Fall 2017 - CMNS 844 G100

Communication and Global Power Shifts (5)

Class Number: 3363

Delivery Method: In Person

Overview

  • Course Times + Location:

    Sep 5 – Dec 4, 2017: Thu, 1:30–5:20 p.m.
    Vancouver

Description

CALENDAR DESCRIPTION:

This course examines the mutually constitutive relationship between rapidly transforming global communication systems and shifting structures of global political economic and cultural power. Competing claims of global power shifts - between the West and the Rest, between labour and capital, and between established institutions and networked "multitudes" – are analyzed in relation to enduring patterns and emerging dynamics in global communications.

COURSE DETAILS:

Overview:

This course examines the mutually constitutive relationship between rapidly transforming global communication systems and shifting structures of global political, economic and cultural power.  Competing claims of global power shifts – between the West and the Rest, between labour and capital, and between established institutions and networked “multitudes” – are analyzed in relation to enduring patterns and emerging dynamics in global communications.

The first part of the course addresses conceptual issues, and provides historical, theoretical, as well as contemporary, political, economic and policy overviews.  The second part focuses on the multifaceted intersections of an evolving geopolitics of information and ongoing processes of state transformation, market integration, and social struggles, in and through a wide range of communication forms, processes, and practices in different world regions.  The course demonstrates that competing claims of global power shifts are not necessarily mutually exclusive.  Rather, they intersect in complex ways to define the new dynamics of power in the current era, as various social forces fight out their visions and stakes in a crises-laden global order, both within and beyond the nation-state and other boundaries.

Grading

  • Seminar Participation and Presentation 20%
  • Mid-Term Short-Paper/Book/Film Review 30%
  • Term Paper (Substantive Literature Review) 50%

NOTES:

The School expects that the grades awarded in this course will bear reasonable relation to established university-wide practices with respect to both levels and distribution of grades. In addition, the School will follow Policy S10.01 with respect to Academic Integrity, and Policies S10.02, S10.03 and S10.04 as regards Student Discipline.  [Note: as of May 1, 2009 the previous T10 series of policies covering Intellectual Honesty (T10.02) and Academic Discipline (T10.03) have been replaced with the new S10 series of policies.]

Materials

REQUIRED READING:

Chakravartty, P. and Yuezhi Zhao (eds.), Global Communications:  Toward a Transcultural Political Economy.  Rowman & Littlefield, 2008.
ISBN: 9780742540453

Additional readings will be assigned in class, and made available on Canvas.

Graduate Studies Notes:

Important dates and deadlines for graduate students are found here: http://www.sfu.ca/dean-gradstudies/current/important_dates/guidelines.html. The deadline to drop a course with a 100% refund is the end of week 2. The deadline to drop with no notation on your transcript is the end of week 3.

Registrar Notes:

SFU’s Academic Integrity web site http://students.sfu.ca/academicintegrity.html is filled with information on what is meant by academic dishonesty, where you can find resources to help with your studies and the consequences of cheating.  Check out the site for more information and videos that help explain the issues in plain English.

Each student is responsible for his or her conduct as it affects the University community.  Academic dishonesty, in whatever form, is ultimately destructive of the values of the University. Furthermore, it is unfair and discouraging to the majority of students who pursue their studies honestly. Scholarly integrity is required of all members of the University. http://www.sfu.ca/policies/gazette/student/s10-01.html

ACADEMIC INTEGRITY: YOUR WORK, YOUR SUCCESS