Globalization refers to a variety of political, economic, cultural, and social changes that are currently transforming our world. Countries are increasingly interconnected by flows of information, trade, money, immigrants, technology, and culture. Trans-national corporations and political organizations (e.g., the UN) have grown in size and influence, as have the organized social movements that lobby or oppose them. The goal of the course is clarify what globalization is and how it is affecting societies around the world. For instance, how does global trade affect jobs and the economy? Moreover, how do those effects differ depending upon whether you live in the Uganda, the U.S., India, or South Africa? How does the spread of political ideologies affect politics in the countries of Africa, Asia, and Latin America? How do international social movements and protesters affect government policies in different societies? This course provides an overview of globalization and its consequences, drawing on new theoretical ideas from sociology and related fields.
