GLCb1001 Introduction to Global Challenges

Faculty of Social Studies
Autumn 2024
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 %)
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 aim of this course is to introduce students into the topics of global challenges and their conceptualization in the sociology, political sciences and environmental studies. The course is divided into three blocks in which the global challenges will be presented through the lenses of three disciplines. 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
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
  • 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.
  • Johanisová, Nadia: Economic democracy: A path for the future? Futures: 44: 562 - 570, 2012
  • 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
  • MOORE, Martin (2018). Democracy Hacked: Political Turmoil and Information Warfare in the Digital Age. Oneworld Publications.
  • 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
  • BJØRGO, Tore. Strategies for preventing terrorism. First published. Basingstoke: Palgrave Macmillan, 2013, xi, 116. ISBN 9781349470068. info
  • CONNELL, Raewyn. Gender : in world perspective. 2nd ed. Cambridge: Polity, 2009, xi, 180. ISBN 9780745645674. info
  • GELLNER, Ernest André. Nations and nationalism. Edited by John Breuilly. Second edition. Malden, MA: Blackwell Publishing, 2006, liii, 152. ISBN 1405134429. info
  • BECK, Ulrich. Risk society : towards a new modernity. London: SAGE Publications, 1992, 260 s. ISBN 080398345X. info
Teaching methods
lectures
Assessment methods
three timed essays, final exam
Language of instruction
English
The course is also listed under the following terms Autumn 2022, Autumn 2023.
  • Enrolment Statistics (Autumn 2024, recent)
  • Permalink: https://is.muni.cz/course/fss/autumn2024/GLCb1001