ASOK05240U Global Political Sociology

In this course an analytical framework for studying global societal trends is presented by synthesizing economic, cultural, sociological and political data in the image of Martin Shaw’s book Theory of the Global State (2000) and similar developments in the field of International Sociology. A general point is that we have moved from a world where international dynamics set the agenda for how to grasp international relations into a world where global dynamics have moved to the fore. Following this trend Political Sociology must theorize and facilitate studies of the workings of these dynamics. From this change of perspective a theory emerges of the kind Ulrich Beck would name a truly global sociology, where the national point of departure is sought transcended. This is not only necessary but as well possible, it shall be demonstrated in the beginning of the course. Taking point of departure in Global Polity Theory we come to operationalize our perspective and form individual topics for making studies and assignments. The course will focus on demarcating trends in the field of Global Political Sociology such as global inequality, geo-politics, state-building efforts, global trade, rise of global social communities, cosmopolitan culture, and world state issues, and will address global social problems like migration, global cultural divides and the possibilities for establishing a global community.

Course outline

1. Welcome and overview                                                                                                                             

Presentation and discussion of the program; what can you expect; what is expected of you? Dialogue: special wishes, personal affinities and suggestions for changing the program.

I. Introduction to Global Political Sociology

2. What is Global Political Sociology?

Lecture: International Political Sociology and the term global; Political Sociology today; Globalization, how to conceive?; Topics in Global Political Sociology.

Reading: Alexander Betts, Intro + chapter 1

3. Power and Sovereignty

Betts: chapter 2 + Barnett and Duvall: Power and Global Governance

Extra 3 1/2 I suggest here that we meet on Saturday 20/9 for a small tour, biking around the city from Fælledparken to Frelser Kirke. The theme for the tour is power and sovereignty and contains a small introduction to the field of Political Geography.  

4. Hands on I – aspects of sovereignty

Reading: Stephen D Krasner: Problematic Sovereignty + A. Betts chapter 3 - 4

Group exercise: Learning sovereignty.

II. Global Polity Theory

5. Polity, politics and political form

Form Lecture with discussion: How do we grasp the central concepts of Political Sociology in Global Political Sociology?

Reading: Betts 5, 6 + Agnew: Globalization and Sovereignty

6. Hand on II

Form Lecture + Group exercise: Presentation of the nation-state in a global perspective, Presentation of todays task; group work

7. Global Polity Theory

We gather our theory in one model that can be operationalized into an analytical specter in the 10^th session.

Form Lecture: Presentation of a complete framework for studying Global Political Sociology

Reading: Betts 7,8

III. Individual Assignments

8. Individual topics

You may have discussed your individual topic with me before this week, but in this session and the following we focus on getting individual assignments up and running.

Form Group exercise: You present ideas for your individual topic for the group and get immediate feedback; use of the analytical specter to dissolve the topic into a problem.

No reading: Around this week each schedule a meeting with me in room 8.2.27 to shape individual topics

9. Problem statement

We make problem statements

Form Group exercise + plenum presentation: We present problem statements to the group and get immediate feedback; presentation of problem statement in plenum and feedback.

No reading: When we end this session, everybody should have a problem statement to commence their research for their papers.

10. The Analytical Specter

Operationalization of the theory for use in shaping individual assignments into academic style papers. 

Form Lecture + group exercise + plenum catch up: Presentation of the Analytical Specter and the dynamics of the different elements of analysis; we solve a concrete problem in groups.

IV. Trends and analytical distinctions

The fourth section contains three lectures with smaller exercises targeting main topics in Global Political Sociology. It is likely that your individual topic will fall into one or more of these trends.

11. Asymmetries and Inequalities

Including a lecture on Ulrich Beck: Power in the Global Age

12. State-building

Including a lecture on Martin Shaw: Theory of the Global State

13. Global Communities

Including a lecture on Daniel H. Duedney: Bounding Power

14. Seminar

We make small feedback groups and give feedback on participant draft assignments.