Globalization in Historical Perspective

This course pays attention to the process of globalization in a historical perspective. It criticizes the view of globalization as a linear, western, homogenizing process. It pays therefore attention to different periods of globalization in the past, different dimensions of globalization (political, military, economic, demographic, cultural and environmental) and different parts of the world. Special attention is given to the development of an international order and the changing position and power of nation-states; and to the divergent economic and technological development since the Industrial Revolution. Students will get an overview of the most important long term processes of the last five hundred years with an emphasis on changes in the recent period. They will be trained in how to use historical knowledge in order to better interpret contemporary developments and how to find themselves relevant historical literature.

After successful completion of this course students are expected to be able to:

• Explain the development of the different dimensions (economic, social, political and cultural) of globalization over time
• Explain how globalization can be a process leading to both greater equality and greater inequality, between and within countries
• Assess the causes and consequences of the various dimensions of globalization
• Assess the changing position of the nation-state in a globalizing world
• Apply a historical perspective and social science framework to contemporary societal developments
• Apply the appropriate methods to search for academic literature and primary sources
• Evaluate academic literature, sources and data on the basis of their reliability, representativeness and persuasiveness

Assumed Knowledge:
RHI10506 Introduction to International Development Studies or equivalent