LART-250: Globalization in Historic and Contemporary Contexts

This course examines the interdisciplinary topic of globalization, beginning with the history of increasing interconnection, including colonialism and imperialism, and highlighting the differences and similarities of previous forms of exchange from those practiced today. Students will discuss the impact of globalization on the state, individuals, and multinational entities such as corporations and NGOs, while avoiding the over-generalized use of the term that reduces it to the trope of McDonald's in Siberia or sushi in American grocery stores. At the end of this class, students will emerge with an understanding of how new global mobility and the power structures implicit in that mobility require us to reexamine previously accepted units such as state, company, or social group.