ASOA15017U Globalization and its Discontent

The term “Globalisation” refers to a process of cultural, political, and economic integration resulting from rapid changes in technology and world politics. There is no doubt that we live in a world that is increasingly global, international and even transnational and globalisation is one of the defining features of the contemporary world. But there is considerable controversy regarding its nature, impact, and future trends. This interdisciplinary (combining perspectives from Sociology, political science, economics, and political philosophy) course introduces students to the emerging field of global studies. We will explore how the process of globalisation is shaping and transforming economic, culture and politics around the world. The course is divided into three sections. In the first half of the course, we explore the current conceptual debates concerning the intensification of global interaction, the historical processes associated with the emergence of a global economy, and the acceleration of globalisation processes in its political, economic, cultural and social forms. In the second half of the course, we build fundamental knowledge about the key actors, institutions, and processes that shape globalisation and the international political economy. The aim of this part is to examine the agents, modes of organisation and institutions that govern the new transnational space of globalisation. In the final section, we explore the many promises of globalisation as well as the sources of the anti-globalisation backlash (global civil society, anti-globalisation movements and terrorist networks). We conclude by exploring the implications of globalisation for the nation-state and international order.