KE6035 - Global Capitalism: Digital and Sustainable Transformations

You will learn through lectures, seminars, independent learning and directed tasks (such as using study groups to lead seminars). The lectures will cover theories and concepts, case study material, key exemplars, and module staff’s own research. Where appropriate guest lecturers will be invited to provide insights into how insights into global capitalism is debated and applied beyond academia. Seminars are designed to allow you to explore issues raised in lectures and readings in greater depth. Directed and independent learning tasks will be set each week to allow you to explore the module material in your own way.

Support will include feedback from tutors during small-group seminars and one-to-one sessions (via the Department’s open-door policy). In addition, tutors will use the module’s discussion board at the University’s eLearning Portal respond to questions so that the whole module group can benefit. Time will be set aside in lectures and seminars to provide opportunities for Q&A on assignments and formative feedback. Work will be submitted electronically via the eLearning Portal.

All modules at Northumbria include a range of reading materials that students are expected to engage with. The reading list for this module can be found at: http://readinglists.northumbria.ac.uk
(Reading List service online guide for academic staff this containing contact details for the Reading List team – http://library.northumbria.ac.uk/readinglists)

Knowledge & Understanding:
• MLO 1: You will critically assess the spatial and temporal scales through, and at which contemporary capitalism occurs.
• MLO 2: You will critically examine the mutual constitution of geographies of the global capitalism through economic, cultural and political processes.
• MLO 3: You will critically evaluate the processes (re)producing uneven development.

Intellectual / Professional skills & abilities:
4. MLO 4: You will critically apply theories and concepts covered in the module to analyse real world case studies.

Personal Values Attributes (Global / Cultural awareness, Ethics, Curiosity) (PVA):
5. MLO 5: You will develop and demonstrate, through practice, critical thinking skills.

There are two summative assessments for this module. You will submit both assignments electronically via Turnitin software.

The first assessment is a Seminar Poster (worth 30% of the module) which is based on your understanding of and engagement with the module’s seminars, the format of which is an A2-sized poster displaying the facts/arguments in bullet points and graphs around own-organized key themes (MLOs 1-5). You will be supported through regular opportunities for formative feedback in the seminars regarding the arguments within and design of the poster.

The second assessment is a 3000-words essay (worth 70% of the module) designed to bring together your learning across the module (MLOs 1-5).

Through this assessments you are expected to:

- mobilise academic theories and concepts in your argument
- be aware of the contemporary transformations of global capitalism and the ways in which it is spatially organized
- undertake some research into your chosen topic and provide valid evidence support and concrete case
- produce graphs/tables to show your understanding on relevant development indicators and trend

You are be given opportunities to discuss your essay structure, arguments and examples in the seminars, especially the last one which is dedicated to Q&A around the module assessment.

KE5057 Economy, Space and Development

None

Global Capitalism: Digital and Sustainable Transformations allows students to engage with critical and dynamic analysis of global capitalism, namely, the global dimensions of capitalist mode of production. The module will help the students develop an understanding on the spatial articulation of global capitalism in which global lead firms, the nation states, trade unions and informal institutions all take active roles. Students will be able to acknowledge and appraise the transformations of global capitalism through two key trends: a) the rise of global platform economy and the contested development outcomes brought by digitalisation; b) the uneven and power-inflicted processes of sustainability transition characterised as green and circular economy. The module will shed lights on the ways capitalism is shaped by not only globally mobile corporations but also the states, civic organisations and grassroots communities working with and/or against it. Case studies will be used to illustrate ‘real world’ economic activity at a range of scales, and draw on module staff expertise.
The module contributes to programme learning outcomes which develop your critical thinking skills and ability to critically appraise the policy and academic debates around the digital and sustainable transformations of contemporary global capitalism by drawing on key theories from economic geography, international political economies and sociology.