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Globalisation and Society: Power, Inequality and Conflict unit (HGA343)

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Unit year 2025

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Location: Hobart, Online

Introduction

This unit explores the different ways in which our everyday lives are connected increasingly to global events, issues and problems. Through three core modules – Approaches to Globalisation; Global Challenges and Threats; and, Global Futures – you will discover why globalisation is an important area of sociological inquiry, and how sociological concepts and theories are useful in understanding the causes of global issues and problems, and in contributing to solutions. You will engage with important questions that are central to the future of humanity such as: In ways are global changes transforming how we think about and experience the world? How does increasing global mobility and inter-connectedness contribute to new forms of solidarity and belonging as well as social inequality? How might we explain the recent rise of populism and nationalism? What are the challenges and prospects in creating a more socially just and environmentally sustainable world?

Summary

Unit name Globalisation and Society: Power, Inequality and Conflict
Unit code HGA343
Credit points 12.5
College/School Arts and Society
Humanities and Social Sciences
Discipline Sociology and Criminology
Coordinator Doctor Emily Hansen
Available as an elective? Yes
Delivered By
Level Advanced

Sustainable Development Goals

The Unit Coordinator has identified that this unit aligns with the following UN Sustainable Development Goals. We welcome your thoughts and feedback on the alignment of the unit with these goals.

Availability

Location Study period Attendance options Available to
Hobart Semester 1 This unit is available through on-campus delivery Available to International Students Available to Domestic Students
Online Semester 1 This unit is available through off-campus delivery Available to International Students Available to Domestic Students
  • Key:
  • This unit is available through on-campus delivery On-campus
  • This unit is available through off-campus delivery Off-Campus
  • Available to International Students International students
  • Available to Domestic Students Domestic students
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Key Dates

Study Period Start date Census date WW date End date
Semester 1 23/2/2025 24/3/2025 13/4/2025 31/5/2025

* The Final WW Date is the final date from which you can withdraw from the unit without academic penalty, however you will still incur a financial liability (refer to How do I withdraw from a unit? for more information).

Unit census dates currently displaying for 2025 are indicative and subject to change. Finalised census dates for 2025 will be available from the 1st October 2024. Note census date cutoff is 11.59pm AEST (AEDT during October to March).

About Census Dates

Learning Outcomes

  • Recognise and explain the power relations, social inequalities and conflicts underpinning globalisation.
  • Apply relevant concepts and theories to identify the social causes of global challenges and threats.
  • Analyse the merits and limitations of approaches for addressing global challenges and creating a more sustainable and/or socially just world.
  • Produce written and/or oral work that communicates your ideas clearly, conforms to academic standards, and accurately acknowledges the work of others.

Fee Information

Field of Education Commencing Student Contribution 1,3 Grandfathered Student Contribution 1,3 Approved Pathway Course Student Contribution 2,3 Domestic Full Fee 4
090301 $2,124.00 $996.00 not applicable $2,440.00
  • Available as a Commonwealth Supported Place
  • HECS-HELP is available on this unit, depending on your eligibility3
  • FEE-HELP is available on this unit, depending on your eligibility4

1 Please refer to more information on student contribution amounts.
2 Please refer to more information on eligibility and Approved Pathway courses.
3 Please refer to more information on eligibility for HECS-HELP.
4 Please refer to more information on eligibility for FEE-HELP.

If you have any questions in relation to the fees, please contact UniConnect or more information is available on StudyAssist.

Please note: international students should refer to What is an indicative Fee? to get an indicative course cost.

Requisites

Prerequisites

25 credit points at Introductory level or higher

Mutual Exclusions

You cannot enrol in this unit as well as the following:

HGA262/362: Social Inequalities: Global and Local

Teaching

Teaching Pattern

On Campus:
Weekly (pre-recorded) lectures or equivalent (1 hour) and weekly face-to-face workshop (2 hours).

Off Campus:
Weekly (pre-recorded) lectures or equivalent (1 hour) and fortnightly online tutorials and/or participation in discussion boards (1 hour)

AssessmentAssessment Task 1: Conceptual analysis and application (15%)|Participation (15%)|Assessment Task 3: Recorded presentation (30%)|Assessment Task 2: Essay (40%)
TimetableView the lecture timetable | View the full unit timetable

Textbooks

Required

There is no required textbook for this unit. All required and recommended readings for each topic can be accessed directly through the weekly topic pages on MyLO (under Content) or via the Library reding list for this unit.

 

Week 1

Eriksen, T.H. (2014) Globalization: The Key Concepts (2nd edn), Bloomsbury: London (Introduction: A Shrinking Planet)

Kennedy, P. (2010) Local Lives and Global Transformations: Towards World Society, Palgrave Macmillan: Basingstoke (Chapter 2 – Theorizing Globalization: Linking the World)

 

Week 2

Mignolo, W.D. (2021) Coloniality and globalization: a decolonial take, Globalizations, vol. 18, no. 5, pp. 720-737.

Bhambra, G.K. (2014) Postcolonial and decolonial dialogues, Postcolonial Studies, 17(2), pp. 115-121.

 

Week 3

O’Byrne, D.J. and Hensby, A. (2011) Theorizing Global Studies, Palgrave Macmillan: Basingstoke (Chapter 2: Liberalization: A Borderless World).

Babb, S. and Kentikelenis, A. (2018) International financial institutions as agents of neoliberalism, in Cahill, D., Cooper, M., Konings, M. and Primrose, D. The Sage Handbook of Neoliberalism, Sage: London, pp. 16-27.

 

Week 4

Sklair, L. (2006) Capitalist globalization: fatal flaws and necessity for alternatives, Brown Journal of World Affairs, 13(1): 29-37.

Bartley, T. (2018) Transnational corporations and global governance, Annual Review of Sociology, 44: 145-165.

 

Week 5

Pieterse, J.N. (2012) Globalization as hybridization, in Lyall Smith, K.E. (ed.), Sociology of Globalization: Cultures, Economies, Politics, Routledge, Abingdon.

Kraidy, M.M. (2002) Hybridity in cultural globalization, Communication Theory, 12(3): 316-339.

 

Week 6

Horner, R., Schindler, S., Haberly, D. and Aoyama, Y. (2018) Globalisation, uneven development and the North–South ‘big switch, Cambridge Journal of Regions, Economy a

Recommended

Recommended readings for each topic can be accessed directly through the weekly topic pages on MyLO (under Content) or via the Library reding list for this unit.

 

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