Global Awareness
Thinking Systematically About the World
Published on 16. October 2002
Book
Paperback/Softback
288 pages
978-0-7425-1593-2 (ISBN)
Description
This book raises students' awareness and understanding of global trends, forces, and events by showing them how to think about the world systematically. Based on more than a decade of teaching about global issues to university undergraduates, the book focuses on understanding globalization and its effects on our lives. The book's seven chapters cover important principles and concepts from the systems perspective, such as what a system is, what global systems are, how and why systems grow and decline, what makes global systems invisible, how global issues are addressed as political questions, and others. Seven case studies apply these principles to global issues, such as the AIDS pandemic, endangered species and endangered languages, global energy systems and gasoline prices, contaminated food, and the consequences of the terrorist attacks of 9-11. The book includes two appendices: a glossary of important global system terms, and a description of global systems and cyberspace, including the structure and governance of the Internet.
Reviews / Votes
Robert Clark's Global Awareness is a very welcome addition to the rapidly proliferating literature on globalization and related matters. His systems approach is multidisciplinary and, indeed, both systemic and systematic. On the other hand, it is not overly formalistic and invokes discussions of various empirical circumstances ranging from labor unions to cyberspace, from AIDS to 9/11. I recommend this strongly. -- Roland Robertson, University of Aberdeen, Scotland Clark makes a strong case for the relevance of systems theory in understanding globalization, and achieves a good measure of originality by applying it thoroughly and convincingly to a wide range of global issues. His choice of cases is also refreshing, and a clear departure from the standard gallery of globalization icons. -- Peter Mandaville, George Mason UniversityMore details
Language
English
Place of publication
United States
Publishing group
Bloomsbury Publishing Plc
Illustrations
bibliography, index
Dimensions
Height: 230 mm
Width: 146 mm
Thickness: 17 mm
Weight
394 gr
ISBN-13
978-0-7425-1593-2 (9780742515932)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Person
Robert P. Clark is professor of government in the Department of Public and International Affairs, and coordinator of the interdisciplinary program in global systems, at George Mason University in Fairfax, Virginia. His most recent books on globalization are The Global Imperative: An Interpretive History of the Spread of Humankind (Westview, 1997) and Global Life Systems: Population, Food, and Disease in the Process of Globalization (Rowman & Littlefield, 2001).
Content
Chapter 1: Thinking about the World as a Single Place Chapter 2 Case Study 1: Thinking about the AIDS Pandemic Chapter 3 Chapter 2: Global Awareness Chapter 4 Case Study 2: Making Connections in the News: Endangered Species and Endangered Languages Chapter 5 Chapter 3: Systems Chapter 6 Case Study 3: What Determines the Price of Gasoline? The Global Energy System Chapter 7 Chapter 4: Changing Systems Chapter 8 Case Study 4: The Lake Victoria Disaster Chapter 9 Chapter 5: Global Systems Chapter 10 Case Study 5: Global Systems and September 11, 2001 Chapter 11 Chapter 6: Invisible Systems Chapter 12 Case Study 6: Mexican Strawberries and Michigan School Children Chapter 13 Chapter 7: Globalization and Nation-State Politics Chapter 14 Case Study 7: American Labor Unions and the Cargo Container Revolution Chapter 15 Appendix 1: A Glossary of Selected Terms Chapter 16 Appendix 2: Global Systems and the Structure of Cyberspace