Globalization Theories Course | IIT Madras Sociology | Prof. R. Santhosh

Course Details

Globalization: Theoretical Perspectives - A 12-Week Postgraduate Journey

In an increasingly interconnected world, understanding the forces of globalization is not just an academic exercise but a necessity. The postgraduate course "Globalization: Theoretical Perspectives," offered by the Department of Humanities and Social Sciences at IIT Madras and taught by Prof. R. Santhosh, provides a rigorous 12-week exploration of the central social theories that explain our global era.

Course Overview and Instructor Profile

This advanced-level course is designed to unpack the complex debates surrounding globalization through the lens of social theory. Over twelve weeks, students engage with foundational and contemporary thinkers to critically analyze the cultural, socio-political, spatial, and technological transformations defining our time.

The course is led by Prof. R. Santhosh, a specialist in the sociology of religion with a focus on Hindu and Islamic religiosity in late modern India. His expertise brings a nuanced, context-rich perspective to global theories, particularly when examining their implications for Indian society.

Who Should Take This Course?

The course is primarily intended for PhD and Postgraduate students in the social sciences, though advanced undergraduate students with a strong foundation may also benefit. A familiarity with introductory sociological concepts is preferable to fully engage with the theoretical depth of the material.

Detailed 12-Week Course Layout

The curriculum is thoughtfully structured to build a comprehensive understanding, moving from broad debates to specific applications.

Weeks 1-3: Foundations and Culture

The journey begins with an introduction to the core debates in globalization and social theory. Weeks 2 and 3 delve deep into cultural globalization, analyzing the works of pivotal scholars.

• George Ritzer: Known for the concept of "McDonaldization," exploring the rationalization and homogenization of global culture.
• Samuel Huntington: Examined through his "Clash of Civilizations" thesis, debating cultural fault lines in a globalized world.
• Arjun Appadurai: His framework of "scapes" (ethnoscapes, mediascapes, technoscapes, financescapes, and ideoscapes) provides a dynamic model for understanding global cultural flows.

Weeks 4-5: Globalization and Modernity

This module interrogates the relationship between globalization and the project of modernity.

• Anthony Giddens: Analyzes globalization as a consequence of modernity, focusing on time-space distanciation and the disembedding of social systems.
• David Harvey: Introduces the concept of "time-space compression," linking economic shifts (flexible accumulation) to the experience of a shrinking world.
• Ulrich Beck: Explores the emergence of a "world risk society" where global threats (like climate change) transcend national borders.

Weeks 6-7: Space, Networks, and Power

Here, the focus shifts to the new geographies and structures of power in a global network society.

• Manuel Castells: His theory of the "network society" explains how power and information flow through global networks, challenging traditional hierarchies.
• Saskia Sassen: Focuses on "global cities" as key command-and-control nodes in the world economy and sites for new political dynamics.

Weeks 8-9: Risk, the State, and Resistance

Building on earlier themes, this section looks at political transformations and critiques.

• Ulrich Beck (Revisited): A deeper dive into how risk society changes the forms and functions of the nation-state.
• Anti-Globalization Theorizations: Engages with critical perspectives, such as those in "Empire" by Hardt and Negri, and explores alternate imaginations of world order.

Weeks 10-11: Globalization and Indian Society

Prof. Santhosh's specialization comes to the fore as the course grounds theoretical frameworks in the Indian context. Students examine substantive themes like:

• The impact of global media and consumer culture.
• Transnational religious networks and identities.
• IT globalization and its socio-economic effects.
• The interplay between global forces and local practices.

Week 12: Conclusion and Synthesis

The course concludes by weaving together the diverse theoretical threads, enabling students to form a coherent, critical understanding of globalization's multifaceted processes.

Essential Reading List

The course draws on a rich body of literature. Key texts include:

This course by Prof. R. Santhosh at IIT Madras is more than an academic syllabus; it is an intellectual toolkit for deciphering the complexities of the 21st century. By marrying grand social theories with grounded illustrations from Indian society, it empowers postgraduate students to think critically about the forces shaping our collective present and future.

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