Globalization is a continuing, long term process that has escalated in recent years with far-reaching effects at all levels: local, state, regional, civilizational. A set of publishable papers anchored in a continuing internet-based discourse will be launched, utilizing a 2-day workshop preceding the 1999 ISA Conference in Washington and overlapping into a set of CISS-sponsored panels and round-tables during the conference. This theme appropriately supports the conference theme of "One Field, Many Perspectives" and exemplifies the assertion by Margaret Hermann and Joe D. Hagan that "...as the international system changes and more problems become global in scope..." our ability to deal with them requires "...research and theory that is multidisciplinary and comparative across countries, cultures, and historical periods." For more information write to Fred Riggs.

Possible Themes

1. Definitional: to identify key concepts and find unambiguous terms for them

2. Historical/Geographic setting: to see contemporary globalization in its long-term time/space context

3. Economic dimensions: to focus on the non-economic implications of global capitalism, monetary and credit flows, and the expansion of multi-national corporations and industrial estates

4. Political dimensions: how interconnectedness meshes with ideas about world government, world-system, regional, metropolitan, and local dimensions of a global "syntropic" network

5. Cultural dimensions: thinking about music, art, literature, TV, radio and cinema, as factors interfacing with traditional cultural patterns on a global scenario

6. Ethnic, Religious and Civilizational aspects: viewing the multiple dimensions of personal identity in a socio/global context

7. Technological factors: how technological innovations -- as found notably in the computer revolution and the global INTERNET -- affect all the dimensions itemized above

8. Normative considerations: how ideals and values vest in globalization and impinge on traditionalism by contrast with some of the ugly realities of globalization as a conflicted dimension of the contemporary world scene

9. Health and disease: how global transporation and travel have accelerated the propensity for contagious diseases to spread globally -- and heightened the need for the WHO and humanitarian INGOs to extend their health-promoting efforts

10. Environmental concerns: how industrialization and population growth have, together, contributed to environmental degradation, the greenhouse effect, scarcities of water, air pollution, desertification on land and in the oceans and lakes, generating a growing need for coordinated global efforts to combat these threats

11. Educational implications: how have universities, schools and research centers responded to and been affected by globalization -- what are curricular and research implications for proactive scholars? Consider the enhanced mobility of students and faculty in a global context. (Suggested by Selma Sonntag)

Goals

1. Substantive: contribute to the fleshing out of neglected aspects of ethnicity (nationalism), migration, world-history, and traditional (Westphalian) ideas about inter-state politics

2. Interdisciplinary: strengthen cross-disciplinary communication as a growing factor in the discourse of the International Studies Association

3. Students: provide enhanced opportunities for some exceptionally promising students to enter the ISA community and the CISS section

4. Growth: stimulate the development of the ISA as a globally oriented and cross-disciplinary community of scholars concerned about the major problems confronting today's world-system

Format

1. Papers: 8 papers by respected authorities will focus on the themes identified above -- honoraria should be offered to enhance the seriousness of this effort

2. Students: 8 students will present the papers and evaluate them. Students may be nominated by the authors but will not present the papers prepared by their sponsors. The authors will respond to the presentation and critiques of their papers.

3. Schedule: two days will be required, permitting 4 sessions, each to be divided into two segments, permitting enough time for a serious presentation and discussion of 8 papers.

4. Technical Support: Overhead schematics and data available on Web Pages will supplement oral presentations. This not only enhances the on-site workshop but motivates prior preparation of materials and virtual discourse on the INTERNET.

5. Social Environment: Ample time for socialization is needed, starting with a dinner meeting the evening before the workshop starts, coffee-breaks and meals during the workshop -- experience shows that some of the most fruitful ideas emerge during such conversations, supplementing and inspiring the formal presentations.

6. Continuity: This workshop will be an episode in a global dialogue based on the INTERNET. It will follow a panel on the meanings of globalization to be held in July 98 at the World Sociological Congress in Montreal, for which Fred Riggs has launched globe-l, a growing list of specialists on "globalization" in several disciplines and many countries. It will provide e-mail links to courses, seminars, programs etc. at scattered locations around the world -- see Web Sites. . The workshop will provide materials for subsequent presentation at CISS panels during the ISA conference, with co-sponsorship by IPE/World History and other sections, and for follow-up analysis and distribution via linked Web Sites through the Riggs Home Page. A LISTSERV [globe-l] for Globalization that has already been launched -- information is available at my URL

7. Extension: Observers may be permitted at the workshop, attending at their own expense. A public panel presentation open to everyone may be presented on the evening of the first day. Data from the Workshop will be made available on the GLOBE-L list in draft form with links to the ISA Page. Publication of workshop paper will be arranged -- see below.

The ISA Context

1. CISS. The primary sponsor of the workshop will be the Comparative and Interdisciplinary Studies section of the ISA. However, co-sponsorship by other sections, including ENMISA and the IPE World History sub-section, are expected.

2. Recruiting graduate students: an important by-product of the Workshop will be the introduction to ISA of a group of exceptionally well qualified and motivated graduate students

3. Publication: we are optimistic that the Workshop papers can be published as a symposium in the ANNALS as a special monograph. Preliminary conversations suggest this is a realistic possibility.

4. CISS Panels: with co-sponsorship by other ISA sections, we anticipate that most if not all the CISS panels at the 1999 conference will relate to the "globalization" theme. This should attract a more cohesive group of new and younger members to this section and give it a special focus within the pantheon of ISA sections.

Budget

1. Direct Costs: All of the 16 participants (8 senior members and 8 students) will receive per diem grants to cover hotel and meals during the workshop

2. Student participants: a travel subvention averaging perhaps $500, plus an award to cover the cost of registration at the ISA conference.

3. Papers: a stipend for authors of 8 papers -- perhaps $500.

4. Travel: a special fund to help cover travel costs for paper-givers who would otherwise not be able to attend -- e.g., "third world" scholars, non-members who are prepared to join the ISA

5. Administrative expenses for organizing and managing the workshop -- may include support for a student helper and incidental costs for the project director who will be a volunteer.

A seed grant from the ISA is requested. Efforts will also be made to secure external funding.

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Updated: 24 March 1998

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