1/27 gloabl class

Introduction

  • Class format is currently online; guest speaker invited to contribute.
  • Emphasis on student safety and connection during the transition to online classes.

Opening Activities

  • Class begins with a thought-provoking question:
    • Question: "Why is there more poverty in some places than others?"
    • Students are encouraged to share diverse viewpoints, regardless of personal beliefs.
    • Utilization of Poll Everywhere for anonymous responses.
  • Clarification: Responses are for participation credit and not graded for precision.

Class Topics and Goals

  • The focus of today's class revolves around:
    • Understanding relationships between political units and economic systems worldwide.
    • Beginning the Global Commerce and Culture (GCC) unit.
    • Introduction of guest speaker, Dr. Laura Goldblatt, scheduled to discuss key subject matter.

Key Concepts and Themes

Economic Disparities and Explanatory Frameworks

  • Different narratives around the causes of poverty:
    • Access to education
    • Colonialism
    • Exploitation and mismanagement of resources
    • Labor conditions
    • Governmental aid differences
    • Urban vs rural wealth disparities
    • Race and inequality
  • Discussion about explanatory frameworks to be introduced:
    • Economic disparities analyzed on various scales and contexts.

Political Economy Overview

  • Political economy relates to the structure and function of political units and economies over time.
  • The goal is to provide a broad understanding of:
    • Historical and contemporary relationships between politics and economies globally.
    • The significance of political units like nations and how they interact with global economic systems.

Frameworks of Thought

Engaged Universals
  • Defined as overarching concepts believed to be beneficial worldwide.
    • Examples include democracy, human rights, and capitalism.
  • Critique: Different interpretations lead to varied applications and implications affecting marginalized groups.
Political Subjectivity
  • Understanding one's identity within political structures:
    • Attachment to political units (e.g., nationalism versus local identities).
    • Rights and responsibilities according to affiliations.
    • Perspectives on what constitutes active citizenship and political participation.

Clash of Civilizations by Samuel Huntington

  • Huntington's theory on civilizations:
    • Civilization as a coherent cultural identity leading to inevitable conflict when differing civilizations interact.
    • Concepts of fault line and core state conflicts defined:
    • Fault lines: Areas where civilizations overlap leading to tension.
    • Core states: Leading states within a civilization influencing external relations.
  • Critique by Edward Said:
    • Questioned the coherence of civilizations and the dynamics of cultural exchanges.
    • Emphasized that distinct units are historically flawed.

Nationalism as a Dominant Political Ideology

  • Essential assumptions of nationalism discussed:
    1. Human beings naturally group into nations.
    2. Nations have enduring characteristics (e.g., language, religion).
    3. Nations are tied to specific territories.
    4. Well-being only achievable through a state that represents that nation.
    5. Conflicts arise when states contain people not from that nation.
  • Examination of how nationalism influences political responsibility and identity.

Transition to Global Economic Systems

  • Importance of understanding historical events leading to the present global economic structure.
  • The role of imperialism and economic relations:
    • Discussion on how imperialism set up a global economy that favors specific powers.
    • Examination of structures that perpetuate poverty and dependency in former colonies.

Global Economic Dynamics and Historical Context

Historical Overview

  • The evolution from world empires to colonial empires:
    • Shifting political and economic integration outcomes highlighting unequal roles in the global economy.
    • Definition of integration and peripheralization introduced:
    • Integration refers to entities becoming part of a global economy.
    • Peripheralization signifies various roles in that economy.
  • Discussion of imperial projects and their lasting impacts on land, labor, and resource management.

The Emergence of Neocolonial Dynamics

  • Recognition of how colonial legacies continue to shape current economic realities:
    • Continuing extraction of resources and labor from the global South to the North.
    • The concept of neocolonialism explained, emphasizing ongoing dependencies despite formal independence.

Class Closing Conversations

Reflections from the Film: "The End of Poverty"

  • Students share insights on:
    • Economic exploitation and the effects of colonial histories.
    • Discussion on globalization’s impacts and the ongoing economic extraction dynamics.
    • Recognition of movements towards economic independence and challenges faced by developing countries.

Guest Speaker Transition

  • Guest, Professor Gerard, set to address developments post-colonialism and the emerging global economic landscape.
    • Discussion on structural adjustments and neoliberal policies shaped by historical contexts.

Key Takeaways

  • The imperative to understand the relationship between poverty, political economy, and historical legacies.
  • Importance of diverse perspectives against the backdrop of globalization and imperial histories.
  • Exploration of new frameworks for thinking about economic and political relationships worldwide.