Professors

Yannick Lung (Université de Bordeaux)

Schedule

Tuesday
From 15:15
to 16:45
Thursday
From 15:15
to 16:45

 

Course description

We are daily supporting a lot of news about globalization, most people not having the basic knowledge to have a critical distance to parse such information. It seems useful to propose to students some basic elements of political economy analysis to understand better these changes. Different dimensions of the process of globalization (economic globalization; globalization of finance, of science and technologies, or of higher education; social and environmental challenges, etc.) will be presented and discussed.

Globalization is not a linear and irreversible quiet path towards a peaceful integrated world. Contradictory trends, resistances and fights for powerful situations have to be considered to understand this process.

The course will give key elements to understand globalization discussing the contradictory factors of homogenization / differentiation in ways of life, consumption, organization of production, culture, ideas, etc., analysing the changing relationships of dominance and dependence between countries, firms and institutions; and considering this process using a multilevel scale, articulating local, national and regional governance.

 

Learning outcomes of the course

The course proposes a large overview of the different dimensions of the globalization process, giving to students a basic political economic culture of the current changes, their dynamic and their issues. It will give them key tools to have a more critical understanding of news and discourses on globalization.

 

Syllabus

Detailed organization of the course (may be subject to changes):

  • Introduction: Basic concepts (internationalisation / regionalization / globalization – world-economy)

Part 1 – Historical approaches to globalization

  • Globalization: A long term historical framework
  • Venice, a world city?
  • The Mediterranean seas
  • The silk road: Past and future
  • Globalization: Recent trends

Part 2 – Theoretical frameworks

  • Theories of globalization
  • Orientalism
  • Nation-state
  • Hyper-places

Part 3 – Globalization as an economic process

  • Does global markets exist?
  • The changing international division of labour
  • The dominance of multinational firms
  • The triumph of global finance
  • Globalization of science and technology

Part 4 – Societal issues associated to globalization

  • Changing Higher Education Systems in competition
  • Globalization and Inequalities
  • Globalization and Migration
  • Global environmental challenges
  • Globalization of arts and culture

To conclude

  • Globalization and regulation
  • De-globalization or new phase?

 

Teaching and evaluation methods

The course will be organised as following:

  • Lectures will give basic knowledge,
  • Associated documents (book excerpts, papers, websites to visit, MOOC, movies, etc.) will be suggested and discussed collectively.
  • A group work with enquiry to be realized in Venice.

Evaluation of students will be based on their regular participation and involvement (30%), on group work (30%) and on an essay (short paper, video, slide show) to be prepared at home on a specific topic to be selected jointly with the student (40%).

 

Bibliography

Main references to be used:

  • Ritzer, George and Paul Dean, Globalization: A Basic Text, Wiley Blackwell, 2nd Edition, 2015
  • Ritzer, George and Paul Dean (eds.), Reading in Globalization: Key Concepts and Major Debates, Wiley Blackwell, 2010

Additional printed or electronic documents will be available on the VIU Moodle platform.

 

Venice
International
University

Isola di San Servolo
30133 Venice,
Italy

-
phone: +39 041 2719511
fax:+39 041 2719510
email: viu@univiu.org

VAT: 02928970272