Global Agenda

2024/2025

Academic Year

ENG

Instruction in English

6

ECTS credits

Delivered at:

Faculty of World Economy and International Affairs

Course type:

Compulsory course

When:

1 year, 1, 2 module

Instructor

Varpahovskis, Eriks

Course Syllabus

Abstract

In the 21st century, we are witnessing a previously unattainable interdependence between people, states, and corporations. Moreover, the 21st century brings an extraordinary involvement of individuals and corporations in the evolution of global processes. Despite the rapid development in the first decade of the century globalization stumbles on a variety of issues and challenges that should be addressed. This course will examine several key economic and political concepts that accompany globalization processes and determine the future development of humankind. By using those crucial concepts, we will examine several specific contemporary challenges that humanity faces in the 21st century and inquire about possible impacts on Asia. A set of international and region-specific cases will be analyzed in this course. Within this course we will try to answer the following questions: What are globalization definitions? What are alternatives to globalization? Good governance, is it possible or not? Does global governance operate in terms of fulfillment of sustainable development goals declared by the UN? How does globalization impact the energy policy of countries and corporations? What is the global answer to cyber-security issues and threats? How do individuals and corporations affect global governance? Does climate change determine the globalization process? How does globalization intertwine with the growing issue of inequality and class clash? How should be cultural heritage treated in the context of globalization?

Learning Objectives

• Upon completion of this course, students should be able to critically analyze global political trends, world political issues and their interconnectivity with national and regional development, distinguish roles of a diversity of the involved state- and non-state actors, explain economic and political challenges that individuals, communities, states face and reflect on it using personal experience and study materials.

Expected Learning Outcomes

• By the end of the course student will become familiar with major concepts and theories (globalization, regionalization, game theory, realism, liberalism, hard and soft power, sustainable development, and others) that explain global development, cooperation, and competition between actors of international politics;
• By the end of the course student will become familiar with: - Current political issues that shape global development;
• Students will gain/improve the following skills: - Critical analysis of events and policies;
• Students will gain/improve the following skills: Analysis events and policies from multiple perspectives;
• Students will gain/improve the following skills: Explain current events and historical cases drawing on globalization-related concepts and theories.
• Students will gain/improve the following skills: Group work;
• Students will gain/improve the following skills: Presentation skills;

Course Contents

• Introduction
• Research & Presentation workshop
• Conceptual class: Globalization, de-globalization, regionalization, re-globalization, power, etc.
• Global governance
• COVID-19 and Global Health
• Terrorism
• Cyber-security
• Energy politics
• Mid-term exam
• Migration & inequality
• Climate change
• Trade, FTAs, and sanctions
• Multicultularism, nationalism and cultural heritage
• De-Globalization, Separatism & BREXIT
• Wrap up seminar
• Final exam

Assessment Elements

• Weekly response papers
• Final paper (25%)
• Participation in the discussion
• Presentation (s)
• Mid-term exam

Interim Assessment

• 2024/2025 2nd module
  0.25 * Final paper (25%) + 0.15 * Mid-term exam + 0.2 * Participation in the discussion + 0.15 * Presentation (s) + 0.25 * Weekly response papers

Bibliography

Recommended Core Bibliography

• Baier, S. L., Yotov, Y. V., & Zylkin, T. (2019). On the Widely Differing Effects of Free Trade Agreements: Lessons from Twenty Years of Trade Integration. Economics Faculty Publications.
• Barnett, M. N., & Duvall, R. (2005). Power in Global Governance. Cambridge University Press.
• Betsill, M. M., & Bulkeley, H. (2006). Cities and the Multilevel Governance of Global Climate Change. Global Governance, 12(2), 141–159. https://doi.org/10.1163/19426720-01202004
• Brenda J. Lutz, & James M. Lutz. (n.d.). Economic, Social and Political Globalization and Terrorism. Http://Www.Jspes.Org/Pdfs/Summer2014/JSPES39-2lutz.Pdf.
• Choucri, N., Madnick, S., & Ferwerda, J. (2014). Institutions for Cyber Security: International Responses and Global Imperatives. Information Technology for Development, 20(2), 96–121. https://doi.org/10.1080/02681102.2013.836699
• de Vries, C., & Hoffmann, I. (2018). Globalization and European Integration: Threat or Opportunity? Perception, knowledge and policy preferences. eupinions 2018/1 of European citizens. eupinions.
• Dingwerth, K., & Pattberg, P. (2006). Global Governance as a Perspective on World Politics. Global Governance, 12(2), 185–203. https://doi.org/10.1163/19426720-01202006
• Farzanegan, M. R., Feizi, M., & Gholipour, H. F. (2020). Globalization and outbreak of COVID-19: An empirical analysis.
• FLORINI, A., & SOVACOOL, B. K. (2009). Who governs energy? The challenges facing global energy governance. Research Collection School of Social Sciences.
• Griffiths, R. D., & Savić, I. (2009). Globalization and Separatism: The Influence of Internal and External Interdependence on the Strategies of Separatism. Perspectives on Global Development & Technology, 8(2/3), 429–454. https://doi.org/10.1163/156914909X423962
• Heather Chingono, & Steven James Danda. (n.d.). Sanctions Effectiveness in a Globalized World. Http://Www.Ijhssnet.Com/Journals/Vol_3_No_21_%5BSpecial_Issue_December_2013%5D/33.Pdf.
• Jin Wang, & Dehang Kong. (2019). Counter-Terrorism Cooperation Between China and Central Asian States in the Shanghai Cooperation Organization. China Quarterly of International Strategic Studies, 5(1), 65–79. https://doi.org/10.1142/S2377740019500027
• Kacowicz, A. M. (DE-588)173938868, (DE-576)134776364. (1998). Regionalization, globalization and nationalism : Convergent, divergent or overlapping? Univ. of Notre Dame.
• Mike Featherstone. (1990). Global Culture : Nationalism, Globalization and Modernity. SAGE Publications Ltd.
• Mills, M. (2009). Globalization and Inequality. https://doi.org/10.1093/esr/jcn046
• Moghaddam, F. M. (2008). How Globalization Spurs Terrorism: The Lopsided Benefits of One World and Why That Fuels Violence : The Lopsided Benefits of One World and Why That Fuels Violence. Praeger.
• Okabe, M. (2015). Impact of free trade agreements on trade in East Asia [Elektronische Ressource] / Misa Okabe. Economic Research Institute for ASEAN and East Asia.
• Okereke, C., Bulkeley, H., & Schroeder, H. (2009). Conceptualizing Climate Governance Beyond the International Regime. Global Environmental Politics, 9(1), 58–78. https://doi.org/10.1162/glep.2009.9.1.58
• Overland, I. (2016). Energy: The missing link in globalization. Energy Research & Social Science ; Volume 14, Page 122-130 ; ISSN 2214-6296. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.erss.2016.01.009
• Quan Li, & Drew Schaub. (n.d.). 10.1177/0022002703262869ARTICLEJOURNAL OF CONFLICT RESOLUTIONLi, Schaub / ECONOM GLOBA IZATION AND TERRORISM Economic Globalization and Transnational Terrorism A POOLED TIME-SERIES ANALYSIS. Http://People.Tamu.Edu/~quanli/Research_papers/Reprint_files/JCR_2004_terrorism.Pdf.
• Stevenson, M., & Cooper, A. (2009). Overcoming Constraints of State Sovereignty: global health governance in Asia. Third World Quarterly, 30(7), 1379–1394. https://doi.org/10.1080/01436590903152686
• Thomas Sampson. (2017). Brexit: The Economics of International Disintegration. CESifo Working Paper Series.
• Witt, M. A. (2019). De-globalization: Theories, predictions, and opportunities for international business research. Journal of International Business Studies, 50(7), 1053–1077. https://doi.org/10.1057/s41267-019-00219-7

Recommended Additional Bibliography

• A Gravity Model of Globalization, Democracy and Transnational Terrorism. (2006). Https://Files.Nyu.Edu/Bpr1/Public/Papers/BlombergRosendorffJan2006.Pdf.
• An, B. Y., & Tang, S.-Y. (2020). Lessons From COVID-19 Responses in East Asia: Institutional Infrastructure and Enduring Policy Instruments. The American Review of Public Administration ; Volume 50, Issue 6-7, Page 790-800 ; ISSN 0275-0740 1552-3357. https://doi.org/10.1177/0275074020943707
• Axel Dreher. (2005). Does Globalization Affect Growth? Evidence from a new Index of Globalization. TWI Research Paper Series.
• Choi, H. J. (2009). Fueling Crisis or Cooperation? The Geopolitics of Energy Security in Northeast Asia. Asian Affairs: An American Review, 36(1), 3–28. https://doi.org/10.3200/AAFS.36.1.3-28
• Downie, C. (2015). Global Energy Governance in the G-20: States, Coalitions, and Crises. Global Governance. https://doi.org/10.5555/1075-2846-21.3.475
• Koo, H. (2007). The Changing Faces of Inequality in South Korea in the Age of Globalization. Korean Studies, 31(1), 1–18.
• Piazza, J. A. (2008). Incubators of Terror: Do Failed and Failing States Promote Transnational Terrorism? International Studies Quarterly, 52(3), 469–488. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1468-2478.2008.00511.x
• Rasul, G. (2016). Managing the food, water, and energy nexus for achieving the Sustainable Development Goals in South Asia. Environmental Development ; Volume 18, Page 14-25 ; ISSN 2211-4645. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envdev.2015.12.001
• Rauchfleisch, A., Schäfer, M. S., Rauchfleisch, Adrian; Schäfer, & Mike S (2018). Climate change politics and the role of China: a window of opportunity to gain soft power? International Communication of Chinese Culture. (2018). Climate change politics and the role of China: a window of opportunity to gain soft power? Rauchfleisch, Adrian; Schäfer, Mike S (2018). Climate Change Politics and the Role of China: A Window of Opportunity to Gain Soft Power? International Communication of Chinese Culture, 5(1-2):39-59. https://doi.org/10.5167/uzh-159683
• Raul Caruso. (2003). The Impact of International Economic Sanctions on Trade An empirical Analysis. International Trade.
• Steinhardt, H. C., & Wu, F. (2016). In the Name of the Public: Environmental Protest and the Changing Landscape of Popular Contention in China. China Journal, 75(1), 61–82. https://doi.org/10.1086/684010
• The turn from just-in-time to just-in-case globalization in and after times of COVID-19 an essay on the risk re-appraisal of borders and buffers. (2020). Social Sciences & Humanities Open, 2(1), 1–6. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ssaho.2020.100034
• Zhao, S. (2020). Rhetoric and Reality of China’s Global Leadership in the Context of COVID-19: Implications for the US-led World Order and Liberal Globalization. Journal of Contemporary China ; Page 1-16 ; ISSN 1067-0564 1469-9400. https://doi.org/10.1080/10670564.2020.1790900

Authors

• Varpakhovskis ERIKS