Globalization Studies

COURSE OUTLINE

Course outline:

I. Introduction. Definitions, course presentation.

SECTION I. HISTORY AND CONCEPTS

2. The Rise of Europe, Capitalism and Colonisation

3. The Invention of Race

4. The First International Campaign ? The Abolitionist Movement

5. Colonial legacies

SECTION II. CULTURES, MOVEMENTS AND SOCIETIES

6. The Tastes of Globalization : culture, consumption and leisure

7. Power and Territories

8 & 9. Social Classes in/ and Globalisation

10 & 11. International Migrations

12. Global Justice? Transnational Social Movements

COURSE OBJECTIVES

What is it that we call “globalisation”, and how does it proceed? What has the legacy of previous waves of globalisation been ? What is new - if anything - about today’s international flows of economic goods, cultural practices, financial products and people? In other words, who and what exactly, is going global ? Are we observing the end of the nation-state, and an “Americanisation” of cultural practices and lifestyles worldwide, the rise of transnational social movements promoting global causes and transnational migrants free to seize opportunities globally? Which individuals and social groups are most able to enjoy mobility, both geographical and social, and benefit from globalisation?

This course provides some answers to these questions by looking into contemporary political, economic, social and cultural phenomena. It looks at the social fabric of « the international » - its actors and processes, scales and flows, but also its limits and tensions - beyond sovereign States and national territories, which have traditionally been predominant in the field of International Relations.

During the course, students will develop the following abilities:

• Identify the main actors, trends and dynamics of today’s internationalisation of human activity

• Produce contextualised and critical analysis of globalisation that is relevant for the press, policy-makers, the private sector or civil society

• Improve their ability to participate in real-life and policy-oriented discussions about the various dimensions of globalisation

• Acquire theoretical and analytical tools to interpret case-studies and approach specific topics inspired by the news or concrete situations of everyday life

• Identify the main topics and debates, arguments and theories within the field of Globalisation studies

• Develop academic research skills and a taste for Globalisation studies

• Improve their ability to write academic essays

The course draws on sociology and the social sciences broadly, mainly transnational history and anthropology. The syllabus and lectures are careful to avoid the Eurocentric trap and hence take into account the perspectives and experiences of globalisation coming from societies outside Europe and North America. It pays attention to colonisation because it has been crucial in creating the fundamental categories and identities (races, ethnies, genders) that continue to organise and govern systems and lives in today’s globalisation. They deal with critical, global societal issues, such as slavery, racism or 'cultural appropriation'. The reading list is sensitive to gender equality and purportedly includes a high number of scholarly work produced by female academics.

Références, bibliographie et lectures recommandées

Students must read one reading/book chapter every week (see list in the syllabus).

In addition, the following textbooks will help you to map out the different schools of thought within Globalisation studies as well as to understand its main dynamics and consequences:

- Sassen, Saskia, A Sociology of Globalization, Norton & Company, 2007 (4NIV 303.482 SASS)
- Held, David and Anthony McGrew (eds), The Global Transformations Reader : An
Introduction to the Globalization Debate, Polity Press (second edition), 2003 (4NIV 327.1
HELD cop.2)
- Holton, Robert J., Making Globalization, Palgrave Macmillan, 2005 (PDF on the UV)

- In French: Lecler, Romain, Sociologie de la Mondialisation, La Découverte, 2013 (4NIV 303.484 LECL)  

Support(s) de cours

• Syllabus
• Université virtuelle

Contacts

Contacts

Office : R 41.4.201 (REPI/ Institut d’Études Européennes)
Office hours: Fridays 2.30-4.30pm (please make an appointment by email beforehand)
Webpage: https://repi.phisoc.ulb.be/fr/membres/corpsacademique/
professeur%C2%B7e%C2%B7s/isaline-bergamaschi
Email : isaline.bergamaschi@ulb.be
When addressing me in person or in an email, please call me Prof. (instead of Miss or Mrs),
indicate the course’s name and be as specific in framing your requests as you can. Be aware
that emails will not be replied to (i) if they do not include an object and main text (i.e. only an
attachment) and (ii) if the answer to your question(s) can be found in this course syllabus.
ERASMUS students are welcome to follow this course !

Campus

Solbosch

Méthode(s) d'évaluation

• Examen écrit

Examen écrit

• Question ouverte à réponse courte
• Question à point négatif

Construction de la note (en ce compris, la pondération des notes partielles)

Before each lecture, students must prepare one reading. Each student should be prepared to
present and reflect critically upon the weekly reading in class.
Grading
The final exam for the course will consist of a three-hour in-class exam - whose date will be
determined and communicated by the « service des horaires » later during the semester - and
of 3 questions. Students must answer each question in a mini-essay (recommended duration :
one hour each) that will (i) make a clear argument/ answer the question explicitly and with a
clear outline, (ii) build only on the course material and sources (lectures and readings) –
unless indicated otherwise. The exam can be written in English or French.
The « second session » will take place in August. The exam will draw on the same material
and use the same format as described above.
Cheating will result in a 0 grade for the course as well as a formal examination by the dean of
the Faculty of Philosophy and social sciences. Dictionaires are allowed and will be checked.

Langue(s) d'évaluation

• anglais