Winter 2019/Fuller Online

MD500

Myers

MD500: GLOBALIZATION, THE POOR, AND CHRISTIAN MISSION (4 Units: 160 Hours). Bryant L. Myers.

DESCRIPTION: This course examines the globalization phenomenon as a deeply rooted historical change process that significantly impacts the contemporary church and the poor. The course begins with an examination of the political, economic, and cultural dimensions of globalization with a view toward unraveling myth from reality. Supporters and skeptics are examined, as are the major global players that shape globalization and affect the poor. The course then focuses on the impact of globalization on the poor and provides a critical and theological examination of global proposals for eradicating poverty. The course concludes by examining the impact of globalization on the church and of the church on globalization and concludes with a missiological examination of the theological weaknesses of globalization and how the church needs to respond.

LEARNING OUTCOMES: Upon successful completion of this course, students will have demonstrated (1) an understanding of the historical roots and contemporary expressions of globalization; (2) a nuanced appreciation of the complexity and paradoxical nature of globalization; (3) an understanding of the impact of globalization and global institutions on the poor including global strategies for poverty reduction; (4) an appreciation of the impact of globalization on the global church and the impact of the church on globalization; (5) an introductory understanding of how to theologically assess globalization; and (6) an appreciation of the ways in which the church and Christians could respond missiologically in today’s globalizing world.

RELATIONSHIP TO PROGRAM LEARNING OUTCOMES: This course equips students with capacities necessary to cultivate a theologically reflective practice of Christian mission and transformation in a globalizing world (MAICS PLO 2 and 4, MATM PLO 5, and MAGL PLO 2). As an elective, this course equips students with capacities to engage in diverse cultural contexts for transformational mission (SOT PLO 2 and MAT PLO 4). Student ratings for MAICS and MDiv programs indicate a high degree alignment of the course outcomes and the student’s learning outcomes.

COURSE FORMAT: This course will be conducted online on a ten-week schedule aligned with Fuller’s academic calendar for a total of 40 instructional hours, which is outlined below in the assignment and assessment section. Students are required to interact with the material, with each other, and with the instructor regularly through online discussions, reading, and other assignments that promote active learning.

REQUIRED READING: (1600 pages) If you have previously read any of the required texts, please select an alternative text and seek the approval of the instructor.

Collier, Paul. The Bottom Billion: Why the Poorest Countries are Failing and What Can Be Done about It. Oxford University Press, 2007, chapters 1-6 and 11. ISBN: 978-0195373387, Pub. Price $15.95 [117 pp.]. E-book available at Fuller Library.

Cran, William, and Barker, Greg, directors. Commanding Heights: The Battle for the World’s Economy, Three video PBS series. All three videos available for free on YouTube. If a text version would be easier, one exists at http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/commandingheights/shared/minitext/tr_show01.html

Easterly, William. White Man’s Burden. Penguin, 2006, chapters 1-4, 10-11. ISBN: 978-0143038825, Pub. Price $19.00 [200 pp.]. E-book available at Fuller Library.

Fortrell, Quentin. "When Gates and Zuckerberg sound the same dire warning about
jobs, it's time to listen."http://www.marketwatch.com/story/bill-gates-updates-the-plastics-advice-from-the-graduate-for-2017-2017-05-16

Heilbroner, Robert L. 1999. The Worldly Philosophers: The Lives, Times, and Ideas of the Great Economic Thinkers. Rev. 7th ed. New York: Simon & Schuster, 1999, chapter 2 (pg 13-26). Available at http://starbooksfeaa.weebly.com/uploads/5/4/8/6/54869709/the_wordly_philosophers.pdf E-book not available, used copies available on Amazon.

Myers, Bryant. Engaging Globalization: The Poor, Christian Mission, and Our Hyper-Connected World. Baker Academic, 2017. ISBN 978-0801097980. Pub. Price $26.99 [320 pp.] E-book available at Fuller Library.

Sachs, Jeffrey D. The End of Poverty: The Economic Possibilities of Our Time. Penguin Press, 2006, chapters 1-3, 11, 13-14, 18. ISBN: 978-0143036586, Pub. Price $18.00 [154 pp.]. E-book available at Fuller Library.

Steger, Manfred. Globalization: A Very Short Introduction. 3rd Ed. Oxford University Press, 2013. ISBN: 978-0199662661, Pub. Price $11.95 [135 pp.]. E-book not available. Less than $6 on Amazon.

Urbanski, Dave."Zuckerberg says Facebook can offer 'sense of purpose,' 'community." http://www.theblaze.com/news/2017/06/28/as-church-membership-drops-mark-zuckerberg-says-facebook-can-offer-sense-of-purpose-community/

Zakaria, Fareed. The Post-American World 2.0. Norton, 2012. ISBN: 978-0393340389, Pub. Price $16.95 [336 pp.]. E-book not available. Used and Kindle version available on Amazon.

Course Reader: Banerjee/Duflo, Barber, Friedman, Huntington, Groody, Hanciles, Kaplan, Naim, Norris/Inglehart, Ogbu, Prahalad, Rachman, Sanneh, Stackhouse, Yates. [250 pp.].

ASSIGNMENTS AND ASSESSMENT:

  1. 1,600 pp. of required reading [80 hours]. Relates to all learning outcomes
  2. Lectures. (20 hours). Relates to all learning outcomes.
  3. Directed Learning Activities: Ten 300-400 word Forum Postings/responses and completion of pre and post course questionnaires (20% of grade). [Relates to all learning outcomes sequentially] [10 hours].
  4. Directed Learning Activities: International organization group project: 10% of grade. [Relates to learning outcome 4] [5 hours].
  5. Participation: Spiritual practices: Series of one page reflections and Pre and Post Course Evaluations(15%). [This assignment is related to learning outcome #3] [5 hours].
  6. Short paper: Choose one of the two following topics. Either a five page critical and personal assessment of howyou personally and your local church or denomination will need to change or adjust how you think, act and do Christian ministry in light of Fareed Zakaria’s proposal for the emergence of a post-American world, or a five pageresearch paper comparing and contrasting Sachs, Easterly and Collier in terms of their understanding of and solutions for eradicating poverty (20% of grade). [Connects to learning outcomes 2 or 5 respectively] [15 hours].
  7. Final paper: A 12- to 15-page critical assessment research paper on a topic related to the course (35% of grade). [This connects potentially to any number of learning outcomes depending on the paper topic] [25 hours].

Total = 160 hours

PREREQUISITES: None.

RELATIONSHIP TO CURRICULUM: Required course in the 80 MAICS (2017). Meets MAICS (2010 revision) core requirement or globalization (GLBL) requirement.

FINAL EXAMINATION: None.

NOTE: This ECD is a reliable guide to the course design but is subject to modification. Textbook prices are set by publishers and are subject to change. Copyright 2019 Fuller Theological Seminary.