Taught In English

There is no language prerequisite for courses at this language level.

INTRODUCTION TO THE COURSE
Globalization is fast becoming the most over-used and least understood word in the
world. The accelerating political, economic, cultural and environmental interconnections
that it describes are powerful and controversial. But what does it really mean? This
course focuses on the historical context of globalization in order to gain insights as to
where it is going next.
CONTENT
First Week
Introduction
Organization of the course and some information
Second Week
World War Two as a Global War
The World after Adolf Hitler: one Planet, two Worlds
Third Week
Reconstructing the West: The Marshall Plan and the OCDE, 1945-55
Reconstructing the East: COMECON and the Agreement Russia-China, 1945-55
Fourth Week
Decolonization and new actors, 1945-65
The non-aligned movement, 1955-75
Fifth Week
Wars of the cold War, 1945-1957: Korea, Latin America and Europe
Wars of the cold War, 1957-75: Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia
Sixth Week
The End of Bretton Woods, 1965-75
The Gold standard and the new oil Economies
Oil Politics and the New Strategic Situation, 1970-90
Iran, Iraq and the West
Seventh Week

Mid-Term
Debate: Social Changes in Post-industrial Societies
Eighth Week
Debate: New Markets, new technologies
Debate: What’s globalization then?
Ninth Week
The fall of the Soviet Union, 1989-91. Disintegration of empires, birth of nations
An American World, 1991-2001. The Hegemony of the WB and the WMF under
Bill Clinton
Tenth week
Africa since 1991: A sinking continent
Asia since 1991: The emergence of the masses
Eleventh Week
Latin America since 1991
Between the US and Populism
Terrorism and Failed States
Westernization and Crony States
Twelfth Week
Piracy and Failed States
Black Markets and international trade
WMF, WB, China and Oil in the 21st century
Economic growth and development
Thirteenth Week
World Business and Politics since 1991
Central Asia, Europe and Gas
World Business and Politics since 1991
The US and the Middle East
Fourteenth Week
Final Exam
Closing session
GRADING
The final grade of each student is determined considering the following weights:
Mid Term Exam (30%)
Papers (50%)
Final Exam (20%)