Summer 2014/Fuller Online

MD500

Penner/Myers

MD500: GLOBALIZATION, THE POOR, AND CHRISTIAN MISSION (4 Units: 120 hours). Nathan Penner with guest lecturer Bryant Myers.

DESCRIPTION: This course examines the globalization phenomenon as a deeply rooted historical change process that has significant impact on the contemporary church and the poor. The course consists of two parts. The first part of the course examines the political, economic, and cultural dimensions of globalization with a view toward unraveling myth from reality and applying biblical lenses to this assessment. Supporters and skeptics are examined, as are the major global players who have the power to shape the nature of globalization. The second part of the course briefly examines the impact of globalization on the church and global mission, but primarily focuses on the impact of globalization on the poor and a critical examination of global proposals for eradicating poverty.

LEARNING OUTCOMES: (1) An understanding of the historical roots and contemporary expressions of globalization; (2) a multifaceted appreciation for the complexity and paradoxical nature of globalization debate as it affects the poor and the global Christian church; (3) an appreciation for the complexity of the task of thinking theologically about globalization; (4) an understanding of the impact of globalization and global institutions on the poor and (5) the ability to understand and critically assess proposals for poverty eradication at the global level.

COURSE FORMAT: The class will be conducted on the Internet using a 10-week lesson program aligned with Fuller’s academic calendar. Each week students and the instructor will interact with that week’s lecture and readings through threaded small group discussions.

REQUIRED READING: (1600 pages) If you have previously read any of the required texts, please select an alternative text from the recommended reading list or a book approved by the instructor.

Chanda, Nayan. Bound Together: How Traders, Preachers, Adventurers and Warriors Shaped Globalization. Yale University Press, 2007. ISBN: 978-0300136234, Pub. Price $19.00 [330 pp. assigned].

Cran, William, and Barker, Greg, directors. Commanding Heights: The Battle for the World’s Economy, three-disc PBS DVD, available on Google video as CH1, CH2, and CH3 or http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/commandingheights/hi/story/

Easterly, William. White Man’s Burden. Penguin, 2006. ISBN: 978-0143038825, Pub. Price $17.00 [220 pp. assigned; chapters 1-4, 10-11].

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

Sachs, Jeffrey D. The End of Poverty: The Economic Possibilities of Our Time. Penguin Press, 2005, ISBN: 978-0143036586, Pub. Price $17.00 [154 pp. assigned; chapters 1-3, 11, 13-14, 18].

Steger, Manfred. Globalization: A Very Short Introduction. Oxford University Press, 2009. ISBN: 978-0199552269, Pub. Price $11.95 [135 pp. assigned].

Zakaria, Fareed. The Post-American World, Release 2.0. Norton, 2012. ISBN: 978-0393340389, Pub. Price $16.95 [336 pp.].

Course Reader. (Banerjee, Barber, Friedman, Heilbroner, Huntington, Groody, Jenkins, Kaplan, Myers, Naim, Norris/Inglehart, Ogbo, Pankaj, Prahalad, Sanneh, Shaw, Stackhouse, Wuthnow, Yates)

ASSIGNMENTS AND ASSESSMENT:

  1. All course reading (60 hours).

  2. Lectures (20 hours).

  3. Forum Postings (includes pre and post course evaluation): 20% of grade (10 hours).

  4. Spiritual practices: Reflection: 15% of grade (5 hours).

  5. International organization group project: 10% of grade (10 hrs).

  6. Short paper. Choose one of the two following. 1.  A five page critical and personal assessment of how you 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.  2.  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 (10 hours).

  7. A 12- to 15-page critical assessment research paper on a topic related to the course. 35% of grade. (30 hours).

PREREQUISITE: None

RELATIONSHIP TO CURRICULUM: Meets core requirement for MAIS degree (Winter 2010) or globalization (GLBL) requirement for SOT MA programs.

FINAL EXAMINATION: Final paper due in lieu of final exam.


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.

For your convenience, order these texts online through the Archives Bookshop.