Global Issues and Society – IDST 2205/2 – Spring 2000
Dr. Birgit Schaebler
Meeting place and time: Arts and Sciences Rm. 340, Monday 1-2.50 p.m.
Office: A&S 2-30; phone: 445-4504; bmschaeb@mail.gcsu.edu; office hours: M-TH 3-4 & by appt.
Web page: http://www.faculty.de.gcsu.edu/~dvess/gissues/global.shtml
Required Textbooks and Readings:
1) Global Issues 99/200 (15th edition) ed. by Robert M. Jackson (Dushkin/McGraw-Hill, 1999)
2) Introducing Global Issues, ed. by Michael T. Snarr and D. Neil Snarr, (Lynne Rienner Publishers, 1998)
3) International coverage of the New York Times on the web: nytimes.com
Course Description:
Global Issues and Society (IDST 20772) is a thematic course addressing contemporary global concerns that may require global solutions. Now that we have officially started the new millennium, it is of utmost importance that we begin to develop a global consciousness. Our world is being changed and connected with dramatic turbulence, and to face the challenges of the 21st century students must develop an awareness of global issues and problems and be able to think ‘globally.’
Issues that will be explored in this class range from globalization vs. tribalization, ethnicity and violence, a stable world order, demographic challenges, economics and development, dependence and global inequality, gender inequality, and ideals and ideologies.
Course Objectives:
- To develop an understanding of and appreciation for differences between peoples, cultures and states, or: to understand that there is more than one way to do things.
- To develop a sense of "world mindedness."
- To develop a sense of the historicity of problems; i.e. political problems are not natural givens that "have always been like that," but have developed out of specific historical circumstances, and can be solved under new circumstances.
- To develop a sense of the inter-connectedness of our world today; one famous example from chaos theory: a butterfly taking off in Africa can cause a thunderstorm in Venezuela (locations can be varied).
- To develop intercultural problem solving strategies.
- To develop an understanding of world governance.
- To develop the ability to question, think logically and come up with your own evaluation of problems.
- To develop the ability to read and digest varied sources of information.
- To develop the ability to locate and identify sources of information.
- To develop the ability to address complex global issues verbally and in writing.
Course Requirements and Grading Procedure:
There will be two quizzes during the course of the semester, one midterm and one final.
One of the quizzes will be a map quiz, and students will also be expected to write one short paper on current issues in relation to the course material, based on reading articles in the New York Times on the web (take-home quiz).
Regular attendance is mandatory. Unexcused absences and missed quizzes or exams due to unexcused absences cannot be made up. Excuses must be signed by a doctor or other official giving a valid explanation for the absence. In the event of a missed quiz or exam, the student must notify the professor within 48 hours of the absence. The 10-point grading scale will be used: (100-90=A, 89-80=B, 79-70=C, 69-60=D, 59- =F).
20% of your grade is based on attendance.
20% of your grade is based on quizzes (2) at 10% each.
30% of your grade is based on the mid-term.
30% of your grade is based on the final.
IDST 2205/2 COURSE SCHEDULE
M 1/10/00 Introduction to the Course, and Introduction to Global Issues:
Memorable Events of Global Importance during the Last Year 1999
M 1/17/00 Holiday
M 1/24/00 Globalization vs. Tribalization
Read: Dushkin McGraw-Hill 2, 4 & 15
The Many Faces of the Future
Redefining Security: The New Global Schisms
The Complexities and Contradictions of Globalization
M 1/31/00 Conflict and Security Challenges in the New Global Order I
Read: Snarr/Snarr 3, 4
Nationalism
Human Rights
M 2/7/00 Conflict and Security Challenges in the New Global Order II
Read: Snarr/Snarr 5, 1
Peacekeeping and Peacemaking
The Global Challenge of Weapons Proliferation
M 2/14/00 The Global Economy
Read: Dushkin McGraw-Hill 14, 16, &17
We Can Build a Sustainable Economy
Prosper or Perish?
An Illusion for Our Time
Read: Snarr/Snarr 8
Poverty in a Global Economy
M 2/21/00 Case Studies
Read: Dushkin McGraw-Hill 18-24
The End of a Miracle…
Fallen Idol, America and the Euro Gamble
Russia’s Summer of Discontent
A New Tiger, Africa Rising, Asia’s Drug Menace
M 2/28/00 Midterm Exam
M 3/6/00 Development, Dependency, and Population
Read: Dushkin McGraw-Hill 5, 6, 7
Before the Next Doubling
Worldwide Development or Population Explosion
Refugees: The Rising Tide
Read Snarr/Snarr 9
Population and Migration
M 3/13/00 Inequalities
Read Snarr/Snarr 10, 11, 12
Women and Development
Children
Health
Read: Dushkin McGraw-Hill 3, 37
Life is Unfair: Inequality in the World
Child Labour
M 3/20/00 The Predicaments of the Post-Modern State and World Order
Read: Dushkin McGraw-Hill 25, 26, 28, 29, 30, 31 & 32
The Post-Modern State and the World Order
The New Arms Race
Nuclear Brinkmanship in South Asia
Uncertainty, Insecurity, and China’s Military Power
Russian Foreign Policy in the Near Abroad and Beyond
M 3/27/00 Spring Holidays
M 4/3/00 The Environment I:
Read Snarr/Snarr 13,14, & 15
Protection of the Atmosphere
Cooperation and Conflict over Natural Resources
Environmental Protection and the Earth Summit
M 4/10/00 The Environment II:
Read: Dushkin McGraw-Hill 1, 10, 11, & 12
A Special Moment in History,
The Global Challenge
The Great Climate Flip-Flop
Stumped by Trees
M 4/17/00 Global Cooperation
Read: Dushkin McGraw-Hill 33, 34, 35, 36, 37
The First 50 Years
A Watchful Eye
Justice Goes Global
Peace Prize Goes to Land-Mine Opponents
Child Labor
M 4/24/00 Future Prospects and Visions
Read Snarr/Snarr 16
Future Prospects
Read: Dushkin McGraw-Hill 38, 39, 42
Universal Human Values
A Forth Way?
Women in Power
Final
