By McKenzie Wark
Verso / 24 February 2015
It is 30 years since Donna Haraway published the first version of her 'Manifesto for Cyborgs'. It still makes for extraordinary reading. It anticipates many of the concerns of our own time, from the link between technology and militarized surveillance to the rise of precarious labor, which Haraway called the 'homework economy.' And certainly, in the popular imagination of science fiction, the cyborg figure has not gone away, even if most popular narratives are less then enabling. Alex Rivera's Sleep Dealer (2008) is an honorable exception. Better to think through the 'ironic political myth' that Haraway constructed. In Molecular Red (forthcoming from Verso) I make the case that Haraway is not only an enduring feminist and science studies thinker, but also a Marxist one. Below is a sample from a later version of the 'Manifesto for Cyborgs'. Here is a link to the rest
"Contemporary science fiction is full of cyborgs — creatures simultaneously animal and machine, who populate worlds ambiguously natural and crafted. Modern medicine is also full of cyborgs, of couplings between organism and machine, each conceived as coded devices, in an intimacy and with a power that was not generated in the history of sexuality. Cyborg 'sex' restores some of the lovely replicative baroque of ferns and invertebrates (such nice organic prophylactics against heterosexism). Cyborg replication is uncoupled from organic reproduction. Modern production seems like a dream of cyborg colonization work, a dream that makes the nightmare of Taylorism seem idyllic. And modern war is a cyborg orgy, coded by C3I, command-control-communication-intelligence, an $84 billion item in 1984's US defence budget. I am making an argument for the cyborg as a fiction mapping our social and bodily reality and as an imaginative resource suggesting some very fruitful couplings. Michael Foucault's biopolitics is a flaccid premonition of cyborg politics, a very open field."
Friday, February 27, 2015
Thursday, February 26, 2015
SPRING 2015: Seminar: INTL 407 Development, Urbanization, and Work
Seminar:
INTL 407
Development,
Urbanization, and Work
(Sociology of Development, Urbanization, and
Work/Labor in Modern Era)
Spring 2015
Development, Urbanization and Work
Spring 2015 – CRN 61583 / INTL 407
MONDAY and WEDNESDAY 18:00-19:50
SCI Research &
Teaching Center 139B
Instructor: Tugrul Keskin
Office: 333
East Hall – Department of International
and Global Studies
Google Phone: 202-630-1025
Office Hours: Tuesday
12:30 – 15:30 PM or by appointment
E-mail: tugrulkeskin (at) pdx.edu
(PLEASE include “DUW-INTL407” in the
subject line)
Course Description and Objective:
The subject of this course is
work, urbanization, and development in the globalized world. These three
concepts cannot be understood separately; they are all related with and
influence one another. In this class, we will explore these three components of
modern life.
Work
The emergence of the modern
understanding of work is a result of industrial capitalism and its impacts
within the 18th and 19th centuries in Europe, specifically Britain, Germany,
and France. This new form of production led to mass domestic migration in these
countries, which resulted in the emergence of new urban centers in Europe based
on labor and factories. This was the initial stage of capitalism in the region.
The contemporary understanding of “urbanization” began with the industrialization
process in England and later flourished all over Europe at the end of the 18th and
19th centuries as a result of capitalism. Therefore, the existence of the city
or the metropolis cannot be separated from the capitalist mode of production.
This new economic process shaped social and political conditions and has
resulted in modernization and individualism. Related to these concepts, we will
review the historical emergence of the modern conception of work and its effects
on people’s experience of daily life.
Urbanization
The urban environment has a very
different meaning in modern societies than it does to more primitive and
traditional societies, because the concept itself is in fact a new modern political
and social geography cultivated in the 19th- and 20th-century political,
social, and economic life. An American sociologist, Louis Wirth,
names this process as Urbanism as a way
of life, and this way of life is rooted in the modern definition of work.
Concepts such as the
nation-state, metropolis, territorialization, urban life, individualism,
suburbs, downtowns, crime, pollution, overpopulation, chaotic urbanization,
slum houses, and ghettos are all related with space/territory. Museums, zoos,
theaters, entertainment centers, malls, and many other structures have also
been created as new spaces of social and political activity and interaction,
which directly relates with the economy. We can expand our analysis from
politics to individual life, as George Simmel attempted to do in his analysis
of late 19th- and early 20th-century Germany through a comparison of city life
and the individual. Simmel examined the effects of the new urban phenomenon on
these two concepts within modern life. According to Simmel, the metropolis
freed man from taboos or dogmas rooted in tradition at the same time as it
freed man from the religion that connected him to community-based life (Gemeinschaft and Gesellschaft). This is also the transformation from mechanic to a
more organic form of solidarity taking place in cities, according to Emile
Durkheim. However, Simmel also argues that man’s new “freedom” and
individuality does not mean that he is actually free in this new urban context,
but that he is instead more dependent on others. Classical theorists such as Marx,
Weber, and Durkheim all see urbanization as a product of the industrialization
that created a more complex societal structure. We will therefore attempt to
explore how life in the global cities is shaped.
Development
The definition of work and the birth
of the modern cities has cultivated the idea of development, a concept that is
also rooted in new forms of economic production. However, this is a
controversial concept in the “developing” countries. The emergence of
capitalism in the developed world, particularly Europe and United States, generated
the need for ever-greater amounts of labor, raw materials, and energy
resources. Europe and the United States have tried to meet these needs through
the fastest and cheapest means possible; however, this has led to intentional
or unintentional consequences such as colonialism, imperialism, the slave
trade, occupations, chaotic urbanization, the elimination of traditional manual
labor, etc. On the other hand, although development is considered an economic achievement,
this economic mode of production has social and political implications. We will
therefore attempt to understand the social and political implications of
economic development within and across global cities.
Learning Outcomes (Tugrul Keskin):
By
the end of the course, you will have enhanced your:
§
Critical
thinking in relation
to international studies
§
Ability
to question dogmas and taboos in today’s societies
§
Consciousness
of differing perspectives and diversity
§
Understanding
of world issues and trends
§
Understanding
of the impact of colonialism and imperialism in developing
nations
You also will have increased your
knowledge concerning:
§
Resources
in your potential discipline
§
Resources
specific to your region
§
Traditional
information sources
§
Alternative
information sources
§
Knowledge
of relevant methodologies
Learning Outcomes
for International Studies at Portland State University:
Core Learning Outcome: Students will demonstrate an understanding
of world cultures, politics, and economics, within the context of
globalization, as well as developing the skills and attitudes to function as
“global citizens.”
Specific Outcomes:
- Demonstrate knowledge of global issues, processes, trends and systems (i.e. economic and political interdependency among nations; environmental-cultural interaction; global governance bodies).
- Can articulate an understanding of her/his culture in global and comparative context; that is, recognizes that her/his culture is one of many diverse cultures and that alternate perceptions and behaviors may be based in cultural differences.
- Demonstrates an understanding of the meaning and practice of political, military, economic, and cultural hegemony within states and within the global system.
- Demonstrates an understanding of how her/his field is viewed and practiced in different international contexts.
- Uses diverse cultural perspectives and frames of reference, including those of the media, to think critically and solve problems.
- Uses information from other languages and other countries to extend their access to information and experiences.
- Interprets issues and situations from more than one cultural perspective.
- Can articulate differences among cultures; demonstrates tolerance for the diverse viewpoints that emerge from these differences.
- Demonstrates a critical understanding of the historical origins of the nation-state, and its current role in the global system.
- Can apply the key theoretical concepts in the field to interpret global issues.
- Exhibits an ongoing willingness to seek out international or intercultural opportunities.
Required Readings:
These are required books for this
course. All of them are available at the University Bookstore or you can order
new or used copies from online bookstores.
- Globalization and Urbanization: The Global Urban Ecosystem by James H. Spencer. Rowman & Littlefield, 2014. https://rowman.com/ISBN/9781442214743
- Development and Social Change: A Global Perspective by Philip McMichael. Pine Forge Press, 2012. http://www.sagepub.com/textbooks/Book234283
- The Sociology of Work by Keith Grint. Polity Press, 2005. http://www.polity.co.uk/book.asp?ref=9780745632490
Recommended Books:
- Robert Perrucci and Carolyn C. Perrucci. The Transformation of Work in the New Economy. Oxford University Press, 2007. http://global.oup.com/ushe/product/the-transformation-of-work-in-the-new-economy-9780195330816?q=The Transformation of Work&lang=en&cc=us
- Saskia Sassen. The Global City: New York, London, Tokyo. Princeton University Press, 2001. http://press.princeton.edu/titles/6943.html
- J. Timmons Roberts and Amy Hite (Editors). The Globalization and Development Reader: Perspectives on Development and Global Change. Wiley Blackwell, 2007. http://www.wiley.com/WileyCDA/WileyTitle/productCd-1405132361.html
- David Harvey. A Brief History of Neoliberalism. Oxford University Press, 2006. http://www.oup.com/us/catalog/general/subject/Politics/PoliticalTheory/ContemporaryPoliticalThought/?view=usa&ci=9780199283279
- Philip McMichael (Editor). Development and Social Change: A Global Perspective. Sage, 2011. http://www.sagepub.com/books/Book234283
- Richard LeGates and Frederic Stout (Editors). The City Reader. Routledge, 2011.
- Eugenie L. Birch and Susan M. Wachter (Editors). Global Urbanization. University of Pennsylvania Press, 2011. http://www.upenn.edu/pennpress/book/14780.html
- Edward L. Glaeser. Triumph of the City: How Our Greatest Invention Makes Us Richer, Smarter, Greener, Healthier, and Happier. MacMillan, 2011.
- Mark Abrahamson. Global Cities. Oxford University Press, 2004.
- Bruce G. Carruthers and Sarah L. Babb. Economy/Society: Markets, Meanings, and Social Structure. Pine Forge Press, 2000. http://www.sagepub.com/books/Book235730?siteId=sage-uk&prodTypes=any&q=Economy%2FSociety%3A+Markets%2C+Meanings%2C+and+Social+Structure&fs=1
- Barbara Reskin and Irene Padavic. Women and Men at Work. Pine Forge Press, 2002. http://www.sagepub.com/books/Book225466?siteId=sage-us&prodTypes=any&q=Women+and+Men+at+Work&fs=1
- Paula J. Dubeck and Kathryn Borman (Editors). Women and Work. Rutgers University Press, 1997. ISBN: 0-8135-2473-3
- Linda E. Lucas (Editor). Unpacking Globalization: Markets, Gender, and Work. Lexington, 2007.
- Harvard Business Review on Women in Business. Harvard Business School Publishing Corporation (www.hbspress.org), 2005. ISBN: 1-59139-717-0
Course Requirements
To prevent confusion later,
please read the following information carefully:
Final Paper: You will
choose a global city, such as Shanghai, Jakarta, Seoul, Sao Paulo, Lagos,
Mumbai, Tehran, Mexico City, Istanbul, Cairo, or others, and will examine the
social and economic life of the city. For example, you may select to look at
the political life of Cairo, economic life of Shanghai, or cultural life of
Istanbul. How does economic globalization shape and restructure social and
political life in the global cities? Note that I must approve your topic and plan ahead of time. A final paper format
will be provided and you should follow the same structure.
Please see the following links for your final project:
The final paper proposals
are due as MS Word attachments emailed to me by Friday, May 1st. Your final paper must be
approved by this date.
The final paper is a short
empirical or theoretical paper of at least 4000 words (Font should be Times New
Roman, 12 point), doubled spaced, on a focused topic that relates directly to
this course. The last day to submit your final paper is Sunday, June 7th.
Criteria: If you select a final paper topic after
May 1st, you will lose 3 points!
If your final
paper is late, you will lose another 4 points!
If your
final paper is less then 4000 words, you will lose 5 points!
Format: APA citation and
bibliography format will be followed. http://www.princeton.edu/pr/pub/integrity/pages/styles/.
Reflection Papers: The reflection papers will
include an open-book essay that will determine what you have learned in class
each week. I will ask you four questions regarding the same week’s class
subject and discussion. The reflection
papers should be at least 1600 words. Font size should be Times New Roman, 12
point. The due date for each
exam is Monday by 12:00 midnight. Criteria:
If your paper is less than 1600 words, or late, you will lose 2 points.
Weekly Presentations: Each week, two or three students will be
assigned a weekly topic from the readings. These students will summarize the
readings and prepare an outline and 4-6 questions for class, in order to come prepared
to lead the class discussion. Each student must always read the course
materials before they attend class, and I expect you to participate actively in
the class discussion. I strongly recommend that you present in earlier weeks
rather than later in the semester, because you may not find the right time
available to present and will lose presentation points. Presentation dates are
available on a first-come, first-served basis. The timeline for weekly
presentations will be provided in the first week of the class. After we have
filled in student names and finalized the weekly presentation schedule, it will
be posted to D2L.
Newspaper Articles: During the semester, you can bring 5
newspaper articles related to our class subjects. You cannot bring more than
one article in the same week. You will have to summarize these articles verbally
in class and will find the recommended newspapers listed on Blackboard, under
the external links section. Newspaper
articles sent by email will not be accepted. Please bring the first page of the
printed/hard copy of the article to class. You can only bring an article from
the selected newspapers, posted on Blackboard, which you will find under the
links section. Some of the recommended newspapers include The Guardian, Al-Jazeera, Democracynow.org, Financial Times, The New
York Times, The Wall Street Journal, and The Economist. You can only bring an article on Mondays.
Attendance: Regular
class attendance is one of the important parameters to successful completion of
the course requirements.
Participation: Each
student must read course material before they attend class and I expect them to
participate in class discussion.
Grades: Your grade
for this course will be based on your performance on the following components, shown
with their dates and respective weights.
Item Date Weight
(%)
5 Reflection Papers Every
Monday 56.0
Final Paper June 7th 24.0
Attendance/ Class
Participation 5.0
Newspaper Articles 5.0
Weekly Presentation 10.0
Grades: Your grade for
this course will be based on your performance on the following components,
shown with their dates and respective weights:
The grading system in this
class is as follows:
A 95-100
A- 90-94
B+ 86-89
B 85
B- 80-84
C+ 76-79
C 75
C- 70-74
D+ 66-69
D 65
D- 60-64
F (Failure)
PLEASE
READ CAREFULLY! - Electronic Devices &
Other Classroom Policies
Coming late to class and
leaving early: Latecomers
will not be accepted in the class, so be on time. If you are late for a class, please do not disturb your
classmates and me and do not come at all. Please also do not send an
email or call me regarding your class attendance. If there is a medical
need, bring a letter from a doctor. Whatever the reason, if you cannot come to
class, this is your responsibility. If you miss more than 4 classes, you will
not receive an attendance/participation grade. PLEASE DO NOT LEAVE EARLY
EITHER! This is a class, not a coffee shop!
Laptop and cell phone
policy: No
electronic devices (including but not limited to laptops, cell phones, BlackBerries,
etc.) are to be used in the classroom. This includes talking on the phone,
texting, playing games, surfing the web, or any other inappropriate usage.
Those caught using restricted devices will be asked to leave class. Lectures
may not be recorded with audio or multi-media devices. Please turn your
cell phone off before you come to class.
Responsibility: You and/or your parents pay tuition for
this class; therefore, you have responsibility to yourself and/or your parents.
Passing or failing the class is not the main objective; rather, the main
objective is that you learn and improve your knowledge. Please read and try to
understand the main concepts of this class. If you are having difficulty,
please do not hesitate to see me and discuss your concerns!
Each
year, almost half a million people graduate from American public universities
(see http://collegecompletion.chronicle.com/).
As you will see from the statistics, the job market is very competitive;
therefore, students need to improve their knowledge, skills, and experience in
order to find a job they want. Learning is a lifelong process. An academic
institution like Portland State University will provide you with an educational
discipline and methodology; everything else is up to you. You should study and
improve your skills, in order to compete with the rest of the graduates. While
you are in the program, you should apply for internships to obtain relevant
experiences before you graduate. Therefore, if you need a letter of
recommendation for an internship or job, please do not hesitate to ask me, if
you receive at least an A, A-, or B+ grade from my class. Please also remember
that an undergraduate degree might not be enough to find the job you want;
therefore, you might need to apply to graduate school. In order to apply to
graduate school, you will also need to have a letter of recommendation. I am
also happy to advise you on graduate school or provide a letter of
recommendation if you receive an A, A-, or B+ grade.
General:
-You are expected to follow PSU’s student code of
conduct, particularly 577-031-0135 and 577-031-0136, which can be found at
Violations of the code will be reported to the Office
of the Dean of Student Life.
-You are encouraged to take advantage of instructor
and TA office hours or email communication for help with coursework or anything
else connected with the course and your progress.
-If you are a student with a documented disability
and are registered with Disability Resource Center (503.725.4150 or TDD
725.6504), please contact the instructor immediately to arrange academic
accommodations.
-Make sure you have an ODIN account; this email will
be used for D2L and important emails from the instructor and TA. DO NOT USE
THE INTERNAL D2L mail function to contact us. If you do not typically use your
PSU ODIN account, figure out how to get your mail from this account forwarded
to the account you usually use.
*FOR ALL ACADEMIC
CORRESPONDENCE FOR OBSERVING AND CONTACT WITH TEACHERS YOU WISH TO OBSERVE, USE
YOUR ODIN ACCOUNT*
Additional Remarks: If you have difficulty with the
course, please schedule a time to discuss your concerns with me to help you get
back on track.
If you have any questions regarding class-related subjects,
please do not hesitate to ask me.
COURSE
TIMELINE
First Week
March 30 – April 3
|
A Brief Introduction to the
Course and Overview of the Syllabus
Urbanism
as a Way of Life by Louis Wirth (D2L)
(The
Sociology of Work)
What is Work? - Pages 6-43
(Development
and Social Change)
1. Development: Theory and Reality
DOCUMENTARY: Charlie Chaplin - Factory Work - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DfGs2Y5WJ14
Industrial Revolution - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JhF_zVrZ3RQ
|
Second Week
April 6 - 10
|
(The
Sociology of Work)
Work in historical
perspective - Pages 45-84
(Development
and Social Change)
Part I. The Development Project (Late 1940s to Early
1970s)
2. Instituting the Development Project
DOCUMENTARY: Chongqing - China's Secret Metropolis https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sXQOBM37MH0
The American Industrial
Revolution
|
Third Week
April 13 - 17
|
(The
Sociology of Work)
Classical Approach to
Work: Marx, Weber and Durkheim – Pages 85-108.
(Development and Social
Change)
3.
The Development Project: International Framework
(Globalization
and Urbanization)
Chapter 1: Urbanization and the Construction of the
Global Urban Ecosystem
DOCUMENTARY: Welcome to Lagos –(Lagos, Nigeria) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B_HGHj5kTM4
Bombay Dreams
|
Sunday
April 19
|
Reflection Paper – 1
Midnight
|
Fourth Week
April 20 - 24
|
(The
Sociology of Work)
Class,
Industrial Conflict and the Labor Process – Pages 152 – 189.
(Development and Social
Change)
4.
Globalizing Development
(Globalization
and Urbanization)
Chapter 2: Urban Histories: Arriving at the Global Urban
Ecosystem
DOCUMENTARY: Born into Brothels (Kolkata , India) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_kyXFr2g1x8
|
Sunday
April 26
|
Reflection Paper – 2
Midnight
|
Monday April 27
|
Final Paper Proposal must be approved by
Monday, April 27th
Please email me your final paper proposal
and name of the group members.
|
Fifth Week
April 27 – May 1
|
(The
Sociology of Work)
Gender,
Patriarchy and Trade Unions – Pages 190 – 236.
(Development and Social
Change)
Part
II. The Globalization Project (1980s to 2000s)
5.
Instituting the Globalization Project
(Globalization
and Urbanization)
Chapter 3: Saigon’s “Do-Your-Timers”: Rural
Transformation and the Urban Transition in Saigon
DOCUMENTARY: China Rises -
City of Dreams
|
Sixth Week
May 4 - 8
|
(The
Sociology of Work)
Race, Ethnicity and Labour Markets: Recruitment and
the Politics of Exclusion – Pages 237 – 281.
(Development and Social
Change)
6.
The Globalization Project in Practice
(Globalization
and Urbanization)
Chapter 4: “Do-Your-Timers” African Style: Addis
Ababa, the Unlikely Capital of Africa
DOCUMENTARY: Mega Cities -
Hong Kong
Megacities - São Paulo
|
Sunday
May 10
|
Reflection Paper – 3
Midnight
|
Seventh Week
May 11 - 15
|
(The
Sociology of Work)
Working Technology – Pages 282 – 311.
(Development and Social
Change)
7.
Global Counter movements
(Globalization
and Urbanization)
Chapter 5: The Indigenous City? Reconciling an
Old-Timers' Honolulu with a Global Society
DOCUMENTARY: MEGACITIES London - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U8o8KamOISs
|
Eighth Week
May 18 - 22
|
(The
Sociology of Work)
Present Work: The Age of Employment – Pages 313 –
354.
(Development and Social
Change)
Part
III. Millennial Reckonings (2000s-Present)
8.
The Globalization Project in Crisis
(Globalization
and Urbanization)
Chapter 6: “For-All-Timers”: New
York City’s Empire State of Mind
DOCUMENTARY: MEGACITIES Mexico City -
|
Sunday
May 24
|
Reflection Paper – 4
Midnight
|
Ninth Week
May 25 - 29
|
(The
Sociology of Work)
Future Work: Globalization and the Age of
Enthralment?
(Development and Social
Change)
9.
The Sustainability Project
(Globalization
and Urbanization)
Chapter 7: The Global Urban Ecosystem: A Globally
Integrated Ecology of Everyday Life
DOCUMENTARY: Inside Egypt
|
Sunday
May 31
|
Reflection Paper -5
Midnight
|
Tenth
Week
June
1 - 5
|
(The
Sociology of Work)
(Development and Social
Change)
10. Rethinking Development
DOCUMENTARY: Education City (Qatar)
|
Sunday June 7th
|
Final Paper Deadline
Sunday June 7th Midnight
Please email me your paper.
|
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