HIST 314: Globalization: History and Theory

Globalization: History and Theory

We know that we are living in an age of profound crisis and change. Many scholars call ours an era of globalization — some argue that we are now living through a period of accelerating “de-globalization.” But, do we really know what any of that means or what it signifies for the ways we live our lives? How does “globalization” as a concept or label help us make sense of our world? Is globalization an incremental process that has been going on for centuries or is it a dramatic new force re-shaping the world? Is globalization a process or an ideology? And, what of its consequences? Has globalization been good or bad for democracy? Has it made us more peaceful? Are we happier?

This course will pursue answers to these difficult questions by exploring the history of the concept of globalization itself, investigating it from a variety of diverse perspectives, and seeking to identify the multitude of visible and invisible ways in which our daily lives bring us into contact with the rest of the world. We will trace the history of global capitalism and discuss urgent questions about politics, economics, society and culture, In short, this semester, we will seek to determine how globalization has produced— and continues to produce—the bizarre world in which we live. 

Please note you need no economics knowledge to succeed in this class—just curiosity!