400019 SE Critical Social Theory in a Global Context - Interdisciplinary Debates (2024S)

Globalisation is in crisis: Fears over heightened geopolitical conflict, rising social inequality, impending ecological collapse, and declining economic prosperity dominate current debates. Fuelled by the political disruptions of societal discontent, the economic disruptions of the Covid-19pandemic and more recently, the war in Ukraine, some observers are pointing to the onset of a crisis-ridden era of 'deglobalisation'. This seminar will focus on the ways in which the multiple crises of the present are currently being discussed and analysed in critical social theory, broadly conceived. Taking an interdisciplinary perspective across global political economy, sociology, gender and regional studies, this seminar will engage students in an in-depth study of relevant contemporary analyses based on the inputs of the participating teaching staff. A particular focus will be placed on key monograph-length contributions to critical social theory published in the last 2-3 years, which teaching staff will present these works and discuss their conceptual contribution and relevance for current debates. The seminar offers students the opportunity to engage with cutting-edge analyses and present and reflect on their PhD research in relation to the current perspectives and debates in a global context, for which they will receive intensive feedback from both peers and teaching staff.