Labor in the Era of Globalization

"This course will examine the impact of the globalization of production on work itself, as well as on workers and international labor movements. It will present globalization as a central problem for both developed and developing economies and as a dilemma for U.S. workers and their unions. Students will analyze the history and function of the World Trade Organization, the International Monetary Fund, and the World Bank, including how these institutions influence the global flow of capital and labor, as well as goods and services. The course covers topics essential for understanding workers' issues and rights in contemporary economies, such as: the impact of global outsourcing; the rise in women workers around the world and the implications for gender issues; organizing in a multi-national context; increasing poverty and inequality; and the decreased regulatory powers of states relative to multinational corporations as a result of free-trade agreements and neo-liberal development policies. All topics will be infused with a historical perspective that traces the development of capitalism from its beginnings in nation-states to its current hegemony in in the global marketplace. Students will study responses of the labor movement to capital flight and to the movement of jobs and production across national borders, including efforts at cross-border organizing. They will examine the extent and effectiveness of global labor strategies, and the potential of broad-based coalitions to protect workers’ rights.

Fall, Spring