Global Capitalism
The Global Capitalism Integrative Pathway will cultivate critical thinking on the topic of capitalism as a social, economic, and cultural form. Students will explore the historical origins and dynamics, social structures, lived experiences of, challenges to, and power of capitalism in a broad range of global and local contexts and across multiple media. The Pathway provides opportunities for students to explore the ways in which capitalism influences cultural representations and contestations, political institutions and movements, social inclusions and exclusions, technological and scientific advancements, and the dynamics of production, commerce and exchange. Themes include the environment, sustainability, the production and consumption of knowledge, dispossession, ecology, gender, identity, imperialism, labor, migration, representation, race, and social movements.
Representative animating questions:
- How do various forms of knowledge and ways of knowing (artistic, scientific, humanistic, and technological) represent, sustain, or critique global capitalism?
- How does global capitalism provide the conditions by which various forms of knowledge and ways of knowing (artistic, scientific, humanistic, and technological) come to be?
- How do peoples within capitalist societies, at the local and global level, endeavor to reform capitalism, either to propose sustainable solutions to the problems generated by capitalist production, or to make capitalism operate more equitably or more productively?
- What is the impact of capitalism on the distribution of wealth and the dynamics of poverty and inequality, and how does this map on to the world in dynamic ways?
Thematic Inquiry Courses
Students will choose one of the following courses in conjunction with a two-credit Thematic Inquiry Seminar.
Required Course
Curricular Itinerary Courses
Global-Local Engagement
Study Away
Since the Pathway aims to provide opportunities for students to consider questions relating to global capitalism, students will ideally pursue opportunities to study abroad in various locales across the globe that creates the optimum environment to pursue their animating question. In consultation with Pathway Faculty, students will work with the Study Away Office to identify and pursue College-approved study away programs as well as the College’s own Study Away-Teach Away programs such as SATA Cuba, SATA Vietnam, SATA Peru, SATA Italy, SIT South Africa, SIT India, and SIT Kenya.
Internships
Students will work with Pathway Faculty to identify potential internships in the context of the GCIP twocredit sophomore seminar. Some possible student internships include the Coalition for Inclusive Capitalism, Buffett International Summer Internships (SIGP), Natural Capitalism Internships, Clinton Global Initiative (GCI) America Internships, Center for Global Justice Internships, Eugene O’Neill Theatre Internships, and Lyman Allyn Art Museum Internships.
Community-Based Learning
Students will work with Pathway Faculty and OVCS to identify local community-based learning opportunities in the context of the GCIP two-credit sophomore seminar. Connecticut College theater, art, and dance productions, performances, and installations will provide opportunities for local engagement. A number of local venues such as Mystic Seaport Museum, Mashantucket Pequot Museum and Research Center, Lyman Allyn Art Museum, Custom House Maritime Museum, New London Food Pantry, and New London Main Street Revitalization Program are all potential sites for community-based engagement.
Required Course
Senior Reflection
Required Course