49050 - Globalization and Nationalism

Learning outcomes

This interdisciplinary – sociology, political science and history – designed course Student is expected to deep and broad their understanding of core political and sociological concepts and available theoretical approaches concerning globalisation and nationalism. Student is expected to also learn how to explore sociological, political, economic, historical, cultural and ethical aspects of these two probably most salient phenomena of this era.

Course contents

This interdisciplinary - sociology, political science and history - designed course aims to deepen and broaden students' understanding of core concepts and available theoretical approaches related to globalization and nationalism. It thus explores sociological, political, economic, historical, cultural and ethical aspects of these two probably most salient phenomena (clichés) of this era. Special focus will be directed to exploring the links between globalization and nationalism, and in particular their mutual interactions as well as conflicting relationships. The course will further encourage students to seek relevant knowledge with a view to manifold implications of globalization for nation-state, national sovereignty, European, national and cultural identity, democratic (also transnational) citizenship and global governance. The ultimate aim of this course is, among other, to equip students with theoretical and conceptual knowledge, which will qualify them for critical reflections upon the world around them, for anticipating further social trends in this area and in their search for critical alternatives to present unfolding of globalization processes and uneven perseverance of various nationalisms in today's runaway world.

Main topics of the lectures

1. The interdisciplinary and contemporary relevance of the global complexity, the causes of globalization
2. Understanding globalization and nationalism: conceptual clarifications, controversies, definitions and available theoretical approaches
3. Globalization and nationalism considered both as ideologies and paradigms
4. Discussing the history of globalization and the globalization of history
5. Different historical forms of nationalism and their eventual trajectory towards post-nationalism
6. Dimensions of globalization and their implications for society, polity, culture and economy
7. The implications of globalization and nationalism for such salient socio-political phenomena as: nation-state, national sovereignty, national identity, democracy, democratic citizenship, (global) civil society, cultural identity, global governance, global ethics, global violence (terrorism), etc.
8. How is contemporary religious revival and the rise of various fundamentalisms informing globalization and nationalism
9. Alternatives to globalization and nationalism: beyond anti-globalization and cosmopolitanism
10. Prospects of globalization and nationalism in the modern era

Readings/Bibliography

Required literature:

Beck, Ulrich (2000): What is Globalization? Cambridge: Polity Press.

Beiner, Ronald (ed., 1999): Theorizing Nationalism. New York: State University of New York Press.

Giddens, Anthony (1999): Runaway World – How Globalization is Reshaping our Lives. London: Profile Books.

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 Mathias Koenig – Archibugi (eds., 2003): Taming Globalization – Frontiers of Governance. 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, 2004): 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.

Seymour, Michel (ed., 2004): The Fate of the Nation State. Montreal & Kingston: McGill-Queen’s University Press.

Singer, Peter. (2002): One World – The Ethics of Globalization. New Haven and London: Yale University Press.

Smith, Anthony D. (2001): Nationalism - Theory, Ideology, History. Cambridge: Polity.

Weinstein, Michael M. (2005): Globalization – What’s New? New York: Columbia University Press.

/information on the selected pages from the

above books will be given during the course/

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).

The outcome of the module will be averaged to that of the other module composing the integrated course in order to determine the final grade.

Office hours

See the website of Rudolf Rizman