; Millennium; Mobilization; Socialist register; Development and Change; Third World Quarterly; New Left Review; World Politics; Global Networks; Review of international Political Economy; Political Geography; Public Culture; Society and Space; Foreign Affairs.
Key texts
Held, D., McGrew, A., Goldblatt, D. and Perraton, J. (eds) (1999) Global Transformations: Politics, Economics and Culture, Polity, Cambridge
Held, D. and McGrew, A. (eds) (2004) The Global Transformations reader, Polity, Cambridge.
Held, D. and McGrew, A. (eds) Governing globalization, Polity, Cambridge.
Ritzer, G. (2007) The Blackwell Companion to Globalization, Malden, MA: Blackwell Pub.
Della Giusta, M., U. S. Kambhampati and R. Wade (2006) Critical Perspectives on Globalization, Cheltenham, [England] ; Northampton, Mass.: Edward Elgar.
Misc sources
Cambridge Studies in International Relations; Southend Press; Pluto Press; Zed Books; Review of international Political Economy (RIPE) Book Series; Monthly Review Book Series
2004 Interrogating Globalisation Reader
Many of the further readings listed below are contained in the 2004 Reader: this is lodged in the Special Reserve section in the UTS library.