History of Globalization, Dr. Olga M. Lazin

1. UCLA Extension Spring, 20009
Olga M. Lazin, Ph.D.
E-mail: olazin@ucla.edu
Wednesdays January 7 - March 25, 6:30-9:30pm, 12 mtgs
HISTORY OF GLOBALIZATION AND ITS IMPACT ON LATIN AMERICA
This course is designed to give students the depth and breadth necessary to understand the
process of globalization that is now influencing all Latin American countries without exception.
The concept will be defined at the outset as used by various major scholars and developed
through analysis of its historical stages (starting with the 1500s) and components as presented
in my course outline attached. Two guest speakers have agreed to give one lecture each (no
charge to UNEX):
Alejandro Pelayo Rangel; Cultural Attaché of Mexico in Los
Angeles)
“The Los Angeles-Mexico Connection in the Global Market Place”
James W. Wilkie (Co-Chair, UCLA Latin American Studies)
“Cycles of State Power Vs Globalization: The powerful State
1430-1930, Anti-Statism from 1830 to 1930, Statism from 1929 to 1989, and
Anti-Statism Since 1989”
Required Reading will contrast
(a) the pre-1989 negative view that Globalization is led by U.S. “imperialism” (as seen
in selections from Edward H. Berman, The Influence of Carnegie, Ford, and Rockefeller
Foundations on American Policy: The Ideology of Philanthropy, 1983), and
(b) the post-1989 positive view that Globalization involves the emergence of
networking which is based upon a new, international civil society as well as upon global
business (as seen in selections from Sandra Braman and Annabelle Shreberny-Mohhamadi,
Globalization, Communication and Transnational Civil Society, 1996).
Two articles representing the post-1989 positive view will help student fathom the
breadth of world change:
Richard Rosecrance, “The Rise of the Virtual State” (1996), and Olga
M. Lazin, “NAFTA and the European Union Compared” (1995).
Rosecrance and Lazin shows how the role of the state has declined in the face of globalizing
world trade blocs, which have helped citizens to organize internationally as statist social safety
nets have declined.
Students are invited to bring in articles that compare the positive and negative views of
globalization.
Selections representing pessimism will be taken from two recent critiques of
Globalization
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2. Samuel Huntington’s The Clash of Civilizations (1996), and
Dani Roderik’s Has Globalization Gone Too Far? (1997).
These authors (influenced by pre-1989 thinking) speak to the concerns of many important
analysts.
Student Discussion in class will focus on the above reading and upon each student’s weekly
reading in current newspapers and magazines.
Course requirement and Project: Students are required to write a paper and a Final
project. Students will bring to each class and distribute two articles which they see as
contributing to the understanding of globalization and/or the raising of questions about the
problems created by globalization.
Grading:
1. Class Participation (15%) This includes both verbal contributions and active listening
in class discussions. Students are expected to come to class ready to discuss the
readings.
3. Midterm Exam (25%) This exam will be comprised of both short answer and essay
questions. Blue books are required.
4. Final Project (25%) Students will compile their weekly clippings into a booklet about
which they will write a 3-4 page paper analyzing the extent to which the clippings help
us to understand and/or question the course outline.
5. Final Exam (35%) The final exam will be comprised of both short answer and essay
questions. Bring Blue Book.
DATE ACTIVITIES & DISCUSSION Read in Advance
January 8 - Introduction to the Course.
Financial Globalization and Its Social Impact
in Latin America.
Reading: Handout.
January 15 NAFTA and the European Union Article in SALA
Compared
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3. January 22 Alejandro Pelayo Rangel; Cultural Attaché of Mexico in Los
Angeles) on World Film and Global Markets.
Reading: Dani Roderik’s Has Globalization Gone Too Far? (1997), Chapter 1.
January 29 James W. Wilkie (Co-Chair, UCLA Latin American Studies)
“Cycles of State Power Vs Globalization: The powerful State
1430-1930, Anti-Statism from 1830 to 1930, Statism from 1929 to 1989, and Anti-
Statism Since 1989”
Reading: Dani Roderik’s Has Globalization Gone Too Far? (1997), Chapter 2.
February 5 The European Union as Blueprint for FTAs.
Reading; Handout
February 12 PAPER DUE. Karen Frid on Indigenous Peoples in Mexico (Aztecs and
mayas) and the Connection to the Global Market.
February 19 MIDTERM
February 26 Rise of Regionalism in Latin America:
Reading: handouts and Dani Roderik’s Chapter 3.
March 5 Preparation for the Final
Reading: Dani Roderik’s Chapter 4.
March 12: The Anti-Globalization Movements: A History
Reading: handouts & Dani Roderik’s Chapter 5
March 19 FINAL EXAM; administered by Dr. Olga M. Lazin-Andrei
March 25 Conclusion
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