Learning objectives
At the end of the course students are expected of being able to:
acknowledge and comprehend the economic, social and cultural processes that led in the long run to the integration of global markets;
- apply such learning to critically tackle issues deriving from the complex structure of the current framework of global economy;
- being able to evaluate the international economy in a multilateral perspective, bypassing the idea that the Western world is the main player of processes that are currently developing on a global scale;
- convey all the acquired concepts to discuss and interact with private and institutional subjects, including international ones, about issues related to globalization.
Prerequisites
A basic knowledge of economic history.
Course unit content
The course takes into analysis the globalization of economy in a long term historical perspective (from the 15th c. up to today) and using a broad geographical angle (Europe, America, Asia and Africa). To do so, a set of crucial topics will be considered: the “economy-worlds” before globalization (Europe, China, and India); the integration of commodities and capital markets; the impact of developments in transportation and communication; the process of economic convergence; the dialectical interaction between markets regulation and deregulation; global and local crises.
Bibliography
- Mandatory readings:
(a) R. B. Marks, The Origins of the Modern World. A Global and Environmental Narrative from the Fifteenth to the Twenty-First Century, Rowman & Littlefield Publishers, 2019, 4th edition.
(b) R. Findlay, K.H. O’Rourke, "Commodity Market Integration, 1500–2000," in Globalization in Historical Perspective, ed. by M.D. Bordo, A.M. Taylor, and J.G. Williamson, Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 2003, pp. 35-57 [i.e. only § 1.5 e 1.6];
(c) S. Dowrick, J.B. de Long, "Globalization and Convergence," in Globalization in Historical Perspective, ed. by M.D. Bordo, A.M. Taylor, and J.G. Williamson, Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 2003, pp. 191-218.
- Supplementary readings (choose 1 among the 3 listed below):
(1) N. Crafts, A.J. Venable, "Globalization in History: A Geographical Perspective," in Globalization in Historical Perspective, ed. by M.D. Bordo, A.M. Taylor, and J.G. Williamson, Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 2003, pp. 323-358;
(2) L. Neal, M. Weidenmier, "Crises in the Global Economy from Tulips to Today: Contagion and Consequences," in Globalization in Historical Perspective, ed. by M.D. Bordo, A.M. Taylor, and J.G. Williamson, Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 2003, pp. 473-507;
(3) B. Eichengreen, H. James, "Monetary and Financial Reform in Two Eras of Globalization," in Globalization in Historical Perspective, ed. by M.D. Bordo, A.M. Taylor, and J.G. Williamson, Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 2003, pp. 515-542.
Reading (a) is a book that can be bought online.
Readings (b), (c), (1), (2), (3) are opensource and can be downloaded at the following link
http://papers.nber.org/books/bord03-1
Teaching methods
Teaching activities will therefore favour active learning methods, with teacher-led lectures containing a high degree of practical activities. Students may carry out group work in order to put the acquired knowledge to use immediately; to this end, academic papers will be assigned to students in the first week of lectures. Group work is optional.
Acquisition of knowledge: teacher-led lectures
Acquisition of ability to apply knowledge: seminaries, optional group work.
Acquisition of independent judgement: during the course, students will be encouraged to identify the critical aspects of history of globalization, for example through group work.
The teaching material used during the lessons are uploaded to Elly on a weekly basis.
To download the slides, it is necessary to enrol on the course online.
The slides used are considered an integral part of the teaching material. Students who do not attend in person are reminded to check the teaching material available and the instructions given by the teacher on Elly.
Assessment methods and criteria
In revision, please contact the professor.
