One term that has come to prominence in the last 20 years, globalisation, seeks to characterize this contemporary moment, and yet, the debate over what globalisation means and what it contributes analytically to our understanding of the world has raged down the corridors of the academy, while voices in the global political domain, have proceeded as if globalisation is a fact that needs to be made to work.  This course explores the different frameworks by which globalisation has been understood and debated and helps students to zero in on the issues that affect contemporary global life from poverty, crisis, and security, to identity, migration, development, nationalism, media and popular culture, new global actors such as civil society and multinational corporations.  It explores some of the dominant frameworks that have come to apply to globalisation in both the academic and policy realm, such as ‘Global Citizenship’ and ‘Global Governance’.  This course will not definitively define globalisation for students, but will equip them with the theoretical and analytical tools to begin to evaluate the theories, issues and debates that encompass globalisation both academically and practically. 

After the successful completion of this course, student should: 

1. Demonstrate a good knowledge of the debates, theories and issues surrounding globalisation;
2. Have an appreciation and understanding of how different approaches contribute to different understandings of globalisation and have different normative implications;
3. Have a demonstrated ability to offer critically based insights into the issues raised by different approaches to globalisation;
4. Be able to critically reflect upon the literature and materials presented in this course;
5. Demonstrate an ability to understand and apply relevant research methodologies to this subject area.

1.      A short book review (1000 words) 25%

2.      A Major Research Essay*      (4,000 words)             55%

3.      Problem Based Learning  (no more than 1000 words) 20%

One two hour seminar per week. The course will be equivalent to 120 hours work in the semester.

None.

None.

Appadurai, A. (1997) Modernity at Large: Cultural Dimensions of Globalisation.

Held, D. & McGrew (Eds.) (2007) Globalisation Theory: Approaches and Controversies.

Baylis, J. and Smith, S. (eds) (1997) The Globalisation of World Politics.

George, J. (1994) Discourses of Global Politics.

Giddens, A. (1990) The Consequences of Modernity.

Held, D. et al (1999) Global Transformations.

Keyman, E.F. (1997) Globalisation, State, Identity/Difference.

Scholte, J. (2001) Globalisation: a Critical Introduction.

Anderson, B. (1991) Imagined communities.

Bayart, J.F. (2004) Global Subjects: a political critique of Globalisation.

Friedman, T. (1999) The Lexus and the Olive Tree.

Robertson, R. (1992) Globalisation: Social Theory and Global Culture.

Tomlinson, J. (1991) Cultural Imperialism: A Critical Introduction.

access to the internet.