The course explores the origins of the modern world system, the incorporation of different parts of the world
into the system, and how this system consolidated itself through the processes of political and economic
restructuring, and the contemporary status of the system. Since the emergence of the modern world system,
different parts of the world have become interdependent and hierarchical, and human lives have been
influenced by a global network of production and exchange, cultural borrowing, conflict, war, migration, etc.
Goods have been produced, organized and transported to all corners of the world. Goods, money, knowledge,
labor, and profit flow across national boundaries; and modern technologies have shrunken the distances
between national boundaries. These national boundaries and their states are also the products of the modern
world system. The flow of goods and services are organized in ways that mainly benefit a few at the cost of
the majority of the world population.
This course teaches about the modern world system and how it works; it addresses the issues of
development, commodity chains and flows, unequal exchange, capital and labor flows, and problems of
investment and debt in the global economy. It also challenges the assumption that we can adequately learn
about society within a national boundary without locating it in the global context. In doing this, the course
takes a multi-disciplinary approach in teaching about the modern world system as a single integrated system.
It focuses on the emergence and expansion of a capitalist world system, the confrontation between those who
have power and those who do not have it, the emergence of different states and the imperial interstate system,
the role of multinational corporations, the existence of wealth and poverty side by side, change and continuity
in the system and the possible collapse of the system. Further, components of the system, such as world
classes, race/ethnicity, transnational corporations, household economies, "nation" states, and the imperial
interstate system will be identified and studied.
Further, the course attempts to equip the students with critical thinking and historical understanding
of the modern world system. The students are oriented to understand the impact of this system on their daily
lives, communities, regions, and countries. The readings, lectures, films, and small and large group
discussion help the students to develop their analytic and communication skills to understand the world in
which they live.
The grade of this course will be based on two exams, regular class attendance, and active class participation and presentation. The format of for the exams will be a combination of essay and short answer, based on assigned readings, lectures, class discussion, and films. For class presentation, every group (five members) selects one community or region or country and thoroughly study the positive and negative impacts of the modern world system on the selected community or region or country and becomes a resource group on it for the class. In the middle of the semester, every group is going to briefly report on the selected region or community or country. Then every group will present their findings to the class during the last week of the class. Every group is invited to discuss a possible topic with the professor in the first week. Further, every student is required to complete the assigned reading at the beginning of each class period.
1. Two exams 70%
2. Class presentation 15%
3. Attendance and participation 15%
92-100=A
87-91=B+
82-86=B
77-81=C+
72-76=C
67-71=D
INTRODUCTION
WORLD CIVILIZATIONS
6/8 Sanderson, pp. 15-22; Melko, pp. 25-44; Wilkinson, pp. 46-72;
Eckhardt, pp. 75-93 - in Civilizations and World systems
6/10 Shannon, pp. 20-75; Film: "The Frozen World," library, room 252;
small group discussion
HISTORY AND STRUCTURE OF THE WORLD SYSTEM
6/15 So, pp-87; Film: "Age of Uncertainty: The Big Corporation," library,
room 252; small group discussion
WORLD SYSTEM THEORY AND PERSPECTIVE
6/17 So, pp. 91-224; Shannon, pp. 1-9; 76-136; brief report by each
group on a selected community, country or region
6/22 Mid-term exam; So, pp. 225-268; Sanderson and Hall, pp. 95-106;
Gills, pp. 136-159 in Civilizations;
6/24 Shannon, pp. 76-136; Film: "Trade," library, room, 252;
Chase-Dunn and Hall, pp. 109-133;
Frank, pp. 163-190; Shannon, pp. 137-179; Wallerstein, pp, 239-247;
Bergesen, pp. 195-204; 273-292;
McNeill, pp. 303-319 -- in Civilizations
6/29 Final exam
7/1 Class Presentation
AAAS 202 Introduction to African American Studies
AAAS 211 Introduction to African Studies
AAAS 421 Comparative Studies in African & African-American Societies
AAAS 480 Black Communities in Urban America
Soc 343 Race & Ethnicity
Soc 442 Comparative Poverty & Development
Soc 446 The Modern World System
Soc 543 Introduction to Development
Soc 645 Advanced Studies in Political Economy
Academic Resume