Course Syllabus
Athabasca University
Political Economy (POEC) 230
Globalization and World Politics
(Revision 1)
Delivery mode: Individualized study.
Credits: 3 - Social Science
Prerequisite: None.
Precluded course: POEC 230 is a cross-listed course—a course listed under 2 different disciplines—GLST 230. POEC 230 may not be taken for credit by students who have obtained credit for GLST 230.
Centre: Centre for Global and Social Analysis
POEC 230 has a Challenge for Credit option
Overview
This introductory course is designed for social science and humanities students and those interested in pursuing more advanced political economy courses. Globalization and World Politics introduces the theoretical and practical issues associated with the radical global processes that are now affecting human life locally and globally. The interdisciplinary readings emphasize the political-economic, cultural, institutional, technological, and ecological implications of globalization and allow students to evaluate whether these processes pose opportunities or challenges to individuals, societies, and the global community.
Outline
The course consists of the following thirteen units:
Unit 1: An Introduction to Globalization
Unit 2: Globalization: Debate and Speculation
Unit 3: Theoretical Explanations of Globalization
Unit 4: Mapping Globalization
Unit 5: International Political Economy in an Age of Globalization
Unit 6: Is Globalization Driven by the Market Mechanism?
Unit 7: Culture in World Affairs
Unit 8: Globalization: Toward a World Homogeneous Culture? Media, Human Rights, and Cultural Imperialism
Unit 9: Globalization and the Transformation of Political Community
Unit 10: Whither the State?
Unit 11: Globalization and the Institutional Challenge
Unit 12: Environmental Issues
Unit 13: Environmentalism and Globalization
Evaluation
To receive credit for POEC 230, you must complete all of the assignments, achieve a mark of at least 50 per cent on the final examination, and obtain a course composite grade of at least "D" (50 per cent) Grades will be distributed as follows:
| Assignment 1: Critical Media Analysis |
Assignment 2: Critical Book Review |
Final Exam | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| 25% | 30% | 45% | 100% |
To learn more about assignments and examinations, please refer to Athabasca University's online Calendar.
Course Materials
Textbooks
Baylis, John, and Steve Smith, eds. The Globalization of World Politics. Second edition. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2001.
Lechner, Frank J., and John Boli, eds. The Globalization Reader. Second edition. Malden, MA: Blackwell Publishers Inc., 2004.
Other Materials
The course materials include a study guide, a student manual, and reading file.
Athabasca University reserves the right to amend course outlines occasionally and without notice.
Courses offered by other delivery methods may vary from their individualized study counterparts.
Opened in Revision 1, Feb. 6, 2003.
