Globalization Week 2003

Event summaries from Globalization Week 2003

February 24-28, 2003

Introduction

The general public's participation in the globalization debate spectacularly exploded onto the world stage in the fall of 1999, amid major demonstrations against the World Trade Organization in the U.S. port of Seattle. More than three years later, globalization remains a hotly contested and vibrant subject. To encourage further understanding of the issues, the GWCSG was pleased to host Globalization Week 2003—its second annual series of on-campus events designed to heighten globalization awareness and understanding among the university community. Globalization Week 2003 was held February 24-28.

Monday, February 24

Occasional Paper Series Publication Release

The GWCSG releases new issues of its Occasional Paper Series, showcasing the research findings of faculty who have received grants to pursue cutting-edge, in-depth investigations in a variety of areas related to globalization. Papers will be available in hard copy and on the Web. To request hard copies, please write to gwcsg@gwu.edu.

Tuesday, February 25

Digital Diasporas: What Makes the On-Line Communities Thrive

More and more, we see that diasporas use the Internet to communicate and mobilize their efforts across the world. This session will explore the structural differences and similarities of two Web sites serving the Afghan-American Diaspora— Afghanistan Online and Rebuild Afghanistan. One site is successful and boasts of an active on-line community. In comparison, the other site is not as successful, and appears not to have built as strong of an on-line community.

Faculty

  • Lori Brainard, Assistant Professor of Public Administration
  • Jennifer Brinkerhoff, Assistant Professor of Public Administration
  • Thomas Bryer, Research Assistant
  • Andrew Edelson, Graduate Teaching Assistant
  • Sarah Epps, Graduate Teaching Assistant

Through the Lens: World Media in the Age of Globalization

Four highly distinguished former foreign correspondents will mark Globalization Week 2003 by debating the relationship between globalization and the world's media. In particular, they will consider the impact that recent advances in communications technology—such as the Internet and widespread access to satellite television—have had upon the power and reach of international investigative journalism. Additionally, participants in this seminar will debate the coverage afforded to anti-globalization protesters afforded by the world's media. Speakers will present video footage of some of the most interesting stories that they covered during their esteemed journalistic careers. This coverage will include exposes of waste and corruption in the U.S. foreign aid program, and the exporting of toxic waste across national boundaries.

Faculty

  • Mark Feldstein (moderator), Associate Professor of Media and Public Affairs at The George Washington University and former correspondent for CNN in Washington and ABC News in New York
  • Amos Gelb, Academic Director of the Washington Journalism Semester Program at American University
  • Chris Hanson, Professor at the Philip Merrill College of Journalism at the University of Maryland
  • Brad White, Washington, DC-based independent television producer

Wednesday, February 26

Perspectives on Globalization

New and updated entries to our online clearinghouse, Perspectives on Globalization, will be available today. This assembly of speeches, interviews, and writings from some of the world's most notable thinkers provide deeper understanding into who is shaping public thought on globalization and how they are doing so.

Speakers' Corner: Globalization and Terrorism

The Speaker's Corner is designed as a venue for students and faculty to propose ideas about common globalization themes and receive feedback from others who collectively have a wide range of skills and experiences. This discussion for Globalization Week centers around the hotly contested issue of globalization and terrorism: Is globalization a security threat? Does the spread of networks of global integration allow terrorists unprecedented opportunities to attack vulnerable societies? Is global terrorism merely a reaction to increasing global inequality? Log on and share your thoughts. This discussion will be open through March 14.

Thursday, February 27

Globalization Brown Bag: Globalization and Risk in the International Financial System

Today's global economic system is characterized by an unprecedented level of risk. In recent years, this has been only too clearly demonstrated by the Asian financial crisis and the collapse of the Argentine economy. Join Professors Ted Barnhill and Graciela Kaminsky in a discussion on the various dimensions of risk faced by contemporary international financial investors.

Faculty

Friday, February 28

Globalization Brown Bag: Global Cities and Immigration: A View of Globalization from Below

Immigration to major cities is an important social dimension of globalization. For the speakers, rates of immigration to major world cities indicate their global status as much as traditional economic and financial measures of globalization. This discussion will share preliminary rankings of cities of immigration and how they compare with other global city hierarchies. Some that rank highly on the list are always cited as world cities, but others may surprise you...

Faculty

  • Lisa Benton-Short, Assistant Professor of Geography
  • Samantha Friedman, Assistant Professor of Sociology
  • Marie Price, Associate Professor of Geography and International Affairs