module specification

We live in an increasingly global world, an increasingly globally connected and
interdependent world, economically, politically and culturally. We also live in an increasingly unequal world. In this module, you will look at the recent growth of inequalities globally both between and within countries and at how economic, political and cultural globalisation has played a key role in producing these growing inequalities.

The module will help you understand the global world in which we live, how it works and how different arguments have in turn celebrated and been critical of recent globalisation. Understanding the global world in which we live is key to developing your sociological imagination. You will examine the scale, nature, causes and consequences of global inequalities both generally and through case study examples of migration, climate change, food production, tourism, fashion and technology.

The aims of the module are to:

● develop an understanding and comprehension of the global world economically, politically and culturally
● develop and demonstrate an understanding and an ability to be critical of different viewpoints
● collect and analyse data to highlight the scale and nature of global inequalities between and within countries
● understand how migration, climate change and the food, clothes and technology that we consume reflect and reproduce global inequalities

Available for Study Abroad? YES

The module builds on the knowledge and understanding you have developed in the Global Environmental (in)Justice module.

At the start of the module, you will look at examples of how interconnected and interdependent the global world we live in is. The clothes we wear, the technology we use, the way we heat our homes and workplaces and the food we eat all highlight how globally connected our economy and society are. We will then look at how and why this is the case and what this indicates about our contemporary world. (LO2)

You will then look at the evidence of growing inequalities globally, both between and within countries, using a range of contemporary reports and research.  In particular, this highlights the increasing concentration of wealth in the hands of a small minority. You will look at examples of high, middle and low income countries throughout Africa, Asia, South, central and North America and Europe. (LO1)

You will look at whether contemporary globalisation has led to widening inequality and in doing this, you will be introduced to different viewpoints on the positive and negative consequences of globalisation. (LO2) In particular, you will look at the links between contemporary globalisation and colonialism in relation to countries throughout Africa, Asia and south and central America. (LO1, LO2)

In the module, you will look at the ways in which the global economy works and at how multinational companies are the key drivers of the global economy. You will have the chance to identify the global operations of industries and sectors such as fashion, food and technology. You will look at the shifting nature of the global economy and especially at the growth of China and other south and east Asian economies. (LO1. LO2)

In the second half of the module, you will focus on key issues such as migration, climate change, food production, resource extraction and tourism to see how each of these both reflects and reproduces global inequalities (LO3).

Learning and teaching will comprise weekly three-hour sessions face-to-face. This will comprise of a weekly lecture followed by a seminar or workshop based session. The seminar will be based around pre-set reading and seminar questions for discussion, in small groups and with the group as a whole.

Learning will be supported by the module weblearn site which will include all teaching materials – reading, video materials (which will be used extensively) and recorded lectures.  A range of teaching materials will be used including a wide range of recent research and reports, video and podcast materials on, for example, climate change and migration and case studies of the impacts of globalisation on particular countries and social groups.

Students will be encouraged to develop their own particular interests be it in a particular topic, region or country of the world or a particular industry or sector of the global economy. It will be possible for students to develop this interest into an essay title of their choice for the assessment.

The module is designed to encourage students to reflect on what is familiar and what they know of the global world around them and to develop and adopt a critical approach to knowledge and understanding, in a reflective way, seeking to make linkages and deepen their understanding. Reflective activities will be encouraged in class based activities.

Students will be encouraged to engage fully with feedback opportunities on both assessments and especially from the formative assessment which will help them reflect and develop their learning.

On successful completion of the course, students will be able to:

1. Identify the scale and nature of inequalities both between and within countries globally and demonstrate an understanding of some of the key causes and consequences of growing global inequalities (LO1)

2. Demonstrate an understanding of what is meant by globalisation and of some of the different views which exist on globalisation (LO2)

3. Apply knowledge to show how key global issues such as migration, climate change, food production, resource extraction and tourism both reflect and reproduce global inequalities (LO3)

Formative assessment - short written answers to 3 questions (200 words each) in which students are asked to (i) define globalisation and neo-liberalism (ii) document the scale of and trends in global inequalities and (iii) identify the key causes of growing global inequalities

Summative assessment – write an essay (1,500 words) which will assess students understanding of how key issues globally such as migration, technology, food production, fashion, tourism or resource extraction (OR a case study of the student’s choice) both reflect and reproduce global inequalities (LO1, LO2 and LO3)

https://rl.talis.com/3/londonmet/lists/8C295F5D-EA70-988E-E59C-FB877B89248D.html