300021 The Global Economy: Places, Spaces and Flows (S) (WiSe 2016/2017)

In this seminar, we will jointly discuss the spatiality and geography of the current global economy. Some authors have stressed the notion of fluidity and placelessness of current economic processes (annihilation of space by time (Marx), space-time compression (Harvey), space of flows (Castells). Others have highlighted the persistence of space and place for understanding global economic processes (Sassen). After reading seminal theoretical texts, we will focus on concrete places and spaces in the global economy, such as headquarters and subsidiaries of MNCs, offshore call centers, international stock exchanges, free trade zones, global cities, (industrial) homework) and sweatshops. We will depart from the idea that global economic processes need to materialize in concrete local places. The leading question for the seminar is what we can learn about the global economy by studying social local dynamics in concrete work places.

Seminar language is English.

Participants are expected to participate regularly, prepare each session by reading the selected texts and to actively participate in seminar discussions.

Requirements for participation, required level

A basic knowledge of economic sociology and/or the sociology of work is indispensable for a successful participation in this course. Therefore, participants should either have successfully completed an introductory course in economic sociology or the sociology of work, or have carefully read through an introductory book.
The following text books represent suitable introductions:

Watson, Tony J. (2008): Sociology, work and industry. 5. ed. London u.a.: Routledge.
Swedberg, Richard Â. (1996): Economic sociology. Cheltenham u.a.: Elgar