Economic History, Origins and Crises of Global Capitalism (2025/2026: Semester 1 – Fall)

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Cursusdoel

After completing this course students are able to:
  • identify parallels between the current and historical developments
  • interpret historical events from different perspectives
  • understand the concept of globalization
  • use relevant methodologies and theories
  • formulate a sound scientific research question
  • independently write a paper
Relationship between assessment and learning goals:

The final course grade, on top of participation, is based on five elements: three written assignments, a written in-class exam, and a research paper
1. Written assignment 1 (a short essay arguing if, from a historical perspective, today's economy is or is not in crisis): test your ability to interpret historical events
2. Written assignment 2 (outline the international 'journey' of a chosen product from the assembly of resources to consumer's hands): helps you understand the concept of globalization
3. Written assignment 3 (your research in a graph): helps you formulate a sound scientific research question
4. Written in-class exam: tests your ability to identify parallels between the current and historical developments, as well as, interpret historical events from different perspectives
5. Research paper: tests your ability to use relevant methodologies and theories, formulate a sound scientific research question, and independently write a paper

Vakinhoudelijk

Note: From Fall 2025 onward this course is also a track finisher for Economics.

This course aims to give students an overview of long-term developments in the world economy and teach them how the theoretical insights of social scientists help us to understand world history better. The main emphasis lies not so much on the chronology of events, but on understanding the two main problems of social and economic history: what are the origins and drivers of economic growth, and why does that process result in wide disparities in wealth?
Additionally, this course intends to teach students to independently carry out a research project. Students will acquire general skills (e.g. developing a research project) as well as skills specific to social and economic historians (e.g. source criticism, working with data and theory). It prepares them for working at the MA level.
Format
Class meets twice a week in two-hour sessions. During the first part of the course, we will analyze the globalizing world from its nineteenth-century roots until today, using Frieden’s already classic textbook Global Capitalism. Research articles will be used to deepen our insight into particular events and to familiarize ourselves with techniques and methods. The second part of the course will build on the latter. Students will set up and conduct their own research project. They will learn how to develop their research question, how to identify and apply the relevant theory, and how to locate and use the necessary empirical data. Besides close supervision, feedback by fellow students is a key component of this part of the course.

Werkvormen

UCU hum 3 course

Toetsing

Participation/Assignments

Verplicht | Weging 30% | ECTS 2,25

Paper

Verplicht | Weging 40% | ECTS 3

*midterm FEEDBACK*

Niet verplicht

Midterm exam

Verplicht | Weging 30% | ECTS 2,25

Ingangseisen en voorkennis

Voertalen

  • Engels

Cursusmomenten

Gerelateerde studies

Tentamens

Er is geen tentamenrooster beschikbaar voor deze cursus

Verplicht materiaal

  • BOEK
    Jeffry A. Frieden, Global Capitalism: Its Fall and Rise in the Twentieth Century, New York, 2006; paperback edition, ISBN 9780393329810
  • DIVERSE
    - Additional articles to be downloaded through Omega. - Course manual

Aanbevolen materiaal

Er is geen informatie over de aanbevolen literatuur bekend

Opmerkingen

Cross-listed with SSC: counts towards HUM and SSC major (ECO track) Alternates with UCSSCECO33 (new course in Fall 2026)

Coördinator

dr. E. Jacobs E.Jacobs@uu.nl

Docenten

V. Ratnoo v.ratnoo@uu.nl

Inschrijving

Let op: deze cursus is niet toegankelijk voor studenten van andere faculteiten, bijvakkers mogen zich dus niet inschrijven.

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