20 minute seminar presentation (20%)

2,000 word essay (20%)

Exam (60%)

The term ‘globalisation’ has been used to describe the prevalent social, cultural, political and economic transformations at the beginning of the 21^st century.  The study of globalisation and of its premises and consequences has thus formed a key concern of social and human sciences of our era.  This module examines the impact of globalisation and related processes such as localisation, standardisation and fragmentation on contemporary culture and societies.  As part of this investigation, the modules critically reflect on established notions of culture and its territorial or collective focus such as the nation state and establishes the key conceptual approaches to cultural globalisation.

On completion of this module, students are expected to be able to:

- demonstrate an understanding of the cultural and political transformations constituting

and resulting from globalisation processes both globally and in specific local contexts

- critically evaluate different conceptual approaches to globalisation and culture.

- analyse the premises and consequences of cultural globalisation.

- contextualise globalisation debates in the broader context of Social and Cultural Theory.

-         Introduction to concepts and theories of globalisation

-         Globalisation and localisation

-         Time and space in modernity

-         Globalisation and the nation state

-         Consumption and global culture

-         Diaspora, culture and migration

-         Globalisation, political participation and the public sphere

-         Transnational interconnectivity and risk societies

-         Regional case studies of globalisation and localisation

Mandatory Reading for Module:

 

Tomlinson, J. (1999) Globalisation and Culture, Cambridge : Polity Press

Recommeded Key Readings :

 

Morley, D. (2000) Home Territories : Media, Mobility and Modernity, Comedia, London : Routledge.

Morley, D. and Robins, K. (1995) Spaces of Identity: Global Media, Electronic Landscapes and Cultural Boundaries, London : Routledge.

Bauman, Z. (1998) Globalisation the Human Consequences, Cambridge : Polity Press.

Lechner, F.J. and Bolli, J. (2003) The Globalisation Reader, second edition, Oxford : Blackwell Publishing.

Ritzer, G. (2003) The Globalisation of Nothing, Thousand Oaks : Sage.

Sklair, L. (1995) Sociology of the Global System, second edition, London : Prentice Hall Harvester Wheatsheaf.

Savage, M. Bagnall, G. and Longhurst B. (2004) Globalisation and Belonging, Thousand Oaks, CA ,: Sage.

Sandvoss, Cornel (2003) A Game of Two Halves: Football, Television and Globalisation, Comedia, London : Routledge.