Info Session: Summer Abroad "The Politics of Global Inequality"

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Switzerland 2014 The Politics of Global Inequality

description

The long-standing division of the global system into richer and poorer regions poses many important problems in international political economy. This course presents a theoretical background to North-South issues and analyzes current problems in economic and political relations. After defining inequality, the course examines the sources of inequality emanating from the international system as well as from domestic political systems. The course also examines specific problems poor countries face, such as agricultural reform, population growth, levels of international trade and foreign direct investment. The course integrates these issues with an exploration of the role that intergovernmental agencies play in facilitating development. We visit organizations such as the World Health Organization (WHO) and the World Trade Organization (WTO), which are headquartered in Geneva, and which provide many of the prescriptions for development. http://summerabroad.ucdavis.edu

Transcript of Info Session: Summer Abroad "The Politics of Global Inequality"

Page 1: Info Session: Summer Abroad "The Politics of Global Inequality"

Switzerland 2014

The Politics of Global Inequality

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Overview

1. Overview of program and accommodations2. Orientation3. Course content4. Leisure activities5. ASK QUESTIONS

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Program Details1. Program dates: July 1-July 312. Course content: POL 124 The Politics of Global Inequality; POL 198

Group Study: The Role of International Organizations in Development3. Location: Geneva, Switzerland; Cite Universitaire (dorms); University of

Geneva4. Program components: classroom lectures and films; guest lectures;

simulations; international organization visits

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Universite de Geneve (Unige)

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Cite Universitaire

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Why Geneva, Switzerland?

Geneva, Switzerland is home to a large number of international organizations that develop prescriptions and funding for developing countries

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Orientation

1. On-site orientation to the city, culture, and transportation system

2. Visits to Cathedrale de St. Pierre and United Nations

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Course materials – Global inequality

Poverty incapacitates at least a billion people around the globe

50 million children under the age of 5 die of malnutrition related causes every year – a war on the most vulnerable population

Why do poverty and inequality continue to exist?

What, if anything, should WE do about it?

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Course requirements

Each student adopts a country, studies the conditions in that country and evaluates solutions

Each student chooses an organization, studies that organization and evaluates its contributions to development issues

Organizations visited in past programs: UNDP, UNICEF, WTO, WHO, UNCTAD, non-governmental organizations

2 five page papers; three oral presentations; class participation

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Geneva as a city

International – 50-70% of the population is non-Swiss

Good local transportationMany interesting activitiesExpensive

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Switzerland as a country

Except for first weekend, weekends are freeSwiss youth hostels everywhere – but book nowSwiss train transportation: clean, efficient;

relatively cheap

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Switzerland in the heart of Europe

• Close to Paris

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Come see for yourself!