H232/B391 The World in the 20th Century
Diana
Lin
Summer I 2009
Office: 426 Lindenwood Hall
(O)980
6981
Email: dchenlin@iun.edu
Website: www.iun.edu/~hisdcl
Office hours:
MW: 9:30-11:30 am or by appt.
Objective
The purpose of this course is to explore some of the important themes in twentieth century world history, including the connections between politics, nationalism/imperialism and energy resources, (geo)politics and religion, the polarization of the North and the South, East and West, and the impact of global economy on all the above issues. Students are expected to develop a deeper understanding and a historical perspective of the main themes of the world through the course.
Books and Requirements
The following
three books are required and available at the campus Barnes &
Noble bookstore.
O’Meara, Patrick, et al., eds. Globalization and the Challenges of a New Century, A Reader. Indiana University Press, 2000.
Huntington, Samuel P. The Clash of Civilizations and the Remaking of World Order. Simon & Schuster, 1996.
Yergin, Daniel, and Joseph Stanislaw. The Commanding Heights: The Battle for the World Economy. Simon & Schuster Touchstone Book, 2002.
Sachs, Jeffrey. Economics for A Crowded Planet: Common Wealth. New York, Penguin Press, 2008.
Required readings also include daily readings of the International section of New York Times. The link is provided below under Internet Resources.
Requirements include
- Those who take the course at the 200 level will use the two built-in paper topics, respectively, using the required readings plus one outside reading for each paper.
- Those who take the course at the 300 level will use the first built-in paper topic but need to find a second paper topic on their own, based on themes covered in class. They are required to use both in-class readings and outside sources for their second paper. And they are required to discuss their prospective paper topic with the instructor no later than the 13th week. The paper proposal counts as part of the final grade.
Method of grading: all grades are assigned in percentages, which will be tabulated at the end of the semester and converted to letter grades. The averages of your take-home papers and of your weekly writing assignments will be taken to represent the grades for your take-home paper and weekly writing assignment. The conversion is as follows: 93-100: A; 90-92.9: A-; 85-89.9: B+; 80- 84.9: B; 75-79.9: B-; 70-74.9: C+; 65-69.9: C; 60-64.9: C-; 55-59.9: D+; 50-54.9: D; 45-49.9: D-; 44 and below: F.
The grade distribution is as follows:
For those taking the course at the 200 level:
For those taking the course at the 300 level:
All grades will be shown in your Online Gradebook, accessible via Oncourse. You need to have an IUN ID and password to access Oncourse. If you do not have an IUN email account, you can set up one here at https://itaccounts.iu.edu/. Oncourse is also accessible through the IUN homepage: www.iun.edu.
Internet resources:
The following web sites provide relevant information on the areas of the world covered in this class.
Commanding Heights Video viewing
New York Times International News
China and Europe, 1500-2000 and beyond.
You can watch segments of the documentary accompanying our required reading Commanding Heights at http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/commandingheights/hi/story/index.html.
Facts on File (at library research computer)
Besides internet sources, you are strongly encouraged to find sources off line at Current History, a journal that deals with every part of the world.
Schedule
I. Background to globalization
Week 1 (May 18-24)
May 18 1. Introduction.
2. Background to a regulated economy in early 20th century. Yergin, chaps.1-2. Notes History online: FDIC: Transcript of Speech by President Franklin D. Roosevelt Regarding the Banking Crisis - March 12, 1933.
Question 1: (in-class discussion) Name a few factors that led Europe and the U.S. to a greater state regulated economy.
May 20
1. Nationalism, third world independence and government intervention in economic developments. Yergin, chap.3. Notes. African National Independence map. Map of India. India before Partition.
Question 2: Name two or three factors that led third world countries to a state regulated type of economy after World War II.
2. 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.
Week 2 (May 25-31)
May 25 Memorial Day. No class.
May 27 1. The rise of Asia as a global economic player. Yergin, chaps.6. Notes.
Question 4: Pick one or two of the Asian countries/regions in question from chap.6 and assess how their mix of government and market differ from the U.S. economy and advantages/disadvantages.
2. Yergin, chap.7: China's recent developments. (for notes see above)
Question 5: Discuss some pros and cons of China's recent development as a market economy.
May 29 Memorial Day makeup:
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. India's Economy and International Standing Jorge Castaneda on Chile's Past--and Its Future.
Question 6 (in-class discussion) 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.
2. End of Communism and the globalization of market economy. Yergin, chaps.10-11. 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: (in-class discussion) Look up recent developments in market economy or deregulation in Russia and Europe.
Week 3 (June 1-7)
June 1
1. The U.S. and market deregulation. Yergin, chap.12.
Question 8: (in-class discussion) 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
2. 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: (in-class discussion) Pick one point in the readings about the impact of global economy and give your opinion on it.
June 3
1 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: (in-class discussion) Define culture and civilization and discuss the changes in cultures and civilizations in history.
2. Westernization, modernization, and indigenization of civilizations in the 20th century. Huntington, pt.II. Notes.
Question 11: (in-class discussion) Comment on the shifts in civilizations according to Huntington.
Week 4 (June 8-14) First take-home paper due on June 10 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.
June 8
1. The new configuration of world civilizations under a global economic system. Huntington, pt.III. Notes. Online reading: Religion and Turkey's Young People.
Question 12: Why does culture matter so much in contemporary global politics according to Huntington? Do you agree with him?
2. Globalization and clash of civilizations. Huntington, chaps.8 & 9. Notes.
Question 13: Comment on two or three points Huntington makes here about the patterns of civilizational clashes.
III Does Global Economy Bring about a Global Culture?
June 10
1. 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).
2. 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.
Week 5 (June 15-21)
June 15
1. Beyond state and culture: politics in a global economy. O'Meara, pt.2. Notes. Online reading: The Clash - Essay by Fouad Ajami - New York Times.
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.
2. 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.
June 17
1. Conflict and security in a global world order. O'Meara, pt.4. Notes. Online reading: Zakaria: A Capitalist Manifesto | Newsweek Business | Online reading: Op-Ed Columnist - Recession and Revolution - NYTimes.com
Question 18: Given the readings and our own experience, how does national security change in a global age?
2. 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?
Week 6 (June 22-28)
June 22
1. 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.
2. 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?
IV Globalization and the Environment.
June 24
1. 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.
2. Waters in the world. Sachs, chap.5. National Geographic coverage of the environment. Water Resources. China's Environment and Industrialization and National Geographic's coverage of Confronting Carbon. Notes. Scientists Use Sunlight to Make Fuel From CO2Notes.
Question 23: (in-class discussion) Research on one local or global water resource to show how it is doing now.
Week 7 (June 29-July 2)
V Overcoming the shortcomings of globalization
June 29
1. 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)?
2. 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?
July 1
1.Rethinking foreign policy. Sachs, chap.12. Notes.
Question 26: (in-class discussion) Research on one area of recent U.S. foreign policy.
2.. The new structure of global governing. Sachs, chaps.13 & 14. Notes.
Question 27: (in-class discussion) To what extent does Sachs give hope to a global community that avoids many of the current problems?
Second take-home paper and region/country report due on July 1 as email attachment via Oncourse. This paper topic is for those taking H232 only. Those taking the course at the B391 level should do a research paper based on both in-class and four or five out-of-class sources and on a topic you choose and I approve. Paper topic: based on O'Meara, Sachs, earlier readings, and one outside source, how does globalization change the configuration of the world. Pick two or three topics for discussion (you can overlap with the first paper but do not use identical topics).