293NSOCV456M Social Change in the Era of Globalization Fall Semester, 2012/2013 Academic Year

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1 293NSOCV456M Social Change in the Era of Globalization Fall Semester, 2012/2013 Academic Year Course leader: Lecturer(s): Department: Dr. Attila Melegh Dr. Attila Melegh, Dr. Judit Keller, Institute of Sociology, Corvinus University Office hours: Thursday 16,00-17,00 Availability: Phone number: , Room: 407 address: Course type: Elective Prerequisites: No prerequisites Credits: 3/6 Number of hours per semester Two 90 minute classes per week = 43.5 hours per semester; the number of lectures and seminars; 1+1. Time of class: Monday 17,20-20,40 Venue: Room number C 316 Aims and objectives and description of the course: The course analyses the main social changes and its theories in the development of global society from the late 19th century. Learning outcomes: It invites students to learn certain analytical skills necessary for understanding sweeping changes taking place in the past and in the present globally during the last hundred years. It helps in developing skills in textual and statistical analysis vital for developing a critical insight into the interpretation of social trends and developments. It provides opportunity for the individual analysis of concrete social problems The students will be able to learn key concepts and some key methods of social sciences It will enable students to gain deep insight into social changes in societies hastily repositioned in global social and economic trends. Course description The course analyses the forms of social change and its theories from the late 19th century. The course critically reflects upon the general interpretation of these changes (among others: imperialism, modernization, dependency, world system theory) from the perspective of globalization. It provides an introduction to the interrelated topics of the development of modernity, capitalism, state socialism, migration, fertility, mortality, changes in social structure, inequality, poverty and other emerging social problems especially in a comparative context. The course utilizes some of the newest results in some areas of social change, most importantly demography. Therefore this course is a must for everybody who, as a would-be 1

2 economist, businessman, politician or administrative person would like to develop a broad interpretative perspective on social changes and social structures in our global society. Methodology to be used: Class time is based on the interactive group work of students and the instructor. Thus topics will be discussed and analyzed in the form of collective analysis during the classes on the basis of small tasks assigned to students. Individual participation of students in class room discussion is strongly encouraged. Detailed class schedule, 1 st 14 th week: Date of class Topics to be discussed, readings required for the class Week 1(Sept.9.) Globalisation and social change Week 2 (Sept 16.) Provincializing Europe and the myth of European superiority I. Week 3 (Sept. 23.) Provincializing Europe and the myth of European superiority II. Week 4 (Sept. 30.) Imperialism and colonialism I. Week 5 (Oct. 7.) Imperialism and colonialism II. Week 6(Oct. 14. ) Modernization theory I. Week 7 (Oct. 21.) Modernization theory II. Week 8 (Oct. 28) Midterm 1,5 hour long/dependency and world-system analysis (in the second part of the class) Week 9 (Nov. 4.) Dependency and world-system analysis II. Week 10 (Nov. 11.) Theories of globalization I. Week 11 (Nov. 18.) Theories of globalization II. Week 12 (Nov. 25.) The birth of the European Union and the collapse of the colonial system Week 13(Dec. 2.) Capitalism versus state socialism Week 14 (Dec. 9.) Global civil society and conclusions Assignments: All students are required to write one essay 2,500 words each (till week 14). These essays are to be discussed and revised individually. All students are required to make a class presentation during the term (class assignment)). They are also required to attend the class carefully and they should not miss more than 25% of the classes. Their activity is also assumed and required. Assessment, grading: Midterm test 35%, written essay, 35%, other class assignments 20%, class performance 10%. Examinations will be individual interpretation of concrete empirical material related to social problems, and the answering of general essay questions. Any academic dishonesty or plagiarism will lead to expulsion from the class. Compulsory readings: From Modernization to Globalization. Perspectives on Development and Social Change, ed. by Timmons Roberts and Amy Hite (Malden, Massachusetts Oxford, England: Blackwell, 2000) (available in an electronic format) 2

3 Böröcz, József The European Union and Global Social Change: A Critical Geopolitical- Economic Analysis. Routledge. London Further readings: Designated chapters of the following books: Césaire, Aimé (1972,2000): Discourse on colonialism. Monthly Review Press, New York. Attila Melegh: On the East/West Slope. Globalization, Nationalism, Racism and Discourses on East and Central Europe. CEU Press, 2006 (available in an electronic format) Chakrabarty, Dipesh (2000): Provincializing Europe. Postcolonial thought and historical difference. Princeton and Oxford: Princeton University Press. North, Douglass (1990) Institutions, Institutional Change and Economic Performance Cambridge, Cambridge University Press Pomeranz, Ken (2000) The Great Divergence. China, Europe and the Making of the Modern World Economy Princeton, Princeton University Press. Melegh, Attila (2011) Living to ourselves. Localizing global hierarchies in state socialist Hungary in the 1970s and 1980s. Journal of Modern European History. No. 2 August Attila Melegh, Arland Thornton, Dimiter Philipov and Linda Young-DeMarco (2010): Mapping Developmental Hierarchies in Europe: A Bulgarian Perspective. : Working Papers on Population, Family and Welfare. No. 13. Demographic Research Institute, Hungarian Central Statistical Office. Budapest. Also approved for publishing at European Sociological Review. (under revision) Chari, Sharad and Verdery, Catherine: Thinking between the Posts, Comparative Studies in Society and History, 2009, 51 (1) 6-34., Vladimir Lenin (1916) Imperialism. The Highest Stage of Capitalism. Written: January June, Source: Selected Works, Volume 1, pp First Published: Early 1917 Online Version: Lenin Internet Archive (marxists.org) 1999 Transcription/Markup: Tim Delaney Celine-Marie Pascale (2013) Social Inequality & The Politics of Representation. A Global Landscape. American University, Washington DC; pages SAGE Publications, Inc. Mary Kaldor, Helmut Anheier and Marlies Glasius. The Global Civil Societ Yearbook 2001 and Oxford University Press, London. Daron Acemoglu and James A. Robinson. Why Nations Fail?. Profile Books, London Roland Robertson. Globalization: Social Theory and Global Culture. Sage, London Anthony Giddens. The Consequences of Modernity. Polity Press, Stanford, CA Michael Featherstone and Roland Robertson (Eds.). Global Modernities. Sage, London

4 Korzeniewicz-Smith. (eds.) Latin America in the World Economy. Praeger, Westport Connecticut Grade Conversion Table for FBA Programs and Courses taught in English Percentage achieved Hungarian Grade ECTS Grade ISP Grade Explanation A A+ Excellent A A Excellent A A- Excellent B B+ Very good C B Good C B- Good C C+ Good D C Satisfactory D C- Satisfactory D D+ Satisfactory D D Low pass/sufficient E D- Low pass/sufficient FX/F F Fail, 0 credit N N No grade received, 0 credit Detailed Schedule Globalisation and social change (September 9) The seminar provides an introduction to the processes of social changes and its interpretation in the era of globalization. It interprets the basic introductory concepts in social sciences of globalisation and social change, development, progress, such as institutions, institutional change, path-dependence. Linear change versus rupture, decline and fall versus cyclical change. Introduction: From Modernization to Globalization. Perspectives on Development and Social Change, ed. by Timmons Roberts and Amy Hite (Malden, Massachusetts Oxford, England: Blackwell, 2000) (available in an electronic format) North, Douglass (1990). An introduction. Institutions, Institutional Change and Economic Performance Cambridge, Cambridge University Press Film: Nyikita Mihalkov: Family Relations. (Rodnya) Soviet film minutes. Task beyond reading: Collect example in arts (literature, film, other forms of visual art) for the description of large scale social change. You may show examples during the next class. 4

5 Provincializing Europe and the myth of European superiority (September 16-23) The class analyses why theories of the birth of global capitalism are problematic and what new perspectives we have to take. As a related problem it also works on symbolic hierarchies of human worth are closely attached to systems of domination. The seminar looks at the production of symbolic hierarchies typical to the modern world. Looking at the examples of racism, colonialism and the East-West slope in postsocialism, we will interpret hierarchical scales of human worth as elements of political economies that distribute wealth along naturalized lines of difference. Chapter 1 (Marx) and chapter 3 (Weber). From Modernization to Globalization. Perspectives on Development and Social Change, ed. by Timmons Roberts and Amy Hite (Malden, Massachusetts Oxford, England: Blackwell, 2000) (available in an electronic format) Pomeranz, Ken (2000) The Great Divergence. China, Europe and the Making of the Modern World Economy Princeton, Princeton University Press., Introduction. Böröcz, József The European Union and Global Social Change: A Critical Geopolitical- Economic Analysis. Routledge. London Chapter 1. Attila Melegh: On the East/West Slope. Globalization, Nationalism, Racism and Discourses on East and Central Europe. CEU Press, 2006 (available in an electronic format) Film: Safari. 8 minutes documentary on a Roma community Task beyond reading: Write down three paragraphs on what capitalism is. Analyse long term GDP/capita time series for five countries for five hundred years. Analyse one short text in terms of hierarchical representation. Imperialism and colonialism (September 30-October 7) These two classes introduce the basic ideas of the theory of imperialism as a key theory on global change in the early 20 th century. We look at the process of colonization and what theoretical insights can be gained if the size and strength of European colonizers is taken into account. We also look at the discursive elements of colonialism and how it is intertwined with social change. The links between gender and colonialism will also be analysed. Césaire, Aimé (1972,2000): Discourse on colonialism. Monthly Review Press, New York. Böröcz, József The European Union and Global Social Change: A Critical Geopolitical- Economic Analysis. Routledge. London Chapter 2. Vladimir Lenin (1916) Imperialism. The Highest Stage of Capitalism. Written: January June, Source: Selected Works, Volume 1, pp First Published: Early 1917 Online Version: Lenin Internet Archive (marxists.org) 1999 Transcription/Markup: Tim Delaney Chapter 6-9. Film: Black Venus (French: Vénus noire), 2010 French drama film, 159 minutes. This will require further time to watch Task: Look at the story of the victims of the Mau-Mau rebellion. 5

6 Modernization theory (October 14-21) This seminar will present a variety of understandings of modernization and social development. Starting with the fundamental belief of classical modernisation theorists that economic development and industrialisation directly lead to political and social change for the better, the class will also discuss the contemporary institutionalist debate on the relationship between economic development and socio-political change. From Modernization to Globalization. Perspectives on Development and Social Change, ed. by Timmons Roberts and Amy Hite (Malden, Massachusetts Oxford, England: Blackwell, 2000) (available in an electronic format) Chapter 5 (Rostow) "Some Social Requisites of Democracy." By Seymour Martin Lipset. American Political Science Review 53, no. 1 (1959): pp Evelyne Huber, Dieterich Rueschemeyer, John D. Stephens. The Impact of Economic Development on Democracy. Journal of Economic Perspectives. Vol. 7., No. 3. (Summer 1993), Chapter 9 (Huntington) from Modernization to Globalization. Perspectives on Development and Social Change, ed. by Timmons Roberts and Amy Hite (Malden, Massachusetts Oxford, England: Blackwell, 2000) (available in an electronic format) Daron Acemoglu and James A. Robinson. The Making of Prosperity and Poverty. In Why Nations Fail?. Profile Books, London Midterm (October 28): Answering open questions on major reviewed theories and arguments. One and a half hours long. Dependency and world system analysis (November 4). The seminar provides a general description of these two classic theories of social and economic development and their relevance in understanding the development in semiperipheral region. It considers the problem of dependency, industrialization and agrarian crises and their socio-political consequences. It provides also a general framework for analysing the rise of anti-liberal regimes between the two world wars and interprets social change under state socialism. It concludes with the analysis of the re-emergence of a new-old liberal regime and globalization during the 1980s. Reading: From Modernization to Globalization. Perspectives on Development and Social Change, ed. by Timmons Roberts and Amy Hite (Malden, Massachusetts Oxford, England: Blackwell, 2000) (available in an electronic format) Chapters 10,11, 13, 14 Film: Blood in the mobile. Documentary. Task: Look for terms of trade statistics and gdp data and make links 6

7 Theories of Globalization (November 11-18) The class begins by Cardoso s own revisiting of his theory on dependency in the globalized arena. Moving on to the more general level, the class provides a general framework for the analysis of trends in social change affected by globalization. Analysing and discussing the most important pieces written in the field of the sociology of globalization, the seminar intends to closely define the concept of globalization and socio-political process related to it; such as glocalization. It will also touch upon alternative understandings of global processes, such as transnationalization and its various dimensions (gender, migration, development). From Modernization to Globalization. Perspectives on Development and Social Change, ed. by Timmons Roberts and Amy Hite (Malden, Massachusetts Oxford, England: Blackwell, 2000) (available in an electronic format) Chapter 18. (D. Harvey) 19 (Rodrik) F.H. Cardoso. New Paths: Globalization in Historical Perspectives. Studies in Comparative Development. (2009). 44: Saskai Sassen. The Global City: Introducing a Concept. The Brown Journal of World Affairs. Winter/Spring Volume XI, Issue 2. Anthony Giddens. The Institutional Dimensions of Modernity. In The Consequences of Modernity. Polity Press, Stanford, CA Roland Robertson. Globalization as a Problem. Globalization: Social Theory and Global Culture. Sage, London pp8-32. Global fifties 1: The birth of the European Union and the collapse of the colonial system (November 25) The class tackless the reasons behind the birth of EU from the point of view of global social change. It focuses how the process was related to macro economic changes, the consequences of the Second World War and the attempt to maintain a key position for European states in the global competition. Reading: Böröcz, József The European Union and Global Social Change: A Critical Geopolitical-Economic Analysis. Routledge. London Chapter 4. Film: Battle of Algir, Task: individual final essay Capitalism versus state socialisms (December 2) The seminar introduces the most important concepts and phenomena related to changes in the 1980s and 1990s. It discusses the ways how these theories are related to the previous ones and how they can be useful in the analyses of recent changes and the collapse of state socialism. Reading: Böröcz, József The European Union and Global Social Change: A Critical Geopolitical-Economic Analysis. Routledge. London Chapter 3. 7

8 Film: Lumumba. Task: individual final essay Conclusions: The concluding session introduces the concept of global civil society and discusses its coming about since the 1990s. The class maps out the possible roles global civil society can play in the globalized world and the alternative answers it can give to contemporary social, economic and political problems induced by globalization. Mary Kaldor, Helmut Anheier, Marlies Glasius (Eds.). Introducing Global Civil Society. In Global Civil Society in an Era of Regressive Globalization. Global Civil Societ Yearbook Oxford University Press, London. John Keane. Global Civil Society? In Global Civil Society in an Era of Regressive Globalization. Global Civil Societ Yearbook Oxford University Press, London. Mary Kaldor, Helmut Anheier, Marlies Glasius (Eds.). Global Civil Society in an Era of Regressive Globalization. Global Civil Societ Yearbook Oxford University Press, London. Final essay historical time series for the last 30 years for five countries at least three continents. 8