Course Content and Outcomes Guides (CCOG)

CCOG for SOC 221 Winter 2025


Course Number:
SOC 221
Course Title:
Globalization and International Relations
Credit Hours:
4
Lecture Hours:
40
Lecture/Lab Hours:
0
Lab Hours:
0

Course Description

Provides an introductory survey of economic, political, social, and cultural dimensions of globalization and evaluates their impacts on international relations. Examines patterns of conflict and cooperation among countries including the influence of international institutions, NGOs, and global corporations. Introduces selected issues such as war and peace, global security, environment, elites and concentration of power, wealth and income distribution, cultural and ethnic identities and explores possible peaceful solutions to these global problems. PS 221, EC 221 and SOC 221 are equivalent and only one may be taken for credit. Prerequisites: WR 115, RD 115 and MTH 20 or equivalent placement test scores. Audit available.

Addendum to Course Description

Fulfills core course requirement at PCC for Peace and Conflict Studies Program (PACS) Focus Awards. Students should consult with a PCC Academic Advisor and/or other institutions regarding transfer and application of credits to other institutions.

Intended Outcomes for the course

Upon completion of the course students should be able to:

  1. Identify characteristics of global systems, including the specific structure and functions of various international institutions as well as the roles played by nation-states, multinational corporations, and a wide variety of non-governmental organizations and social institutions.
  2. Analyze globalization within historical context, including colonialism and international conflict.
  3. Explain arguments for and against economic and cultural globalization, noting how these arguments reflect a range of culturally based assumptions and preferences with regards to different approaches to international political economy (IPE) and security.
  4. Explain the evolving context of international relationships, including the impact of diverse cultural ideas, behaviors, and issues upon these relationships, taking care to show sensitivity and empathy toward those holding viewpoints different from one’s own.
  5. Analyze the impacts of international policies upon local realities, including conceptual organization of information and recognition of the ethical and social requirements of responsible global citizenship.
  6. Explain the role and influence of global media and technological changes upon the quality of available information through the evaluation of environmental and other consequences associated with a diversity of points of view in dealing with global issues.

Social Inquiry and Analysis

Students completing an associate degree at Portland Community College will be able to apply methods of inquiry and analysis to examine social contexts and the diversity of human thought and experience.

General education philosophy statement

Social science offers a distinct perspective to help us understand globalization — including how people are increasingly connected globally as well as to each other within societies. Social scientists use scientific methods to study how societies are organized, why they change, and the different ways that social and global forces impact our lives. Social science further allows us to understand international relations from a social context — with varying cultures and social, political and economic structures that globally shape our behaviors, attitudes, well-being and basic human rights.

Outcome Assessment Strategies

Different techniques may be used for assessment which will be determined by the individual instructor. They may include:

  • Exams consisting of essays, multiple choice, or other methods that integrate and require application of concepts, themes, and issues covered in this course.

  • Written assignments such as papers, reports, reviews, journals, or other exercises that demonstrate a critical capacity to evaluate information relating to this course

  • Individual or group projects where students identify resources that provide information and utilize these resources to evaluate policies reflecting conflicting beliefs, goals, and strategies.

  • Oral presentations, debates, role playing, or other exercises intended to provide a more comprehensive understanding of issues and how they may be addressed.

  • Research projects using standard research techniques, acceptable formats, and specified rating criteria

Course Content (Themes, Concepts, Issues and Skills)

Explaining Globalization

  • Definitions and global trends.

  • The modern world systems of capitalism and socialism.

  • Socio-economic and politics of the global system.

  • Nation-states in the era of globalization.

Globalization and the World Economy

  • International trade and strategic foreign policies.

  • Trade agreements and trading blocks.

  • WTO, NAFTA, IMF, WB, APEC.

  • China, India, EU, Russia, U.S., Brazil, Turkey.

  • Globalization and financial systems.

  • Economic performance and income distribution.

  • Corporations, social accountability, speculative investment, booms and busts.

  • Technological changes: costs and benefits.

Globalization, Nation-state, and Global Governance

  • The changing role of nation-state.

  • The new world order.

  • Political elites and concentration of power.

  • Foreign policies, economic and political rivalries, and strategic interests.

  • Military alliances and rogue states.

  • United Nations.

  • Democracies, dictatorships and NGOs.

  • Nation building.

  • Social change and movements.

  • Civil society.

Globalization, Information, and Culture

  • Going global: sushi, Big Mac, and popular culture.

  • Internet, global media, and information flows.

  • Clash of civilizations, cultural and ethnic identities.

Global Threats and Challenges

  • Environment, sustainability, and energy supplies.

  • Food and population.

  • Terrorism and wars.

  • Nuclear proliferation.

  • Diseases and cyber crimes.

  • Poverty and income distribution.

Competencies and Skills

  1. Identify the changing forces of globalization

  2. Explain the changing role of nation-state

  3. Express knowledge about factors that lead to regional and global conflicts

  4. Identify and understand major global environmental threats

  5. Analyze the socio-economic and political structures of the global system.

  6. Demonstrate knowledge of the interdependencies of foreign policies, economic rivalries, and strategic interests.

  7. Analyze the roles of global corporations, international organizations, and NGOs.