Soc 450: Globalization and Social Change Spring 2009                      Instructor: Dr. Gonzalo Santos   Class meets: 10:55 am - 12:15 pm, MWF       Room: DDH-105H Dr. Santos' Office: DDH-AA205                Phone: 664-2191 Office Hours:     12:20 - 1:20 pm MWF.   =  santos_class@csub.ed

This course explores the dynamics of global integration in the contemporary world, how it affects, and in turn is affected by, the world's economic, political, and social structures, trends, and processes. We will explore several issues: Using the Roberts & Bellone anthology of articles, we'll analyze historically and theoretically how constant social change and development came to be seen as normative aspects of the modern world, especially in the 19th & 20th centuries; we will study the competing theories of development - modernization, dependency, world-systems' perspective - that arose after World War II, in the 2nd half of the 20th century, mirroring (and challenging) the debates over the Cold War bipolar world order presided by the USA and USSR; we will sutdy the rise, apogee, and current demise of the "neoliberal" model of globalization from the early 1980s to now. Special attention will be given to the structural limits of late capitalism and the antisystemic social movements and left-of-center regimes that have risen to confront it and seek alternative solutions. Finally, using the Bacon book, we take a hard look at the impact U.S.-led globalization has had on the U.S. itself and its immediate neighbor, Mexico, from the perspective of the growing contradition between the accelerated economic integration of North America and the recurrent, increasingly repressive, political efforts to curtail labor mobility within the region. The U.S.-centered Great Financial Crash of 2008-to-? will be the 800 lb. gorilla accompanying us throught the quarter, as we now know that the dire predictions critics of neoliberal globalization had been making over the last 30 years proved to be true. Web readings will be assigned on that topic as well.

The course will be run as a seminar. Students will form fourteen groups of three students each, and (after the first day of class) will take turns introducing and analyzing the assigned readings for each session, followed by class discussion. That way each student will make two class presentations during the quarter.

Attendance is mandatory (please, no tardiness or early departures, as these will be penalized). All students must come prepared to discuss the readings - either when they make their formal presentations, or if they are not presenting, by bringing to class their reading assessments.  The reading assessments must be turned in to Dr. Santos at the beginning of each class session. (No late submissions will be accepted)

The students will also collaborate within their groups to produce a research project on topics related to the areas covered in the course -- each student will therefore also write a research term paper.

The presentations will be graded based on: (a) the analytical strength of the presentation, including its depth & breath (how well it covers all the main aspects), (b) the quality of the question(s) posed at the end, and (c) the quality & style of the oral presentation (including the visuals displayed).

Reading Assessments: To ensure that everybody come to every class prepared to discuss the assigned readings for the day, students who are not presenting must bring to class three written "reading assessments," one for each of the assigned readings for the day, each a page to two pages in length, double-spaced text. No late reading assessments will be accepted, unless the students has a pre-authorized absence from Dr. Santos.

IMPORTANT: In contrast to the presentations, these "reading assessments" must not summarize or describe the readings, but must critically respond to them: express what the you think about them; identify the areas of strong agreement and disagreement with the author, explaining why you do, as well as the areas or topics of most interest to discuss, or anything in particular that caused you amazement, confusion, or surprise. Whatever you write, you should explain your specific analytical (and if relevant, personal) reasons for doing so. The reading assessment need not cover every issue found in the assigned readings for the day, but it should demonstrate you read everything and chose well what to comment on (early topics are always suspect!). A very bad assessment will reveal the student read very little or very superficially just to do the assignment (it's called "going through the motion"). A good assessment will demonstrate the student really read all the material and did a serious effort to select and critically grapple with the main issues involved.

At the end of each reading assessment, students should always write their own question for class discussion. Dr. Santos will randomly select a couple of students to read their assessments and/or questions in the discussion periods. Please always write on top of your reading assessments your name, the date, and the reading you are assessing.

Note: Students presenting on a given day do not need to submit any reading assessment.

Research Papers: Each student group will collaborate in designing, researching, and writing a research volume on topics related to the main areas of the course. Each volume will contain 3 individual research papers related to different aspects of the volume's topic. The papers need to be submitted in both electronic form and printed on paper. The volume is due on Thursday, June 11, before noon, at Dr. Santos' office.

All topics - the group's general topic as well as each individual's subtopic - must be pre-approved by Dr. Santos no later than May 15.

Each printed volume should be bound and include a title page and a table of content, listing each paper by title and student author. Each individual paper should be between 6 and 8 pages long (excluding the bibliography). For a precise guide on the paper's format and citation style, go to:

http://www.csubak.edu/~gsantos/guide-paper.html

Plagiarism: To prevent students from wittingly or unwittingly engaging in plagiarism, Dr. Santos strongly recommends students to carefully read and abide by the document CSUB Classifications of Plagiarism found at: http://www.csub.edu/tlc/options/resources/plagiarism/4plagiarimclassifications.htm.

Grading: The final research paper is worth 35 points. Each class presentation is worth 15 points (30 points total). The reading assessments all together are worth the other 35 points. Every absence is penalized by taking one point off the final grade (besides the zero grade you'll get for either failing to present or for missing a reading assessment). The final letter grade will be assigned, on a scale of 0 to 100, as follows:

My other group members' names, phones & email addresses are:

1. ____________________________________________________________________________________

2. ____________________________________________________________________________________

          Date:                          My own presentation will be on:

1. _________________________________________________________________

2. _________________________________________________________________

My own research paper title: _____________________________________________