syl-506-14-win

The Modern World-System
Soc 506
Winter 2014
Class: DDH-104K, Mo. & Wed., 5:20 pm - 7:25 pm

Instructor: Dr. Gonzalo F. Santos
Office: DDH-AA205 Phone: (661) 664-2191
Office Hours: 11:30 am - 12:30 am, MWF, or by appointment
Web Site: http://www.csub.edu/~gsantos/
Email: santos_class@csub.edu

This course is an advanced seminar on the theoretical nature and historical evolution of the modern world as a single, unitary social system. The nature of modern world is analyzed from the broad framework of historical sociology, that is, from the perspective of long-term, large-scale social change with an emphasis on the origins, evolution and transformations of structural patterns, cycles, and secular trends. We begin with an in-depth exploration of the content and evolution of the world-systems perspective, from the point of view (and intellectual biography) of its founder, Immanuel Wallerstein. We then expand our understanding of the modern world-system from the XVI to the end of the XX centuries using Giovanni Arrighi & Beverly Silver's theoretically elegant thesis on the three "systemic cycles of capitalist accumulation" -- corresponding to the rise, apogee, and demise of Dutch, British, and American hegemony. Next, we compare and contrast what five eminent "big-picture" thinkers, including Wallerstein, have to say, given the present-day widespread world chaos and disorder, on the question: Does capitalism as an historical system have a future? Finally, taking a turn to the domain of culture studies, we explore how various leading cultural theorists consider the meaning and implication of world-scale humanist scholarship by engaging Wallerstein's world-systems perspective. Students will be encouraged to explore these and other schools of thought of historical sociology found within or in dialoge with the world-systems perspective, as well as gain a more in-depth understanding of key historical issues, analytical topics, qualitative & quantitative methodos, and geographic regions of the modern world-system, through their individual research projects, as described below.

Classes: The course will be run as a graduate seminar. All students are expected to be punctual and come fully prepared to discuss in depth the assigned readings for the day. Each class session, a student will make an introductory class presentation (about 15-to-20 minutes) on the assigned reading. Student will each make at least three such presentations during the quarter. Dr. Santos will contribute as a respondent and add his own knowledge and perspective to each presentation. Full class discussion will follow.

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. Please 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 a PowerPoint presentation). What those headings and subheadings are should be determined by the structure, topics covered, and main points made by the assigned reading. The outlines must always end with a couple of well-thought-out, reading-specific, relevant questions for class discussion. Please put your name and the title/author of your presentation outlines as well as the first slide of your PowerPoints. It is the responsibility of presenters to show up early to set up and test their presentations - avoiding delays.

Student presentations will be evaluated for the organization, accuracy, relevance, and clarity of the outlines and the oral presentation itself, as well as the analytical quality and depth, 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 explanatory arguments, substantive debates, or conclusions of the author. Critical thinking is the ability to engage, challenge, or support the consistency or logic of the author's central thesis, analysis and whatever evidence is marshaled, 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 maybe well-focused on only a very partial aspect, or too shallow, superficial and purely descriptive (not analytical enough), or actually focused on the wrong things, or way too short -- or way too long! (rambling). You are NOT being asked to cover everything; rather, you are being asked to use your judgment and identify and analyze what you think are the main points, those you think are the most salient or important. That involves academic & reading judgment: use it! Students are invited, of course, to discuss their approaches and outlines of their presentations with Dr. Santos during office hours prior to their delivering them - but not through email or phone.

Papers: Students must write two research papers on topics related to the seminar. The due dates for the respective papers are Wednesday, February 19 in class & Wednesday, March 19 before noon at Dr. Santos's office . (We will not be using Blackboard). The first paper may be resubmitted as a re-write with the second paper. Prior 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; text should be double spaced, font 12, with one-inch margins, and paginated. For guidelines on how to write a good research term paper, citations & bibliographic styles, etc., please go to the following URL: http://www.csub.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/turn_it_in_help_page.shtml. Anyone found guilty of engaging in plagiarism will automatically fail the course and be reported to the Office of Student Discipline and Judicial Affairs for further disciplinary action.

Grading: Each paper is worth up to 30 points. The three class presentations are worth up to 10 points each; class participation will be assessed at the end of the course for up to 10 points. The final letter grade will be assigned, on a scale of 0 to 100, as follows:

Office hours & Email Communications: All students are encouraged to visit Dr. Santos regularly during his office hours, posted above, or by appointment, but please avoid visits in the hours prior to class. You may discuss your class presentation plans, get approval for the topics for your research papers, discuss the content of the readings or anything else related to the course. Email communications must be brief and to the point - expect a brief reply.

Schedule of Reading Assignments

Monday	Wednesday
January 6 Introduction, Overview & Organization of the Course	January 8 Wallerstein, Lambert & Rojas: Uncertain Worlds Introduction: I. Wallerstein & the Critical "World-Systems Analysis" Perspective Presenter:________________
January 13 Wallerstein, Lambert & Rojas: Uncertain Worlds Chapter 1: The W-S Analysis Perspective: Interview with I. Wallerstein: Pp 1-76 Presenter:________________	January 15 Wallerstein, Lambert & Rojas: Uncertain Worlds Chapter 1: The W-S Analysis Perspective: Interview with I. Wallerstein: Pp 76-101 Presenter:________________
January 20 Holiday	January 22 Wallerstein, Lambert & Rojas: Uncertain Worlds Chapter 2: Discussion on Itinerary of W-S Analysis & Its Uncertainties Presenter:________________
January 27 Wallerstein, Lambert & Rojas: Uncertain Worlds Chapter 3: Wallerstein & the Uncertain Worlds Chapter 4: I.W. Answers: How to Resist Becoming a Theory Presenter:__________________	January 29 Arrighi & Silver: Chaos & Governance Introduction by G. Arrighi & B. Silver Presenter:__________________
February 3 Arrighi & Silver: Chaos & Governance Chapter 1: Geopolitics & High Finance Presenter:__________________	February 5 Arrighi & Silver: Chaos & Governance Chapter 2: The Transformation of the Business Enterprise Presenter:__________________
February 10 Arrighi & Silver: Chaos & Governance Chapter 3: The Social Origins of World Hegemonies Presenter:__________________	February 12 Arrighi & Silver: Chaos & Governance Chapter 4: Western Hegemonies in World-Historical Perspectives & "Conclusion" Presenter:_____________________
February 17 Wallerstein, Collins, et. al: Does Capitalism Have a Future? Collective Introduction & Chapter 1 by Wallerstein Presenter:____________________	February 19 [first paper due in class] Wallerstein, Collins, et. al: Does Capitalism Have a Future? Chapter 2 by Randall Collins Presenter:____________________
February 24 Wallerstein, Collins, et. al: Does Capitalism Have a Future? Chapter 3 by Michael Mann Presenter:____________________	February 26 Wallerstein, Collins, et. al: Does Capitalism Have a Future? Chapter 4 by Georgi Derluguian Presenter:____________________
March 3 Wallerstein, Collins, et. al: Does Capitalism Have a Future? Chapter 5 by Craig Calhoun & Collective Conclusion Presenter:____________________	March 5 Palumbo-Liu et. al: I. Wallerstein & the Problem of the World Introduction & Part 1: System & Responsibility Presenter:____________________
March 10 Palumbo-Liu et. al: I. Wallerstein & the Problem of the World Part 2: Literature: Restructured, Rehistoricized, Rescaled Presenter:____________________	March 12 Palumbo-Liu et. al: I. Wallerstein & the Problem of the World Part 3: Respatializing, Remapping, Recognizing Presenter:____________________
March 17 Palumbo-Liu et. al: I. Wallerstein & the Problem of the World Paet 4: Ethics, Otherness, System Presenter:____________________	Second paper & first paper re-write both due before noon, Wednesday, March 19, at Dr. Santos Office

94-100 = A	87-89 = B+	77-79 = C+	65-69 = D
90-93 = A-	84-86 = B	74-76 = C	< 65 = F
	80-83 = B-	70-73 = C-