Globalisation and Development

(3 Credit Hours) · Undergraduate

This module is designed to introduce students to key themes in global politics and development. The phenomenon of 'globalisation' - which may be described as the increasing interconnectedness of countries, as manifested through closer trade, investment and other economic ties, as well as through the claimed emergence of a common global culture (sometime seen as the imposition of Western culture on other parts of the world) and shared political values (such as human rights) - will be explored in depth. Critiques of the concept - including arguments that economic globalisation is exaggerated and that parts of the world are becoming more, rather than less, culturally distinctive - will also be examined. The so-called 'downside' of globalisation - including cross-border movement of terrorists, drugs and trafficked migrants - will likewise be addressed. The challenges of politically governing an (at least partially) globalising world economy will be discussed through close analysis of institutions such as the World Bank, the International Monetary Fund, the World Trade Organisation and the United Nations.