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Royal Holloway, University of London

 

Department of Politics and International Relations

 

PR 5902A Politics of Globalization

 

Taught by Dr. Chris Rumford

 

Overview

The meaning and causes of globalization are highly contested. Some theorists hold that it is the logical outcome of capitalism and the development of world markets, or the result of information technologies with transformative implications for state, society and the individual. Others argue that it is the outcome of long-term processes through which the world has become shaped by certain cultural norms, or by the diffusion of rational models of societal organization leading to something akin to a world polity.

 

Global politics has emerged as a major issue in relation to globalization, both in terms of emerging political movements and processes than encircle the globe and the ways in which more localized politics have been transformed by global threats and opportunities. The course examines the key issues in relation to the globalization of politics and the politics of globalization.

 

1.      Introduction: political globalization

2.      Nation-state and globalization

3.      Globalization and democracy

4.      Transnational crime and global terrorism

5.      Nature and environment in global politics

6.      Global governance and global capital

7.      Global civil society

8.      INGOs,  transnational social movements, and Transnational Advocacy Networks (TANs)

9.      Global justice

10.  Postnational citizenship

 

 

Aims of course:

  • To provide an overview of political and social science approaches to the meaning and dynamics of globalization;
  • to highlight central issues and debates in the relation to the impact of globalization on social and political transformation;
  • to evaluate critically contending interpretations of the impact of globalization on social and political change;
  • to provide an intellectually stimulating course which will prepare students for a critical engagement with contemporary debates on the processes of globalization.

 

Upon successful completion of the course students will:

  • have acquired knowledge of a range of approaches to thinking about the dynamics of globalization;
  • be aware of the main political and social science debates on the relationship between globalization and contemporary political and social change;
  • be capable of critical analysis of the major approaches to studying the politics of globalization, and;
  •  be capable of evaluating their appropriateness in explaining social and political developments in the contemporary world.

 

Assessment

One essay (approx. 3500 words) to be submitted in the final week of term, worth 50% of total marks; one unseen examination (2 hours) worth 50% of total marks.

 

Resources

  • The short loan section of the Bedford library holds the 6 volume collection Globalization: Critical Concepts edited by Roland Robertson and Kathleen White (Routledge 2003) 327 GLO, which will be a very valuable source of material for all aspects of this course.
  • Students should familiarise themselves with the material available on the following webpages:

http://www.chrisrumford.org.uk/plate_noticeboard.html

 

 

 

Course outline:

 

Topic 1:

Introduction: Political globalization

What are the key features of politics under conditions of globalization?

In what ways does globalization impact upon politics?

Are global forms of politics emerging?

 

Delanty, G. and Rumford, C. 2007:  “Political globalization” in G. Ritzer (ed) Blackwell Companion to Globalization. Oxford: Blackwell (forthcoming, available from CR)

Held, D. and McGrew, A. 2003: The global transformations reader: an introduction to the globalization debate (esp. Part 1) Cambridge: Polity Press 327 GLO

Lechner, F. and Boli, J. (eds) 2004: The Globalization Reader (Second Edition) Oxford: Blackwell 330.9 GLO

Axford, B. 2000: "Globalization," in G. Browning, A. Halcli, and F. Webster (eds) Understanding Contemporary Society. London: Sage. 301 UND

Scholte, J. A. 2000: Globalization: A Critical Introduction (Palgrave) (esp. Part 1 “Framework of Analysis”) 330.9 SCH

Robins, K. 1997: “What in the world’s going on?” in P. du Gay (ed) Production of culture/Cultures of production. London: Sage  301.2 PRO

Kofman, E. and Youngs, G. (eds) 2003: Globalization: Theory and Practice   (Continuum)

 

 

Topic 2: The nation-state and globalization

Is globalization a threat to the nation-state?

In what ways has globalization transformed the study of international relations?

Is there a world society of nation-states?

 

Holton, R. 1998: Globalization and the Nation-State. Houndmills: Palgrave

382.1 HOL

Axford, B. 1995: The Global System: Economics, Politics and Culture. (esp. Chapter  5) Cambridge: Polity  338.9 AXF

Lechner, F. and Boli (eds) 2004: The Globalization Reader (Second Edition) Oxford: Blackwell 330.9 GLO (esp. Part V).

Held, D. 1999: “The transformation of political community: rethinking democracy in the context of globalization” in I. Shapiro and C. Hacker-Cordon (eds) Democracy’s Edges. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press 321.8 DEM

Delanty, G. 2001: “Nationalism: between nation and state” in  G. Ritzer and B. Smart (eds), Handbook of Social Theory. London: Sage 301.01 HAN

Arnason, J. 1990: “Nationalism, globalization and modernity” in M. Featherstone  (ed.) Global Culture: Nationalism, Globalization and Modernity. London: Sage.

301.2 GLO

Youngs, G. 2003: “International relations as we enter the twenty-first century” in Kofman, E. and Youngs, G. (eds) Globalization: Theory and Practice. London: Continuum 320.01 GLO

 

 

Topic 3: Globalization and democracy

Is globalization a threat to democracy?

Are human rights more universal than democracy in a globalizing world?

Has globalization helped the world-wide spread of democracy?

 

Scholte, J. A. 2000: Globalization: A Critical Introduction (esp. Ch 11, ‘Globalization and (un)democracy’) Houndmills: Palgrave 327 SCH

Held, D., McGrew, A., Goldblatt, D., and Perraton, J. 1999: Global Transformations: Politics, Economics and Culture. Cambridge: Polity  330.9 GLO

Holton, R. 1998: Globalization and the Nation-State. Houndmills: Palgrave

382.1 HOL

Lechner, F. and Boli (eds) 2004: The Globalization Reader (Second Edition) Oxford: Blackwell 330.9 GLO (esp. Parts V and VI).

Held, D. 1999: “The transformation of political community: rethinking democracy in the context of globalization” in I. Shapiro and C. Hacker-Cordon (eds) Democracy’s Edges. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press 321.8 DEM

Archibugi, D., Held, D. and Kohler, M. 1998: Reimagining Political Community Cambridge: Polity Press 327 REI

Beetham, D. 1999: Democracy and Human Rights Cambridge: Polity Press  321.8 BEE

 

 

Topic 4: Transnational crime and global terrorism

How is organized crime able to move across national borders with such apparent ease?

How global is terrorism?

Is terrorism the ‘dark side’ of globalization?

 

Scholte, J. A. 2005: Globalization: A Critical Introduction 2nd Edition . Houndmills: Palgrave 330.9 SCH  (esp. ‘Chapter 9)

Williams, P. and Baudin-O’Hayon, G. 2003: ‘Global governance, transnational organized crime and money laundering’ in D. Held and A. McGrew (eds) Governing Globalization: Power, Authority and Global Governance. Cambridge: Polity Press 327.1 GOV

Kiras, J. 2005: ‘Terrorism and globalization’ in J. Baylis and S. Smith (eds) The Globalization of World Politics. Oxford: Oxford University Press 327 GLO

Lintner, B. 2003: ‘Organised crime: a worldwide web’ in R. Robertson and K. White (eds) Globalization: Critical Concepts Vol II. London: Routledge 327 GLO (short loan)

Naim, M. 2006: Illicit: How Smugglers, Traffickers and Copycats are Hijacking the Global Economy. London: Heinemann.

Della Porta, D. 2001: ‘Terror against the state’ in K. Nash and A. Scott (eds) The Blackwell Comparison to Political Sociology. Oxford: Blackwell 320.01 BLA

Rumford, C. 2002: ‘Confronting “Uncivil Society” and the “Dark Side of Globalization”’ www.socresonline.org.uk/6/3/rumford.html

Ritzer, G. 2003: ‘September 11, 2001: mass murder and its roots in the symbolism of American consumer culture’ in R. Robertson and K. White (eds) Globalization: Critical Concepts Vol VI. London: Routledge 327 GLO (short loan)

 

 

Topic 5: Nature and environment in global politics

Is the protection of the environment the most global political issue? 

To what extent is it accurate to say that we live in a global ‘risk society’?

What do environmental problems tell us about the ‘oneness’ of humanity?

 

Lechner, F. and Boli, J. (eds) 2004: The Globalization Reader (Second Edition) Oxford: Blackwell (esp. Part IX) 330.9 GLO

Doyle, T. and McEachern, D. 2001: Environment and Politics (Second Edition) (esp. Chapter 8) London: Routledge 333.7 DOY

Jasanoff, S. and  Long, M. (eds) 2004:  Earthly politics: local and global in environmental governance. Cambridge, Mass. MIT Press 333.7 EAR

Redclift, M. and Benton, T. (eds) (1994) Social Theory and the Global Environment. London: Routledge 333.7 SOC

Beck, U. 1999: World risk society. Cambridge: Polity

Beck, U. 1992: Risk society: towards a new modernity. Cambridge: Polity 301.2 BEC

Beck, U. (1992) ‘From industrial society to the risk society: questions of survival, social structure and ecological enlightenment’ Theory, Culture and Society 9, 97-123

Lupton, D. (1999) Risk London: Routledge 301.1 LUP

 

 

Topic 6: Global governance and global capital

What institutions of global governance exist?

To what extent have institutions for the management of capital shaped globalization?

What role does civil society play in the organization of global capitalism?

 

Scholte, J. A. 2000: Globalization: a Critical Introduction (esp. Chapter 5) Houndmills: Palgrave 327 SCH

Held, D. and McGrew, A. 2003: The global transformations reader: an introduction to the globalization debate (esp. Part IV) Cambridge: Polity Press 327 GLO

Held, D. and McGrew, A. 2002: Governing Globalization: Power, Authority and Global Governance Cambridge: Polity Press 327.1 GOV

Scholte, J.A. (ed) 2002: Civil Society and Global Finance (Routledge)

Lechner, F. and Boli, J. (eds) 2004: The Globalization Reader (Second Edition) Oxford: Blackwell (esp. Part IV) 330.9 GLO

Stiglitz, J. 2004: Globalization and its Discontents. Penguin 338.9 STI

Bhagwati, J. 2004: In Defence of Globalization. Oxford: Oxford University Press 338.9 BHA

 

 

Topic 7: Global civil society

What are the main features of global civil society?

In what ways has global civil society impacted upon democracy?

What is the role of global civil society in global governance?

 

Keane, J. 2003: Global Civil Society? Cambridge: Cambridge University Press

321.8 KEA

Scholte, J.A. 2002: "Civil society and democracy in global governance," Global Governance, 8(3) 281-304.

Delanty, G. and Rumford, C. 2006:  “Political globalization” in G. Ritzer (ed) Blackwell Companion to Globalization. Oxford: Blackwell (available from CR)

Colas, A. 2001: “The promises of international civil society: global governance, cosmopolitan democracy and the end of sovereignty?”

www.theglobalsite.ac.uk

Delanty, G. and Rumford, C. 2005: Rethinking Europe: Social Theory and the Implications of Europeanization (esp. Chapter 10) London: Routledge 301.0094 DEL

Colas, A. 2001: International Civil Society: Social Movements in World Politics  Cambridge: Polity

Axford, B. and Huggins, R. 2001: "Globalization and the prospects for cosmopolitan world society" http://www.valt.helsinki.fi/vol/cosmopolis/papers/axford.html

 

 

Topic 8: INGOs, transnational social movements, and Transnational Advocacy Networks (TANs)

What has been the role of INGOs in the development of globalization?

To what extent do social movements organize across national borders?

What are transnational advocacy networks, and how do they differ from INGOs?

 

Williams, M. (2003) “Social movements and global politics” in E. Kofman and G. Youngs (eds) Globalization: Theory and Practice (2nd Edition) London: Continuum. 320.01 GLO

Della Porta, D., Rucht, D., and Kriesi, H. 1999: Social Movements in a Globalizing World  New York: St Martins Press 301.242 SOC

Boli, J. and Thomas, G.M. 1999: Constructing World Culture: International Nongovernmental Organizations since 1875 Stanford, Ca.:Stanford University Press 327.17 CON

Imig, D. and Tarrow, S. 2001: "Contentious Europeans": Protest and Politics in an Integrating Europe. Lanham: Rowman and Littlefield. 322.43 CON

Eder, K. 2003: "Social Movements and Democratization," in G. Delanty and E. Isin (eds) Handbook of Historical Sociology London: Sage. 301.009 HAN

Keck, M. and Sikkink, K. 1998: Activists Beyond Borders: Advocacy Networks in International Politics  (Cornell University Press) 322.43 KEC

Khagram, S., Riker, J. and Sikkink, K (eds) 2002: Restructuring World Politics: Transnational Social Movements, Networks, and Norms (especially Part 1) Minneapolis: University of Minnesota Press. 301.242 RES

Risse, T., Ropp, S. and Sikkink, K. (eds) 1999: The Power of Human Rights: International Norms and Domestic Change Cambridge: Cambridge University Press 323.4 POW

 

 

Topic 9: Global justice

Is it meaningful to talk of global justice?

In what ways has globalization helped expand the idea of justice?

What institutions of global justice exist today?

 

Scholte, J. A. 2000: Globalization: A Critical Introduction (esp. Chapter 10, ‘Globalization and (In)Justice’) Houndmills: Palgrave 330.9 SCH

Hirsh, D. 2003: Law Against Genocide: Cosmopolitan Trials. Portland, Or.:Glasshouse Press 364.151 HIR

Pogge, T. 2001: Global Justice Oxford: Blackwell 382.1 GLO

Pogge, T. 2002: World Poverty and Human Rights: Cosmopolitan Responsibilities and Reforms   Cambridge: Polity Press 323.4 POG

Lechner, F. and Boli, J. World Culture: Origins and Consequences (esp. Chapter 10) Oxford: Blackwell 301.2 LEC

Risse, T., Ropp, S. and Sikkink, K. (eds) 1999: The Power of Human Rights: International Norms and Domestic Change Cambridge: Cambridge University Press 323.4 POW

Robinson, G. 2002: Crimes Against Humanity: The Struggle for Global Justice  Harmondsworth: Penguin

 

 

Topic 10:

Postnational citizenship

How has globalization transformed the nature of citizenship?

What is at stake when we talk of citizenship beyond the nation-state?

Is it meaningful to talk of ‘world citizenship’?

 

Delanty, G. 2000: Citizenship in a Global Age. Buckingham: Open University Press 323.6 DEL

Castles, S. and Davidson, A. 2000: Citizenship & Migration: Globalization and the Politics of Belonging London: Routledge 323.6 CAS

Soysal, Y. 1994: Limits of Citizenship: Migrants and Postnational Membership in Europe. Chicago University Press: Chicago. 323.6 SOY

Soysal, Y. 2001: "Changing boundaries of participation in European public spheres: reflections on citizenship and civil society," in K. Eder and B. Giesen (eds) European Citizenship Between National Legacies and Postnational Projects. Oxford: Oxford University Press. 323.6 EUR

Eder, K. and Giesen, B. 2001: "Citizenship and the making of European society: from the political to the social integration of Europe," in K. Eder and B. Giesen (eds) European Citizenship Between National Legacies and Postnational Projects. Oxford: Oxford University Press. 323.6 EUR

Stevenson, N. 2003: Cultural citizenship: cosmopolitan questions Buckingham: Open University Press 323.6 STE

                                                                                      

 

Chris Rumford

chris.rumford@rhul.ac.uk

DEPARTMENT OF POLITICS AND INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS

Course Specification 2006/7

Code:

PR 5902A

Course Value:

0.5 Unit

Status:

MSc Option

Title:

Politics of Globalization

Availability:

Autumn

Prerequisites:

None

Recommended:

None

Co-ordinator:

Dr. Chris Rumford

Course Staff

Dr. Chris Rumford

 

Aims:

 

 
  • To provide an overview of political and social science approaches to the meaning and dynamics of globalization;
  • to highlight central issues and debates in the relation to the impact of globalization on social and political transformation;
  • to evaluate critically contending interpretations of the impact of globalization on social and political change;
  • to provide an intellectually stimulating course which will prepare students for a critical engagement with contemporary debates on the processes of globalization.

 

 

Learning

Outcomes:

 

 

 

 

 

Upon successful completion of the course students will:

  • have acquired knowledge of a range of approaches to thinking about the dynamics of globalization;
  • be aware of the main political and social science debates on the relationship between globalization and contemporary political and social change;
  • be capable of critical analysis of the major approaches to studying the politics of globalization, and;
  •  be capable of evaluating their appropriateness in explaining social and political developments in the contemporary world.

 

Course

Content:

 

  1. Introduction: Political globalization
  2. Nation-state and globalization
  3. Globalization and democracy
  4. Nature and environment in global politics
  5. Global governance and global capital
  6. Global civil society
  7. INGOs and transnational social movements
  8. Transnational advocacy networks
  9. Global justice
  10. Postnational citizenship

 

 

Teaching & Learning Methods

 

Lectures and seminars

 

 

Key Bibliography:

 

 

 

 

Scholte, J. A. 2000: Globalization: A Critical Introduction (Palgrave)

Boli, J. and Lechner, F. 1999: The Globalization Reader (Blackwell)

Held, D. and McGrew, A. 2003: The global transformations reader: an introduction to the globalization debate  (Polity Press)

Formative assessment:

 

 

Assessment:

 

Exam (%) One two hour unseen paper (50%)

 

Coursework (%)  One essay (3,500 words) (50%)

 

 

 

Deadlines: tba

The information contained in this course outline is correct at the time of publication, but may be subject to change as part of the Department’s policy of continuous improvement and development.  Every effort will be made to notify you of any such changes.