SOC264 - The Sociology of the Capitalist World-System

[ Wesleyan Home Page ] [ WesMaps Home Page ] [ WesMaps Archive ] [ Course Search ] [ Course Search by CID ]
Academic Year 2003/2004

The Sociology of the Capitalist World-System
SOC 264 FA

This course is an introduction to competing theories of the capitalist world-system. Its basic premise is that the world we live in today is a capitalist world-system and that it originated in western Europe circa 1600. The course will focus on theories of the causes of its emergence in western Europe; the characteristics of the global division of labor between core, semi-peripheral, and peripheral nation-states; the role of the state; nationalism and racism in the global division of labor, and the contradictory tendencies of this world system.

MAJOR READINGS

Karl Marx, "Manifesto of the Communist Party" and other selected writings
Max Weber, THE PROTESTANT ETHIC AND THE SPIRIT OF CAPITALISM
Janet Abu-Lughod, BEFORE EUROPEAN HEGEMONY
Eric Wolf, EUROPE AND THE PEOPLE WITHOUT HISTORY
J.M. Blaut, THE COLONIZER'S MODEL OF THE WORLD
David Landes, THE WEALTH AND POVERTY OF NATIONS: WHY SOME ARE SO RICH AND SOME SO POOR.
Immanuel Wallerstein, HISTORICAL CAPITALISM and other selected essays
Samir Amin, CAPITALISM IN THE AGE OF GLOBALIZATION
Edward W. Said, CULTURE AND IMPERIALISM
Kenneth Pomeranz, THE GREAT DIVERGENCE
Other selected readings

EXAMINATIONS AND ASSIGNMENTS

Three take-home essays (6-8 pages each).

ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS and/or COMMENTS

Students who have not taken SOC151 may contact the instructor for an override.

COURSE FORMAT: Lecture/Discussion

REGISTRATION INFORMATION

Level: UGRD Credit: 1 Gen Ed Area Dept: SBS SOC Grading Mode: Graded

Prerequisites: SOC151 OR SOC152

SECTION 01

Instructor(s): Dupuy,Alex

Times: .M.W... 02:40PM-04:00PM; Location: PAC421

Reserved Seats: (Total Limit: 30)

SR. major: 9 Jr. major: 9

SR. non-major: 3 Jr. non-major: 3 SO: 6 FR: X

Special Attributes:

Curricular Renewal: Writing, Focused Inquiry Course

Links to Web Resources For This Course.

Last Updated on MAR-19-2004