International Sociology: Introduction

Sociology 2, Class 1

Copyright © 2011 by Evan SchoferDo not copy or distribute without permission

Announcements

• NO sections this week!!!• Sections do not begin until Week 2 of classes

– ALSO: Section for week 2 will cover readings from weeks 1 & 2

• Students hoping to add this class…• Currently, we are FULL

– I can’t “add” people right now

• Look over the syllabus and be sure you really want to take the course…

• My advice: Get on the waitlist. – Students inevitably drop. A bunch of spaces usually open up.

Agenda

• Introductions

• Review syllabus and course requirements• Plus: Things to know about this course• HANDOUT: Basic course info

– Full details in online syllabus…

• Class begins…• Begin to think about economic globalization• Intro to first topic: states & markets.

Introductions

• Instructor (me): Evan Schofer• Associate Professor of Sociology

– Research areas:• Economic, political, and cultural globalization• Economic development• The global environmental movement• Civic participation around the world• Education systems around the world.

Introductions: TAs– Rachael Chatterson

• Email:rchatter@uci.edu• Office: SST 682, Office Hours: Thursday 2-3:15pm• Sections:

– Tuesday 11:00-11:50am SSL 155– Tuesday 12:00-12:50pm SSL 155

– Andrew Duncan• Email: duncana@uci.edu• Office: SST 619, Office Hours Monday 4-5:00pm• Sections:

– Monday 9:00-9:50am SSTR 100 Correction SSL105– Monday 10:00-10:50am SSL 105– Monday 5:00-5:50pm SSL 159

Introductions: TAs– Erin Evans

• Email:emevans@uci.edu• Office: SST 603 Office Hours:Thursday 10:00-11:00am• Sections:

– Tuesday 9:00-9:50am SSL 155– Thursday 5:00-5:50pm SSL 155

– Beth Gardner• Emaili beth.gardner@gmail.com• Office: Meet at Phoenix Grill. Office Hours Thurs

12:00-1:00pm• Sections:

– Thursday 1:00-1:50pm SSL 159– Thursday 2:00-2:50pm SSL 155

Introduction: TAs– Natasha Miric

• Email:nmiric@uci.edu• Office: Meet at Phoenix Grill• Office Hours: Wednesday 1:00-2:00pm• Sections:

– Wednesday 10:00-10:50am SSL 159– Wednesday 11:00-11:50am SSL 159– Wednesday 12:00-12:50pm SSL 105

Introductions: The Course

• Sociology 2: International Sociology

• Topics we’ll address: – Economic globalization

• International trade, financial crises, outsourcing...

– Political globalization• International treaties, the European Union, the World

Trade organization, etc…

– Theories of international relations & globalization– International political dynamics

• War, conflict, terrorism

Introductions: The Course

• Goal: To examine the most important global issues facing the world…– Why is there a huge global economic crisis? Why

are some countries like Ireland “in trouble”?– What is the economic relationship between China

and the US? Why do people worry about China and its currency values?

– What drives global terrorism?– What social science theories can help make

sense of these issues?

Syllabus: Key points

• Course website has links to readings, lecture notes, and handouts

• All course readings are available online– Instructions & links on syllabus

• Upside: Low cost, easy access• Downside: Your computer or network connection may

fail on the night before an exam

• Discussion sections are required• Short graded activities are a regular part of section

– They are a weekly incentive to complete the readings and attend section…

Syllabus: Course Logistics

• Main course requirements• Attend lectures• Attend sections• Complete section activities• Complete readings• Take midterm & final exams

• My policies• Respect• Commitment to learning• Professionalism

– Also, be aware of university policies.

Syllabus: Course Logistics

• Given the sheer number of students in the class, we cannot accommodate all requests…

• Ex: “My sister is getting married on the day of the midterm. Can I take it early?”

• Ex: “I didn’t do my section assignments… can you give me make-up assignments so I can get credit?”

– We will do our best to accommodate you whenever possible

• But, don’t be surprised (or take it personally) if we can’t help you…

Things to Know About This Course

• 1. Lecture, section, and readings are ALL critical for success in the class

• Not much redundancy in lectures, sections, readings• Your job: Absorb it, pull it together yourself…

• 2. Readings reflect a variety of different perspectives – requires thought, integration

• Instead of a single textbook, you get to read a variety of different views on each topic

• This makes reading harder… you have to figure out the perspective of the author, infer the context.

Things to Know About This Course

• 3. Some readings take explicit points of view• Ex: Some argue that globalization is “good” or “evil”• I want you to understand the different perspectives on

important issues– I don’t expect you to agree with everything

» I certainly don’t!– And, I don’t seek to reward students who happen to agree with

any particular point of view– But, I want you to be able to discuss things intelligently – even

views that you don’t agree with.

Things to Know About This Course

• 4. The course emphasizes thinking and understanding, more than memorization

• You have to memorize basic terms in order to understand lectures & readings

• But, the goal is to develop independent thinking skills

• WHY?• Answer: those are the skills that matter…

– Ex: upcoming reading “The Untouchables”

• One goal of this class is to understand the subject matter… another is to cultivate your thinking skills.

Video Example: Globalization

• Let’s start thinking about globalization!• Humorous example from “The Onion”... Outsourcing!• http://www.theonion.com/content/video/report_many_u_s_parents

• Local link: Video: Video\OUTSOURCING_Onn.flv•

The Onion: “Outsourcing” Video• Why is the video funny?

– What does it say about the possibilities & limits of the global economy?

• Short discussion.

The Onion: “Outsourcing” Video• Some brief observations:

– 1. Outsourcing/off-shoring depends on transportation technologies

• Some labor can be off-shored… but not childcare!• If people could cheaply fly across the world in 10

minutes, this could be a reality

– 2. The video also serves as a reminder that globalization changes our social lives

• Globalization permits new social arrangements… • Some are very exciting… others may be threatening or

dehumanizing• Either way, globalization changes the way we live!

Economic Globalization

• The first section of class addresses economic globalization…

• Let’s take a few minutes to start thinking about this topic…

• Take 2 minutes to chat with neighbor… What is it? What examples come to mind? Why is it happening?

States and Markets

• First section of class is entitled “States & Markets”

NO, NO, NO!!!

States and Markets

• States and markets mean:

States and Markets: Definitions

• State: The central government of a country

• Markets: Systems that facilitate the exchange of goods and services– Related terms:

state market

government economy

public private

regulation “free markets”• Also, reading by Robert Reich (next week):

democracy capitalism.

States and Markets• BIG Issue: How much should states control

(“regulate”) markets?– Markets need some state control to function

– To prevent fraud & illegal activity– And, unregulated markets produce adverse side-effects

» Examples: environmental degradation; lead in our toys– Also, uncontrolled markets can be unstable, leading to

crashes

– But, heavy regulation can limit the ability of markets to produce incentives & wealth

• Often, businesses can make more $ if regulation is kept to a minimum.

• So, there is a tension between proponents of more or less regulation…

States and Markets Example

• Related question: Which “goods” should be provided by markets? Which by states?

• Example: Healthcare• Example: Higher education

– Dillon, Sam. 2005. “At Public Universities, Warnings of Privatization.” The New York Times, October 16, 2005.

– Hiltzik, Michael. 2009. “Why Privatizing the University of California Won’t Work.” The Los Angeles Times. December 10, 2009.

– Societies have made different decisions• In many countries both free (or nearly free) health care

and higher education are provided by the government– At the cost of higher taxes, sometimes less consumer choice.

Example: Privatized Fire Protection• In the News: • Firefighters watch as home burns to the ground

• http://www.wpsdlocal6.com/news/local/Firefighters-watch-as-home-burns-to-the-ground-104052668.html; By Jason Hibbs

• September 30, 2010– OBION COUNTY, Tenn. - Imagine your home catches fire

but the local fire department won't respond, then watches it burn. That's exactly what happened to a local family tonight.

– Each year, Obion County residents must pay $75 if they want fire protection from the city of South Fulton. But the Cranicks did not pay.

– The homeowner, Gene Cranick, said he offered to pay whatever it would take for firefighters to put out the flames, but was told it was too late. They wouldn't do anything to stop his house from burning.

– Video: Video/Fire%20Protection%20Fees.flv

States and Markets• How much should states control markets?

When should the state produce goods, instead of markets?

• We begin with these questions for 3 reasons:– 1. Hugely important issue of the past century

– Ex: Cold war: Communism vs. Capitalism– Ex: Democrats vs. Republicans in the US.

– 2. The path of economic globalization depends on how governments control (or do not control) markets

– 3. Globalization, in turn, affect the ability of states to control markets…

States and Markets Example• The “Credit Crisis” of 2008

• Issue: Many kinds of banking in the US are only weakly regulated

• See readings from week 1:– Krugman, Paul. “Partying Like Its 1929.” The New York

Times, March 21, 2008. – Leonhardt, David. “Can’t Grasp the Credit Crisis? Join the

Club.” The New York Times, March 18, 2008.

– Result #1: Big profits, much new wealth created!– Many people got cheap home mortgages– Companies got rich

– Result #2: Big disasters– Bear Stearns (a big company) goes bankrupt– Financial markets in turmoil– Lots of people losing their homes…

States and Markets: Major Themes

• Major themes of first section of course:– 1. State regulation of markets has declined over

the past 50 years• Shift toward “free markets”• Rise of “supercapitalism” (Reich reading)

– 2. Markets have globalized• Emergence of global “supply chains”• Corporations less linked to any particular country• Link between nation and market has weakened.

States and Markets: Major Themes– 3. The shift toward a global free-market economy

has many consequences– Not simply “good” or bad”– Instead, we have to think about specific outcomes

» And specific “winners” and “losers”

• It affects markets…– Example, it may generate greater economic growth, but also

greater instability (e.g., crises)

• It affects states / governments– Example, it may reduce the ability of governments to

effectively produce some sorts of goods

• It affects corporations– Example: increased global market competition.

Readings: some remarks• Readings:

– One article on the nature of markets:• J. Bradford DeLong. 2010. “What Do Econ 1 Students Need to

Remember Most from the Course?” Blog post [excerpt]: http://delong.typepad.com/sdj/2010/12/what-do-econ-1-students-need-to-remember-most-from-the-course.html

– 2 articles on the credit crisis:• Krugman, Paul. “Partying Like Its 1929.” The New York Times,

March 21, 2008.– Argues that weak regulation caused the financial collapse

• Rodrik, Dani. 2010. Capitalism 3.0, pp. 288-9 in Harf and Lombardi. Taking Sides. New York, NY: McGraw-Hill

– Reflects on the implications of the crisis for capitalism as a whole.

Readings: some remarks

• Readings:• Hiltzik, Michael. 2009. “Why Privatizing the University

of California Won’t Work.” The Los Angeles Times. December 10, 2009..

– An opinion piece about privatization, looking at the example of public universities.

Video

• If time remains: Begin video: Commanding Heights, part 1.