INT2015 - Production, Consumerism and the Environment in the Contemporary World

Leader: Ross Mouer

Offered

Berwick Second semester 2007 (Day)
Caulfield Second semester 2007 (Day)
Clayton Second semester 2007 (Day)

Synopsis

The unit provides students with a theoretical and practical overview of some of the processes associated with globalisation. It builds on knowledge that students have acquired about how the contemporary world has evolved over the past half century. It is future oriented and considers the on-going forces that are currently driving the push to globalise and the forces that work to impede or retard globalisation. It does this in part by considering how organizations are likely to evolve at the international level while also looking locally at some of the domains that seem to be widely affected by the processes of globalisation.

Objectives

It is expected that students who successfully complete this subject will have acquired the following:

1. Knowledge of the way economic and technological forces are interacting with the social and cultural development of societies in the contemporary world in terms of issues related to the organization of the world economic system, local production, consumerism and the environment.
2. Knowledge of key theoretical concepts relevant to the discussion of the global econbomic system, social and cultural change, production, consumerism, and the environment movement in the international context.
3. Skills in reading critically.
4. Skills in oral and written communication.

Assessment

Major Essay (2000 words): 40%
Test (one hour, 1000-word equivalent): 20%
Seminar presentation (10 minutes 500-word equivalent): 20%
Work related to WebCT threaded group discussion activities (1000 words): 20%

Contact hours

1 hour lecture and 1 hour seminar