GLCb1002 Seminar: Introduction to Global Challenges

Faculty of Social Studies
Autumn 2023
Extent and Intensity
0/2/0. 6 credit(s). Type of Completion: zk (examination).
Teacher(s)
Mgr. Mikuláš Černík (lecturer)
Mgr. Vendula Divišová, Ph.D. (lecturer)
Mgr. Miloš Gregor, Ph.D. (lecturer)
prof. PhDr. Jan Holzer, Ph.D. (lecturer)
Mgr. Tomáš Chabada, Ph.D. (lecturer)
prof. Bernadette Nadya Jaworsky, Ph.D. (lecturer)
Miriam Matejova, Ph.D. (lecturer)
Mgr. et Mgr. Jiří Navrátil, Ph.D. (lecturer)
Mgr. Madeline Paradise (lecturer)
doc. Mgr. Pavel Pospěch, Ph.D. (lecturer)
doc. Mgr. et Mgr. Adéla Souralová, Ph.D. (lecturer)
Ing. Zbyněk Ulčák, Ph.D. (lecturer)
RNDr. Naděžda Vlašín Johanisová, Ph.D. (lecturer)
Mgr. Kateřina Čanigová (assistant)
Guaranteed by
doc. Mgr. et Mgr. Adéla Souralová, Ph.D.
Department of Sociology – Faculty of Social Studies
Contact Person: doc. Mgr. et Mgr. Adéla Souralová, Ph.D.
Supplier department: Department of Sociology – Faculty of Social Studies (50,00 %), Department of Political Science – Faculty of Social Studies (25,00 %), Department of Environmental Studies – Faculty of Social Studies (25,00 %)
Timetable
Mon 16:00–17:40 U44
Prerequisites
none
Course Enrolment Limitations
The course is only offered to the students of the study fields the course is directly associated with.
fields of study / plans the course is directly associated with
Course objectives
The seminar develops the knowledge gained in the course Introduction to global challenges. In the seminar, the students will discuss the obligatory reading, present the case studies on particular topics and discuss them in class. In relation to the course Introduction to global challenges, following issues will be discusses: fake news and disinformation, radicalization and extremism, non-democratic regimes, contemporary state conflicts, risk society and concept of risk in Sociology, nationalism and citizenship, global displacement, global challenge of gender inequality, unsustainability and its roots, inequality and environmental justice, climate change, biodiversity and land use.
Learning outcomes
After completing the course, a student will be able to:
- identify the main contemporary global challenges
- interpret the global challenges while using the perspectives of three disciplines
- write essay about the global issues while using the appropriate theory
- discuss the issues of global challenges with the use of the case studies
- develop theory based arguments about the issues
Syllabus
  • Week 1: Fake news and disinformation
  • Week 2: Radicalization and extremism
  • Week 3: Non-democratic regimes
  • Week 4: Contemporary state conflicts
  • Week 5: Risk society: Concept of risk in Sociology
  • Week 6: Nationalism and citizenship
  • Week 7: Reading week
  • Week 8: Global displacement
  • Week 9: Global challenge of gender inequality
  • Week 10: Unsustainability and its roots
  • Week 11: Inequality and environmental justice
  • Week 12: Climate change
  • Week 13: Biodiversity and land use
Literature
  • MOORE, Martin (2018). Democracy Hacked: Political Turmoil and Information Warfare in the Digital Age. Oneworld Publications.
  • IPBES, 2019. Summary for policymakers of the global assessment report on biodiversity and ecosystem services of the Intergovernmental Science‐Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services. Paris, 29 April–4 May 2019, 45 pp.
  • BENKLER, Yochai, FARIS, Robert (2018). Network Propaganda: Manipulation, Disinformation, and Radicalization in American Politics. Oxford University Press.
  • SPASH, Clive. The shallow or the deep ecological economics movement? Ecological Economics 93 (2013) 351-362
  • Johanisová, Nadia: Economic democracy: A path for the future? Futures: 44: 562 - 570, 2012
  • Challenges to democracies in east central Europe. Edited by Jan Holzer - Miroslav Mareš. First published. London: Routledge, Taylor & Francis group, 2016, 1 online. ISBN 9781315622194. info
  • CONNELL, Raewyn. Gender : in world perspective. 2nd ed. Cambridge: Polity, 2009, xi, 180. ISBN 9780745645674. info
  • BECK, Ulrich. Risk society : towards a new modernity. Translated by Mark Ritter. 1st ed. London: Sage Publications, 1998, 260 s. ISBN 080398345X. info
  • GELLNER, Ernest. Nations and nationalism. Oxford: Blackwell, 1983, viii, 150. ISBN 0-631-12992-812. info
Teaching methods
class discussion, presentations, reading
Assessment methods
class activity, essay
Language of instruction
English
The course is also listed under the following terms Autumn 2022, Autumn 2024.
  • Enrolment Statistics (Autumn 2023, recent)
  • Permalink: https://is.muni.cz/course/fss/autumn2023/GLCb1002