政治經濟學概論 Introduction to Political Economy
This course has three goals: First, and foremost, to show how the social sciences can help us better understand contemporary social problems. Secondly, to specifically focus on the problem of “inequality.” How is it that even as we grow richer as a civilization, the gap between the richest citizens and the poorest grows ever wider? What are the implications of such inequality for our society? How is inequality naturalized in terms of ethnic and gendered identities? What is the definition of “class”? How is it possible to maintain such staggering levels of inequality? Or is it? And third, the class takes a historical perspective starting with the era of colonial conquest and ending with the rise of “neoliberalism.” The class will explore continuities and changes over time from a global perspective. How does current globalization differ from that in the late nineteenth century?
本 課程有三個目標：首先，呈現社會科學如何協助我們更加瞭解一般的社會問題。第二，將焦點置於「不平等」的問題。探討為何人類社會越走向文明，貧富差距更加 懸殊。這樣的不平等對我們社會有何涵義呢？而不平等又如何形塑族群與性別認同呢？什麼是「階級」的定義？階級又如何維持驚人的不平等程度呢？或者是如此 嗎？第三，本課程將採取歷史觀點從殖民征服時期到新自由主義的興起。同時也會從全球化觀點探討持續與變遷的議題。近來的全球化和19世紀晚期的全球化有何差異？
