Published May 24, 2024
An introduction to globalization of the world economy through an examination of its causes, patterns, and consequences in a variety of geographic contexts.
Prereq: GEOG 101 or ENVS 195
GEOG202 is an introduction to the global economy and the discipline of economic geography. We begin by assessing the structure of the global economy and the approaches used by economic geographers to understand the global arrangement of economic activity. We then explore several contexts that have given rise to the global economic system and consider the evolving spatial distribution of its industrial sectors. We will then discuss the global economy in the context of changing regimes of work with particular attention paid to questions of difference in terms of race, sex, and gender. We conclude with a discussion of the present and future implications of economic globalization for both developed and less developed nations.
| Describe the current state of the global economy, including knowledge of key economic indicators and their strengths and limitations |
| Define the central concepts necessary for understanding contemporary global economic issues. These concepts include: the economy, the state, globalization, capitalism, liberalism, democracy, neoliberalism |
| Critically analyze economic issues from a geographic point of view, emphasizing spatial differences and the importance of national, political, social, and cultural context |
| Evaluate the importance of geography, space, and difference in the global economy. |
Lecture Topics and Required Readings: (Subject to change)
| Week | Date | Topic and Reading |
| 1 | Mon, May 6 | Lecture 1: An introduction to GEOG202 Read: Massey, D. 2013. We need to challenge the hegemonic ‘common sense’ of market relations, of competitive individualism, of private gain, the denigration of ‘the public,’ and much else besides. LSE: United States Politics and Policy Blog. http://bit.ly/IYc68N |
| Wed, May 8 | Lecture 2: Globalization and the Global Economy Read: Dicken, P. 2015. Chapter 1, “What in the world is going on?” (in course text: Global Shift) | |
| 2 | Mon, May 13 | Lecture 3: Producing ‘the economy’: what is the economy (for)? Read: Coe, N., Kelly, P. F., and Yeung H. W. C., (2013) Chapter 2: The economy: what does it mean? Economic Geography: A Contemporary Introduction. |
| Wed, May 15 | Lecture 4: Patterns of Global Economic Activity I - GDP & Production Read: Dicken, P. 2015. Chapter 2, “The Centre of Gravity Shifts: Transforming the geographies of the global economy” | |
| 3 | Tue, May 21 | This week Tuesday follows a Monday schedule to make-up for Victoria Day. Lecture 5: Patterns of Global Economic Activity II - Trade & FDI Introduction to draft and final report assignment. Read: Continue reading Dicken, Chapter 2 |
| Wed, May 22 | Lecture 6: Inequality and the Global Economy Read: Dicken, P. 2015. Chapter 10, “Winning and Losing: Where You Live Really Matters” | |
| 4 | Mon, May 27 | Lecture 7: Conceptualizing the Patterns Read: Kazanjian, D. 2007. Colonial. In: B. Burgett and G. Hendler (eds) Key Words for American Cultural Studies. New York: New York University Press, pp. 52-56. Lowe, L. 2007. Globalization. In: B. Burgett and G. Hendler (eds) Key Words for American Cultural Studies. New York: New York University Press, pp. 120-123. |
| Wed, May 29 | Lecture 8: The Economic Context - The Mode(s) of Production Read: Dicken, P. 2015. Chapter 3, “Tangled Webs: Unravelling Complexity in the Global Economy” | |
| 5 | Mon, June 3 | Lecture 9: The Political Context - Democracy, Liberalism, and the Nation-State Read: Dicken, P. 2015. Chapter 6 (pages 173-206), “The State Really Does Matter” Dicken, P. 2015. Chapter 7, “The Uneasy Relationship Between Transnational Corporations and States: Dynamics of Conflict and Collaboration” |
| Wed, June 5 | Lecture 10: The Technological Context Read: Dicken, P. 2015. Chapter 4, “Technological Changes: Gales of Creative Destruction” | |
| Fri, June 7 | ASSIGNMENT: Submit draft report Friday, June 7th on LEARN by 11:59 PM. | |
| 6 | Mon, June 10 | Seminar: Overview of themes and topics covered so far (Lecture 1-10) through Q&A and group discussion. |
| Wed, June 12 | Exam 1 (Lectures 1-10) in class | |
| 7 | Mon, June 17 | Lecture 11: The Organizational Context – TNCs & GPNs Read: Dicken, P. 2015. Chapter 5, “Transnational Corporations: the primary movers and shapers of the global economy” |
| Wed, June 19 | Lecture 12: (Part 1): The Supra-National Context and International Regulation Read: Dicken, P. 2015. Chapter 6 (pages 207-225), “The State Really Does Matter” | |
| 8 | Mon, June 24 | Lecture 13: (Part 2): The Supra-National Context and International Regulation Read: Dicken, P. 2015. Chapter 11, “Making the World a Better Place” |
| Wed, June 26 | Lecture 14: The (International) Division of Labor and the Workers’ Context Read: Theodore, N. (2016) Worlds of work: changing landscapes of production and the new geographies of opportunity. Geography Compass 10 (4): 179-189. | |
| 9 | Mon, July 1 | No class on Canada Day. |
| Wed, July 3 | Field Trip to the Toyota Plant, Cambridge. | |
| 10 | Mon, July 8 | Lecture 15: Introduction to The End of Certainties Read: Shrestha, N. ,et. al (2020). The impact of COVID-19 on globalization. One Health, 11, 100180. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1016/j.onehlt.2020.100180 Read Notes and interview with the director of The End of Certainties (2020) Watch: The End of Certainties (45 mins.) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LroAcTfSLBE |
| Wed, July 10 | Lecture 16: Racial Capitalism Read: Melamed, J. 2015. Racial Capitalism. Critical Ethnic Studies 1(1): 76-85. Listen: The New York Times (2019) Episode 2: The Economy that Slavery Built. The 1619 Project. | |
Lecture 17: The Sexual Politics of Globalization Read: Horowitz, S. (2017) "Capitalism and the Family: The Market Economy Is Responsible for Ever-Changing Family Structures" Foundation for Economic Education. | ||
| 11 | Mon, July 15 | |
| Wed, July 17 | Lecture 18: Women and the Global Economy Read: McDowell, L. (2015) The lives of others: body work, the production of difference, and labor geographies. Economic Geography 91(1): 1-23. | |
| Fri, July 19 | ASSIGNMENT: Submit final report Friday, July 19th on LEARN by 11:59 PM. | |
| 12 | Mon, July 22 | Lecture 19: The Digital Economy Read: Anwar, MA. and Graham, M. (2019) Hidden transcripts of the gig economy: labor agency and the new art of resistance among African gig workers. Environment and Planning A: Economy and Space 52(7): 1269-1291. |
| Wed, July 24 | Lecture 20: Neoliberalism Read: Harvey, D. (2005) A Brief History of Neoliberalism, Chapter 1 | |
| 13 | Mon, July 29 | Exam 2 (Lectures 11-20) in class |
| Title / Name | Notes / Comments | Required |
|---|---|---|
| Dicken, P. (2015) Global Shift: Mapping the Changing Contours of the World Economy. 7th edition. The Guilford Press: New York. | This book is available in electronic form through the University of Waterloo Library, so you do not need to purchase this textbook. The university bookstore should have some copies available if you would like to purchase a physical copy. | Yes |
All other required materials can be accessed via LEARN or the course reserves.
You can access the text Global Shift on course reserves here.
| Component | Value |
|---|---|
| Draft Report - June 7 | 10% |
| Exam 1 - June 12 | 30% |
| Final Report - July 19 | 30% |
| Exam 2 - July 29 | 30% |
Draft and Final Report (10% + 30%)
You will write a draft and a final argumentative report that critically evaluates the course text and proposes a new chapter for a future edition. You will receive detailed feedback on the draft from the instructor or TA, and then submit a final report based on additional research and writing, and on the feedback you received. The draft (800 - 1000 words) is due in the digital dropbox on LEARN by 11:59 PM on, or before, Friday, June 7th. The final report (2000 - 2500 words) is due in the digital dropbox on LEARN by 11:59 PM on Friday, July 19th.
The draft and final report can be handed in two days after the deadline with no penalty, after which the papers will be subject to a daily 10% penalty, without a valid and documented reason. Additional details about this assignment will be posted on the LEARN. For missed deadlines, see 'Declaring Absences', below.
Exams (2 X 30%)
You will complete two in-person exams, during class time, in week 6 (on June 12) and week 13 (on July 29). These exams are non-cumulative, which means that Exam 1 in week 6 will be based only on content from weeks 1-6, and Exam 2 in week 13 will be based only on content from weeks 7-13. Exams will be based on lecture content, assigned readings, and podcast/video material. Exams will be handwritten and delivered during class time (80 minutes). For missed exams, see 'Declaring Absences', below.
Bonus (2%)
You will receive a bonus for participating in the field trip to the Toyota plant in Cambridge.
Text matching software (Turnitin) will be used to screen assignments in this course. This is being done to verify that use of all material and sources in assignments is documented. In the first week of the term, details will be provided about the arrangements for the use of Turnitin and alternatives in this course. See Administrative Policy below for more information and links.
Territorial Acknowledgement: The University of Waterloo acknowledges that much of our work takes place on the traditional territory of the Neutral, Anishinaabeg, and Haudenosaunee peoples. Our main campus is situated on the Haldimand Tract, the land granted to the Six Nations that includes six miles on each side of the Grand River. Our active work toward reconciliation takes place across our campuses through research, learning, teaching, and community building, and is centralized within the Office of Indigenous Relations
Anti-racism Statement: The University of Waterloo does not tolerate racism or any other form of discrimination and expects campus community members to contribute to a culture where all members feel safe and valued. Any member of the campus community who has experienced racism or discrimination at the University is encouraged to seek guidance from the Office of Equity, Diversity, Inclusion & Anti-racism (EDI-R) via email at equity@uwaterloo.ca or through their website: › uwaterloo.ca/human-rights-equity-inclusion/equity-office
Co-op interviews and class attendance: Co-op students are encouraged to try and choose interview time slots that result in the least amount of disruption to class schedules. When this is challenging, or not possible, a student may miss a portion of a class meeting for an interview. Instructors are asked for leniency in these situations; but, a co-op interview does not relieve the student of any requirements associated with that class meeting.
When a co-op interview conflicts with an in-class evaluation mechanism (e.g., test, quiz, presentation, critique), class attendance takes precedence and the onus is on the student to reschedule the interview. CEE provides an interview conflict procedure to manage these situations.
Students will be required to provide copies of their interview schedules (they may be printed from WaterlooWorks) should there be a need to verify class absence due to co-op interviews.
Intellectual Property: For further information on IP related to teaching, please see https://uwaterloo.ca/legal-and-immigration-services/sites/ca.legal-and-immigration-services/files/uploads/files/volume_1_issue_3_winter_2018.pdf and the Guidelines for Faculty, Staff and Students Entering Relationships with External Organizations Offering Access to Course Materials, https://uwaterloo.ca/secretariat/faculty-staff-and-students-entering-relationships-external. The following text is recommended:
Students should be aware that this course contains the intellectual property of their instructor, TA, and/or the University of Waterloo. Intellectual property includes items such as:
-Lecture content, spoken and written (and any audio/video recording thereof);
-Lecture handouts, presentations, and other materials prepared for the course (e.g., PowerPoint slides);
-Questions or solution sets from various types of assessments (e.g., assignments, quizzes, tests, final exams); and
-Work protected by copyright (e.g., any work authored by the instructor or TA or used by the instructor or TA with permission of the copyright owner).
Course materials and the intellectual property contained therein, are used to enhance a student’s educational experience. However, sharing this intellectual property without the intellectual property owner’s permission is a violation of intellectual property rights. For this reason, it is necessary to ask the instructor, TA and/or the University of Waterloo for permission before uploading and sharing the intellectual property of others online (e.g., to an online repository).
Permission from an instructor, TA or the University is also necessary before sharing the intellectual property of others from completed courses with students taking the same/similar courses in subsequent terms/years. In many cases, instructors might be happy to allow distribution of certain materials. However, doing so without expressed permission is considered a violation of intellectual property rights.
Please alert the instructor if you become aware of intellectual property belonging to others (past or present) circulating, either through the student body or online. The intellectual property rights owner deserves to know (and may have already given their consent).
Research Ethics: The University of Waterloo requires all research conducted by its students, staff, and faculty which involves humans as participants to undergo prior ethics review and clearance through the Director, Office of Human Research and Animal Care (Office). The ethics review and clearance processes are intended to ensure that projects comply with the Office’s Guidelines for Research with Human Participants (Guidelines) as well as those of provincial and federal agencies, and that the safety, rights and welfare of participants are adequately protected. The Guidelines inform researchers about ethical issues and procedures which are of concern when conducting research with humans (e.g. confidentiality, risks and benefits, informed consent process, etc.). If the development of your research proposal consists of research that involves humans as participants, the please contact the course instructor for guidance and see: https://uwaterloo.ca/research/office-research-ethics
Generative AI: Generative artificial intelligence (GenAI) trained using large language models (LLM) or other methods to produce text, images, music, or code, like Chat GPT, DALL-E, or GitHub CoPilot, may be used in this course with proper documentation, citation, and acknowledgement. Permitted uses of and expectations for using GenAI will discussed in class and outlined on assignment instructions.
Recommendations for how to cite generative AI in student work at the University of Waterloo may be found through the Library: https://subjectguides.uwaterloo.ca/chatgpt_generative_ai. Please be aware that generative AI is known to falsify references to other work and may fabricate facts and inaccurately express ideas. GenAI generates content based on the input of other human authors and may therefore contain inaccuracies or reflect biases.
In addition, you should be aware that the legal/copyright status of generative AI inputs and outputs is unclear. Exercise caution when using large portions of content from AI sources, especially images. More information is available from the Copyright Advisory Committee: https://uwaterloo.ca/copyright-at-waterloo/teaching/generative-artificial-intelligence
You are accountable for the content and accuracy of all work you submit in this class, including any supported by generative AI.
Students are encouraged to reach out to campus supports if they need help with their coursework including:
Declaring Absences (undergraduate students and/or courses only): Regardless of the process used to declare an absence, students are responsible for reaching out to their instructors immediately. Instructors maintain agency over how missed course components are accommodated.
Self-declared absences (for COVID-19 and short-term absences up to 2 days) must be submitted through Quest.
Absences requiring documentation (e.g. Verification of Illness Form, bereavement, etc.) are to be uploaded by completing the form on the VIF System (https://vif.uwaterloo.ca). The UW Verification of Illness form (https://uwaterloo.ca/campus-wellness/health-services/student-medical-clinic/verification-illness-services), completed by a health professional, is the only acceptable documentation for an absence due to illness. Do not send documentation to your advisor, course instructor, teaching assistant, or lab coordinator. Submission through the VIF System, once approved, will notify your instructors of your absence.
Mental Health: The University of Waterloo, the Faculty of Environment and our Departments/Schools consider students' well-being to be extremely important. We recognize that throughout the term students may face health challenges - physical and / or emotional. Please note that help is available. Mental health is a serious issue for everyone and can affect your ability to do your best work. Counselling Services https://uwaterloo.ca/campus-wellness/ is an inclusive, non-judgmental, and confidential space for anyone to seek support. They offer confidential counselling for a variety of areas including anxiety, stress management, depression, grief, substance use, sexuality, relationship issues, and much more.
All students are encouraged to download the WatSAFE app which is available free through the google and iOS app stores. The WatSAFE app provides on- and off-campus contacts for students in distress, including international students, and other information related to campus safety and security.
Religious Observances: Students need to inform the instructor at the beginning of term if special accommodation needs to be made for religious observances that are not otherwise accounted for in the scheduling of classes and assignments.
Communications with Instructor and Teaching Assistants: All communication with students must be through either the student’s University of Waterloo email account or via LEARN. If a student emails the instructor or TA from a personal account they will be requested to resend the email using their personal University of Waterloo email account.
Recording lecture: Use of recording devices during lectures is only allowed with explicit permission of the instructor of the course. If allowed, video recordings may only include images of the instructor and not fellow classmates. Posting of videos or links to the video to any website, including but not limited to social media sites such as: facebook, twitter, etc., is strictly prohibited.
COVID-19 Contingency: Students who must miss class due to Covid-19 or other illness must enter absences into the system. Students can self-declare one Covid absence of up to 10 days and one absence for any reason for up to 2 days per term via Quest. Further absences require documentation, which students enter via vif.uwaterloo.ca. Absences will be accommodated according to the academic regulations section of the undergraduate calendar.
In the event of instructor illness, classes will be temporarily suspended and in-person classes may be temporarily moved online, depending on the severity of instructor illness and self-isolation requirements. Should the University of Waterloo require the suspension of in-person instructional activity, all classes, tests and exams will be conducted online.
Academic integrity: In order to maintain a culture of academic integrity, members of the University of Waterloo community are expected to promote honesty, trust, fairness, respect and responsibility. [Check the Office of Academic Integrity for more information.]
Grievance: A student who believes that a decision affecting some aspect of their university life has been unfair or unreasonable may have grounds for initiating a grievance. Read Policy 70, Student Petitions and Grievances, Section 4. When in doubt, please be certain to contact the department’s administrative assistant who will provide further assistance.
Discipline: A student is expected to know what constitutes academic integrity to avoid committing an academic offence, and to take responsibility for their actions. [Check the Office of Academic Integrity for more information.] A student who is unsure whether an action constitutes an offence, or who needs help in learning how to avoid offences (e.g., plagiarism, cheating) or about “rules” for group work/collaboration should seek guidance from the course instructor, academic advisor, or the undergraduate associate dean. For information on categories of offences and types of penalties, students should refer to Policy 71, Student Discipline. For typical penalties, check Guidelines for the Assessment of Penalties.
Appeals: A decision made or penalty imposed under Policy 70, Student Petitions and Grievances (other than a petition) or Policy 71, Student Discipline may be appealed if there is a ground. A student who believes they have a ground for an appeal should refer to Policy 72, Student Appeals.
Note for students with disabilities: AccessAbility Services, located in Needles Hall, Room 1401, collaborates with all academic departments to arrange appropriate accommodations for students with disabilities without compromising the academic integrity of the curriculum. If you require academic accommodations to lessen the impact of your disability, please register with AccessAbility Services at the beginning of each academic term.
Turnitin.com: Text matching software (Turnitin®) may be used to screen assignments in this course. Turnitin® is used to verify that all materials and sources in assignments are documented. Students' submissions are stored on a U.S. server, therefore students must be given an alternative (e.g., scaffolded assignment or annotated bibliography), if they are concerned about their privacy and/or security. Students will be given due notice, in the first week of the term and/or at the time assignment details are provided, about arrangements and alternatives for the use of Turnitin in this course.
It is the responsibility of the student to notify the instructor if they, in the first week of term or at the time assignment details are provided, wish to submit alternate assignment.