This course critically interrogates common understandings of globalisation (of our own as well as of others). We start from the idea that, even though there are clearly actual material processes of globalisation with real and far-reaching consequences, globalisation is also a word that is used in a variety of ways by a variety of actors to represent these processes in different manners (Fairclough 2006: 4). To better understand the ways in which the use of this word impacts on our understanding of what globalisation is we first discuss the many academic understandings of globalisation and the discourse on the cosmopolitan citizen. We then hone in on nation branding: a specific attempt to our understanding of the global world. We analyse the campaign of national (non)governmental organisations that provide a particular image of nations, contrasting these academic and mediated organisational discourses with everyday stories of globalisation: what does it mean to live in a %E2%80%98global%E2%80%99 city? Observations and interviews with different people %E2%80" those living in rural areas or in the capital city, and natives and those living as migrants or expats %E2%80" will give us alternative views of globalisation. It will also allow us to counter the dominant representations.

Course leader
Ms. Leena Ripatti-Torniainen

Target group
Advanced, 3rd year undergraduate students in communication / social sciences / politics / media / journalism.

Course aim
The students will have three types of skills on completion of the module:Intellectual skillsYou will have acquired a critical awareness of the academic theory on globalisation (assignments 23) and will be able to reflect on the way in which globalisation is represented on various levels (assignments 1, 4 and 5).You will have skills that enable you to analyse nation branding (assignment 4) and the everyday representations by different actors (assignment 5).Practical skillsYou will be able to critically engage with academic work on globalisation and understand how globalisation is both a process and a word (assignments 2 and 3);You will be able to conduct empirical research to analyse the discourse on globalisation as represented by a variety of actors (conducting interviews, observations and discourse analysis of nation-branding campaigns and interview material) as shown in your assignments, engagement in group discussions and visual presentation;You will be able to present your research in a clear, concise and visually attractive manner in in-class presentations (assignments 4 and 5);You will be able to produce a professional visual design for the presentation of your research findings on the last day of the module (assignment 5).Transferable skillsYou will be able to discuss your ideas about globalisation in front of your peers as part of the seminars;You will be able to work effectively in groups as part of the group work;You will develop basic research and academic skills which you will demonstrate in your individual and group assignments.

Fee info
EUR 640: This course fee applies to degree and PhD students who pay the fee before June 1, 2015.

Helsinki Summer School
Address: P.O. Box 3 University of Helsinki
Postal code: FI-00014
City: Helsinki
Country: Finland
Website: http://helsinkisummerschool.fi
E-mail: summer-school@helsinki.fi
Phone: +358 (0)2 941 40255