Summer 2016/Fuller Online
MD500
Myers and Veltman
MD500: GLOBALIZATION, THE POOR, AND CHRISTIAN MISSION (4 Units: 160 Hours). Bryant Myers (Lecturer and designer) and Than Veltman (Online instructor).
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: Upon successful completion of this course, students will have demonstrated (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) ability to understand and critically assess proposals for poverty eradication at the global level.
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: 1,600 pages required. If you have previously read any of the required texts, please select an alternative text and seek the approval of the instructor.
Chanda, Nayan. Bound Together: How Traders, Preachers, Adventurers and Warriors Shaped Globalization. Yale University Press, 2008. ISBN: 978-0300136234, Pub. Price $19.00 [330 pp. assigned].
Collier, Paul. The Bottom Billion: Why the Poorest Countries are Failing and What Can Be Done about It. Oxford University Press, 2008. ISBN: 978-0195373387, Pub. Price $15.95 [117 pp. assigned; chapters 1-6 and 11].
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/ [3 hours or 60 pages]
Easterly, William. White Man’s Burden. Penguin, 2007. ISBN: 978-0143038825, Pub. Price $18.00 [200 pp. assigned; chapters 1-4, 10-11].
Sachs, Jeffrey D. The End of Poverty: The Economic Possibilities of Our Time. Penguin Press, 2006. ISBN: 978-0143036586, Pub. Price $18.00 [154 pp. assigned; chapters 1-3, 11, 13-14, 18].
Steger, Manfred. Globalization: A Very Short Introduction. Oxford University Press, 3rd ed., 2013. ISBN: 978-0199662661, 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). [250 pages]
ASSIGNMENTS AND ASSESSMENT:
Lectures. [This assignment is related to learning outcomes #1-5] [20 hours].
Weekly 300-400 word Forum Postings/responses and completion of pre and post course questionnaires. (20%). [This assignment is related to learning outcomes #1-5] [10 hours].
International organization group project (10%). [This assignment is related to learning outcome #4] [5 hours].
1,600 pp. of required reading. [This assignment is related to learning outcomes #1-5] [80 hours].
Spiritual practices: One page reflection (15%). [This assignment is related to learning outcome #3] [5 hours].
Short paper: Choose one of the two following topics. Either 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, or a five-page research paper comparing and contrasting Sachs, Easterly, and Collier in terms of their understanding of and solutions for eradicating poverty. (20%). [This assignment is related to learning outcomes #2, 5] [15 hours].
Final paper: A 12- to 15-page critical assessment research paper on a topic related to the course. (35%). [This assignment is related to any number of learning outcomes depending on the paper topic] [25 hours].
PREREQUISITES: None.
RELATIONSHIP TO CURRICULUM: Option to meet the C1 requirement in the 120 MDiv Program. Meets MAICS (2010 revision) core requirement or globalization (GLBL) requirement for SOT MA programs.
FINAL EXAMINATION: None.