Week 1 (Aug.25-Aug.31)

1. Introduction.

2. Background to a regulated economy in early 20th century. Yergin, chaps.1-2. Notes Because some of you might not have the correct reading, there will be no Discussion Forum posting requirement for week 1. You are only asked to do some online research to answer the following question, to be submitted via Oncourse email attachment (if you have WORD) or by pasting it directly onto your email (if you use WPS).

Question 1: Read the online notes, search the web and give some examples of  European and American economies at a given historical time (e.g., 1920s, 1930s, 1940s, 1950s, 1960s, 1970s) by using key search words such as "U.S. economy, 1940s." The purpose of the search is to get some specific examples of how state regulated or market oriented European and U.S. economies were like in those years.

Week 2 (Sept.1-7)

1. Nationalism, third world independence and government intervention in economic developments. Yergin, chap.3. Notes. Because some of you might not have the correct reading, there will be no Discussion Forum posting requirement for week 2. You are only asked to do some online research to answer the following question, to be submitted via Oncourse email attachment (if you have WORD) or by pasting it directly onto your email (if you use WPS). African National Independence map. Map of India. India before Partition.

Question 2: Read the online notes, search the web and give some examples of third world countries' turn to a state regulated type of economy after World War II. (you can use key words such as India, Ghana, Egypt, Indonesia, or some other country in Africa or Asia, along with "state regulation.")

Week 3 (Sept.8-14)

1. The resurgence of market economy, downfall of Communism, and beginning of globalization. Yergin, chaps.4-5. Notes.

Question 3: What was Thatcher's revolution? Discuss why she succeeded in England and why the rest of the world followed.

2. The rise of Asia as a global economic player, and a study of China. Yergin, chaps.6-7. Notes.

Question 4: Pick two or three of the Asian countries/regions in question from chap.6 (not including China) and assess how their mix of government and market differ from the U.S. economy and advantages/disadvantages.

Question 5: Discuss some pros and cons of China's recent development as a market economy.

Week 4 (Sept.15-21)

1. The rise of India and Latin America as global economic players. Yergin, chaps.8-9. Notes. online reading: Problems of India's state bureaucracy Newsweek coverage of Latin America and India today: Bolivia's Democratic divide . Revolt of the Rich in Bolivia. Jorge Castaneda on Chile's Past--and Its Future

Question 6  Look up recent developments in India (e.g. Bangalore, or India in general), or regional developments in Latin America (e.g. Mexico), in recent years through internet sources.

Week 5 (Sept.22-28)

1. End of Communism and the globalization of market economy. Yergin, chaps.10-12. Notes. Additional online reading: As Goldman and Morgan Shift, a Wall St. Era Ends (NYT) Europe Slashes Growth Forecasts for 2008 - NYTimes.com. Putin’s Iron Grip on Russia Suffocates Opponents - New York Times

Question 7: Look up recent developments in market economy or deregulation in Russia and Europe.

Question 8:  Look up the European Union's recent economic/political performance or how deregulation has affected the U.S. (e.g. utilities, airlines, Amtrak).

II The Rise of A Global Economy and Implications

Week 6 (Sept.29-Oct.5)

1. The new global economy. O'Meara, pt.6. Focus on pp.215-252. Notes. Optional online reading: General Motors workers' strike for sustained healthcare coverage. Zakaria: A More Disciplined America. Economic Crisis: Europe's Response.

Question 9: Pick one point in the readings about the impact of global economy and give your opinion on it.

2. Civilizations and why they matter today. Huntington, chaps.1 & 3. Notes.

Additional reading: First Muslim in Congress to Use Historic Kuran. Virginia Congressman Fears More Muslims Elected.

Question 10: Define culture and civilization and discuss the changes in cultures and civilizations in history.

Week 7 (Oct.6-12)

1. Westernization, modernization, and indigenization of civilizations in the 20th century. Huntington, pt.II. Notes.

Question 11: Comment on the shifts in civilizations according to Huntington.

2. The new configuration of world civilizations under a global economic system. Huntington, pt.III. Notes.

Question 12: Why does culture matter so much in contemporary global politics according to Huntington? Do you agree with him?

III Does Global Economy Bring about a Global Culture?

Week 8 (Oct.13-19)

1. Globalization and clash of civilizations. Huntington, chaps.8 & 9. Notes. Online reading: Religion and Turkey's Young People.

Question 13: Comment on two or three points Huntington makes here about the patterns of civilizational clashes.

2. The future of Western civilizations, O'Meara, pt.10. Notes.

Question 14: Do you agree that there can be such a thing as a global culture? And what do you think is the future of Western Civilizations? (use the readings to support your arguments).

Week 9 (Oct.20-26)

1. Are civilizational clashes avoidable in a global culture, two other views. "Jihad vs. McWorld," and "The Coming Anarchy," in O'Meara, 23-60. Notes. U.S. targets Somali pirates.

Question 15: Which of Huntington, Barber and Kaplan's views do you think make sense? Complement them with your own views.

2.  Beyond state and culture: politics in a global economy. O'Meara, pt.2. Notes.

Question 16: Compare the points made here with Huntington, Part III. Use them and your own views to give a brief description of politics in a global economy.

III The Political Geography of the World in A Global Economy.

Week 10 (Oct.27-Nov.2) First take-home paper due on Oct.31 via email attachment through Oncourse. Paper topic: Based on Yergin, Huntington, and one outside source, describe the dynamics of change toward a global market economy in the 20th century and how the new characteristics of international relations differ from previous rules governing the relationship between states.

1. A Reexamination of national borders. O'Meara, pt.3. Notes.

Question 17: Again, compare with Huntington, Part III, and O'Meara, Part 7. Formulate your own views on the question on how globalization is changing the national borders of the world.

2. Conflict and security in a global world order. O'Meara, pt.4. Notes.

Question 18: Given the readings and our own experience, how does national security change in a global age?

Week 11 (Nov.3-9)

1. Globalization and democracy. O'Meara, pt.5. Notes. Fukuyama: The End of the End of History. Fukuyama: The End of America Inc

Question 19: Does democracy become a universal value in a global economy or it is a universal value at all times?

2. The internet and global economy. O'Meara, pt.7. Notes.

Question 20: From your experience with the internet, comment on the arguments made in these three essays.

IV Globalization and the Environment.

Week 12 (Nov.10-16)

1. Environment a local issue in a global age? O'Meara, pt.9. Notes. Focus on pp.383-415.

Question 21: To what extent does the environment become a global issue according to these three authors?

2. Human activities and the environment. Sachs, chaps.3 & 4.  Notes.

Question 22: Compare and contrast Sachs's take on the environment with Part 9 of the O'Meara readings.

Week 13 (Nov.17-23)

1. Waters in the world. Sachs, chap.5. National Geographic coverage of the environment, and National Geographic's coverage of Confronting Carbon. Water Resources. China's Environment and Industrialization. American Rivers. Notes. Scientists Use Sunlight to Make Fuel From CO2Notes.

Question 23: Research on one local or global water resource to show how it is doing now.

V Overcoming the shortcomings of globalization

2. Globalization and economic development. Sachs, chaps.2 & 9. Notes.

Question 24: How does Sachs's take on the global economy differ from Barber and Kaplan (O'Meara, pp.23-60)?

Week 14 (Nov.24-Nov.30)

1. Solutions to poverty? Sachs, chaps.10 & 11. Notes.

Question 25: Compare and contrast Sachs' solution to global poverty with the views of Ajami (O'Meara, p.61), and Huntington?

2. Rethinking foreign policy. Sachs, chap.12. Notes.

Question 26: Research on one area of recent U.S. foreign policy.

Week 15 (Dec.1-7)

1. The new structure of global governing. Sachs, chaps.13 & 14. Notes.

Question 27: To what extent does Sachs give hope to a global community that avoids many of the current problems?

2. Conclusion.

Week 16 (Dec.10-16)

Second take-home paper and region/country report due on Dec.12 as email attachment via Oncourse.