Journal Assignments
Journal Entry 1: September 9-13 -- Due 9/16
- Respond to the essential premise of the course: the study of "globalization"--its
definition, its historical development, and the debates surrounding it are essential to
understanding the contemporary global challenges we confront as citizens of the 21st century.
Journal Entry 2: September 16-20 -- Due 9/23
- Of the many globlization debates described by
Scholte, which do you find the most compelling and important. If
forced to answer which side you're on in that debate, defend
your position.
Journal Entry 3: September 23-27 --Due 9/30
- The makers of the documentary, The Flaw, assert that the
underlying cause of the global financial crisis was growing
income inequality. To what extent has globalization contributed
to this growing income equality both in the United States and
abroad. If this is true what does it say about neoliberalism,
the Washington consensus, and the possibilities for arresting
this widening economic chasm?
Journal Entry 4: September 30-October 4--Due 10/9
- I found it interesting that there seemed to be a general
consensus (with certain exceptions) amongst members of the class that
political globalization was not a particularly substantial characteristic
of our present moment nor did most of you believe that it was a likely outcome
in the future – despite your sense that increasing the level of global political
cooperation would be a good thing. There were also a number of you who thought that
cultural globalization was not as widespread as observers have suggested. One might speak
of Americanization, Westernization, or nations with cultural power and those without, but
true globalization does not really exist. This led me to consider whether or not we are
really in a new era of globalization. In other words, if political globalization isn't really
occurring and if cultural globalization isn’t all that extensive, should we really entertain the
possibility that globalization is as characteristic a phenomenon as most commentators claim?
React to this.
Journal Entry : October 7-11
Journal Entry : October 15-19
Journal Entry 7: October 21-25 (Due by Friday, November 1)
- From what you know about Cuba given the reading and
documentary, Toby's presentation, our class discussion, your
personal experience, etc., do you think that Cuba will be able
to forge a middle path between its communist past and present
introduction of market-based reforms? Will the US allow for such
a possibility?
Journal Entry 8: October 29-November 1
Journal Entry 9: November 4-9 (Due by Thursday, November 16)
Journal Entry 10: November 12-16
Journal Entry 11: November 19-30