Course Description:
This course surveys the state of the art in the new and exciting sociology of the largest social structures humans have ever known. We deal with topics that have a direct and compelling effect on the lives of people everywhere in the world (including the U.S.), but cannot be grasped by means of conventional thinking (which tends to be oriented toward the nation-state or even smaller social units). In this course, you will learn about the cutting edge in sociological work on the world. We interpret transformations of global structures during the roughly 500-year history of world capitalism, and we explore today’s global structures and their potential for change. The course involves a moderate amount of readings, the viewing of ten or so excellent films, and some student writing.
