Class Contact Hours: 3 Category in Major Program: Values, Cultures and Societies Cluster Prerequisites:

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1 Instructors: Part A: Jesús Seade, WYL307 Part B: Jeongwon B. Park WYL316 Part C: Chen Yun-chung, HSH113 Rethinking Global Issues Course Code: CLE9015 Recommended Year of Study: None No. of Credits/Term: 3 Mode of Tuition: Lecture-Tutorial Class Contact Hours: 3 Category in Major Program: Values, Cultures and Societies Cluster Prerequisites: None Course Aims: This course seeks to develop students ability to think critically and globally. They should be able to recognize that many global issues embody important value choices by mankind. Further, they should also comprehend inevitable conflicts of values that face the world community. Students should be able to consider different perspectives and alternatives on selected global issues, and develop skills such as problem-solving, presentation, debate, and team-work. Students will be required to select an important issue that challenges the world today and develop a set of feasible strategies or policies to resolve the problem. Students will gain greater insight into the critical issues of the world. Learning Outcomes: i. that students gain overall knowledge in current issues around the world; ii. that students demonstrate the ability to apply different perspectives (such as Cultural Studies, Socio-economic or Political Science) in the analysis of current global issues; iii. that students successfully develop skills in research, problem-solving, presentation, debating, and interview techniques through discussions and completion of term projects; iv. that students demonstrate appreciation of important value choices and value conflicts that are associated with global problem solving. Teaching Method: In addition to regular lectures and discussions, the class may utilize lectures by outside guests, such as foreign diplomatic officials in Hong Kong, international business leaders, local or international non-governmental organizations, to present their views on selected issues. Students may also work on team projects, attend cultural events, or design educational kits. Film screenings and literature appreciation are also ways to generate lively discussions and debates. Assessment of Outcomes i. Examinations are indicators of how well students could actively apply various perspectives in critical reflection of various global issues; 1

2 ii. Problem solving exercises and presentations will effectively develop students aptitude and knowledge in the various skills specified in the learning outcomes, such as interview, debating, presentation, problem-solving and research. Participation 20% Short essays or exercises 25% Presentation 25% Final exam 30% For their tutorial presentations, students should critically examine a global issue and give an informed analysis. In the problem-solving term paper exercise, each student will design a set of practical and realistic solutions for a current global challenge, such as confronting climate change, preserving cultural diversity, containing terrorism, or reducing poverty. The students need to produce a term paper to elaborate the suggestions and discuss the constraints in the implementation of the suggestions. Lecture (Wednesday) & tutorial (Thursday) time schedule Part A Lecture dates: 7, 14, 21, 28 Sep. Tutorial dates: 8 (topic discussion), 15, 22, 29 Sep. Part B Lecture dates: 5, 12, 19, 26 Oct. Tutorial dates: 6 (topic discussion), 13, 20, 27 Oct. Part C Lecture dates: 2, 9, 16, 23 Nov. Tutorial dates: 3 (topic discussion), 10, 17 Nov, 1 Dec. Tutorial arrangements Each Part consists of four tutorials. Students are expected to familiarize with at least one topic per part and provide one group presentation for each Part (depending on class size). Topics will be discussed at the beginning of each Part. All tutorials are compulsory as they provide an important learning environment. We are very serious about your attendance, without which neither presentation nor evaluation could be made properly or smoothly. No-shows without good reason will result in the reduction of your grade (e.g. B becomes B-). If you are sick, please supply an original copy of the doctor's notice for the day of your absence. 2

3 Recommended Textbooks: Richard J. Payne (4 th ed). Global Issues: Politics, Economics and Culture, Boston: Pearson. Michael T. Snarr and D. Neil Snarr (2012, 5 th ed.) Introducing Global Issues. Boulder, Colorado: Lynne Rienner Publishers. Lui Hebron and John Stack Jr. (2009) Globalization: Debunking the Myths. London: Longman. Students shall be aware of the University regulations about dishonest practice in course work and the possible consequences as stipulated in the Regulations Governing University Examinations. Part A Instructor: Prof Jesús Seade Supplementary reading: Introduction to International Political Economy, 5th Edition, by David N. Balaam and Bradford Dillman, Pearson, Sept 7. Globalisation and Financial Crises What led to the Asian Financial Crisis of 1997? And to the so-called Great Financial Crisis of ? How has the international community addressed the underlying causes of these costly developments? Sep 14. Global Inequality and Poverty Why does inequality matter? Why is this a global issue? What causes inequality? Is inequality increasing within countries? And among countries? And if so, why is that happening? What policies are called for to either address or deal with inequality? Sep 21. International Trade and Trading Blocks Conflict and Globalization as the origins of the GATT and the WTO. Why do countries erect Barriers to Trade and what shape do these take? Exchange Rates and Trade Deficits: what should be done about them? Trading Blocks. Sep 28. Environmental Protection Why is environment protection a global concern? Is differentiated responsibility a fair principle for global environmental protection? Should rich countries contribute more in controlling climate change? Should developing countries sacrifice their current economic gains for the past mistakes of rich countries? Part B Instructor: Prof Jeongwon B. Park Supplementary reading: Anil Hira and Theodore H. Cohn (2005) Toward a Theory of Global Regime Governance Int l. Journal of Political Economy 33(4):

4 Ole Magnus Theisen, Helge Holtermann, and Halvard Buhaug (2011) Climate Wars? Assessing the Claim That Drought Breeds Conflict International Security Vol. 36, No. 3 (Winter 2011/12): Jan Aart Scholte (2014) Reinventing global democracy, European Journal of International Relations 20(1): Lagos, Ricardo; Rosales, Osvaldo (2013) Globalization and Development Options, The Brown Journal of World Affairs 19(2) Rosemary Foot and Rana Siu Inboden (2014) China s Influence on Asian States during the Creation of the U.N. Human Rights Council: , Asian Survey 54(5) Lecture contents (indicative): I. Global governance - Concepts and actors of global governance - Regime theories and practice (eg. human rights regime) - International law and organisations - Rise of non-state actors and significance of public diplomacy II. Globalisation and democracy - Concepts of democracy - Supranational sovereignty and democracy beyond national borders - Interaction between globalisation and democratisation - Global citizenship III. Security problems in the globalising world - Conventional state-level security issues: war and terrorism, territorial disputes, nuclear proliferation - Non-conventional security issues: climate change and natural disasters, energy crisis, human security, refugees, cyber security - The roles and limits of the UN peacekeeping operations and humanitarian intervention IV. Globalisation and development - Impact of globalisation on the relationship between North and South - Ecological interconnectivity and sustainable development - International development aid: norms and principles Part C Instructor: Dr. Yun-chung CHEN Nov 2. Disneyization: Globalization of Western Media hegemony Are global culture truly global or merely Western? What are the role of the multinational corporations and global media enterprises in shaping our global culture? Will the uneven flow of cultural products led to the erosion of national/local culture? What kind of values is transferred in the process? What can be done to promote non-western perspectives? Can alternative news media play a role? 4

5 Nov 9. MacDonalization: Fastfood and consumerism Why and how MacDonalidization has become the dominant mechanism of globalization? What are the impact of fast-food industry on our loca1 culture? How has the globalization of cultural brands enhanced consumerism? Nov 16. Development versus Culture: Postcolonial Reclaiming of History and Space Government officials often said we should make a balance between development and culture. The real question is what are the cultures that worth promoting (global) while other kind of culture (often local) are labelled as merely obstruction of development? How do we understand cultural heritage for a postcolonial city? Nov 23. Cultural Preservation, Community Building and Direct Democracy Community Building has becoming a popular term in Asia. The major component of community building is rebuilding of local culture and local identity. What are the accomplishments of community building in Hong Kong? Who benefit from it? Why is community building often associate with direct democracy? What are the challenges ahead? 5