What "Type" of World Is It? Going Global

As discussed on Friday, the summary assignment for the opening unit on globalization is an essay. We will work in the computer lab on Tuesday and Wednesday, with your paper due at the end of class on 9/3.

Here's the writing prompt:

Globalization is a term that many recognize, but it is a more difficult task to define and explain. The term emerged in the early 1960s, yet today "globalization" is seemingly synonymous with the 21st century.

Drawing from reading and discussion the last week and a half, this essay asks you to define globalization in your own terms, using a product, movement, moment, or person to illustrate your understanding of globalization. You will also want to address the ideas and writings of the theorists and thinkers of globalization we encountered (i.e., Friedman, Zakaria, Chomsky, and Chanda), discussing and analyzing the similarities and differences between each.

In short, your paper is an analytic and expository essay on globalization.

Your paper should be between 3-5 pages in length, 12-point font, Times New Roman, and double-spaced, with 1" margins. You are limited to one block quote if necessary, and cite any ideas not your own in MLA style. This paper requires you to include a works cited/bibliography. Rubric: Basic Requirements (10%); Argument/Analysis (70%), Use of Sources (20%).

Of Geography and Geopolitics

Do you know your geography? Are you geographically literate? As we transition into some geography exercises and map work, these are important questions to ponder.

Experts have long claimed that students--in particular American social studies studies--lack basic geographical knowledge. Late night talk show hosts regularly poke fun at these kinds of statistics, and in recent memory presidential candidates have demonstrated some confusion about geography (although most likely it was a simple misstatement and not a lack of knowledge).

National Geographic recently published an article that discussed these results. Take the on-line quiz and test your knowledge.

So, are you geographically literate? Do these surveys overstate (no pun intended) the case about deficient geographical knowledge? Why does it matter? Leave your thoughts in the Comments section.

Coming Full Circle with Globalization

We’ve spent the last week and a half attempting to make connections between markets and history, between countries and cultures. Globalization is an important development to understand, and something in which we all participate. And to fully understand contemporary globalization we must now turn our attention back in time to the Renaissance; before that, however, a bit more on globalization.



Meet Nayan Chanda, director of Yale University’s Center for Globalization and author of Bound Together: How Traders, Preachers, Adventurers, and Warriors Shaped Globalization (2007). Like Friedman, Chanda has wide global experience and the credentials of a journalist. Yet his work takes a much larger historical perspective. And unlike Zakaria, Chanda frames his discussion globally instead of using the U.S. as a point of analytic departure.





Follow this link to hear Chanda discuss his book Bound Together (particularly from about 4:40-8:40). And read part 3 and part 4, of a 4-part interview Chanda gave at the Institute of International Studies at the University of California, Berkeley. Chanda has also written a very helpful article about globalization titled, "What is Globalization?"

The center that Chanda directs has a publication titled YaleGlobal Online, and it has many great resources. For example, here is a Flash movie about the history of globalization (and presentations in other formats), and there are articles and columns on globalization as well as reports and information about what globalization looks like regionally and locally, what Friedman calls "glocalization." Check out the site's multimedia center as well; you will find podcasts, video clips, and other presentations about globalization.


After reading Chanda's article about globalization, think about the similarities and differences between his definition of globalization, as well as the thoughts of Chomsky, Friedman, and Zakaria.

Eyes to See, Ears to Hear....and an Internet Connect

It is no secret that technology is a critical tool in education. Digital citizens abound, and one might say that imagination and an Internet connection serve as the passport for the wired generation.

With this in mind, technology and education experts often discuss objectives and practices for today's technology savvy, computer literate student. One of these specialists put together thoughts about K-12 education in the 21st century.

Watch the 4-minute movie and leave your thoughts. Is the creator of this video correct? What is accurate, what is overblown? Is there anything missing here? What questions might you ask the video's creator? (HT: The Agora)

Friday with Friedman (and Chomsky)

In a previous post I discussed briefly the work of Thomas Friedman and his musings on globalization. For further clarity and understanding, and some "daily" humor, check out Friedman's interview about living in a flat world on The Daily Show. Friedman also discussed globalization at the Indian School of Business and gave a talk at Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy at the National University of Singapore (for "10 days that flattened the world, start at around 24:00 and go to about 47:00).



Thomas Friedman offers a working definition of globalization in his books, while others offer trenchant criticisms of his rendering of globalization. One of the foremost critics of globalization is MIT linguist and political commentator Noam Chomsky. In this video clip he defines globalization.

From another perspective, here is the Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy's definition of globalization.

With a working knowledge of Friedman's commentary on globalization and an understanding of Chomsky's critique of it, what is the main point that each author makes? In your opinion, who is correct? Or are both correct? Why or why not? Where does Europe fit into the analyses of Friedman and Chomsky?

We will conclude Friedman and globalization (and Chomsky) next week. UPDATE: we will discuss this topic Friday in class.

Friedman and Fareed: What In the World Does the Future Hold?

It is almost cliche to say that we lived in a globalized world. Yet, the definition of what globalization is, its complex processes, and the many critics of globalization render the term and understanding it sometimes difficult.

While there are critics of his approach, many of whom have valid points, I have found Thomas Friedman's defintion of and discussion about globalization useful for the classroom. We are reading sections from The Lexus and the Olive Tree as well as The World is Flat next week, and late in the year we will spend some time reading and thinking about segments of his latest offering: Hot, Flat, and Crowded. With Friedman, we will compose a definition of globalization, and then per the timeframe of this class, trace its history from ca. 1500. More on Friedman later, however.

In the meantime, we are going to spend some time with journalist Fareed Zakaria. A condensed version of his book The Post-American World, his recent Newsweek article on global issues and the U.S. will provide a helpful context to discuss the scope of this class. Here's an important BBC interview as well.

Read the article, and answer the questions below on your own paper; bring your answers to class and be prepared to discuss. DUE in class on Friday 8/22.


1. According to Zakaria, what accounts for American anxiety?
2. What does Zakaria mean by "post-Americanism?"
3. How does Zakaria relate his experience growing up in India with the reality of living in the U.S. and being a citizen of the world?
4. Identify and discuss what Zakaria considers to be the 3 great power shifts in world history? According to Zakaria, which shift was the most important and why?
5. How does Zakaria use statistics to confound the perception that today's world is more violent than in times past? Do you agree or disagree? Why?
6. Discuss Zakaria's comparisons between Russia and China.
7. In the midst of post-Americanism, what does Zakaria see as "good news?"
8. What does Zakaria mean by the "new nationalism?"
9. For Zakaria, what does the "next American century" hold?
10. Do you agree or disagree with Zakaria's overall argument and assessment? Why or why not? In your opinion, where does Europe fit into his larger argument?

The Secret's Out

During WW2, top secret programs and practices were, well, top secret. National Public Radio recently aired a 3-part program on a top secret POW "program" conducted just outside of Washington, D.C. The site is now run by the National Park Service, and the stories reflect one goal of this class--reconstructing the past.

Here's part of the report:
About two years ago, National Park Service employees stumbled upon a fascinating and largely untold piece of American history.

It involves a secret World War II interrogation camp at Fort Hunt, Va., not far from the Pentagon. During and right after the war, thousands of top German prisoners were questioned there about troop movements and scientific advances.

Soldiers at the site also prepared special "care packages" for American POWs that they sent overseas. They included maps, radios and other escape tools.

Many of the camp's records were destroyed right after the war, and those who worked there were sworn to secrecy. Many veterans never spoke about it, even to family and friends, although the operation has been gradually declassified over the past two decades.

The National Park Service, which now runs Fort Hunt Park, has been trying to piece together the story of the interrogation facility — code-named P.O. Box 1142 during the war.

Listen to Part 1, Part 2, and Part 3.

What are your thoughts on this story? What did you find most fascinating, and intriguing?

In the beginning......

As we seek to understand and strive to articulate that which we will cover in this class, tonight's assignment asks you to answer this question:

What is European history?


Think about 3 words, ideas, people, movements, places, etc. that, in your opinion, define European history. In other words, what comes to mind when you hear the words "European history"? In your answer explain why you chose the words, ideas, people, etc. you did to define European history. Be prepared to discuss your written answers in class.

The specs: 3 paragraphs (paragraph=5-6 sentences), 12-point font, 1" margins. DUE THURSDAY, AUGUST 21 in class.