49050 - Globalization and Nationalism

Course contents

This interdisciplinary – sociology, political science and history – designed course aims at deepening and broadening students' understanding of core concepts and available theoretical approaches concerning globalisation and nationalism. It also explores sociological, political, economic, historical, cultural and ethical aspects of these two probably most salient phenomena of this era. Special attention will be paid to exploring the links between globalisation and nationalism, and in particular their mutual interactions as well as conflicting relationships. The course will attempt to encourage students to seek relevant knowledge with a view to manifold implications of globalisation for nation-state, national sovereignty, European, national and cultural identity, democratic (also transnational) citizenship and prospects for global governance. The ultimate aim of this course is, among others, to arm students with theoretical and conceptual knowledge, which will qualify them for critical reflection upon the world around them, to anticipate future social trends in this area and to provide support in their search for critical alternatives to present unfolding of globalisation processes and uneven perseverance of various nationalisms in runaway world.

Readings/Bibliography

Syllabus Lecture 1: Presentation of the Course

• Organisation and methods of work
• Why this course and what can be learned?
• Identification and relevance of course's topics
• What have globalisation and nationalism in common?

Sources:

• John Beynon and David Dunkerley (eds., 2000), Globalization – The Reader, London: The Athlone Press, pp. 1-38.
• David Held et al (2005), Debating Globalization, Cambridge: Polity, pp. 1-36.
• Montserrat Guibernau, Globalization and the Nation-state, in Montserrat Guibernau and John Hutchinson (eds., 2001) Understanding Nationalism, Cambridge: Polity Press, pp. 242-268.

Lecture 2: What is Globalization?

• Making Sense of Globalization
• A Contested Concept – Teleological Flaws
• Definitions of Globalization
• The Limits to Globalization

Sources:

• Ulrich Beck (2000), What Is Globalization?, Cambridge: Polity, pp. 17-63.
• Anthony Giddens (1999), Runaway World – How Globalisation is Reshaping our Lives, London: Profile Books, pp. 6-19.
• David Held (ed., 2000), A globalizing world? Culture, economics, politics, London and New York: The Open University, pp. 5-45.
• Roxan Prazniak and Arif Dirlik (eds.,2001), Places and Politics in an Age of Globalization, Lanham, Boulder, New York, Oxford: Rowman & Littlefield Publishers, Inc., pp. 15-53.
• Jan Aarte Scholte (2005), Globalization – a critical introduction, London: MacMillan/Palgrave, pp. 49-84.
• John Urry (2003), Global Complexity, Cambridge: Polity, pp. 1-16 and 12o-140.

Lecture 3: History of Globalization

• How Old or New is Globalization?
• Globalization of History and History of Globalization
• Lessons from History and What Can be Learned for the Future of Globalization

Sources:

• David Held and Anthony McGrew (eds., 2003), The Global Transformations Reader – An Introduction to the Globalization Debate, Cambridge: Polity, pp. 51-119.
• Hirst Paul and Grahame Thompson (1996). Globalization in Question – The International Economy and the Possibilities of Governance, Cambridge: Polity Press, pp. 1-65.
• Robert J. Holton (1998), Globalization and the Nation-State, London: MacMillan Press, pp. 21-49.
• Jan Aarte Scholte (2005), Globalization – a critical introduction, London: MacMillan/Palgrave, pp. 85-120.

Lecture 4: Theoretical Explanations of Globalization

• Main Theoretical Strategies and Key Theorists
• Limits and Promises of Eclectical Approach
• Dimensions of Globalization: Economic, Political, Cultural, Ideological
• Challenges to Globalization

Sources:

• David Held (ed., 2000), A Globalizing World? Culture, Economics, Politics, London and New York: Routledge, pp. 47-166.
• David Held and Anthony McGrew (eds., 2002), Governing Globalization Power, Authority and Global Governance, Cambridge: Polity, pp. 237-347.
• Frank J. Lechner and John Boli (eds., 2000), The Globalization Reader, Oxford and Malden, Mass: Blackwell Publishers,  pp.49-106, 195-240, and 283-316.
• Jan Aarte Scholte (2005), Globalization – a critical introduction, London: MacMillan/Palgrave, pp. 121-158.
• Manfred B. Steger (2003), Globalization – A Very Short Introduction, Oxford: Oxford University Press.

 

Lecture 5: Globalization and Governance

• Links Between Global Economy and Global Politics
• The Shapes and Consequences of Political Globalization
• Democratic Accountability of Global Governance
• What Has EU to Do With Globalization?
• What's Happening With the Nation-State and Citizenship?
• On the New Context Concerning Sovereignty
• The Unfolding of Global Governance?
• Is There a Need for Global Ethic?

Sources:

• Zygmunt Bauman (1998), Globalization – The Human Consequences, Cambridge: Polity Press, pp. 55-76.
• Ulrich Beck (2000), What is Globalization?, Cambridge: Polity, pp. 156-163.
• David Held and Mathias Koenig-Archibugi (eds., 2003), Taming Globalization -  Frontiers of Governance, Cambridge: Polity, pp. 68-92 and 130-159.
• David Held and Anthony McGrew (eds., 2003), The Global Transformations Reader – An Introduction to the Globalization Debate, Cambridge: Polity, pp. 121-233 and 483-582.
• Kate Nash (2000), Contemporary Political Sociology – Globalization, Politics, and Power, Malden, Mass. and Oxford: Blackwell Publishers, pp. 19-30,151-155, and 251-267.
• Jan Aarte Scholte (2005), Globalization – A Critical Introduction, New York: Palgrave/MacMillan, pp. 185-223.

Lecture 6: Globalization and Identity

• From National to Transnational Identity?
• The Emergence of Nonterritorial Identities
• Hybridization Part of the Problem or Solution?
• Are Global Identity and Culture Viable?

Sources:

• David Held and Anthony McGrew (eds., 2003), The Global Transformations Reader – An Introduction to the Globalization Debate, Cambridge: Polity, pp. 235-297.
• Paul Kennedy and Catherine J. Danks (eds., 2001), Globalization and National Identities – Crisis or Opportunity? London: Palgrave, pp. 1-28.
• Frank J. Lechner and John Boli (eds., 2000), The Globalization Reader, Malden, Mass. And Oxford: Blackwell Publishers, pp. 319-368.
• Kate Nash (2000), Contemporary Political Sociology – Globalization, Politics, and Power, Malden, Mass. and Oxford: Blackwell Publishers, pp. 71-88.
• Jan Aarte Scholte (2005), Globalization – A Critical Introduction, New York: Palgrave/MacMillan, pp. 223-255.

Lecture 7: What is Nationalism

• Defining Nationalism
• Types of Nationalism
• Ideological Assumptions
• Causes of Nationalism 
• Critiques of the National Outlook 
• Is Nation(alism) Obsolete?

Sources:

• Ulrich Beck (2005), Power in the Global Age, Cambridge: Polity, pp. 35-50
• Alan Diechoff and Christophe Jaffrelot (eds., 2005), Revisiting Nationalism – Theories and Processes, London: Hurst & Company, pp. 1o-61 and 78-99.
• Chaim Gams (2003), The Limits of Nationalism, Cambridge: Cambridge Univ. Press, pp. 7-38.
• Michael Hechter (2000), Containing Nationalism, Oxford: Oxford University Press, pp. 18-34 and 70-93.
• John Hutchinson and Anthony D. Smith (eds., 1994), Nationalism, Oxford and New York: Oxford University Press, pp. 15-46.
• Anthony D. Smith (2001), Nationalism – Theory, Ideology, History, Cambridge: Polity, pp. 5-20, 21-42, and 62-86.

Lecture 8: Theories and Paradigms of Nationalism

• Discourses and Debates on Nationalism
• Primordialism, Modernism, Ethno-symbolism
• The Emergence of New Approaches

Sources:

• Ronald Beiner (ed., 1999), Theorizing Nationalism, Albany: State University of New York Press, pp. 67 -90, 131-140, 219.245, and 295-325.
• John Hutchinson and Anthony D. Smith (eds., 1994), Nationalism, Oxford and New York: Oxford University Press, pp. 47-131.
• Umut Özkirimli (2000), Theories of Nationalism – A Critical Introduction, New York: Palgrave.

Lecture 9: What Prospects for Nationalism?

• Internationalization of Nationalism
• The Role of Uneven  Ethno-histories
• The Demise of Nation-state and Nationalism?
• Is European Union Compatible With Nationalism?

 

Sources:

• Robert J. Holton (1998), Globalization and the Nation-State, London: MacMillan Press Ltd., pp. 80-107.
• John Hutchinson and Anthony D. Smith (eds., 1994), Nationalism, Oxford and New York: Oxford University Press, pp. 287-325.
• Paul Lawrence (2005), Nationalism – History and Theory, Harlow, London, New York: Pearson/Longman.
• Anthony D. Smith (2001), Nationalism – Theory, Ideology, History, Cambridge: Polity, pp. 120-146.

 

Lecture 10: Debating Convergence and/or Conflict Between Globalization and Nationalism

• The Relevance of the Concept of “Glocalization”
• The Challenges and Consequences of Anti-globalization Movement
• Is Globalization Winning Over Nationalism or Vice Versa?
• Assessing the Future of Globalization and Nationalism: Convergence/Synergy or Conflict?
• Agenda for Further Studies and Intellectual Challenges in This Area

 

Sources:

• John Baylis and Steve Smith (eds., 2005), The Globalization of World Politics – An Introduction to International Relations, Oxford: Oxford University Press.
• Ulrich Beck (1997), What is Globalization?, Cambridge: Polity, pp. 115-155.
• Ulrich Beck (2005), Power in the Global Age, Cambridge: Polity, pp. 236-248.
• John Hutchinson (2005), Nations As Zones of Conflict, Thousand Oaks, New Delhi: Sage Publications, pp. 157-169.
• Saskia Sassen (1998), Globalization and its Discontents, New York: The New Press.
• Joseph E. Stiglitz 2002), Globalization and its Discontents, New York and London: W. W. Norton Company.

 

  Selected reading

 

• Giddens, Anthony (1999): Runaway World – How Globalization is Reshaping our Lives. London: Profile Books.
• Beck, Ulrich (2000): What is Globalization? Cambridge: Polity Press.
• Beck Ulrich (2005): Power in the Global Age. Cambridge: Polity.
• Beiner, Ronald (ed., 1999): Theorizing Nationalism. New York: State University of New York Press.
• Dieckoff and Christophe Jaffrelot (eds., 2005): Revisiting Nationalism – Theories and Processes. London: Hurst & Company.
• Held, David (ed., 2000): A Globalizing World? Culture, Economics, Politics. London and New York: Routledge.
• Held, David and Anthony McGrew (eds., 2000, 2003): The Global Transformations Reader. Cambridge: Polity.
• Held David and Anthony McGrew (2007): Globalization Theory – Approaches and Controversis. Cambridge: Polity.
• Hutchinson, John and Anthony D. Smith (eds., 1994): Nationalism. Oxford and New York: Oxford University Press.
• Lechner, Frank J. and John Boli (eds. 2000): The Globalization Reader. Oxford: Blackwell Publishing.
• Özkirimli, Umut (2000). Theories of  Nationalism - A Critical  Introduction. New York: Palgrave.

• Scholte, Jan Aart (2000, 2004): Globalization - A Critical Introduction. London: MacMillan Press.
• Smith, Anthony D. (2001): Nationalism - Theory, Ideology, History. Cambridge: Polity.

Teaching methods

Besides lecturing, students are expected to read the assigned texts for each session, prepare at least two oral presentations of relevant topics in the class, and to be engaged continuously in informed discussion.

Office (contact)hours after the class.

Assessment methods

Grading system

Participation: 25%

Presentations: 25%

Final Exam (paper): 50%

Final exam

Written: discussing and reflecting upon three relevant essay questions (each approximately 6 pages).

Office hours

See the website of Rudolf Rizman