syl-506-05-fall.html

Dr. Gonzalo F. Santos
Office: DDH-AA205 Phone: (661) 664-2191
Office Hours: 3:30 pm - 5:30 pm, Tu & Th, or by appointment
Web Site: http://www.csub.edu/~gsantos/
Email: santos_class@csub.edu

This course is an advanced study on the analytical study and the historical life of the modern world as a single, unitary social system. The nature of modern world is analyzed from the perspective of historical sociology, that is, from the perspective of long-term, large-scale social change and social structure. We begin with a recent didactic summary of Immanuel Wallerstein's views on the matter (his Introduction). We then compare ancient past and modern processes of hegemonic decline, up to the present U.S. case (the Friedman & Chase-Dunn anthology). We then deepen that approach exploring Arrighi & Silver et al.'s elegant analysis on the three systemic cycles of capitalist accumulation in the modern world-system's history, tied in their approach to the rise and demise of Dutch, British, and American hegemony. Finally, and on light of Wallerstein's and Arrighi & Silver et al.'s forecasts, we open up the discussion with the views of renown contemporary thinkers on the contemporary situation and the future of the modern world system, as well as the role of contemporary social movements and social science (the Wallerstein anthology).

Classes: The course will be run as a seminar. Attendance and preparation are mandatory. All students are expected to be punctual and come fully prepared to discuss in depth the assigned readings for the day, and starting on the second book, two students will make class presentations (about 15 to 20 minutes in duration each) on two assigned readings for each session. Class discussion will follow each presentation, with a short break in between. Dr. Santos will contribute as a respondent and add his own knowledge and perspective to each presentation. Presenting students must bring and distribute copies of their presentation outlines to all students, which should be no more than two pages long - preferably one - and follow a format of headings (I, II, III) and subheadings (a, b, c) - not the text of the oral presentation itself (which can be done apart, with cards or PowerPoint presentations). The outlines must always end with a couple of well-thought questions raised for discussion.

Student presentations will be evaluated for the organization and clarity of the outlines and presentation itself, as well as the analytical quality, accuracy, and critical thinking demonstrated. Analytical qualities consist of the abilities to frame the subject matter both theoretically and historically, pose the key issues, and summarize the main explicatory arguments or conclusions of the author. Critical thinking is the ability to engage, challenge, or support the consistency or logic of the author's central analysis or whatever evidence is presented, with further arguments, evidence, and observations of your own. Examples of bad presentations are those that are disorganized, disconnected, or scattered on too many topics; or focused but superficial and purely descriptive, or focused on the wrong things; or way too short or too long (rambling). Students are invited to discuss their outlines & presentations with Dr. Santos during office hours prior to their delivering them.

Unauthorized absences (especially when scheduled to present), tardiness, and/or early departures, as well as patent lack of preparation and persistent lack of participation will be noted and seriously taken into account at the time of issuing final grades.

Papers: Students must write two research papers on topics related to the seminar. The due dates for the respective papers are October 13 & November 30 before noon. Papers must be submitted in both electronic form (in Word) by email, and in hard copy (paper) form in class or in Dr. Santos' office. The graded first paper may be resubmitted as a re-write with the second paper. Early consultation with, and approval by, Dr. Santos is required for each paper topic. Each paper should be 10-to-15 pages long aside from title page, table of contents, bibliography and any appendices of charts, maps and graphs; they should be double spaced, font 12, with one-inch margins, and paginated.

There are two general studies courses that students are strongly encouraged to take if they wish to develop their research skills, and if they do will receive extra credit in this course:

GST 126 - Researching the Electronic Library (2 units)
Introduces students to effective research techniques using Library electronic resources. Emphasis will be placed upon skills necessary for the identification, retrieval, and evaluation of information for general and specific topics. Students will acquire the competencies necessary to develop an effective search strategy and find research materials, including references to journal articles, full text articles in electronic format, government publications, books, and Internet resources.

GST 153 - Research on the Internet (2 units)
Introduces students to the information resources available on the Internet for research purposes Students will develop general knowledge of the Internet, navigation skills, effective search strategy skills, familiarity with Internet finding tools, evaluation methodologies and other Internet research skills.

Contact: Ms. Christy Gavin
Librarian, Walter W. Stiern Library
cgavin@csub.edu
661-664-3237

Furthermore, students are advised that their papers will be submitted to TurnItIn.com, a professional web site that CSUB faculty subscribe to and now routinely use to quickly detect plagiarism. Anyone found guilty of engaging in plagiarism will automatically fail the course and will be reported to the Office of Student Discipline and Judicial Affairs for further disciplinary action.

Grading: Each paper is worth 35 points. Class presentations and class participation are worth a combined 30 points. The extra credit students receive for taking the suggested General Studies courses will depend on their final grade in those courses, and may range from zero to ten points. The final letter grade will be assigned, on a scale of 0 to 100, as follows:

Office hours: All students are encouraged to visit Dr. Santos regularly during his office hours posted above or by appointment, especially to make sure their class presentations are well organized and focused, the topics for their papers are approved and well thought through, or to discuss the content of the readings or anything else related to the course.

Schedule of Reading Assignments

Tuesday

Thursday

September 13

INTRODUCTION
to the study of the Modern World-System
Overview & organization of the course

September 15

Wallerstein- Introduction:

"To Start"; Chapters 1 & 2

September 20

Wallerstein- Introduction:

Chapters 3 & 4

September 22

Wallerstein- Introduction:

Chapter 5

September 27

Friedman & Chase-Dunn:

Articles 2 & 3

Presenter:________Varela______________________

Presenter:________Dial________________________

September 29

Friedman & Chase-Dunn:

Articles 4 & 5

Presenter:____________Salvaggio_______________

Presenter:____________Fukunishi_______________

October 4

Friedman & Chase-Dunn:

Articles 6 & 7

Presenter:________Holt_______________________

Presenter:________Collinwood_________________

October 6

Friedman & Chase-Dunn:

Articles 8 & 9

Presenter:_____________Ledford_______________

Presenter:_____________Bergen________________

October 11

Arrighi & Silver:

Introduction

Presenter:________Franklin____________________

Presenter:________Pino_______________________

October 13 [first paper due electronically and in class]

Arrighi & Silver:

Chapter 1: Geopolitics & High Finance

Presenter:_____________Vieyra_________________

Presenter:_____________Ford___________________

October 18

Arrighi & Silver:

Chapter 2: The Transformation of Business Enterprise

Presenter:_________Castañeda__________________

Presenter:_________Vieyra_____________________

October 20

Arrighi & Silver:

Chapter 3: The Social Origins of World Hegemonies

Presenter:___________________________________

Presenter:______________Castañeda_____________

October 25

Arrighi & Silver:

Chapter 4: Western Hegemonies in World-Historical Perspectives

Conclusion

Presenter:__________Salvaggio_________________

Presenter:__________Ford_____________________

October 27