The purpose of this course is to acquaint students with the major ways scholars and policymakers conceptualize and evaluate the process commonly referred to as globalization. It places today’s era of deepening economic interdependence in historical perspective, allowing students to assess whether the contemporary global economy is truly unprecedented or simply a new variation on long‑standing patterns. Through this lens, the course examines how global markets shape, and are shaped by, political institutions, national interests, and international power dynamics. Students will also explore the central debates surrounding free trade, including its economic benefits, social costs, and political consequences, preparing them to critically analyze cooperation and conflict in the global economy.

Prerequisites:  Ag Econ 2001 OR Econ 2001, and Econ 2002.