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    ESF II project of University of West Bohemia

    reg. number: CZ.02.2.69/0.0/0.0/18_056/0013239


    This work is licensed under a Creative commons 4.0 BY-SA license

     


    The course KAP/GLDG is focused on the problems of globalization in contemporary world. Initially, it will be aimed at defining the phenomenon and at tackling advantages and disadvantages of it. Subsequently, it will reveal paradigms and concepts of globalization on a wider scale from "McDonaldization" (George Ritzer) over the end of history (Francis Fukuyama) to Network society (Manuel Castells). In a following part, the course will be focused more in a detailed way on political, economic, technological, media and environmental dimension of globalization. In relation to these relevant phenomenons, the course will be strictly focused on the views from neomarxist, liberal and conservative positions. Analogously, it will pay attention to introduce optimistic, pesimistic and sceptical positions to these segments of globalization. Next, the course will be focused on case studies of the most relevant countries - the USA, China, India and Russia and it will explore these countries for their role in global affairs in terms of political and economic strategies including their "soft" powers.

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    Globalisation: in the sought for definition, advantages and disadvantages and major problems under scrutiny.

    Initially, the course is focused on the problems of globalization in contemporary world.


    The focus will be on the gobal problems and threats as suggested by Center Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) and a Pew Research Center:

    - immigration

    - security threats and cyberthreats

    - economic divide (North-South)

    - environmental problems

    - rise of disinformation and fake news

    - pandemie


    Further it will be introduced that the course will be aimed at defining the phenomenon and at tackling advantages and disadvantages of it while focusing on its following five dimensions:

    -          political,

    -          economical,

    -          technological,

    -          media,  

    -          environmental,

    Most importantly, the definition of globalisation will be sought and its origin, development and periodization as viewed by different authors will be also introduced in the lecture.

    Recommended literature:
    I. Global issues:
    1) "Global Issues". In: United Nations. Peace, dignity and equality on a healthy planet. Online: https://www.un.org/en/global-issues/.
    2) "5 Global Issues to Watch in 2021. " In: United Nations Foundation. Online: https://unfoundation.org/blog/post/five-global-issues-to-watch-in-2021/.
    3) "What are the 10 biggest global challenges?" In: World Economic Forum. Online: https://www.weforum.org/agenda/2016/01/what-are-the-10-biggest-global-challenges/
    4) Our Global Challenges. In: Center Strategic and International Studies (CSIS). Online: https://www.csis.org/programs/former-programs/our-global-challenges.
    5) Fagan, Moira - Haung, Christine (2020): "Many globally are as concerned about climate change as about the spread of infectious diseases". In: Pew Research Center. Online: https://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2020/10/16/many-globally-are-as-concerned-about-climate-change-as-about-the-spread-of-infectious-diseases/.
    II. Definition of globalization:
    1) "Globalization" (2018). In: Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy, 2018. Online: https://plato.stanford.edu/entries/globalization/.
    2) Reich, Simon (1998): "What is Globalization? Four Possible Answers." In: Working Paper #261 - Dec 1998. The Helen Kellogg Institute for International Studies. Online: https://kellogg.nd.edu/sites/default/files/old_files/documents/261.pdf. 
    3) Nayef R. F. Al-Rodhan (2006): "Definitions of Globalization: A Comprehensive Overview and a Proposed Definition". Geneva Centre for Security Policy (GCSP), 19.6.2006. Online: https://citeseerx.ist.psu.edu/viewdoc/download?doi=10.1.1.472.4772&rep=rep1&type=pdf. 
    III. When the globalization started and how it has developed?
    1) Baylis, John - Smith, Steve - Owens, Patricia (2020): The Globalization of World Politics. An Introduction to International Relations (8th edition).
    2) Zakaria, Fareed ():
    3) Friedman, Thomas L. (): The World is Flat.
    4) Kevin O’Rourke - Jeffrey Williamson (2000): "When did Globalization Begin?" In: Working Paper 7632. Online: https://www.nber.org/system/files/working_papers/w7632/w7632.pdf.
    5) Giddens, Anthony (1991): "The Consequences of Modernity". Polity Press: Cambridge.
    6) Beck, Ulrich (2002): "What is Globalization?" In: Polity Press: Cambridge.

    Questions for students related to the lecture:

    A) Global issues:
    1) Can you count around 10 global major issues? 
    2) What kind of international/global institutions care for global issues?
    3) What is the difference in viewing global issues among citizens of different countries?

    B) Definition of globalization:
    1) How can you define globalization?
    2) Why globalization can be viewed from many major dimensions - political, economical, technological, media and environmental?

    C) Periodization of Globalization - when and why and how?
    Explain why some authors argue that globalization:
    i) always existed,
    ii) started in modern period,
    iii) started around y. 1800 (industrial revolution),
    iv) started around second half of 20th century,
    v) started during the fall of communism after 1989,
    vi) never existed. 
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    Paradigms and theories of globalization

    In this part, the course will reveal

    A)

    paradigms, theories and concepts of globalization on a wider scale ranging from

    a) globalists

    to

    b) hyperglobalists

    and

    c) post-sceptics (transformalists) (as divided by Robert Holton).


    B)

    Further, the focus will be taken on critical understanding of the major paradigms of globalization which emerged in social sciences area with last decades as e.g.:

    a) Ulrich Beck and "The Risk Society";

    b) George Ritzer and "McDonaldization";

    b) Thomas L. Friedman and "The World is Flat";

    c) Hommi Bhabba and "Hybridization";

    d) Marshall McLuhan and "The World as a Global Village";

    e) Francis Fukuyama and "The End of History";

    f) Samuel Huntington and "The Lonely Superpower";

    g) Samuel Huntington and "The Clash of Civilization";

    h) Manuel Castels and the Network Society;

    i) Immanuel Wallerstein and the World-systems theory.


    Recommended literature:

    A) Globalists? Hyperglobalists? Post-sceptics?

    Martell, Luke (2007): "The Third Wave In Globalization Theory "  International Studies Review, Vol. 9, No. 2, 173-196 (accesible from database Ebsco at the West Bohemia University).

    Holton, Robert (2005): Making Globalisation. Basingstoke: Palgrave.


    B) 

    Beck, Ulrich (1992): "The Risk Society. Towards a New Modernity."  University of Munich (G): SAGE Publication Ltd. 

    Friedman, Thomas L. (2007): The World Is Flat. A Bried History of the Twenty-First Century. Picador 2007.

    Ritzer, George (1993): The McDonaldization of Society an investigation into the changing character of contemporary social life. University of Maryland: SAGE Publication Ltd.

    Olos, Ana (2003): "Message, Medium and Massage in the Global Village according to McLuhan". Online: https://digilib.phil.muni.cz/bitstream/handle/11222.digilib/116063/2_CentralEuropeanJournalCanadian_3-2003-1_10.pdf?sequence=1

    Fukuyama, Francis (1989): "The End of History". The National Interest, No. 16, Summer 1989, pp. 3-18 (accesible from Jstor university database).

    Khanna, Parag (2021): The New ' End of History'. The National Interest, March 6, 2021. Online: https://nationalinterest.org/feature/new-%E2%80%98end-history%E2%80%99-179347

    Mostafaee, Jalal (2016): "Investigating Identity, Ambivalence, Hybridity: A Bhabhaian Reading of J. M. Coetzee’s Foe and Disgrace". In: Advances in Language and Literary Studies, Vol. 7, No. 6.

    Huntington, Samuel (1999): The Lonely Superpower. March/April 1999. Online: https://www.foreignaffairs.com/articles/united-states/1999-03-01/lonely-superpower.

    Huntington, Samuel (1993): "The Clash of Civilizations?" Foreign Affairs, Vol. 72, No. 3, Summer 1993, 22-49 (accesible from Jstor university database). 

    Castels, Manuel (2005):  "The Network Society: from Knowledge to Policy". In: Castells. Manuel - Cardoso, Gustavo (eds.): The Network Society From Knowledge To Policy. The Centre for Transatlantic Relation: The John Hopkins University, pp. 3-22. Online: https://www.dhi.ac.uk/san/waysofbeing/data/communication-zangana-castells-2006.pdf

    Wallerstein, Immanuel (1974): "The Rise and Future Demise of the World Capitalist System: Concepts for ComparativeAnalysis". Comparative Studies in Society and History, Vol. 16, No. 4 (Sep., 1974), pp. 387-415.

    Questions for students related to the lecture:
    A)
    i) Can you explain differences between "Globalists" // "Hyperglobalists" // "Post-sceptics?"
    ii) What is your standpoint in regard to the three standpoints above?

    B)
    i) What is the risk society (Ulrich Beck)? Explain the logic and say whether it may be correct.
    ii) Is the world really flat in terms Thomas L. Friedman was coined? Explain and argue for it (equality of opportunities for everyone) or against it (disparities prevail or are even on the rise).
    iii) What is the logic of the McDonaldization concept? Do you agree with it? Explain and argue for it or against it.
    iv) What is the logic of the Global Village paradigm? Do you agree with it (that the world is narrowing in an optimistic way and that it is based primarily on communication) or are you for or against it? Why?
    v) Explain the concept the end of history coined once by Francis Fukuyama. Is there the end of history or not? Argue for or against the concept.
    vi) What does mean the concept of hybridity? Does it apply to the feature of globalization or not? Argue for or against the concept.
    vii) Is the USA lonely superpower or not (any more)? Explain the view introduced by Huntington and discuss it.
    viii) Is the "The Clash of Civilizations?" concept applicable to contemporary world realities? Argue for or against the concept.
    ix) Is the unequal economic power and North vs. South divide major problem of globalisation? Explain I. Wallerstein´s concept and argue for or against it.
    x) How applicable can be the Network Society for the network society?

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    Political dimension of globalization

    In this section, the course will be focused on political dimension of globalisation, which embrasses range of issues on the following three levels:

    a) global;

    b) state;

    b) micro (incl. regional). 

    On the global level, there are issues to be discussed as "cosmopolitan democracy", "global governance", the "Lonely Superpower", "post-American world", "Rise and Fall of Chinamerica", the problems of immigration, global terrorism, pandemy etc.

    On the state level, there are issues to be discussed as declining power of the nation-states, rising power of some of the states, the national interests and state nationalism in general in the global world order etc.

    Finally, on the micro (incl. regional) level, the process of regionalization of the existing states and of secessionist attempts including the emergence of the Quasi-states phenomenon and "black holes" behaved by organized crime gangs or/and terrorists which means that the phenomenon of terrorist semi-states will be also included into the course.


    Recommended literature:

    A) Cosmopolitan democracy:

    Held, David (2005): Cosmopolitan Democracy and the Global Order: Reflections on the 200th Anniversary of Kant´s "Perpetual Peace". Alternatives: Global, Local, Political, Vol. 20, No. 4 (Oct.-Dec. 1995), 415-429.

    Held, David - Archiburgi, Daniele (2011): "Cosmopolitan Democracy. Paths and Agents". Ethics and International Affairs, Vol. 25, No. 4, 433-461. Online:
    http://www.danielearchibugi.org/downloads/papers/2017/11/Archibugi_Held_CD-Paths-and-Ways.pdf

    Martell, Luke (): Beck’s Cosmopolitan Politics. In: Contemporary Politics, Vol. 14, No. 2, June 2008. Online (draft version): https://core.ac.uk/download/pdf/2724008.pdf

    B) Global governance:

    Weiss, Thomas G. (2000): "Governance, Good Governance and Global Governance: Conceptual and Acutal Challenges". Third World Quarterly, Vol. 21, No. 5 (Oc. 2000), 795-814. Online: https://sta.uwi.edu/iir/normangirvanlibrary/sites/default/files/normangirvanlibrary/documents/Governance%20good%20governance%20and%20global%20governance.pdf

    Mathias Koenig-Archibugi (2003): "Mapping Global Governance". In: Held, David - McGrew, Anthony (eds.): Governing Globalization: Power, Authority and Global Governance. Polity Press, Cam-bridge (UK).

    C) Powers and Superpowers after the fall of Communism

    Huntington, Samuel (1999): "The Lonely Superpower". Foreign Affairs. March/April 1999. Online: https://www.foreignaffairs.com/articles/united-states/1999-03-01/lonely-superpower.

    Zakaria, Fareed (2008): The Post-American World. W. W. Norton: London - New York. Online: https://azadegan.info/files/Post%20American%20World.pdf

    Handel, Jones (2010): Chinamerica: The Uneasy Partnership that Will Change the World. ‎ McGraw-Hill Education (1st edition).

    Fenggang Yang (2016): Exceptionalism or Chinamerica: Measuring Religious Change in the Globalizing World Today. Journal for the Scientific Study of Religion, Vol. 55, No. 1, March 2016, 7-22. Online: https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/jssr.12253

    Questions for students related to the lecture:

    A) Cosmopolitan democracy:
    i) What is cosmopolitan democracy?
    ii) Does the concept of cosmopolitan democracy mirrors the global order in reality or is that only an optimistic vision which failed? Why so?

    B) Global governance:
    What is global governance and (how) does it work?

    C) Any Super(powers) in a new world order?
    i) Is (was) the US only superpower after the end of communism? If so, explain and argue if not explain and argue (for // against).
    ii) Rise of China - explain the causes, dynamics and (possible) consequences.



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    Economical dimension of globalization

    Economical dimension of globalization deserves special attention as economy belongs to most relevant force forming contempoary world affairs.

    At first, theories of globalisation related to economy will be reflected and critically examined such as

    - the neomarxist thougt in the global world order;

    - the World-systems theory (Immanuel Wallerstein);

    - (neo-)liberal and libertarian theories of globalization;

    - conservative economic view on economic globalisation;

    In fact, above mentioned economic theories will be discussed in confrontation with the real economic realities, i. e. impact of world economies on continents, states, regions and ordinary people including minorities of any kind (ethnic, religous, linguistic, LGTB). Among the major topics, there will be raised the issue of "North-South divide", "internal colonization" and the issue of "peripheries" in the rich world, "open", "semi-closed" and "closed" economies, world trade "(de-)regulations" etc.


    Recommended literature:

    A) Neomarxism and anti-capitalism

    O’Connor John (2010): Marxism and the Three Movements of Neoliberalism. Critical Sociology, Vol. 36, No. 5, 691-71. Online: https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/pdf/10.1177/0896920510371389

    Kiely, Ray (2005): The Clash of Globalisations. Neo-Liberalism, the Third Way and Anti-Globalisation. Brill: Leiden - Boston. Online: http://www.gci.org.uk/Documents/CLash.pdf

    Robinson, William I. (2011): Globalization and the sociology of Immanuel Wallerstein: A critical appraisal.  International Sociology, 1-23. Online: https://escholarship.org/uc/item/9c21h2pv


    B) (Neo-)liberal and libertarian theories of globalization;

    Kotz, David M. (2000): Globalization and Neoliberalism. Rethinking Marxism, Vol. 12, No. 2, Summer 2002, 64-79. Online: https://people.umass.edu/dmkotz/Glob_and_NL_02.pdf

    Oppenheimer, Michael F. (2007/2008): "The end of Liberal Globalization". In: World Policy Institute. Winter 2007/2008. Online: http://www.eastlaw.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/The-End-of-Liberal-Globalization.pdf


    C) Ideologies of globalization

    Manfred B. Steger (2005): "Ideologies of globalization". In: Journal of Political Ideologies, 2005), Vol. 10, No. 1, 11–30. Online: http://socialsciences.people.hawaii.edu/publications_lib/JPI%20Ideologies%20of%20globalization%20%20final.pdf


    Questions for the students related to the lecture:

    A) Neomarxism and anti-capitalism

    i) How the Marxian political economy criticise capitalism?
    ii) How Neo-marxists criticize post-War Golden-Age of capitalism (neoliberalism)?
    iii) "Anti-Globalization" movements today - what they are, what they do and their critical review
    iv) globalization and I. Wallerstein under scrutiny? Right or failure?

    B) Neo-liberal and libertarian theories of globalization

    i) What are neo-liberal and libertarian theories of globalization?

    ii) Describe them critically.


    C) Ideologies of globalization.
    What are the "Six core claims of globalism" (as introduced by Manfred B. Steger, 2005)? 

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    Technological dimension of globalization

    The „technological knowledge“ belongs to one of the five „spheres of globalization“ (see Arjun Appadurai) and due to its importance it will be encompassed into the lectures. This part of the course will start with the postmodern philosophical reflection. French sceptical postmodern political theory with prominent philosopher Jean-François Lyotard and his book The Postmodern Condition (1979).

    Further, this theory will be confronted with advantages and disadvantages of technological globalization which will be analysed and discussed during the course. There is a wide range of issues worth to be reflected with technological innovation and its impact on one world economy, easy trade, online communities, reducing poverty, digital divide, mechanization, computerization, automatization and the fate of human workforce.

    The teacher of the course will trigger discussion over the rising economic and political power by some of the states as well as „colonization“ of the society by the Multinational Technology Corporations (Microsoft, Apple and Google) which became important part of the global world order as well as rising power of some of the world powers due to technological advancement (the USA and Arpanet, China and Huawei etc.).  

    Lastly, on global, state and micro level, the role of technologies in mutual cooperation among the states (e.g. covid pass), in building up effective e-state, e-governance and smart cities will be also taken into consideration during the lecture.


    Recommended literature:

    The Postmodern Condition (1979) of F. Lyotard rewived and reproduced here. Online: http://lcwu.edu.pk/ocd/cfiles/English/MS-ENG-701/ThePostmodernConditionbyJean-FrancoisLyotard.pdf

    Castells, ManuelI (1999): "Information Technology, Globalization and Social Development." In: UNRISD Discussion Paper No. 114, September 1999. UN research institute for social development. Online: https://unrisd.org/80256B3C005BCCF9/(httpAuxPages)/F270E0C066F3DE7780256B67005B728C/$file/dp114.pdf

    Rycroft, Robert W. (2003): "Technology-based globalization indicators: the centrality of innovation network data. Technology in Society, Vol. 25, no. 3, Aug. 2003, 299-317. Online: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0160791X03000472


    Kordos, Marcel - Vojtovic, Sergej (2016): "Transnational corporations in the global world economic environment." 

    International Conference on New Challenges in Management and Organization: Organization and Leadership, 2 May 2016, Dubai, UAE Transnational corporations in the global world economic environment. Procedia - Social and Behavioral Sciences 230 ( 2016), 150–158. Online (accesible via internet):


    Manoharan, Aroon P. - Alex Ingrams - Dongyoen Kangc Rutgers and Haoyu Zhao (2020): Globalization and Worldwide Best Practices in E-Government. International Journal of Public Administration, Vol. 44, No. 6, 465-476. Online: https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/01900692.2020.1729182


    Question asked to the students:

    i) Why F. Lyotard was sceptical towards technological determination of postmodern age?

    ii) Why Manuel Castells was optimistic about the role of technology in the process of globalization?

    iii) What is the role of TNK (transnational corporations) in the world economy and global power (in relation to states)?

    iv) What does it mean e-state, e-governance and which states are best at it?

    v) why neomarxists criticize technocratic globalization?



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    Media and social media in the age of globalization

    Above mentioned technological dimension is narrowly tied to media, internet and to the social media in consideration of their impact on society and politics in the global age. In fact, „mediatization“ of the post-modern societies belongs to one of the most important transformation of the 20th century societies.

    At the beginning, it will be introduced the thought of Jean Baudrillard - coining "hyperrealism" and "simulacrum" - and of Neil Postman - coining the promotional role of the TV being as a meta-medium in the case of infotainment. Later, both sceptical (e.g. neomarxist – see Critical theory and electronic media by Vincent Mosco and Andrew Herman) and optimistic (e.g. de facto communitarian Marshall McLuhan´s notion on the "global village" and pro-liberal view formed by Thomas L. Friedman in his claim that "the World is Flat") views on impact of the media on contemporary societies will become part of the lectures. Later, the view of cyberoptimists, cybersceptics, and cyberpesimists will be also introduced. Naturally, the focus will include the post-truth age phenomenon and production and dissemination of the fake news and disinformation for political purposes in contemporary world also.

    In confrontation with practical realities, media, social media and internet will be reflected in a following order ranging from global to local level.

    a) the role of global powerful media network (such as CNN, Fow News, Al Jazeera, Reuters);

    b) the public diplomacy of the organization and some of the states (the EU, the US);

    c) paradiplomacy of some non-states actors (e.g. seceding units);

    d) the impact of internet and social media on communities; political participation and the netizens.

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    Environmental dimension of globalization

    Environmental dimension of the globalization belongs to one of the most important levels under investigation of scholars (and attention paid to them by media and the people). 

    At the beginning of this part of the course, theory of the population growth model (Thomas Malthus) and the Thoreau´s environmental ethics will be mentioned. Subsequently, emergence of new social movements with special focus on environmentalism from 1950s and 1960s will be taken into consideration. Later, political thought of influential environmentalists (e.g. Arne Naess and deep ecology, James Lovelock and the Gaia theory, The Limits to Growth concept introduced by the Donella H. Meadows and Dennis L. Meadows) will be analysed more thoroughly than the previous issues. The same applies for founder of environmental ethic tied to animal liberation (as argued by Peter Singer).


    Apart from environmentalist theories and theorians,

    a) practical political realities in a global world order will be introduced to students (as e.g. global agreement "Montreal Protocol" and "Kyoto Protocol" global agreements and its implementation and the environmental global policy of the EU)

    b) green parties in a global coordination if their policies, global environmental NGOs (e.g. Greenpeace) and activism of individuals (as e.g. Greta) will be introduced, analysed and discussed in detailed way to the students. 

    c) further, actual issues as a fate of nuclear energy, carbon, fossil fuels like coal and on oncoming fossil fuel depletion will be discussed with students during the course.

    d) lastly, migration would be significant part of this lecture as it is one of the main feature of globalization.  

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    The USA and the global world order

    In this part, the course will be aimed at important state actors in world politics starting with the USA.

    In this regard, relevant role of the USA in a global world order will be introduced.

    First, paradigms and concepts related to the future of the USA - such as The Lonely Superpower, Chinamerica, Crisis of American Identity -  will be discussed in confrontation with contemporary realities.

    Further, the impact of globalization on the US foreign policy as related to security and securitized issues (e.g. the war on terror concept) will be examined during the course. The same applies for the role of the US in the global economy and its trade war with China. The impact of economic dimension of globalization on the population will be also taken into consideration (e.g. economic marginalization and the rise of the Trumpism and economic marginalization of some ethnic groups in the USA).



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    China and the global world order

    After the USA, China is considered as a second world power with rising potential in world politics. Therefore it will be taken into consideration for the lecture as second most important country in the world affairs.

    China´s strive for hegemony and supremacy will be discussed in a following related areas:

    First, China’s disputes (e.g. trade war, security issues, human rights issues) with the USA will be encompassed into the lectures.

    Second, interest of China into non-Western and non-democratic areas will be taken into consideration during the lectures - in the "global South" and on the Belt and Road Initiative in particular. 

    Third, the focus of the lecture will turn on China´s raising pressure on HongKong and Taiwan in contemporary global order.

    Fourth, a proactive public policy will be also analyzed and discussed.


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    Russia and the global world order

    After the USA and China, the Russia may be still considered as the world power in world politics. Therefore it will be taken into consideration for the lecture among the most relevant countries in the world affairs.

    Russia´s strategies in world politics and for a hegemony in the ex-USSR are will be discussed in a following related areas:

    First, Russia´s strategy in its foreign policy vs. USA, China and the BRICS in general will be discussed.

    Second, Russia´s strategy in its foreign policy towards the EU will be taken into consideration.  

    Third, Russia´s strategy in ex-USSR territory with its non-recognition policy towards Kosovo and, conversely, recognition policy towards South Ossetia and Abkhazis and, with hybrid war strategy during annexation of Crimea and subsequent activities at the eastern and southeastern part of Ukraine.

    Fourth, a proactive public diplomacy and disinformation strategy (prior to the US elections, prior to Brexit, during the migration crisis, during the pandemic crisis and discussion on the safety of vaccination by the AstraZeneca) will be also reflected in the lectures.

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    Conditions for students