Winter 2014/Pasadena

ET846/546

Lee

ET846/546: GOD AND GLOBALIZATION. Hak Joon Lee.

DESCRIPTION: It is widely recognized that globalization is reshaping our civilization by transforming our social institutions, cultural ethos, interpersonal communications, work experiences, personal tastes, and religious identities. Taking an interdisciplinary approach, this seminar offers a critical study of the complex nature and multifarious dynamics of globalization and its impact from a perspective of Christian theology and ethics with the focus on the dynamics of the global and the local, the universal and the particular. The following questions are asked: What is globalization? What are its historical roots and socio-economic dynamics, and how do these dynamics intersect with the cultural and philosophical expressions of modernity and postmodernity? What is its impact on various social institutions and the spheres of human life (e.g., religion, politics, economics, popular culture, communication, ecology)? What theological ethical challenges does it pose, and what are faithful and appropriate Christian responses? In exploring these questions, the seminar will compare diverse philosophical and ethical approaches and religious responses to globalization.

SIGNIFICANCE FOR LIFE AND MINISTRY: As globalization has become a social and cultural context of Christian ministry and social engagements, it is critical for Christian leaders to properly understand its nature, dynamics, theological meaning, and ethical implications in serving God’s church and humanity. The study of globalization will equip the students with the skills of social analysis and critical theological-ethical reflections as they seek to advance God’s love and justice in a shrinking world.

LEARNING OUTCOMES: Upon successful completion of this course, students will have demonstrated the ability (1) to understand the complex nature, dynamics and history of globalization and its impact on social institutions and individuals; (2) to critically assess diverse theories and ideologies of globalization from a Christian perspective; (3) to grasp the challenges and opportunities of globalization for religion in general, and Christian ministry in particular; (4) to be able to formulate plausible theological and ethical responses to globalization from one’s own religious tradition and cultural perspective; and (5) to articulate the meaning and significance of the global ethics project from a Christian perspective.

COURSE FORMAT: The course meets once per week for a three-hour session for ten weeks. Each seminar combines student presentations, discussions on the presentations, and other questions (and mini-lectures, if necessary)

REQUIRED READING:

Bauman, Zygmunt. Liquid Modernity. http://quidditas.net/hist452/s1/Bauman%20Liquid%20Modernity.pdf [approx. 240 pp.].

Esposito, John L. and Darrell J. Fasching, Todd Lewis (eds.). Religion and Globalization: World Religions in Historical Perspective. Oxford University Press, 2008. ISBN: 978-0195176957, Pub. Price $54.95. [300 pp.].

Harvey, David. A Brief History of Neoliberalism. http://www2.warwick.ac.uk/fac/soc/sociology/rsw/research_centres/theory/conf/rg/harvey_a_brief_history_of_neoliberalism.pdf [approx. 100 pp.].

Harvey, David. The Condition of Postmodernity. http://www.revalvaatio.org/wp/wp-content/uploads/harvey-the_condition_of_postmodernity.pdf [approx. 200 pp].

Lee, Hak Joon. The Great World House: Martin Luther King, Jr. and Global Ethics. Pilgrim Press, 2011. ISBN: 978-0829818215, Pub. Price $25.00 [200 pp.].

Lechner, Frank J. and John Boli. The Globalization Reader. Wiley-Blackwell Publisher. 4th edition, 2011. ISBN: 978-0470655634, Pub. Price $46.95 [500 pp.].

Stackhouse, Max L. Globalization and Grace. The Continuum International Publishing Group, 2007. ISBN: 978-0826428851, Pub. Price $32.95 [250 pp.].

Widdows, Heather. Global Ethics: An Introduction. Acumen Publishing Co. 2011. ISBN: 979-1844652822, Pub. Price $19.96 [approx. 300 pp.].

Course Packet (accessible electronically) [Approx. 100 pages].

RECOMMENDED READING:

Appiah, Kwame. Cosmopolitanism: Ethics in a World of Strangers. W.W. Norton & Company. 2006. ISBN: 978-0393329339, Pub. Price $15.95.

Brubaker, Pamela. Globalization at What Price? Cleveland: Pilgrim Press, 2007. ISBN: 978-0829817652, Pub. Price $16.00.

Castells, Mauel. Communication Power. Oxford University Press, 2011. ISBN: 978-0199595693, Pub. Price $24.95.

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

Chang, Ha-Joon. Bad Samaritans. Bloombury Press, 2008. ISBN: 978-1596915985, Pub. Price $17.00.

Daly, Herman and John B. Cobb. For the Common Good. Beacon Press, 1994. ISBN: 978-0807047057, Pub. Price $39.00.

Davis, Mike. The Planet of Slums. Verso, 2006. ISBN: 1844670228, Pub. Price $24.00.

Friedman, Thomas L. The World is Flat 3.0: A Brief History of the Twenty-First Century. Picador, 2007. ISBN: 978-0312425074, Pub. Price $17.00.

Giddens, Anthony.  Runaway World:  How Globalization is Reshaping Our Lives. Routledge, 2003.  ISBN: 978-0415944878, Pub. Price $29.95.

Held, David and Anthony McGrew. eds. Global Transformation Reader: An Introduction to the Globalization Debate. Polity Press; 2000. ISBN: 978-0745631356, Pub. Price $29.95.

Peters, Rebecca Todd, In Search of the Good Life: the Ethics of Globalization. TheContinuum International Publishing Group, 2004. ISBN: 978-0826418586, Pub. Price $27.95.

Stegner, Manfred. Globalization: A Very Short Introduction.  Oxford University Press, 2009. ISBN: 978-01995522269, Pub. Price $7.00.

Urlich Beck, et al (eds). Global America? Liverpool University Press, 2003. ISBN: 978-0853239185, Pub. Price $75.00.

Zakaria, Fareed.  The Post-American World. New York: Norton, 2008. ISBN: 978-0393334807, Pub. Price $15.95.

ASSIGNMENTS AND ASSESSMENT:

  1. Attend all seminar sessions, prepared to analyze the readings of the day.

  2. At the 800 level, two short papers (3 pages, double spaced) throughout the term, in addition to two in-class presentations (4 pages, double spaced; first 2.5 pages on the summary of the readings and the last 1.5 pages on your own critical reflection and questions to stimulate peer discussions).

  3. A term paper (around 6500 words) on a selected topic, by each student, related to the course and which discusses the significance of globalization for Christian theology, ethics, and ministry.

  4. At the 500 level, 2 short papers (3 pages, double spaced) and 1 in-class presentation (4 pages, double spaced) and 1 term paper (4000 words).

*All short and presentation papers should be posted on Moodle by 8:00 pm on the day before your paper or presentation is due.

800 level:

  1. Class participation/contribution (10%)

  2. Short papers and presentation papers (40%)

  3. FINAL paper (50%)

500 level:

  1. Class participation/contribution (10%)

  2. Short papers and presentation papers (45%)

  3. FINAL paper (45%)

PREREQUISITES: Master’s level students: permission of the instructor.

RELATIONSHIP TO CURRICULUM: Elective.

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.