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SoSe 19: Deindustrialization and Global History

Julia Wambach

Kommentar

This seminar looks at the global consequences of deindustrialization since the 1970s. An abundant literature on industrial decline mushroomed in the past years with a focus on ruins of the coal mining and steel industries, the downfall of cities as well as working class life and forms of sociability, and unemployment. The debate around deindustrialization has mostly been confined to very local studies, mostly but, not exclusively, in the Atlantic World. Starting from specific case studies, we will seek to explore the global dimensions of this phenomenon and its repercussions for ideas about global economic development, progress, and processes of migration. Rather than analyzing the material practices of deindustrialization, we will look at the way the deindustrialization processes in Western Europe and North America stirred collective fears of globalization and triggered a global and very emotional debate about the nature of post-industrial societies. We will see that the very concept of deindustrialization emerged in the 1970s, marking a sharp break with the era of industrialization that had up to then provided the world with a narrative of progress and growth. In order to explain this for historians relatively recent development, we will proceed from the individual and local level in the Atlantic world and develop ways to relate local processes of deindustrialization to global political and economic developments and debates. Expect to read a range of works of history, literature, political science and economics and learn how to (1) identify and articulate key issues and concepts in global economic, political, and cultural history; (2) demonstrate knowledge of a range of key theoretical and methodological debates (3) discuss and evaluate the role of globalization, emotions, race, migration, social movements, and international organizations in the history of deindustrialization; (4) identify, critically assess, and respond to the arguments presented in the readings. Weekly meetings will critically discuss the allocated texts. Each week, students are expected to write one paragraph on the readings and raise a question, which they would like to discuss in class. One or two student experts will prepare the meeting and lead the discussion in consultation with the instructor. Students are also required to write one essay of roughly 2500 words on a topic of their choice within the thematic framework of the seminar. Schließen