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JOHN CABOT UNIVERSITY

COURSE CODE: "HS/EC 399"
COURSE NAME: "Special Topics in History and Economics"
SEMESTER & YEAR: Summer Session I 2024
SYLLABUS

INSTRUCTOR: Scott Reynolds Nelson
EMAIL: [email protected]
 HOURS: MTWTH 3:40 PM 5:30 PM
TOTAL NO. OF CONTACT HOURS: 45
CREDITS: 3
PREREQUISITES:
OFFICE HOURS:
COURSE DESCRIPTION:
May be taken more than once for credit with different topics.
Depending on topic, may satisfy Ancient, Medieval, Early Modern, or Modern History core course requirement for History majors
SUMMARY OF COURSE CONTENT:

COURSE DESCRIPTION

Welcome! This class examines the ups and downs of what we call capitalism while examining how the world has traded for centuries. Our readings will consider contradictory approaches to capitalism including dependency theory, Marxism, post-Marxism, Austrian economics, Keynesian economics, neoclassical economics, and the new institutionalists. These generally unfamiliar terms should seem familiar to us by the end of the semester. My own approach.is self-consciously eclectic. You may feel more strongly about a particular tradition; I hope we can approach the class open to these controversies.

SUMMARY OF COURSE CONTENT

The first week of class will be about theories, the rest of the class will move by period from the ancient world to modern times.

Required Course Materials

 

The first book by Niall Kishtainy introduces some of the most famous economic theories, partly through biographies of the thinkers most associated with them. The chapters are available here on electronic reserve at Frohring.

My book, Oceans of Grain, will be available on electronic reserve on Moodle, is an economic history of the world economy that focuses on the long-term competition between the US and Russia to feed Europe (1780-1924). Because charging you for my own book seems crass and sketchy, I will bring copies with me to pass out on the first day of class.

The last week of class we will read a chapter or so of important works on capitalism in the twentieth and twenty-first century. These will be posted as links on Moodle.

Course Outline

Please read these sections by the day listed:

Week One: Theories of Capitalism, Medieval Origins, Slavery, Colonialism, Drugs

·        May 20 no readings

·        May 21 visit Villa Farnesina

·        May 22 visit Museo/Mostra Leonardo da Vinci - Il Genio le Invenzioni

·        May 23 write a 2 paragraph account of what each place suggests about capitalism in Italy

 

Week Two: From the Age of Empires to the Age of Free Trade

·        May 27 Nelson, intro and ch1

·        May 28 Nelson, ch.2

·        May 29 Nelson, ch.3

·        May 30 Nelson ch.4 & 5

Week Three: Capitalism & Slavery to the Surveillance State

·        Jun 3 Nelson ch. 6

·        Jun 4 Nelson ch. 7

·        Jun 5 Nelson ch. 8

·        Jun 6 Nelson ch. 9

Week Four: World Wars, Marshall Plan, Green Revolution, Oil Shocks

·        Jun 10

·        Jun 11 Nelson conclusion

·        Jun 12 Exam 2

·        Jun 13 Timothy Mitchell, “Carbon Democracy”

Week Five: Fall of Soviet Union, Globalization, Gig Economy

·        Jun 17 Yegor Gaidar, “The Political Economy of External Shocks” in Collapse of an Empire

·        Jun 18 Marc Levinson, “Container Shipping & the Decline of New York, 1955-1975”

·        Jun 19 William Gibson, “New Rose Hotel” in Burning Chrome

·        Jun 20 Exam 3
LEARNING OUTCOMES:

The seminar provides the student with a deep and critical understanding of the thing we call capitalism. One of the aims of the course is to enhance your skills in critical thinking and reading. Group discussions will be a central part of the course structure.
TEXTBOOK:
NONE
REQUIRED RESERVED READING:
NONE

RECOMMENDED RESERVED READING:
NONE
GRADING POLICY
-ASSESSMENT METHODS:
AssignmentGuidelinesWeight
Attendance and ParticipationAttendance is mandatory. Participation is graded based on the student's comments, questions, active note-taking and general active engagement in class discussions and activities10%
Exam 1Essay-based exam in which students critically engage with the materials and debates presented in class lectures, discussions and readings.30%
Exam 2Essay-based exam in which students critically engage with the materials and debates presented in class lectures, discussions and readings.30%
Exam 3Essay-based exam in which students critically engage with the materials and debates presented in class lectures, discussions and readings.30%

-ASSESSMENT CRITERIA:
AWork of this quality directly addresses the question or problem raised and provides a coherent argument displaying an extensive knowledge of relevant information or content. This type of work demonstrates the ability to critically evaluate concepts and theory and has an element of novelty and originality. There is clear evidence of a significant amount of reading beyond that required for the course.
BThis is highly competent level of performance and directly addresses the question or problem raised.There is a demonstration of some ability to critically evaluatetheory and concepts and relate them to practice. Discussions reflect the student’s own arguments and are not simply a repetition of standard lecture andreference material. The work does not suffer from any major errors or omissions and provides evidence of reading beyond the required assignments.
CThis is an acceptable level of performance and provides answers that are clear but limited, reflecting the information offered in the lectures and reference readings.
DThis level of performances demonstrates that the student lacks a coherent grasp of the material.Important information is omitted and irrelevant points included.In effect, the student has barely done enough to persuade the instructor that s/he should not fail.
FThis work fails to show any knowledge or understanding of the issues raised in the question. Most of the material in the answer is irrelevant.
-ATTENDANCE REQUIREMENTS:
ATTENDANCE REQUIREMENTS AND EXAMINATION POLICY
You cannot make-up a major exam (midterm or final) without the permission of the Dean’s Office. The Dean’s Office will grant such permission only when the absence was caused by a serious impediment, such as a documented illness, hospitalization or death in the immediate family (in which you must attend the funeral) or other situations of similar gravity. Absences due to other meaningful conflicts, such as job interviews, family celebrations, travel difficulties, student misunderstandings or personal convenience, will not be excused. Students who will be absent from a major exam must notify the Dean’s Office prior to that exam. Absences from class due to the observance of a religious holiday will normally be excused. Individual students who will have to miss class to observe a religious holiday should notify the instructor by the end of the Add/Drop period to make prior arrangements for making up any work that will be missed. The final exam period runs until ____________
ACADEMIC HONESTY
As stated in the university catalog, any student who commits an act of academic dishonesty will receive a failing grade on the work in which the dishonesty occurred. In addition, acts of academic dishonesty, irrespective of the weight of the assignment, may result in the student receiving a failing grade in the course. Instances of academic dishonesty will be reported to the Dean of Academic Affairs. A student who is reported twice for academic dishonesty is subject to summary dismissal from the University. In such a case, the Academic Council will then make a recommendation to the President, who will make the final decision.
STUDENTS WITH LEARNING OR OTHER DISABILITIES
John Cabot University does not discriminate on the basis of disability or handicap. Students with approved accommodations must inform their professors at the beginning of the term. Please see the website for the complete policy.
SCHEDULE

Please read these sections by the day listed:

Week One: Theories of Capitalism, Medieval Origins, Slavery, Colonialism, Drugs

·        May 20 no readings

·        May 21 Kinslainsky ch.4, 5, 6, 7 (mercantilists, physiocrats, Adam Smith, Ricardo)

·        May 22 Kinslainsky, ch.10, 11, 13  (Marx, Marshall/Jevons, Lenin) 

·        May 23 Kinslainsky, ch.16, 17, 18, 19 (von Mises, Veblen, Keynes, Schumpeter)

Week Two: From the Age of Empires to the Age of Free Trade

·        May 27 Nelson, intro and ch1

·        May 28 Nelson, ch.2

·        May 29 Nelson, ch.3

·        May 30 Nelson ch.4 & 5

Week Three: Capitalism & Slavery to the Surveillance State

·        Jun 3 Exam 1

·        Jun 4 Nelson ch.6

·        Jun 5 Nelson ch.7

·        Jun 6 Nelson ch.8 & 9

Week Four: World Wars, Marshall Plan, Green Revolution, Oil Shocks

·        Jun 10 Nelson ch.10 & 11

·        Jun 11 Nelson conclusion

·        Jun 12 Exam 2

·        Jun 13 Timothy Mitchell, “Carbon Democracy”

Week Five: Fall of Soviet Union, Globalization, Gig Economy

·        Jun 17 Yegor Gaidar, “The Political Economy of External Shocks” in Collapse of an Empire

·        Jun 18 Marc Levinson, “Container Shipping & the Decline of New York, 1955-1975”

·        Jun 19 William Gibson, “New Rose Hotel” in Burning Chrome

·        Jun 20 Exam 3